PRO FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT

IT’S NOT NICE TO FOOL WITH MOTHER NATURE OR PRIME TIME

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, spit into the wind or get Deion Sanders upset.

Sanders returned to Atlanta on Sunday as a 49er, to be booed by a sellout crowd of ex-fans and reviled by ex-teammates. He treated them all to a prime Prime Time performance, including a fight with Andre Rison, followed by an interception, which he returned 93 yards for a touchdown in the 49ers’ 42-3 rout.

Sanders finished his touchdown run with the usual high-step, pulling a groin muscle in the process, obliging him to leave before he could pop any more bubbles.

The Falcons, off to a 4-2 start, led the NFC in interceptions--four by Sanders’ old backup, Vinnie Clark--and obviously forgot who they were running their mouths about, with Sanders’ friends, Rison and linebacker Jessie Tuggle, leading the choir.

Tuggle said Sanders had never been committed to the Falcons.

Rison said Sanders’ departure “might be one of the best things that ever happened to this team.”

Asked what he might say to his old buddy, Rison replied, “I ain’t into kissing up so, whatever he wants to do.”

A wounded Prime Time protested his innocence before the game.

“Yeah it hurt,” said Sanders. “I mean because I gave my all to these guys and then some. For them to say I wasn’t a team player--I mean, what else do I have to do, come and pick you up and take you to the damn game?”

Sanders made his point in the game. Afterward, he embraced Rison on the field.

Memo to Rison: Before your next meeting, concentrate on the good times you and he had.

BRING ON THE OILERS

The Falcons’ four victories have come against the Rams (twice), Redskins and Buccaneers.

AN AFTERNOON WITH THE BUNGLES

That victory teams get each week against the Bengals does come in handy.

The problem is: Whatever they have might be contagious.

Ask the Steelers, who struggled to a 14-10 victory in Three Rivers Stadium that almost had the winners fighting among each other.

Pittsburgh quarterback Neil O’Donnell was sacked eight times by a defense that had three all season and ranked No. 26 overall. The Steelers didn’t score in the second half.

“That team shouldn’t even be on the ball field with us,” Steeler linebacker Greg Lloyd said. “We’ve got to come out and hit them in the mouth and choke ‘em and put them out of the game in a hurry. We let ourselves get in a dogfight with an 0-5 team and that’s scary.”

Linebacker Kevin Greene, trying to inspire the offensive unit, even went into its huddle to deliver a pep talk.

Apparently, it wasn’t inspiration the offense was looking for.

Said O’Donnell: “John L. (Williams) yelled to him, ‘Get the hell out of here!’ ”

Note: Of the Bengals’ eight sacks, top pick Dan (Big Daddy) Wilkinson had none.

SHORT HONEYMOON IN K.C.

The Chiefs’ failure to score a touchdown in two games isn’t going down well in Kansas City, where the natives are turning analytical.

“It’s time for Marcus Allen to take on a supporting role,” wrote the Kansas City Star’s Jason Whitlock.

“At 38, Joe Montana doesn’t handle a pass rush, no matter how tame, like a 28-year-old.”

Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer says he’ll split playing time 50-50 between the 34-year-old Allen and rookie Greg Hill.

“That’s a positive step,” writes Whitlock. “But not quite enough. The load should be about 75-25 in Hill’s favor.”

TONIGHT’S GAME

Kansas City at Denver

6 p.m., Channel 7

This isn’t exactly the way John Elway and Joe Montana would have liked to face off.

They have been quarterbacks in seven Super Bowls. Only last season each led their team to the playoffs.

This year they are on the edge of mediocrity. Montana (6) and Elway (5) have thrown as many interceptions as they have touchdowns. Three of Elway’s interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

The Chiefs (3-2) rolled to a 3-0 start before losing their last two without scoring a touchdown.

The Broncos (1-4) won in Seattle last week for their first victory.

Leonard Russell had Denver’s first 100-yard rushing game last week, gaining 103 yards.

Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer, the former Browns coach, is 0-7 at Mile High Stadium. Two of those Brown-outs were in the playoffs. The Broncos have defeated the Chiefs 11 consecutive games at Mile High--six of the last seven have been decided by six points.

“I’m not coming,” Schottenheimer joked. “I’m staying home. Bob Moore, our PR guy, will be in charge of all sideline operations.”

But Mile High is losing its mystique. Despite having the NFL’s best home-record since 1976, the Broncos have lost their last three home games and five of their last eight.

NOTEWORTHY

Plugging the holes: When Miami held the Raiders to a field goal after the Raiders had a first-and-goal from the Dolphin three in the opening period, it marked the first time in 13 occasions this season that a Miami opponent did not score a touchdown after having a first-and-goal. . . . Man with a porpoise: Miami’s Keith Byars caught a pass in his 110th consecutive game, the seventh-longest streak in history. . . . With 150 yards on the ground, Bernie Parmalee joined Terry Kirby as the second Dolphin running back to surpass the 100-yard mark this year. It’s the first time since 1981 that two Dolphins have had 100-yard games in the same season. . . . But think of all the frequent flyer miles: Counting preseason, this was the fourth road trip of more than 3,000 miles, and the second in as many weeks, for the Raiders, who posted a 21-17 victory in New England last Sunday. . . . With six receptions, Tim Brown increased his total to 257 and moved into fourth place on the list of Raider wide receivers. Next at No. 3 with 461 is Todd Christensen. . . . The Rams’ highest point total of the season is 19. It is the first time in franchise history they have failed to score at least 20 points in their first seven games. . . . After 5,000 yards, you rotate your cleats: The Rams’ Jessie Hester caught one pass for 12 yards in the final three minutes of the game, giving him exactly 5,000 career receiving yards and at least one catch in 69 consecutive games. . . . Now, if we could just schedule all our games against the Bengals: The Falcons are now 0-2 against teams with winning records, having been outscored 72-13. . . . The Bills are 0-3 when Thurman Thomas fails to rush for 100 yards. . . . But we get so tired late in the game: Indianapolis has been outscored 73-13 in the fourth quarter. . . . Moving up the charts: Art Monk caught two passes Sunday, giving the Jet receiver a streak of 171 games with a reception. He is six short of Steve Largent’s record. . . . The Bengals are 2-19 in the AFC Central since 1991. . . . From the “I’ve got it, I’ve got it, I don’t got it” dept.: On a strange play late in the third quarter, Bengals Carl Pickens and Corey Sawyer stood five feet apart signaling for a fair catch on a punt neither caught. The ball bounced off the helmet of defender Dwight Stone and finally was covered by Cincinnati’s Fernandus Vinson. . . . Darrell Green had two interceptions, breaking the Redskins’ team record for interceptions with 37. Brig Owens had 36 from 1966-1977. . . . With his second-quarter touchdown run, Emmitt Smith established a Cowboy record with eight consecutive games with at least one touchdown. The old mark was held by Frank Clarke and Bob Hayes. . . . Smith also assumed second place on the club’s rushing list with 6,276 yards, moving past Don Perkins. Tony Dorsett is the leader with 12,036 yards. Cutting them off with the pass: Troy Aikman has thrown a touchdown pass in 12 consecutive games, a Cowboy record. Roger Staubach and Don Meredith had the previous mark.

HE REGRETS HE ONLY HAS ONE BODY TO GIVE THE EAGLES

Former Eagle Coach Dick Vermeil once estimated a running back’s prime lasts about four seasons.

Current Eagle Coach Rick Kotite seems determined to hurry his rookie sensation, Charlie Garner, through his.

As a senior at Tennessee, Garner, a tyke at 5-9, 180, averaged 14 carries a game. He averaged 7.3 yards a carry as a senior and might have gone in the first round if he hadn’t tested positive for marijuana at a pre-draft camp. The Eagles got him in the second, although some scouts compared him to Marshall Faulk.

Garner also had a rap of being as injury-prone, which was quickly borne out. Hurt in an exhibition, he didn’t play until the fourth game of the season.

He then burst onto the scene, running for 111 and 122 yards in his first two games.

Kotite made sure he didn’t lack for opportunity, running him 11 times by halftime of a 40-8 rout of the 49ers, 28 in a victory over the Redskins.

Kotite, once nicknamed Uptite by the Philadelphia press, then blew up when asked about it.

“I did it because that’s what you (reporters) always wanted me to have, a guy carry the load,” said Kotite. “And if he steps on the field, that’s what he’s going to do.

“This is unbelievable. I’ve got to reflect on all the news conferences here. I mean, this is really unbelievable.”

A skeptic might wonder if Kotite, a holdover from the Norman Braman days, is trying to save his job under new owner Jeffrey Lurie. Garner suffered a hairline fracture of a rib against the Redskins and took a shot of pain-killer to keep playing.

Garner said he wouldn’t take another shot but would take codeine pills. His shoulder pads were modified to afford more protection. An electronic monitor was placed under pads to stimulate his blood flow.

He ran 17 times for 57 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys. Medical science marches on.

RAIDERS WILL BE RAIDERS

Sunday’s argument between Jeff Hostetler and Art Shell recalls other days in Raider history when such fights were more common.

Former Raider quarterback Jim Plunkett remembers when he screamed at one of his linemen, as Hostetler also did Sunday.

In Plunkett’s case, it was Shell.

“I was the quarterback,” said Plunkett on his KFI radio call-in show, “so situations are a little bit different.

“I’m the quarterback so I’m the boss on the field. That’s how every quarterback should look at it. And we got into an argument and we were yelling and screaming at each other.”

Plunkett said he went to Shell later and told him it wasn’t personal.

“That’s what hopefully Art Shell and Jeff Hostetler are going to do,” Plunkett said.

INJURY REPORT

Steeler Barry Foster, on a pace for 1,500 yards, twisted his left knee on his first carry against the Bengals and is expected to miss at least two games.

QUOTEWORTHY

“Luckily, the coach stuck with me and I was able to redeem myself.”

--Arizona quarterback Steve Beuerlein, demoted, called a cancer and then reinstated by Coach Buddy Ryan, after throwing three interceptions, then a touchdown pass to tie the score with 19 seconds left, enabling the Cardinals to defeat the Redskins.

“Five interceptions. Geez, that’s tough. Three’s the most I’ve ever thrown in a game, and that was when I was 11.”

--Redskin quarterback Heath Shuler, on his performance in the 19-16 overtime loss to Arizona.

--Compiled by Bob Cuomo, Mark Heisler, Houston Mitchell and Ara Najarian.