Some old dogs making the grade
Posted: Wed December 3, 1997 at 2:57 PM ET
Remember the big story heading into this season? How several legendary old coaches were setting out to revive some of the NFL's worst teams?
Well, here's an updated report card: Atlanta is 5-8 under Dan Reeves and so are the Saints under Mike Ditka, and that's two more wins than either team had all of last season. So give these guys a C-plus.
Meanwhile, the Rams have gone backwards under Dick Vermeil. D-minus.
As for Bill Parcells, if the injury-plagued Jets win the AFC East, it would be the single greatest turnaround in NFL history and would give the Jets their first division title since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. An A-plus for Parcells. What accounts for th
e Jets' success? When I asked defensive back Aaron Glenn, he just shrugged and said, "It's Bill. It's all Bill."
Armstead Pro-Bowl bound?
The Giants have not had a player named to the Pro Bowl since 1993. But that streak should end this year. Linebacker Jesse Armstead leads the team in tackles and has displayed the kind of raw power and instincts that can take over a game.
Still, Armstead fits perfectly into the Giants team concept under laid back coach Jim Fassel. Off the field he's a thoughtful guy who has helped raise more than $100,000 for New York City's Ronald McDonald house for terminally ill children.
Woozy but tough
Having watched game film from their win over the Cardinals, some of the Steelers are still amazed at the toughness displayed by Jake Plummer. The Cardinal QB was sacked a team-record 10 times on
Sunday and Arizona is now on track to surpass the club record of 81 sacks allowed in a season. That is also be the second worst mark in league history.
Said Pittsburgh defensive end Nolan Harrison: "We would clean his clock and Jake would just get back up. We were amazed." Well, Plummer didn't completely weather the onslaught. Woozy from the
pounding in overtime, he handed the ball off to the wrong back, which may have cost the Cards the game.
Playoff scenario
How about this playoff scenario. The Broncos could become the first 13-game winner in NFL history to play a wildcard game. If the 10-2 Chiefs beat Oakland, San Diego and New Orleans and the Broncos lose one of their remaining games, KC would win the divis
ion and get homefield advantage. That means the Broncos would have to play twice on the road, without a bye to reach the Super Bowl.
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