Ex-UNLV star Sawyer out for the year

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

The Minnesota Vikings placed former UNLV standout Talance Sawyer on injured reserve Tuesday, ending the defensive tackle's season.

Sawyer, the Vikings' top sub on the defensive line, has been slow to heal since a knee injury sustained Sept. 15 in a loss to Buffalo.

Minnesota signed defensive tackle Cedric Killings, a final training camp cut, to take Sawyer's place on the roster.

Also, the Vikings filled a vacant spot on their practice squad by signing cornerback Shad Criss, cut by Dallas in training camp.

An MRI on Tuesday disclosed a tear in both Hilliard's labrum and pectoralis muscle. He will undergo surgery in about a month and will at some point be placed on injured reserve.

The normal rehabilitation period for the surgery Hilliard will undergo is three months.

Loomis was promoted from director of football operations last May four days after owner Tom Benson unexpectedly fired Randy Mueller, citing differences in management style. Loomis was given a one-year contract.

In his new deal, Loomis also will serve as an officer on the Saints' Board of Directors. His new title is executive vice president/general manager.

Crawford, a third-year pro out of Virginia, had been on the team's practice roster since Sept. 10.

Nece, an undrafted rookie free agent, is out for the season with a ruptured ACL in his left knee. He has played in all eight games and is tied for second on the team with 11 special-teams tackles.

Also Tuesday, the team signed center Jason Scukanec to the practice squad.

Harrison must sit out Sunday's home game against the New York Jets. Counting the loss of his paycheck for the game, Harrison has been fined more than $200,000 for several infractions during his nine-year career.

Harrison's previous largest fine was $40,000 for a hit on Raiders tight end Jeremy Brigham in 2000.

Harrison wasn't immediately available for comment, but coach Marty Schottenheimer was unhappy with Tuesday's ruling by Jeff Pash, the NFL's executive vice president and general counsel who heard Harrison's formal appeal in New York on Monday.

The Chargers (6-1) are coming off their bye and are tied with Green Bay for the NFL's best record.

Coach Mike Holmgren emphasized that Matt Hasselbeck will remain the starter and George is coming in to fill a role.