Pro Football Spotlight

TRADING PLEASANTRIES INSTEAD OF PUNCHES

The last time Andre Rison of the Atlanta Falcons and Deion Sanders of the San Francisco 49ers faced each other, in October, they got into a fight that would have made a Las Vegas promoter proud.

But Sunday in San Francisco, they were downright civil to each other.

“We talked before the game and all during the game,” Sanders said after the 49ers’ 50-14 victory. “You know, ‘How’s the family?’ and all that stuff. That’s the way rivalries between great athletes should be.”

Said Rison: “We talked after every play, just like we were roommates. I’ve already forgotten about that (previous incident).”

The Falcons seem to have forgotten Rison. Two months ago, he was a key part of their offense. On Sunday, he caught two passes for 17 yards and didn’t make his first catch until late in the third quarter.

“All I know is I didn’t have a chance to compete the way I wanted to compete,” he said. “Hopefully, an All-Pro receiver would go into a game hoping he had a chance to catch the ball. I’m sure Jerry Rice and John Taylor do.”

Atlanta quarterback Jeff George said he only followed instructions.

“You’d like to say we were giving (Sanders) respect, but it just so happens that’s the way it was called,” he said. “And you do what you’re told.”

PANNING THE 49ERS

Several Falcons felt the 49ers were running up the score when they went for a two-point conversion with a 40-14 lead.

“I thought it was a class organization, but I guess not,” said linebacker Jessie Tuggle.

Said Rison: “I was looking at the scoreboard when they went for two. I just thought they were showing a replay of the touchdown, but it’s their team. They can do what they want to do.”

HUMILITY, THY NAME IS GORDON

His last name made it inevitable that San Diego Charger cornerback and punt returner Darrien Gordon would be called “Flash.” But he has earned it.

Gordon and Tim Brown of the Raiders share the AFC lead at 13.2 yards per punt return. They’ll probably line up against each other tonight.

“I think it fits,” Gordon said of his nickname. “You think of ‘Flash,’ you think of excitement. You think of speed, quickness.”

Gordon, who last week returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown and made an interception in the end zone in a 31-17 victory over the Rams, would like to strut his stuff as a wide receiver. So far, though, Coach Bobby Ross has said no.

“You think about it--wide receivers, you get so much notoriety for making the plays,” Gordon said. “You hardly ever read about corners, except Deion, and that’s only because he played baseball and offense.

“I like recognition. I also like to get the ball in my hands. It’s a lot easier when they’re throwing it to you than when you’re trying to get it from somebody else.”

IT WASN’T REALLY WASTED TIME

Errict Rhett, who has set Tampa Bay rookie records for single-game and season rushing yards, didn’t make his debut until the ninth game of the season.

Rhett wonders what kind of numbers he would have racked up if he had started sooner, but he isn’t brooding about it.

“That’s the way things happen,” said Rhett, who has gained 774 yards. “But I learned a lot during that time from the people playing in front of me.”

IN ONE WAY, IT WASN’T A KICK

Brad Daluiso, usually a kickoff specialist for the New York Giants, had a moment of unexpected glory Sunday when he made three field goals.

But his triumphs came at the expense of teammate David Treadwell, who was benched for missing a 37-yarder late in the first half and had missed two field goals last week.

“I feel badly for Dave,” Daluiso said. “He’s been struggling a little bit, but you know, Dave and I can separate football and friendship, and it was great for me to go out on the football field and have success.”

NOTEWORTHY

Mr. Smith goes to the end zone: Emmitt Smith’s two rushing touchdowns enabled him to break his single-season Dallas record of 18, set in 1992. . . . Dallas clinched its 16th divisional title in the team’s 35-year history. . . . Can these Eagles “Get Over It”? The Cowboys have defeated Philadelphia six consecutive times and seven of the last eight, including a victory in the 1993 playoffs. . . . Randall Cunningham had a streak of 10 consecutive completions in the third and fourth quarters, tying the Eagle record held by Jim McMahon (1991) and Norman Snead (1964). . . . Neil O’Donnell moved past Bubby Brister into second place on Pittsburgh’s all-time completion list with 786. . . . No slim Pickens here: Carl Pickens of Cincinnati had 105 yards on four catches, his fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game. The last NFL player with four in a row was Atlanta’s Andre Rison in 1990. . . . The New England Patriots’ record went over .500 in December for the first time since 1988. The Patriots last made the playoffs in the 1986 season. . . . Rookie Errict Rhett’s 192 yards rushing were the second most by a Tampa Bay runner. James Wilder gained 219 against Minnesota in 1983. . . . The last Reggie to send consecutive balls this far had Burt Hooton, Elias Sosa and Charlie Hough pitching to him: Washington’s Reggie Roby averaged 56 yards on six punts. . . . Mr. Peabody would be proud: The New York Giants wore old-time uniforms as part of the NFL’s “throwbacks” series for the fifth time this season and improved their record in the vintage uniforms to 4-1. San Francisco also wore its “throwback” uniforms, running its record to 10-0 in the 1955-style clothes. . . . Members of Cleveland’s last championship team in any major sport, the 1964 Browns, were honored at halftime. They lined up for one play, and Frank Ryan completed a short touchdown pass to Gary Collins. Collins caught three touchdown passes in the 1964 NFL championship game against Baltimore, which Cleveland won, 27-0. . . . Brett Favre became the second player in Green Bay Packer history to throw for 3,000 yards in three different seasons. Lynn Dickey accomplished the feat in 1980, 1983 and 1984. . . . Barry Sanders of Detroit has now touched the football 666 consecutive times without fumbling to opponents. His last turnover came Dec. 6, 1992. . . . Where are they now?: Lion rookie wide receiver and former USC star Johnnie Morton caught a 17-yard pass late in the first quarter for his first NFL reception. . . . Denver’s John Elway rushed for 20 yards before he was hurt and moved past Bobby Douglass and Greg Landry into fifth place for rushing yards by a quarterback with 2,670 for his career. . . . Chris Miller’s touchdown pass to Todd Kinchen was his 100th in the NFL. . . . During the 49ers’ eight-game winning streak, they are outscoring opponents by an average score of 36-16. . . . Marshall Faulk became the fourth Indianapolis Colts’ runner to go over 1,000 yards in a season. The others were Eric Dickerson (1987-88-89), Lydell Mitchell (1975-76-77) and Curtis Dickey (1983).

BUT WILL HIS HAIR SPRAY HOLD THROUGH ANOTHER SEASON?

Jimmy Johnson, who coached the Dallas Cowboys to the last two Super Bowl championships before retreating to the broadcast booth, said he will decide within about two weeks whether he will return to coaching.

“The biggest question right now is not what team,” said Johnson, known for his wouldn’t-budge-in-a-hurricane hairstyles. “I’m not going to go back into coaching unless I can give a total commitment to go out and try to win a third Super Bowl.”

Johnson said he has a mental list of potential assistants, “just in case I did (return).”

WAS THIS PART OF THAT CONTROVERSIAL GATT THING?

Canada, which regularly exports beer and hockey players to the United States, might get something back for once.

Who gets the better end of the deal is another story.

The Buffalo Bills, in their next lease at Rich Stadium, might request a provision that allows them to play one or two regular-season games in Toronto’s SkyDome. Their current lease expires after the 1997 season.

The prospect of a large audience a mere 100 miles away is enticing to Bill owner Ralph Wilson.

“Going to Canada always had been hands off for the NFL because of the Canadian Football League,” he said. “Now, the CFL has teams in the U.S., so I guess the gloves are off.”

Wilson said the Bills might play an exhibition game at SkyDome before next season, but added he does not plan to move the team.

“We’ve poured millions of dollars into the stadium. We’re going to stay,” he said.

IF IT’S SUNDAY, IT MUST BE MICHIGAN

It’s late in the season, so it’s understandable that referee Ed Holchuli forgot where he was in the second quarter of the game he was assigned to Sunday.

After the Detroit Lions called time out with 8:30 left, Holchuli promptly announced, “Time out, Seattle.”

Only one problem: the Lions were playing the Green Bay Packers. At home.

The press-box announcer quickly got into the spirit of things by proclaiming, “Welcome to the Kingdome.”

WELL, IT IS A SPECTATOR SPORT

Imagine how difficult it was for Philadelphia Coach Rich Kotite to watch Dallas’ Darren Woodson intercept a pass by Randall Cunningham and return it 94 yards for a rally-killing touchdown.

Kotite was the closest man to the play, since Woodson sprinted only a few feet in front of him. Think of how tempting it was for Kotite to reach out. . . . Well, maybe not so tempting.

“I felt really bad,” Kotite said, “but I wasn’t ready to tackle him.”

INJURY REPORT

Denver quarterback John Elway sprained his knee in the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ game against Kansas City. Elway was hit by tackle Vaughn Booker. The extent of the damage is not yet known.

Seattle Seahawk quarterback Rick Mirer broke his left thumb after throwing an interception against the Indianapolis Colts. Mirer, who has started all 29 regular-season games since the Seahawks picked him second in the 1993 NFL draft, was injured while trying to tackle Ray Buchanan after Buchanan picked off a pass and ran it 37 yards for a touchdown. Mirer is right-handed. . . . The Seahawks also lost their top receiver, Brian Blades, because of a rib injury.

New England Patriot nose tackle Tim Goad, who has played in all 109 games since joining the team and started 105, broke his right shinbone in the third quarter of the Patriots’ game against the New York Jets.

Atlanta Falcon quarterback Jeff George bruised his ribs after being sacked by San Francisco’s Todd Kelly. . . . Miami safety Gene Atkins sprained his right ankle, but it is not believed to be serious.

FACTS AND FIGURES

CATCHING ON

The Jets’ Art Monk tied Steve Largent’s record on Sunday for most consecutive games with at least one reception. A look at the all-time top streaks:

Player Team Games *Art Monk Washington.-New York Jets 177 Steve Largent Seattle 177 Ozzie Newsome Cleveland 150 *Jerry Rice San Francisco 140 Harold Carmichael Philadelphia 127 Mel Gray St. Louis 121

*active streak

INTERCEPT COURSE

There have been eight interceptions returned for touchdowns in this week’s NFL games, with a game left tonight. The last time so many interceptions were run back for scores was on Sept. 23, 1984.

Player Game Yds Darren Woodson Dallas vs. Philadelphia 94 Andre Collins Washington vs. Tampa Bay 92 DeWayne Washington Minnesota vs. Chicago 54 Ray Buchanan Indianpolis vs. Seattle 37 Cris Dishman Houston vs. Arizona 36 Chuck Smith Atlanta vs. S.F. 36 Rod Woodson Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati 27 Ricky Reynolds New England vs. NY Jets 11