SPOTLIGHT : A GLANCE AT THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

ANOTHER FAMOUS COWBOY ENDS HIS HOLDOUT

After only four years of negotiations, Tom Landry’s name went up on the Ring of Honor in Texas Stadium Sunday.

Landry, fired by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when he bought the team in 1989, hadn’t been in Texas Stadium since, turning down several invitations from Jones before relenting.

Landry now claims he wasn’t bitter at Jones. It was just that: “We just never came together. It was one of those situations where I took a different path.”

Said Jones, more candidly: “I visited with Coach Landry. We both agreed this isn’t an issue of endorsing me.”

However, it did comes as close to an endorsement as Jones could make it. He and Landry walked onto the field together, arm-in-arm with a Cowboy cheerleader. Jones gave a speech presenting Landry and then helped him into his official Ring of Honor blue blazer.

Nevertheless, fans, still upset by the Emmitt Smith holdout, booed Jones.

Old-time Cowboys were also irritated when invitations to the event came with a picture of Jones and Coach Jimmy Johnson and their Super Bowl trophy, rather than one of Landry.

The Ring of Honor was started by then-team president Tex Schramm, who was also fired by Jones. Schramm didn’t take part in the ceremony, watching from his private box.

ADD FORGETTABLE QUOTES

The Giants, smarting at being 10-point underdogs going into Dallas despite each having 5-2 records, took the occasion to vow pay back to Johnson.

“Jimmy Johnson is a coach that when you’re down, he’ll keep kicking and stomping,” said linebacker Corey Miller. “We’ll remember what happened last year.”

Last year, the Cowboys routed the Giants, 30-3 on Thanksgiving and angered them by blitzing reserve quarterback Dave Brown late in the game.

“It’s a simple deal,” said Johnson. “They were trying to score, we were trying to stop them. I did not see the quarterback take a knee. If the quarterback takes a knee, we stop blitzing. I didn’t see anybody pull back on us in 1989 (Johnson’s first season when the Cowboys went 1-15).”

Miller also said the Dallas defense wasn’t as good as its statistics.

Unamused at the exchange was Giant Coach Dan Reeves.

“I told Corey I was going to start him at fullback,” said Reeves. “He’s on defense. I don’t know what he knows about their defense.”

Apparently, not much.

The Cowboys held the Giants without a touchdown and beat them, 31-9.

IN NEW ENGLAND, A DOGHOUSE FOR ALL 47

After seven losses in eight games, Patriot Coach Bill Parcells began letting his players know how upset he was last week.

He cut linebacker Chris Singleton, the team’s No. 1 pick in 1990.

He started Scott Secules at quarterback, even though ’93 No. 1 pick Drew Bledsoe was healthy.

Sunday the Patriots made it eight losses in nine games, losing to the Bills in overtime, 13-10.

Said Parcells of defensive back Reyna Thompson, beaten by Andre Reed on a 46-yard pass to set up the winning field goal: “He fell asleep, That’s what happens. That’s the kind of team we are right now.”

LION ON THE MOVE

After gaining 187 yards against the Buccaneers, Detroit’s Barry Sanders needs 23 in his next game to become the third back ever to gain 1,000 yards in his first five seasons.

The first two were Eric Dickerson and Tony Dorsett.

Of course, Sanders may not show up for the next game. He wants a new contract and may walk out during the Lions’ upcoming bye week.

Sanders coyly refuses to say.

“I don’t really have anything to say about it,” he said. “I feel like any time is a good time to get things cleared up. I feel like it’s going to get done during the break. If not, soon afterward.

“Factually, I’ve never gone to the coaches and said I’ll walk out. So, it’s mostly speculation.”

Since the speculation comes from Sanders’ agent, David Ware, it can’t be discounted entirely.

IN THE SHULA FAMILY, A BAD DAY ALL AROUND

Of course, for Miami’s Don Shula, Sunday’s loss to the Jets just meant a bad day in a good season.

For his 35-year-old son, David, coach of the Bengals, now also known as the Bungles, it was the worst day of his worst season.

The Bengals rolled to a 16-0 lead over the Steelers, then fell, 24-16.

David is now 5-19 lifetime. His father, a hard act to follow, is 324-152-6.

A young man who can appreciate irony when he sees it, David said last week as his father went after George Halas’ all-time record and he went after his first victory of the season: “There’ll be ugly comparisons, I realize that.”

He says he talks to his father weekly, although there isn’t much dad can tell him.

“He’s never really gone through a time like this,” said David. “He really can’t relate.”

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, JOE MONTANA?

In Kansas City, they’re beginning to wonder about the wisdom of paying a 37-year-old quarterback $4.8 million a year if he can’t play in most of the games.

Joe Montana and Dave Krieg have now split the season evenly but Montana is expected to sit out the rest of November, resting his chronically-sore left hamstring.

The Chiefs haven’t lost a game in which Montana took more snaps than Krieg. The Chiefs’ two losses came at Denver, where Krieg started, and at Miami, where Montana was knocked out in the first half.

Montana is reportedly upset at suggestions the team is babying him. But huffy Chiefs officials say they never imagined Montana wouldn’t ever get hurt and they have full confidence in Krieg.

However, the numbers make it clear how much more effective Montana has been.

Both players have quarterbacked 39 possessions.

In Montana’s, the Chiefs have totaled 75 first downs, 1,311 yards, seven touchdowns and seven field goals, for 63 points.

In Krieg’s, they have 54 first downs, 804 yards, four touchdowns and four field goals, for 36 points.

Not that there isn’t a difference between the Hall-of-Famer-to-be and the journeyman, but Krieg is also handicapped by being new to an offense that Montana has run for years.

“Joe knows where his third and fourth receiver is going to be,” says wideout Willie Davis. “Dave is looking for his first and second receiver.”

A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT

Since Emmitt Smith’s return, the Cowboys are 6-0 and have outscored opponents, 139-67. Troy Aikman hasn’t thrown an interception.

The Lions’ 7-2 start is their best since 1962.

The Broncos have beaten the Browns in 14 of their last 16, including eight of 10 in Cleveland.

Bobby Ross, whose Chargers beat the Vikings, was set to follow Lou Holtz at the University of Minnesota in 1985 but decided not to come when players said they wanted defensive coordinator John Gutekunst. Gutekunst was fired in 1991. Ross won a share of the 1990 national title at Georgia Tech.

Don Shula has averaged 10.6 wins in his 31 seasons, winning an average of 10.6 per season. George Halas averaged 8.1 in 40 seasons. Landry, No. 3 with 270 wins, averaged 9.3 in 29.

The winningest active coach is the Rams’ Chuck Knox at 186.

THEY SAID IT (HONEST)

Colt quarterback Jeff George, whose holdout angered teammates: “The faster people let that go, the faster we’re going to start winning.”

David Shula on the Bengals’ season: “I fully expected we would have won more than we’ve won--which is none.”

Viking linebacker Carlos Jenkins, after dropping two interceptions against the Chargers: “I’ve got to work on my hands.”

Jerry Jones, on this season’s woes: “One of the problems is the bye weeks. Any time we’re not playing, people have got to find something to write about the Cowboys.”

Don Shula: “I give ulcers, I don’t get ‘em.”