James refuses to name starter

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 | 9:10 a.m.

Gladiators coach Ron James is creating a bit of suspense for the Nashville Kats, even if he might know which of his backup quarterbacks will start Saturday night on the road.

Starting quarterback Clint Dolezel is sidelined at least one more week with a broken right middle finger, leaving James to choose between Rod Robinson and Craig Whelihan as Las Vegas tries to rebound from a 38-13 defeat last week against Georgia.

James declined to name a starter after Tuesday's practice, saying Robinson - the starter for the past two weeks in Dolezel's absence - and Whelihan will split time working with the first team throughout the week and a decision will be made at game time.

"We're not going to have a quarterback controversy," James said.

A few indicators suggest Whelihan as the more likely starter. Robinson struggled mightily against Georgia, committing five turnovers and leading the offense to just two touchdowns. He has committed eight turnovers and accounted for eight touchdowns (five passing, three rushing) in his first two AFL starts.

Whelihan, a sixth-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1995 who last played in the AFL in 2003, spent slightly more time working with the top offensive group Tuesday. After he earned a roster spot through a mini-camp tryout, Whelihan was cut by the Gladiators (2-2) out of training camp, as they opted to stay with Robinson as their backup for a second season. The team re-signed Whelihan when Dolezel went on injured reserve two weeks into the year.

Experienced from almost 10 years in pro football, Whelihan is accustomed to preparing for this type of uncertainty.

"If you don't prepare like you're going to play, you're cheating your team and you're cheating your teammates," he said.

Robinson refuses to feel burdened to keep his starting job, saying he focuses on competing in practice no matter what role he is in. He laughed at a question about feeling pressure.

"Pressure busts pipes. I ain't got no pipes," Robinson said. "I'm pumping straight blood. Like (rapper) Lil' Wayne said, 'I bleed concrete."'

James said Robinson has a stronger arm and more experience in the Gladiators' offense, but Whelihan brings extensive AFL knowledge. In either case, James would still prefer to have his starter back.

"I'm a little less patient (than Clint) because I realize there's a falloff," James said. "That's not a knock on the guys we have."

"About 87 percent," Nash quipped. "I'm about 87 percent."

Whatever the number, it was good enough for Nash to practice for the first time in three weeks. Recently limited to only game action after injuring his knee in Week 2 at San Jose, Nash took part in the team's full practice Tuesday and reported no problems.

"I feel pretty good," Nash said. "There's a little clicking going on in there, but not painful clicking like it was."

Like James, Nash pointed to arm strength as the biggest difference he has noticed between the quarterbacks so far.

"(Whelihan's) ball definitely comes a little bit softer," Nash said. "It's a softer ball to catch. Rod's ball is a little bit harder."