The NFC and AFC leaders in class, grit and overachievement
retired under very different circumstances last Saturday.
Panthers linebacker Sam Mills had a 13-tackle day against the
Rams, while in Green Bay, Bills wideout Steve Tasker, the most
decorated special teams player in NFL history, was ejected for
bumping an official 97 seconds into Buffalo's game against the
Packers.
At the end of the Carolina game, Rams linebacker Roman Phifer
waded into the crowd that had assembled around the 38-year-old
Mills and said, "Mr. Mills, Mr. Mills!" before shaking his hand.
Later Phifer explained his deference to the 5'9" linebacker:
"That's respect, man." After getting cut by the Browns and the
CFL's Toronto Argonauts, Mills stood tall for 12 seasons with
the Saints and the Panthers. The end left him drained. "I'm all
cried out," he said.
Tasker, 35, had to chuckle after the emotions that fueled his
kamikaze 13-year career betrayed him against Green Bay. Angry
when officials ruled that a punt he didn't field grazed the back
of a teammate—the Packers recovered the ball for a
touchdown—Tasker charged the crew. When he bumped back judge
Tom Sifferman, Tasker was tossed, as the rules mandate. "I want
to apologize to my wife," he said afterward. "It was her last
game too."
Issue date: December 29, 1997
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