INSIDE THE NFL
The Hot List
The buzz around the league this week
by Peter King
Posted: Wed September 17, 1997
1. THE BUCS The only other time Tampa Bay was 3-0, in 1979,
coach Tony Dungy was a 49ers defensive back. What a superb
architectural job by Dungy and personnel czar Jerry Angelo. The
defense is scary, and by drafting Mike (Larry Csonka) Alstott in
'96 and Warrick (Barry Sanders) Dunn this year, the Bucs have
taken much of the pressure off quarterback Trent Dilfer. With the emergence of the Bucs and the Jaguars, Jimmy
Johnson's Dolphins are the third-best team in Florida.
2. DUH BEARS Chicago is 0-3 for the first time since 1969.
Quarterback Erik Kramer was benched for Rick Mirer during
Sunday's 32-7 loss to the Lions. Running back Rashaan Salaam is
out for the season with a broken leg. With road games against
the Patriots and the Cowboys looming, it's looking more and more
like an 0 for September. Even with three years left on his
contract, coach Dave Wannstedt can't be feeling too comfortable.
3. ROD WOODSON He's finished all right. With the first
four-turnover game of his 11-year NFL career (three
interceptions and a fumble recovery in a little more than a
half's work against the Saints), the Steelers turned 49ers
cornerback added to his Canton résumé.
4. PATRIOT (HEAD) GAMES Bill Parcells apparently took Patriots
Poise down I-95 when he defected to Jetsville. New England may
be 3-0 after Sunday night's 27-24 overtime trimming of the Jets,
but what was with those 11 penalties, most notably the 15-yarder
Drew Bledsoe got for popping Jets strong safety Victor Green?
And what about first-year man Derrick Cullors's fumble on a
kickoff return—he shouldn't have even taken the ball out of the
end zone—late in regulation that should have cost New England
the game? Great teams don't do this intramural stuff.
5. MICHAEL WESTBROOK The third-year Washington wideout, who
doubled his career touchdown total with a pair of scores against
the Cardinals, enabled the Redskins to climb off the canvas with
his acrobatic game-winning reception in overtime. But how do you
explain those 2,000 or so empty seats for the inaugural game at
Jack Kent Cooke Stadium?
Issue date: September 22, 1997
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