League Has Its Pick of College Officials

The NFL has commitments from more than 100 college football officials willing to work if the league doesn’t have a labor agreement with its referees before the Sept. 9 start of the season, spokesman Greg Aiello said.

The league started contacting college officials this week in its search for replacements for members of the NFL Referees Assn., whose contract expired in March. Union members have worked exhibition games under terms of their old contract.

All but four of the 11 officiating chiefs from college’s Division I-A--the top level of the sport--said they would prefer their officials refrain from working NFL games. Aiello said the league got responses from all levels of college football but wouldn’t break it down by division.

“Based on the number of early responses, we should have more replacement officials than we need, allowing us to pick from the group,” Aiello said. “We’ve told them we’ll work around their college schedules to make it work for them.”

The league needs 98 on-field officials a week to field 14 seven-man crews.

Union negotiator Tom Condon couldn’t be reached to comment.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Condon have scheduled a meeting in New York on Monday, Aiello said.

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Former Kansas City Chief wide receiver Tamarick Vanover was told by the NFL that he faces disciplinary action for his involvement in a federal stolen car case.

Vanover was sentenced in November to two months in jail, two months of home detention and three years under supervised release after pleading guilty to one federal count of aiding and abetting the sale of a stolen vehicle that crossed state lines.

He is free to sign with any team and his case will be reviewed by Tagliabue.

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Quarterback Kurt Warner got his first extensive playing time of the exhibition season in a 23-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans at St. Louis. Warner, who played a quarter and a half, completed seven of 11 passes for 108 yards, but also threw two interceptions.

The Atlanta Falcons’ Ray Buchanan had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, in a 27-6 victory over the Washington Redskins at Landover, Md. Falcon rookie quarterback Michael Vick played the third quarter and drew cheers from the crowd with a 28-yard scramble. He completed his first two passes but finished three of seven for 22 yards. Todd Husak played for the Redskins in place of injured quarterback Jeff George and completed four of six passes with one interception.

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Jacksonville Jaguar receiver Keenan McCardell probably will miss at least the rest of the exhibition season while he recovers from hernia surgery. ... Buffalo Bill quarterback Rob Johnson will miss tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles because of a sprained index finger on his right throwing hand. ... Defensive tackle Bryant Young (shoulder) and receiver J.J. Stokes (hamstring) are among several San Francisco 49ers who won’t play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. ... The New England Patriots waived third-year backup quarterback Michael Bishop.