Playing in Pain, a la Lombardi

A Miami Dolphins publicist once said of Don Shula, “He has a high tolerance for other people’s pain.”

To hear Len Hauss, the same could have been said of Vince Lombardi. Hauss, former Washington Redskins center, told the Sporting News about a game in 1969 when Lombardi pulled him aside before the kickoff.

“Let me see your arm,” Lombardi said to Hauss, who was suffering from a pinched nerve. “It’s atrophying, all right. I’ve had this happen to a player before, so I want you to get it looked at.”

As he walked away, Lombardi turned and said, “After the season, of course.”

Add Injuries: Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth, on his slow recovery from a shoulder injury: “It’s like shopping with your grandmother. You hurry up and wait.”

Add Seahawks: If you watched Sunday night’s Seattle-Denver game on ESPN, did you think Steve Largent gave it a little extra when he hit Mike Harden and separated him from the ball after the Denver safety intercepted a pass? You’re right.

Last year, Harden was fined $5,000 for a hit on Largent that left the receiver with a concussion and a broken face mask, not to mention numerous visits to the dentist.

Said Largent Sunday night: “I was definitely trying to hit him as hard as I possibly could. For that tackle tonight, I’d be glad to send him his $5,000.”

Trivia Time: When Dallas scored its first Super Bowl win, what three players who would make the Pro Football Hall of Fame were involved in the 2 touchdown pass plays by the Cowboys? (Answer below.)

How bad are the Washington Bullets? Says Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post: “The Bullets are at least three players away from being a contender, and two of them are Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.”

From Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe: “Eddie Murray left Baltimore with the same lack of class he demonstrated his last 2 years in Crabtown. After it was announced that Murray had been dealt to Los Angeles, publicists arranged a conference call. Murray insisted that Baltimore writers be banned from the phone hookup. Baltimore scribes requested a pool reporter, and Murray again said no. When they proposed a pool reporter who would not ask questions, Murray said no for a third time.”

The greatest player in Ram history? Bob Waterfield? Norm Van Brocklin? Elroy Hirsch?

In a poll of 300 national football writers, the pick was Eric Dickerson. On defense, it was Merlin Olsen.

The poll was taken by the Travelers, which sponsors the NFL man-of-the-year award. Selections were made for all 28 teams.

The picks for the Raiders were Ken Stabler and Willie Brown.

The only receiver picked on offense was Steve Largent of Seattle. The only interior lineman picked was John Hannah of New England.

Trivia Answer: Roger Staubach threw touchdown passes to Lance Alworth and Mike Ditka as Dallas beat Miami, 24-3, in 1972.

Quotebook

Defensive end Dexter Manley of the Washington Redskins, complaining that he constantly is being held: “If I were commissioner, all offensive linemen guilty of holding would get 30 days in jail or 1 week coached by Mike Ditka.”