Dolphin Receiver Green Undergoes Knee Surgery

Miami Dolphin receiver Yatil Green, who sat out all of last season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, has been sidelined again after re-injuring the knee.

Green underwent arthroscopic surgery Sunday to remove a torn portion of the lateral meniscus cartilage in the same knee. Although he suffered the injury in Saturday’s scrimmage, the extent was not known until a follow-up examination Sunday.

No timetable has been set for his return, although this injury is unrelated to the ACL tear and he is expected to play this season.

Green was the 15th overall selection in the 1996 draft after he left the University of Miami with one year of eligibility remaining.

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Chan Gailey’s NFL coaching career did not start the way he planned.

After viewing tapes of the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-19 exhibition loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Gailey said Sunday: “We made too many mistakes even for a preseason game.”

The Cowboys were penalized 11 times for 97 yards Friday night. Four penalties, three for having 12 men on the field, and a 33-yard pass interference call, led to the game-winning touchdown.

Gailey said the calls for 12 men on the field came from typical preseason confusion.

“We’re going to get that straightened out,” Gailey said. “I hope that’s not going to happen anymore. It wasn’t just one player. It was different people at different times. It’s my fault we didn’t adjust to all that.”

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Pittsburgh kick returner Henry Bailey will miss a second consecutive season after breaking his left ankle during a preseason game against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Bailey sat out the 1997 season after breaking a leg during a preseason game. He also broke a wrist in March during a charity basketball game.

EXHIBITION GAMES

Jim Druckenmiller, the understudy to Steve Young, got most of the playing time but had little to show for it as the San Francisco 49ers beat the New England Patriots, 14-13, in an exhibition game at San Franicsco Sunday.

Young played long enough to throw for a touchdown and cornerback Darnell Walker scored on a one-yard fumble return.

Druckenmiller, a second-year pro being groomed as San Francisco’s quarterback of the future, completed 10 of 14 passes for 100 yards in more than two quarters of play but threw two interceptions.

“It was a long day but it felt really good to be out there,” said Druckenmiller, who started one game in place of an injured Young last season but otherwise spent most of the season on the bench. “I’m pretty happy with my performance overall, although I’m not pleased about the two interceptions. But I definitely made progress.”

San Francisco Coach Steve Mariucci said the outing by Druckenmiller was encouraging, despite the mistakes.

“I thought he managed the offense well,” he said. “He’s more settled than he was last season. He threw a couple of nice balls. You never like to have interceptions, certainly not in the red zone. But it’s another step for Druck. Chalk this game up to experience. He’ll get more.”

Jerry Rice watched the game from the sidelines. Rice, who missed all but two games last season because of two major injuries to his left knee, is in the midst of a comeback, but the 49ers are being cautious not to rush him back.

The Patriots’ Drew Bledsoe was erratic, completing three for nine with an interception. And the Patriots, trying to adapt to the off-season free agency loss of running back Curtis Martin, struggled to sustain their attack while committing three turnovers.

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The Green Bay Packers won their exhibition opener, but there were too many mistakes for Coach Mike Holmgren to be satisfied.

Despite spotting Kansas City a 14-point lead by fumbling on their first two possessions and missing field goals at the end of regulation and in overtime, the Packers beat the Chiefs, 27-24, early Sunday morning at Tokyo on Ryan Longwell’s 27-yard field goal 10 minutes into overtime.

“Overall, though, we still made too many mistakes--fumbles and penalties,” Holmgren said.

The game wasn’t much cleaner for the Chiefs, who faltered after jumping out to an early 14-0 lead on a two-yard pass from Elvis Grbac to Tony Richardson and a seven-yard run by Kimble Anders.

“Obviously the defense set us up, but it was a good sign for our team. We get turnovers like that and can capitalize and get seven points,” Grbac said. “It really kind of heightens all your senses when you’re in the red zone.”

The Chiefs’ other scoring came on a 30-yard pass from Pat Barnes to Willy Tate and a 34-yard field goal by Pete Stoyanovich.