NFL ’91 Is Weird, Wacky

I t happened in the National Football League in 1991 . . .

Still the Best Backup Quarterback of All-Time: When Joe Montana hurt his arm, Steve Young’s reputation was quick to follow. Thrust out of his parka and into the starting lineup, Young was 4-6 for the 49ers--so-so in most cities but a sacrilege in San Francisco--before an injury mercifully interceded. In comes Steve Bono and the 49ers promptly go 5-0. Now, Bono’s hurt and Young gets to come off the bench once more. The role, apparently, was one he was born to play.

When the Saints Go Tuning Out: The fade pattern isn’t a page in the New Orleans playbook; very nearly, it became the title of the Saints’ 1991 highlight film. From 9-1 and NFC final-bound to 9-5 and on the edge of the earth, the Saints finally backed into the playoffs when Bobby Hebert, erstwhile prodigal son, rode to the rescue against the Raiders. By now, Hebert’s 1990 holdout has been forgiven and forgotten, but what about that ’92 contract? Cha-Ching!

One-Man Team: After 15 games, New Orleans linebacker Pat Swilling has 15 sacks. With one more today, he ties the entire Rams’ defense.

Jimmy Johnson, Smartest Coach in Football: Two years removed from 1-15, his Cowboys are 10-5 with the league’s only victory over the Washington Redskins, a game Johnson won with his backup quarterback.

Jimmy Johnson, Dumbest Coach in Football: His backup quarterback, Steve Beuerlein, is Sid Gillman’s choice as best young quarterback in the game. No. 2 on Gillman’s list? Troy Aikman, Johnson’s starting quarterback.

Hey, He Was Undefeated This Season: Buddy Ryan never won a playoff game with the Philadelphia Eagles, pulled Randall Cunningham in a 20-6 wild-card loss to Washington last season and couldn’t buy a job offer once he was fired. So he sits out 1991, waits for Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and the Rams to slip into the tank, and now he’s hailed as the no-nonsense miracle healer who single-handedly masterminded an NFC East dynasty. Don’t come, Buddy. Stay out one more year and Canton will be calling. Stay out two and they’ll rename the Lombardi Trophy after you.

Fritz vs. Fisher: To blitz or not to blitz. To play the 3-4 or the 4-3. Who had the right idea and who was wrong--those are the questions. With one game to go in 1991, a comparative study: Fritz Shurmur in Phoenix: 23rd-ranked defense in the NFL, 317 points allowed, 4-11 record. Jeff Fisher in Anaheim: 24th-ranked defense, 367 points, 3-12 record. Could the problem be, oh, I don’t know-- the players?

Please Allow Six Weeks for Delivery: It took Jim Everett six weeks (bye included) to throw his first touchdown pass of the season. The historic date: Oct. 13. The historic recipient: tight end Jim Price. The historic opponent: the San Diego Chargers. Historical footnote: The Rams did not win another game after Oct. 13. Any conclusions drawn will be your own.

Ronnie Lott Update: He led the league in interceptions with eight. He led the Raiders back to the playoffs. He was voted into his 10th Pro Bowl and is soon expected to become the first player to be named All-Pro at three positions. But he was too old for the 49ers and he would have retarded the development of the Rams’ young defensive backfield.

Handily, He Had the Answer to the Giants’ Problems on the Tip of His Tongue: Isolated as they are on the Right Coast, New York sportswriters have declared Ray Handley’s rookie season as the Giants’ head coach “a disaster.” OK, so they lost to the Rams. They also beat San Francisco, Houston and Dallas and broke even--eight victories, eight defeats. No matter, the tabloids even had Handley believing it by season’s end. “Obviously, a coach is responsible for discipline,” Handley said after a 34-17 loss to 14-1 Washington, “and our discipline has gone to hell.”

Why the Raiders Won’t Be Returning to the AFC Final--or, What’s a Nine-Letter Word That Rhymes With “Your Line”? Into the void, with home-field advantage at stake against Kansas City, steps freshman Todd Marinovich, a redshirt no more. Steve Beuerlein, we know where you’ve gone. What we still want to know is why.

And Chuck Long Went Three Months Without a Job: Q: How many men does it take to replace Randall Cunningham? A: Five, and the job’s not done yet. In rough order of effectiveness: Jim McMahon, Jeff Kemp, Pat Ryan, Brad Goebel, David Archer.

Ram MVP (Yes, We Found One): When Cleveland Gary fumbled the ball, Robert Delpino picked it up and ran with it as far as he could, until basic fatigue and contusions caught him from behind. In 15 games, Delpino has rushed for 679 yards. That’s more than Eric Dickerson, James Brooks, Roger Craig, Reggie Cobb and Barry Word--but about 300 less than, ahem, Gaston Green.

What Good Is the Record If You’re Broken? In Houston, Haywood Jeffires caught so many passes from Warren Moon that Art Monk’s single-season record of 106 receptions was placed in jeopardy. So, in the process, was Jeffires’ bodily well-being--so much, in fact, that by early December, Jeffires had a request: Please, coach, could you run the ball a little more?

Greene and Gray--The Colors Flew in Philadelphia, Anyway: Lost in the transition from Shurmur to Fisher were Kevin Greene and Jerry Gray, the Rams’ two most-decorated active defensive players. Semi-active, at any rate. Too small for a down lineman, Greene was shunted to a part-time pass-rushing role, his sack totals dropping from 13 in 1990 to two in 1991. Gray, a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback, lost his job to Todd Lyght and was dabbling at backup free safety by season’s end. Most likely, when John Robinson leaves, Greene and Gray will follow.

Prediction--Hawks to Win NBA Title: From worst to first in baseball, from worst to first in football, Atlanta’s Braves and Falcons are the comeback players of the year. One dilemma for the Hawks, though: Deion Sanders doesn’t play point guard.

Prediction II--Redskins to Win Super Bowl: They will beat last season’s runner-up, Buffalo, and they will do it with room to spare. Which, no doubt, is a load off Scott Norwood’s mind.