The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
10-24-1999
SEESAW SEASONS BRING PATS, BRONCOS TOGETHER
By RANDY LANGE
Date: 10-24-1999, Sunday
Section: SPORTS
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday
Column: AFC NOTEBOOK
In today's Bizarro Bowl, the New England Patriots play host to the
Denver Broncos.
The teams have been doing things exactly the opposite of each other
all season. Some (including this observer) thought the Patriots were
ready for a fall, but they won their first four games by two, three,
two, and 12 points. The Broncos, meanwhile, talked a good game about
three-peating without John Elway, then proceeded to lose their first
four.
Just when those trends had been established, New England lost to
Kansas City when Adam Vinatieri doinked what would have been a
game-winning kick off the Arrowhead Stadium upright. Then the Pats lost
to Miami, despite chasing an injured Dan Marino from the game, sacking
backup Damon Huard nine times, and returning two interceptions for
touchdowns.
Denver, meanwhile, went to Oakland without Terrell Davis and
Shannon Sharpe and trimmed the Raiders, then returned home and pummeled
the Packers.
Jerry Glanville is expected to reveal on "The NFL Today" on CBS
that the Pats have been practicing all season under a yellow sun, while
the Broncos have been working out under a red sun.
`There's parity," Pats linebacker Chris Slade said. "You're going
to get in little slumps. The key is getting out of them."
That's difficult for the Pats to do -- they've lost 11 straight to
the Broncs. To prevent a dirty dozen, and to take the wind out of the
latest anti-Pete Carroll storm, the Patriots know what they need to do:
score red-zone touchdowns and get more production out of a running game
that is hobbled by rookie Kevin Faulk's ankle and veteran Terry Allen's
fumbles.
It would also help if they gained the edge in the Kryptonite
Matchup of the Game between wide receiver Terry Glenn and Broncos corner
Dale Carter.
Glenn had been heralded by a few folks east of Keyshawn Johnson as
the best wideout in the league today, while Carter was being roasted as
an expensive free agent bust, especially after his losing battle with
Keyshawn two weeks ago.
But all of a sudden, Glenn had no catches last week against the
Dolphins while Carter, playing more man-to-man each game, did numbers on
the Raiders' Tim Brown and the Pack's Antonio Freeman.
"If I go into any game and try too hard, I know I won't succeed,"
Carter said. "I just have to be comfortable and relax and do what I'm
used to doing."
If he repeats what he did last week, getting his first interception
as a Bronco, he may become the Man of Steal.
Eyes on Kordell
Whose football fundamentals are less sound: Pittsburgh quarterback
Kordell Stewart for continuing to not look off his receivers, or big
mouth Atlanta cornerback Ray Buchanan for telling everyone about it
before the teams' Monday night matchup at Three Rivers Stadium?
"Yeah, he looks where he's throwing the ball -- he's pretty easy to
read," said Buchanan. "I'm going to let these receivers take me to the
football."
"I thank you, Ray," said Stewart. "Now that you told me that, I
have to go practice and not stare down receivers so he can't use that to
his advantage."
It's easier said than done to change a habit like that, but coach
Dan Reeves can't be happy that his 1-5 Falcons have a player who woofed
loud enough to light a fire under the league's 27th-ranked passing
offense and its 25th-rated passer.
Akili on a tear
Cincinnati rookie quarterback Akili Smith patted himself on the
chest again this week, but instead of directing his gesture toward
Cleveland rookie QB Tim Couch, this time he was pointing at his Bengals
teammates.
"I'm working hard, trying hard," Smith said in between sessions to
prepare for today's game against Indianapolis. "Some of the guys around
here aren't giving 100 percent. You can tell because it shows."
Needless to say, the Cincy vets weren't thrilled with that
assessment. Smith backpedaled some, saying he wasn't talking about
physical effort, but rather studying the playbook. And the rook seems to
be getting resistance to his idea for the Bengals' first team meeting
since before the season opener.
"I've been through enough team meetings," said defensive end John
Copeland. "Everybody goes in with something to say, and then what?"
"If you don't have it at the right time and for all the wrong
reasons, it will just turn into a gripe session," said linebacker Takeo
Spikes. "That's how I think fingers start getting pointed."
To get the offense pointed in the right direction, Smith needs to
get the ball to Darnay Scott and Carl Pickens deep -- Cincinnati has one
completion of longer than 30 yards this season, in large part because
opposing defenses are playing off the once big-play wideouts.
Quick hitters
Whatever happened to Captain Comeback? Jim Harbaugh was supposed to
make San Diego fans forget about Ryan Leaf's rookie antics and lead the
Chargers offense back to respectability. But Erik Kramer, signed as a
veteran afterthought, will start his third straight game despite
throwing interceptions to Seattle on his first four second-half
possessions last week, and despite Harbaugh's two cracked ribs feeling
better. Coach Mike Riley says he'll probably decide his starter on a
weekly basis.
Denver running back Olandis Gary, who has been starting for Derek
Loville, who had been starting for Davis, has picked up the nickname
"Baby Riggins" because he resembles bruising former Jets and Redskins
back John Riggins. . . . The Titans, on their bye week, are getting no
respect outside Tennessee despite their 5-1 record. Some Niners fans
held up "Drill The Oilers" signs when the Titans came calling Oct. 3,
and TV announcers have referred to coach Jeff Fisher as Jeff George and
Steve Fisher.
Bob McNair, awarded the Houston franchise that will begin play in
2002, was asked how tough a job it has been to bring NFL football back
to town. "Have you ever kicked over a fire ant hill?" McNair replied. "I
think that's the best description." The Houston Fire Ants. Hmmmm . . .
Keywords: FOOTBALL. PROFESSIONAL
Copyright 1999 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
SEESAW SEASONS BRING PATS, BRONCOS TOGETHERRANDY LANGE
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
10-24-1999
SEESAW SEASONS BRING PATS, BRONCOS TOGETHER
By RANDY LANGE
Date: 10-24-1999, Sunday
Section: SPORTS
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday
Column: AFC NOTEBOOK
In today's Bizarro Bowl, the New England Patriots play host to the
Denver Broncos.
The teams have been doing things exactly the opposite of each other
all season. Some (including this observer) thought the Patriots were
ready for a fall, but they won their first four games by two, three,
two, and 12 points. The Broncos, meanwhile, talked a good game about
three-peating without John Elway, then proceeded to lose their first
four.
Just when those trends had been established, New England lost to
Kansas City when Adam Vinatieri doinked what would have been a
game-winning kick off the Arrowhead Stadium upright. Then the Pats lost
to Miami, despite chasing an injured Dan Marino from the game, sacking
backup Damon Huard nine times, and returning two interceptions for
touchdowns.
Denver, meanwhile, went to Oakland without Terrell Davis and
Shannon Sharpe and trimmed the Raiders, then returned home and pummeled
the Packers.
Jerry Glanville is expected to reveal on "The NFL Today" on CBS
that the Pats have been practicing all season under a yellow sun, while
the Broncos have been working out under a red sun.
`There's parity," Pats linebacker Chris Slade said. "You're going
to get in little slumps. The key is getting out of them."
That's difficult for the Pats to do -- they've lost 11 straight to
the Broncs. To prevent a dirty dozen, and to take the wind out of the
latest anti-Pete Carroll storm, the Patriots know what they need to do:
score red-zone touchdowns and get more production out of a running game
that is hobbled by rookie Kevin Faulk's ankle and veteran Terry Allen's
fumbles.
It would also help if they gained the edge in the Kryptonite
Matchup of the Game between wide receiver Terry Glenn and Broncos corner
Dale Carter.
Glenn had been heralded by a few folks east of Keyshawn Johnson as
the best wideout in the league today, while Carter was being roasted as
an expensive free agent bust, especially after his losing battle with
Keyshawn two weeks ago.
But all of a sudden, Glenn had no catches last week against the
Dolphins while Carter, playing more man-to-man each game, did numbers on
the Raiders' Tim Brown and the Pack's Antonio Freeman.
"If I go into any game and try too hard, I know I won't succeed,"
Carter said. "I just have to be comfortable and relax and do what I'm
used to doing."
If he repeats what he did last week, getting his first interception
as a Bronco, he may become the Man of Steal.
Eyes on Kordell
Whose football fundamentals are less sound: Pittsburgh quarterback
Kordell Stewart for continuing to not look off his receivers, or big
mouth Atlanta cornerback Ray Buchanan for telling everyone about it
before the teams' Monday night matchup at Three Rivers Stadium?
"Yeah, he looks where he's throwing the ball -- he's pretty easy to
read," said Buchanan. "I'm going to let these receivers take me to the
football."
"I thank you, Ray," said Stewart. "Now that you told me that, I
have to go practice and not stare down receivers so he can't use that to
his advantage."
It's easier said than done to change a habit like that, but coach
Dan Reeves can't be happy that his 1-5 Falcons have a player who woofed
loud enough to light a fire under the league's 27th-ranked passing
offense and its 25th-rated passer.
Akili on a tear
Cincinnati rookie quarterback Akili Smith patted himself on the
chest again this week, but instead of directing his gesture toward
Cleveland rookie QB Tim Couch, this time he was pointing at his Bengals
teammates.
"I'm working hard, trying hard," Smith said in between sessions to
prepare for today's game against Indianapolis. "Some of the guys around
here aren't giving 100 percent. You can tell because it shows."
Needless to say, the Cincy vets weren't thrilled with that
assessment. Smith backpedaled some, saying he wasn't talking about
physical effort, but rather studying the playbook. And the rook seems to
be getting resistance to his idea for the Bengals' first team meeting
since before the season opener.
"I've been through enough team meetings," said defensive end John
Copeland. "Everybody goes in with something to say, and then what?"
"If you don't have it at the right time and for all the wrong
reasons, it will just turn into a gripe session," said linebacker Takeo
Spikes. "That's how I think fingers start getting pointed."
To get the offense pointed in the right direction, Smith needs to
get the ball to Darnay Scott and Carl Pickens deep -- Cincinnati has one
completion of longer than 30 yards this season, in large part because
opposing defenses are playing off the once big-play wideouts.
Quick hitters
Whatever happened to Captain Comeback? Jim Harbaugh was supposed to
make San Diego fans forget about Ryan Leaf's rookie antics and lead the
Chargers offense back to respectability. But Erik Kramer, signed as a
veteran afterthought, will start his third straight game despite
throwing interceptions to Seattle on his first four second-half
possessions last week, and despite Harbaugh's two cracked ribs feeling
better. Coach Mike Riley says he'll probably decide his starter on a
weekly basis.
Denver running back Olandis Gary, who has been starting for Derek
Loville, who had been starting for Davis, has picked up the nickname
"Baby Riggins" because he resembles bruising former Jets and Redskins
back John Riggins. . . . The Titans, on their bye week, are getting no
respect outside Tennessee despite their 5-1 record. Some Niners fans
held up "Drill The Oilers" signs when the Titans came calling Oct. 3,
and TV announcers have referred to coach Jeff Fisher as Jeff George and
Steve Fisher.
Bob McNair, awarded the Houston franchise that will begin play in
2002, was asked how tough a job it has been to bring NFL football back
to town. "Have you ever kicked over a fire ant hill?" McNair replied. "I
think that's the best description." The Houston Fire Ants. Hmmmm . . .
Keywords: FOOTBALL. PROFESSIONAL
Copyright 1999 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
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