1. I think Randy
Moss is one of the five real difference-makers in the game today. Just
for fun, in order, I'd say the biggest impact players/difference-makers
today are Terrell
Davis, Brett Favre, Barry Sanders, Moss and Deion Sanders.
2. I think I wish Deion Sanders was going to be healthy for his
first-ever faceoff against Moss on Thanksgiving afternoon in Dallas, but it
looks as though his aching foot -- which caused him to sit the second half
of Sunday's Dallas win over Seattle -- will either cripple or sideline him
for this one. Remember what Bobby Bowden said? Deion, of course,
was a Seminole All-America, and Moss was briefly in the program before his
scholarship was stripped. Bowden said they're the two best athletes he's
ever had on his team.
3. I think even though the Dolphins are 7-3 entering tonight's
crucial game at New England, Jimmy Johnson hasn't stopped trying
to improve his team. When the 49ers tried to sneak speedy wideout Iheanyi Uwaezuoke (say
that three times fast) and one of the league's best special-teams players,
Curtis Buckley, through
waivers 10 days ago, Johnson claimed both. The Dolphins and Atlanta claimed
Uwaezuoke, and Miami was awarded him because Atlanta, by virtue of a better
record, was behind Miami in the waiver-claim procedure. Three teams claimed
Buckley, whom the 49ers wanted to waive, then sign for a lesser salary --
the Giants, Dolphins and Falcons. The Giants, because of their woeful
record, got him.
4. I think the most-asked question I get around the country is:
Why are the Falcons so good? Now, assuming Chris Chandler is okay
after limping off the field Sunday, Atlanta is winning with a ball-control
offense and, mostly, an intimidating defense that has surprisingly few
holes. ''Defensively, they don't give you much running room and they can
rush the passer,'' said New England coach Pete Carroll ,
mandhandled by the Birds 15 days ago. "Their defensive line does a
great job getting upfield and that allows them to play a more conservative
style of defense. Because they can rely on their defensive linemen getting
upfield and pressuring the quarterback they don't get in situations where
they're gambling and can be exploited. They can play a zone defense that is
difficult to beat deep. Most of the time they play off and don't have to
gamble because of their ability to rush with four linemen. They have two
very experienced safeties so they don't give up the big play very often.
You can't really find a glaring area of weakness you can go after. They're
solid everywhere on defense. They don't make mistakes on defense because of
their experience and because of their scheme.'' Couldn't have said it
better myself.
5. I think if I'm an NFL owner, here's the one thing I learn from
the Ryan Leaf saga:
Before I throw $12 million at a 21-year-old quarterback and make him the
keystone to the future of my $500-million business, I shadow him -- legally
-- for two weeks to make sure he doesn't have a dark side. Which,
obviously, Leaf has.
6. I think Sunday at the Metrodome I felt the most intense
atmosphere as I've felt at a regular-season game this year. I also think
the league has to do something about its excessive-crowd-noise rule.
Enforce it or take it off the books.
7. I think it's interesting what a difference a year makes in the
head-coaching prospects of coordinators. A year ago, Washington's Mike
Nolan seemed a lock for a head job in the next year or two. After the
Cards put a 45-spot on his dog defense, Nolan, through not much fault of
his own, would be lucky if Slippery Rock hired him now.
8. I think the most meaningless quarterback change in memory is Kent Graham for Danny Kanell. Mr. Ed
could have quarterbacked the Giants past the Eagles Sunday. Make that
Mr. Ed with Wilbur Post on his back. "Poor Danny,'' Brett
Favre said last week, a few days after the Giants' 34-point loss to the
Pack. "He never had a chance back there.'' That offensive line is so
leaky that it doesn't matters who's throwing behind it. The long ray of
sunshine for this unit? The Giants could have center Brian Williams--one of the
game's 10 best in 1996--return in 1999 after a two-year absence due to
double-vision in his left eye. After two surgeries, the problem is abating,
and he'll see a specialist in December to see if he can come back.
"It's hard not to be optimistic,'' Williams said.
9. I think I heard from a very credible general manager this
weekend that the new coach of the Philadephia Eagles will be Pittsburgh
defensive coordinator Jim Haslett .
10. I think Charlie Batch will be in
the Pro Bowl in 14 1/2 months.
Now for the MMQB Top 10:
1. Denver Broncos
(11-0)
2. Minnesota Vikings
(10-1)
Big line of demarcation.
______________________________________________________________________
Big enough? Okay. Let's move on:
3. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
4. Atlanta
Falcons (9-2)
5. Green Bay Packers
(7-4)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
(8-3)
7. San
Francisco 49ers (8-3)
8. Miami Dolphins
(7-3)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
(7-4)
10. New York
Jets (7-4)
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