Mom: Carruth Can’t Meet Bail

Carolina Panther receiver Rae Carruth, charged in the shooting of his pregnant girlfriend, cannot pay his $3-million bail, his mother said.

Theodry Carruth, speaking by telephone from her California home Monday, called the sum “very unfair.�

“Rae does not have that kind of money,� she said. “You almost feel like they were just trying to break him.�

Carruth has a base salary this year of $652,000. Theodry Carruth said her son has lived frugally since joining the NFL and his salary is not as much as it would appear after taxes, bills and investments. She added that she thinks her son is innocent.

Carruth remains jailed with two others in the Nov. 16 shooting of Cherica Adams, 24.

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Though the NFL might not rule for a few days on an apparent throat-slashing gesture by New Orleans Saint defensive lineman Willie Whitehead following a sack against the St. Louis Rams, Coach Mike Ditka has told Whitehead he won’t play if he does it again. Whitehead insisted it was a gesture to God. . . . Tampa Bay Coach Tony Dungy said rookie quarterback Shaun King will start when the Buccaneers play Minnesota next Monday night. King replaced Trent Dilfer after he suffered a broken collarbone in the third quarter of Tampa Bay’s 16-3 victory over Seattle. Dilfer is expected to be sidelined for the season.