NFL Exhibition Roundup : Peete Not Enough for Lions

Former USC quarterback Rodney Peete passed for 155 yards and a touchdown in his National Football League debut with the Detroit Lions, but two of his mistakes resulted in touchdowns in a 25-24 exhibition loss to the Cleveland Browns at Pontiac, Mich.

Defensive end Carl Hairston tackled the Lions’ Mike Utley, who had recovered a fumble by Peete in the end zone, for a safety in the first quarter to give Cleveland a 5-0 lead. Hairston also intercepted a pass from Peete in the second quarter and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown and a 15-7 lead.

Peete started the game and ran Detroit’s new stretch offense effectively. He completed 11 of 23 passes and threw for 141 of his 155 yards in the second quarter.

The Lions had 292 yards in the first half, more than they had in all but two games last season. Last season, the Lions had 299 yards against the San Francisco 49ers and 310 against the Chicago Bears in their two best offensive games of the season.

In a related development, Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders said he wants to play for the Lions despite contract problems. Sanders, the third pick in last spring’s draft, is working out in California and said he doesn’t think a deal will be reached soon.

Washington 21, Pittsburgh 14--Joe Mickles’ six-yard touchdown run with 5:32 remaining capped an 87-yard drive directed by reserve quarterback Stan Humphries as the Redskins won at Pittsburgh.

Humphries, who played the entire second half, completed passes of 17 and 26 yards to wideout Stephen Hobbs and a 14-yarder to Jimmie Johnson on the drive.

Indianapolis 31, New Orleans 7--Mike Prior intercepted two passes and returned one 53 yards for a touchdown to lead the Colts at New Orleans.

After Chris Chandler’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Clarence Verdin 3:14 into the game put the Colts ahead, Prior set up a 23-yard field goal by Dean Biasucci with his first interception and 19-yard return.

Prior made the score 17-0 late in the half by intercepting a pass by Dave Wilson and running untouched into the end zone.

Philadelphia 23, Atlanta 17--Quarterback Don McPherson threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes at Philadelphia for the Eagles’ second consecutive victory.

McPherson completed three straight passes--including a 15-yard touchdown play to Eric Bailey--to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive with 6:17 remaining.

Then McPherson threw a 41-yard pass to rookie Bill Hess, who was alone in the end zone, with 2:45 left for a 23-10 lead.

Randall Cunningham, playing only the first period, led the Eagles to scores on both possessions for a 10-0 lead.

Minnesota 23, Kansas City 13--Defensive end Chris Doleman ran 43 yards for a touchdown after stripping Chief quarterback Steve DeBerg of the ball as the Vikings won before 60,540 in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium at Memphis, Tenn.

Doleman’s play gave Minnesota a 10-3 halftime lead it did not relinquish.

Tampa Bay 41, Houston 23--Buccaneer quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who threw an NFC-record 35 interceptions in 1988, passed for two touchdowns and ran for another at Tampa Bay.

Testaverde completed nine of 22 passes for 137 yards with no interceptions, leaving the game after throwing scoring passes of 32 yards to Mark Carrier and 28 yards to Danny Peebles to help Tampa Bay to a 31-9 halftime lead.

Testaverde also ran two yards for a touchdown during a 24-point second quarter.

New York Giants 20, New England 17--Jeff Hostetler and Mike Perez threw touchdown passes, and Raul Allegre kicked two field goals as the Giants held off the Patriots at Foxboro, Mass.

The Giants played without starting quarterback Phil Simms, who is involved in a contract dispute.

Green Bay 28, New York Jets 27--Sterling Sharpe turned a short third-quarter pass from Anthony Dilweg into a 49-yard touchdown play to give the Packers a 21-20 lead at Milwaukee.

Jeff Smith’s two-yard run with 5:53 left made the score 28-20 before Kyle Mackey’s 15-yard pass to Randy Tanner closed the scoring with 2:56 to go.

The Jets’ Pat Leahy, who had kicked two field goals, missed from 44 yards with 17 seconds left.