Receiver Moore Out for Season

The season took a disastrous turn for the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday when they learned they will lose two-time Pro Bowl receiver Rob Moore for the year because of a torn ligament in his left knee.

Moore suffered the injury as he made his break from the line of scrimmage on the Metrodome turf in an exhibition game Friday against the Minnesota Vikings. He was not touched on the play.

“Turf is terrible,” running back Michael Pittman said. “If it was grass, I guarantee you he’d still be playing right now.”

The injury is a severe blow for the Cardinals, who were counting on Moore to bounce back from a sub-par 1999 season.

With Moore, Frank Sanders and David Boston, the Cardinals boasted one of the top receiving trios in the NFL.

Since being acquired from the New York Jets in a 1995 draft day trade, Moore has 322 receptions for 5,110 yards and 27 touchdowns.

The Cardinals also lost backup cornerbacks J.J. McCleskey and Coby Rhinehart to season-ending injuries in Friday’s 35-17 loss. McCleskey broke his right ankle and Rhinehart tore two ligaments in his right leg.

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Byron Hanspard and Ken Oxendine, Atlanta’s top two rushers last season after filling in for injured Jamal Anderson, were among 12 players released by the Falcons.

Fullback Jeff Paulk, cornerbacks Derrick Gardner and Reggie Doster, tight end Rod Monroe, linebacker Whit Marshall, defensive tackles Ben Huff and Doug Miller, and offensive linemen Everett McIver, Ozell Powell and Jamie Wu were also released.

Hanspard and Oxendine both fumbled in the third quarter of Atlanta’s 28-14 exhibition loss to San Diego on Friday night.

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The owner of the San Diego Chargers underwent successful heart-bypass surgery and was resting comfortably in an undisclosed Northern California hospital, an aide said.

Alex G. Spanos, 76, is expected to leave the hospital next week and be able to travel in time to attend the team’s regular-season home opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 10, aide Natalia Orfanos told the Stockton Record.

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Two weeks after arthroscopic hip surgery, Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler returned to practice, rejoining the race to succeed Dan Marino.

Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt said he will give Fiedler, who had a hip tear repaired Aug. 3, every opportunity to compete with Damon Huard. Huard will start Monday night against Green Bay.

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Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones has been awarded an Arena Football League expansion team for Dallas.

The team will be run on a day-to-day basis by Jones’ son, Stephen, and begin play as soon as April, contingent on securing an arena lease, AFL Commissioner David Baker said.

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In exhibition action Saturday, Kurt Warner threw two first-half touchdown passes, but St. Louis lost to Buffalo, 31-27, at St. Louis. . . . Mike Hollis kicked four field goals and rookie Shyrone Stith broke a 78-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left as Jacksonville edged Kansas City, 26-22, at Kansas City, Mo. . . . Peyton Manning threw two perfect touchdown passes, including a 77-yarder to Marvin Harrison, and Edgerrin James had a two-yard touchdown run, all within the first 7:26 of Indianapolis’ 24-22 victory over Pittsburgh at Mexico City. . . . Peter Warrick scored on a reverse and Akili Smith pounded his chest after his two touchdown passes rallied the Bengals to a 24-20 victory over the Chicago Bears in the first game at Cincinnati’s $453-million Paul Brown Stadium. . . . Skip Hicks scored two easy touchdowns and Washington’s starters pushed Cleveland’s first team all over the field in a 24-0 victory at Cleveland. . . . Brian Griese threw two touchdown passes barely two minutes apart in the second quarter and Denver rolled to a 36-23 victory over Dallas at Denver.