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The more things change ...

Lots strange, but lots the same in this NFL season

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Posted: Wednesday November 24, 1999 10:12 AM

By John Donovan, CNN/SI

	• Storylines • Flags and Flattery • Direct Snaps • Must Sees & Mismatches • The Bottom Line

In a screwy NFL season that's making us feel just a little too much like Steve Young on a Tilt-A-Whirl, it's good to know that some things in the NFL never change ...

Raiders owner Al Davis still hasn't found a coach he can't drive off. If Jon Gruden makes it through this season without quitting or getting fired, THAT may be the story of the year.

The Bengals still stink. The last time this team was truly any good, Boomer Esiason was in the prime of his career. He's now in the prime of his broadcasting career.

Ryan Leaf still has his head in a very familiar position -- one where it should not be.

Miami still has no running game.

A flag football team still could run past Dan Wilkinson, who hasn't stopped a runner in six years in the league.

The NFC West has a new team at the top, but as a division, it's still the worst.

Emmitt Smith, you have to marvel, just keeps on running.

Brett Favre will keep on playing until somebody tells him to give it up already.

Every time you play Tampa Bay, you still have to keep an eye out for Warren Sapp.

Mike Holmgren, evidently, still has what it takes.

And the Glance still keeps asking the pertinent questions, like the one this week: Pass the stuffing, wouldja?

The answer: Sure, but not until we load up on a little stuffing ourselves.

T-Day Games One of America's greatest sports pastimes. Family, food and football. And to make it really hit home, a nice former family feud between Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson.

Oh, those Colts ... Peyton Manning is for real. Marvin Harrison could be his Jerry Rice. And how smart does Bill Polian look going for Edgerrin James over Ricky Williams?

... and those Jets Hey, that Ray Lucas guy can play quarterback. Question is, can the Jets play well enough to make a playoff push past the droopy Patriots?

Deep throats Now that the league has banned the out-of-hand throat-slashing gesture by players, what insulting, degrading, thoughtless motion will pop up next?

Flag -- Denver fans: Why is it that some dopes in cold weather cities with open-air stadiums always feel the need to fire snowballs at players on the field. Is it fun? Is it funny? Another reason to stay home.

Flag -- Lincoln Kennedy: The Raiders' offensive tackle was pelted with snowballs after the Monday nighter in Denver, heaping insult on injury. But then he went into the stands after some fans. No excuse for that.

Flag -- Ryan Leaf: We hereby reserve this space, every week, for the dunderheaded former wunderkind, who sprained his ankle in a flag-football game in which, we understand, he threw four interceptions, fumbled three times, was sacked twice and got into an argument with a passing German Shepherd.

Flag -- Mark Carrier: You know, being the dirtiest hitter in the league is not a good thing. Carrier has been rung up by the league four times in three years for spearing. We say the next fine ought to be making him play wideout and letting some safety take a cheap shot at him.

Flattery -- Martin Gramatica: When you have no offense, a kicker can be your best friend. The folks in Tampa Bay have a good one in their rookie Gramatica, whose strong leg may yet boot the Bucs into the playoffs.

Bravo to Colts coach Jim Mora, who sent a message that can't be ignored: Don't come in at 5 a.m.

If the Bengals gave Mike Holmgren $12 million a year and title of czar, could he make them a winner?

We're thinking here that Miami may be better without Dan Marino in the lineup -- at least for now.

See you later, Lawrence Phillips. Boy, did you blow it.

N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis (Sunday, 4:15 p.m. ET). The improving Jets meet everybody's darling, the high-scoring Colts. Indy can make a major statement here.

New England at Buffalo (Sunday, 1 p.m.). The Pats have to stop the bleeding, but Buffalo's a tough place to try to do it.

Atlanta at Carolina (Sunday, 8 p.m.). Huh? What? Oh, does someone besides the Rams play football in the NFC West?

This is no holiday for the Cowboys, who are in danger of missing the playoffs if they don't right their ship. And there are five other .500 teams who better start now or forget it. The real NFL season is about to begin.

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