Sooners In The NFL: Week One

NORMAN, Okla. The first weekend of the NFL season kicked off and provided its share of exciting action. SoonerSports.com will provide regular updates on former OU football players who are now representing the crimson and cream in the pros. This weekly feature will recur throughout the season, updating each Monday.

Week one started out with a bang and no game was more exciting for Sooner fans than Sunday night's heated rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.

Sooners in the NFL

Clinton Who?
In his first start with the Broncos, former OU tailback Quentin Griffin (1999-2002) showed the Mile High City what the Sooner State already knew they didn't need Clinton Portis.

Griffin and former Texas Longhorns running back Priest Holmes battled in a dogfight between Denver and Kansas City with Griffin's squad coming out on top 34-24. Griffin accounted for three of Denver's four touchdowns as he finished the game with 156 yards rushing on 23 attempts, including touchdown runs of 25 and 47 yards, and also caught a pass for a touchdown. The shy, reserved back proved actions are louder than words as the chant of “Q” echoed throughout the Rocky Mountains.

Griffin and the Broncos travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to face the Jaguars next Sunday.

Other Sooners playing in the game were former defensive back William Bartee (1998-99) and defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson (2000-2002).

Bartee had a frightening moment early in the game when he sprained his neck while attempting a tackle on Denver receiver Rod Smith during a punt return. Bartee was placed on a stretcher for precautionary reasons but later returned to the sidelines. He is listed as questionable for next week's game versus Carolina.

Wilkerson, in his second year with the Chiefs, saw action on special teams.

Reunited and It Feels So Good
Saturday's game between Tennessee and Miami saw 2001 Butkus winner and former OU linebacker Rocky Calmus (1998-2001) and former Sooner cornerback Andre Woolfolk (1999-2002) back on the same field since Nov. 26 of last year. The two Titans showed promise last season before both saw their 2003 campaigns end early due to injuries.

This week's game had the two winning again as Tennessee beat the Dolphins 17-7. Calmus started at linebacker despite having a minor back injury. Calmus ended the game with two tackles. Woolfolk played in the game as a third cornerback and made five tackles, second on the team only to veteran linebacker Keith Bulluck.

The Titans host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday.

Detroit Rolls Outside The Motor City
The Detroit Lions ended the NFL's longest road-game losing streak Sunday with their 20-16 victory over the Chicago Bears. This contest had the most former Sooners, four, playing in a single game this weekend.

Right offensive tackle Stockar McDougle, tight end Stephen Alexander and linebacker Teddy Lehman started for the Lions. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris also started in his first-ever NFL game for the Bears.

Harris and McDougle are also cousins.

The key moment of the game came in the third quarter when Detroit's Bracey Walker returned a blocked field goal 92 yards for a touchdown. As Walker tired at the end of his lengthy sprint, Lehman raced by to deliver the final block that allowed the victory-sealing score.

Lehman finished his first NFL game with two tackles, one assisted tackle and one forced fumble. Alexander caught two passes for 15 yards. Harris concluded the game with one tackle and four assists.

Next Sunday, Detroit hosts Houston and Chicago travels to Green Bay.

It's Not Over Until It's Over
In one of the tightest contests of week one, former linebacker Travian Smith (1994-97) led the Raiders defense against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Smith led the silver and black with eight tackles. Smith also recovered a fumble by Steelers' quarterback Tommy Maddox midway through the third quarter that set up a field goal and sparked the momentum that the Raiders used to remedy their 11-point halftime deficit.

Unfortunately for Smith and the Raiders, the Steelers rushing attack ate up the final five minutes of the clock with a 10-play, 54-yard drive. Pittsburgh's Jeff Reed kicked a 42-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining to break the 21-21 tie.

Oakland meets Buffalo at the Coliseum next Sunday.

The Best Never Rest
Corey Ivy (1995-97) had two tackles in Tampa Bay's 16-10 loss to the Washington Redskins in Joe Gibbs' return as head coach. Ivy is the Bucs' top special teams player and will see a more predominant role in Jon Gruden's defense in his third season with the team.

New York Jets rookie cornerback Derrick Strait (2000-03) recorded no stats in the Jets' first season-opening win in three years. San Francisco backup middle linebacker Brandon Moore (1997-2001) also recorded no stats in the 49ers' 21-19 loss to Atlanta. Roy Williams (1999-2001) recorded one tackle in Dallas' 35-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome in Minneapolis.

Former OU defensive tackle Kelly Gregg (1995-98) of the Baltimore Ravens was listed as questionable to play in Baltimore's game versus Cleveland.

Are You Ready For Some Football?
Monday night's contest between the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers stars one former Sooner. Green Bay's Torrance Marshall (1999-2000) will see action against the defending conference champions as a reserve linebacker and on special teams.

It's Dj Vu All Over Again
Former tight end Trent Smith (1999-2002) was placed on the injured reserve list by the Baltimore Ravens Aug. 31 and will miss his second consecutive season after, again, breaking his leg in a preseason game. Smith broke the leg in the Ravens' first preseason game versus the Atlanta Falcons.

New York Giants and former OU defensive tackle Martin Chase (1994-97) was also placed on the IR with a knee injury and will sit out the 2004 season.

For The Record
- Of the 19 former Sooners currently on NFL rosters, 14 played in the Stoops era (1999-present).

- 12 played in the 2000 National Championship game at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla.

- NFL teams with former Oklahoma players on their rosters went 4-7 in week one (not counting Monday night's game) with two head-to-head match-ups (Kansas City vs. Denver and Detroit vs. Chicago).

- Week two's only head-to-head match-up of former Sooners takes place when Marshall and the Green Bay Packers host Harris and the Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 19.

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