11.   The starters were ably backed up by the bench, particularly Chris Mills, Chris Childs and Starks.

12.   When the Redskins signed Jeff George to back up starter Brad Johnson, Peete became expendable and was released on Tuesday.

13.   With his departure, junior Rashad Jones is the only point guard left to back up starter Brandon Granville.

14.   Brees, who led Purdue to the Rose Bowl, will compete with former CFL star Dave Dickenson to back up starter Doug Flutie.

15.   He and Adam Keefe will back up starter Danny Fortson in Golden State.

16.   He will give the Knicks another big body to back up starters Larry Johnson and Marcus Camby.

17.   Hirsch, who played only one NHL game last season, will back up starter Garth Snow.

18.   That goes for every position, where low-priced rookies generally back up starters.

19.   Tolliver, one of the few holdovers from the Mike Ditka years, was competing with Aaron Brooks and Jake Delhomme to back up starter Jeff Blake.

20.   With Flutie out, the Bills re-signed Alex Van Pelt to back up starter Rob Johnson.