The Week That Was

TEXILED

As usual this fall, Tex Schramm spent Sunday in exile. He woke up about 8:30, walked four miles through his woodsy suburban Dallas neighborhood, returned home for half a grapefruit and toast, and drove with his wife, Marty, to Texas Stadium for the Cowboys' game against the Dolphins. He sat in the suite (number 280, right next to the press box) his family had occupied at the stadium during the final 18 years of his career as Cowboy president. His seat put him about 40 feet and a glass partition away from Dallas's new boss, Jerry Jones, who sat for a while in the press box. That used to be Schramm's haunt, but he doesn't go in there or in the Cowboys' locker room anymore. Jones and he had a parting of the ways last spring after Jones bought the team, and Schramm now heads the NFL's fledgling World League of American Football. All that remains for him at Texas Stadium is his luxury suite.

"It's a strange feeling, one I haven't been able to describe properly yet," he said as he watched Dallas take an early 14-3 lead. Schramm swept his hand toward the field. "You live this for 29 years. You were part of creating it. It's strange to think it's no longer. When I look out there, it's kind of like a dream, a nightmare. Sometimes I can't believe it isn't the same anymore.

"Everybody says, "Gee, great, now you can retire." Well, when you retire, you're supposed to retire and do something you want. This is what I want. My life is being in the arena. I miss this."

Miami came back to win 17-14. The defeat, sealed by Dolphin running back Sammie Smith's one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, dropped the Cowboys to 1-10, while resurgent Miami gained a first-place tie with Buffalo in the AFC East.

Does Schramm still root for Dallas? "I'm human," he said, smiling. "I'm mixed."

IT'S GETTING GRIZZLY
The Buccaneers' 32-31 victory over the Bears capped a sweep of a season series with Chicago for the first time in Tampa Bay's 14-year history. But this may have been the game's most amazing stat: After Bears quarterback Mike Tomczak was benched a month ago, backup Jim Harbaugh played almost 15 quarters and threw two touchdown passes. Upon replacing Harbaugh in the fourth quarter Sunday, Tomczak tossed three TD passes in three minutes.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

?After the Browns played the Chiefs to a 10-10 tie, the first words to the press out of Cleveland coach Bud Carson's mouth were, "It was a tough one to lose."

?The Eagles beat the Vikings 10-9 despite the failures of kicker Steve DeLine, who replaced Luis Zendejas after Week 8. DeLine missed field goals from 45, 32 and 45 yards and isn't planning a long stay in Philadelphia. "I don't buy green bananas," he said.