Pro Football Spotlight : TWO GUYS, SANTO AND CHAD

Twenty years from now, they will be the answer to a sports trivia question.

Well, maybe not. But how many more times will these guys get their names in the paper?

We’re talking firsts here. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers, who made their NFL debuts Sunday.

Chad Cota made the first tackle in Carolina history when he wrestled Atlanta’s Roell Preston to the turf at the Georgia Dome.

Santo Stephens goes into the annals for the Jaguars, making the first tackle on the first kickoff in franchise history.

Later in the Jacksonville game, Steve Beuerlein became the first Jaguar quarterback to get the hook when he was replaced by Mark Brunell in a 10-3 loss to Houston.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE DOME

Risking life and perhaps limb, Jo Ann Chiesa strode bravely to her seat at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome for Sunday’s game between the Falcons and Panthers, not knowing what the day or the roof might hold.

Two weeks ago, a thunderstorm ripped holes in four Teflon-coated panels of the roof, with the cascading water taking out seats in an upper deck.

The repaired seats and roof panels were easy to spot--they were a different color--but Chiesa felt no less safe than if she had attended a home Raider game.

“We’ve been in Georgia only two months,” said Chiesa of Augusta. “We’re from California, so disasters don’t bother us.”

NOTEWORTHY

Miami quarterback Dan Marino’s three touchdown passes Sunday leave him 11 behind Fran Tarkenton’s NFL record of 342. . . .

Pittsburgh linebacker Kevin Greene, the NFL sacks leader with 14 last season, had no sacks and only one tackle while playing with a broken right hand in his team’s 23-20 victory against Detroit. Greene has only one sack in his last eight games, counting the Steelers’ two 1994 playoff games. . . . Patriot runner Curtis Martin’s 102 rushing yards set a New England record for rookies in their first game. The previous mark of 81 yards was set by Tony Collins on Sept. 6, 1981 against Baltimore.

49er receiver Jerry Rice extended his consecutive-games-with-a-reception streak to 144. . . . Packer defensive end Reggie White increased his sacks total to 147 1/2, most in NFL history, with 2 1/2 Sunday. . . . Ram running back Jerome Bettis, who has back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, picked up only four yards in seven carries Sunday. . . . Former Ram Flipper Anderson had six receptions for 67 yards in his debut with the Colts, including two touchdown catches. . . . The Denver Broncos had trouble getting into the end zone, but that just meant Jason Elam had more work. He kicked five field goals, one of 52 yards.

INJURY REPORT

Pittsburgh cornerback Rod Woodson, one of the NFL’s premier defensive players, injured a right knee ligament against Detroit and probably will be sidelined the rest of the season. . . . Steeler quarterback Neil O’Donnell broke the little finger on his throwing hand. . . . Washington quarterback Heath Shuler suffered a sprained right shoulder late in the first half after being hit by defensive end Clyde Simmons.

Bear fullback Raymont Harris broke his right collarbone three minutes into his team’s opener against Minnesota. . . . Oakland left tackle Gerald Perry broke his right forearm when a San Diego player fell on him in the first quarter. He may need surgery.

QUOTEWORTHY

“I guess you guys had a chance to see one of the ugliest displays of football in a while. I’m disappointed that we were so sloppy. I’ve got a lot of work to do with this football team.”

--Philadelphia Coach Ray Rhodes after his team’s 21-6 loss to Tampa Bay.

“The guys were great, all trying to pat me on the back. It was fun. I’m still taking it by the seat of the pants.”

--Former quarterback Joe Montana, on his broadcasting debut with NBC.

TONIGHT’S GAME

‘This is My Team Now’

DALLAS at NEW YORK GIANTS (Channel 7, 6 p.m.): Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer against Giant Coach Dan Reeves. Only bigger mismatch is New York quarterback Dave Brown against Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. At least Switzer, who announced earlier, “This is my team now,” has Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Charles Haley. Brown has Chris Calloway and Mike Sherrard. Aikman has completed 68% of his passes and thrown for 10 touchdowns with five interceptions in 12 games against the Giants. New York ended regular season a year ago with 15-10 victory over Cowboys, but Smith was standing on sideline resting sore hamstring. Smith has scored eight touchdowns in nine games against the Giants.

Upset Special: Last four and eight of previous 10 Monday Night TV season openers have been won by the home team.

ONCE AROUND THE DIAL

A couple of budding broadcast journalists, Joe Montana and Sterling Sharpe, made their regular-season debuts on Sunday.

Sharpe and Montana?

Sharpe, the former Green Bay Packer star receiver, didn’t even speak to most reporters last season.

Yeah, well, That was then.

Now that his career has been shortened because of a neck injury, he has plenty to say for ESPN.

Thing is, Sharpe is pretty sharp.

He is, however, short on humility.

Asked if Cleveland’s Andre Rison was still a premier receiver, Sharpe said, “Other than that guy who got hurt last year [himself], yeah, he’s one of the best.”

Montana, being repackaged by NBC after a career saturated with purposely bland quotes and cliches, was downright perky in the studio.

Montana had a few interview flashbacks, though. Of Kansas City, his former team, he offered, “‘They’ve just got to keep that thing going.”

Montana did offer moral support for his former rival, Steve Young, who was sacked five times in San Francisco’s two-point victory against New Orleans.

“They can’t let Steve get beat up that way,” Montana said. “He’ll never make it through the season.”

NORM!!

For the 45th consecutive year, the NFL record for opening-day passing yardage was not remotely approached by Sunday’s slingers.

OK, it’s sort of a trick question. The first-game record also happens to be the NFL record for all games.

On Sept. 28, 1951, Los Angeles Ram quarterback Norm Van Brocklin torched the New York Yanks for 554 yards in a 54-14 victory at the Coliseum.

Since, only five quarterbacks have thrown for more than 500 yards in a game: Warren Moon (527 vs. Kansas City, 1990), Dan Marino (521 vs. New York Jets, 1988), Phil Simms (513 vs. Cincinnati, 1985), Vince Ferragamo (509 vs. Chicago, 1982) and Y.A. Tittle (505 vs. Washington, 1962).

Fifteen-yard penalty if you thought one of the five was Dieter Brock.

THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY

Best National Anthem: The most tortured song of our time--nothing personal, Kathie Lee--was stunningly performed before Jacksonville’s opener by the pop group Boyz II Men.

Someone please sign these Boyz up for the next Super Bowl.

First Slip Of The Tongue: Fox commentator John Madden created the world’s greatest fantasy league player when he combined Steve Young and Jerry Rice in mis-identifying a 49er receiver as “Jerry Young.”

First Pat Summerall Alert: The silver fox of Fox was his usual solid self, except when he offered up this jewel during the 49er-Saint telecast: “I was talking to Jerry Rice yesterday and I said, ‘How much longer?’ and he said ‘I don’t know.’ ”

Worst Call: This one goes to under-the-gun 49er offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, who replaces Mike Shanahan as play-caller for the world’s greatest offense.

On Elvis Grbac’s first play after replacing an injured Young in the first half, he threw a pass into triple coverage that was intercepted by Sean Lumpkin and returned 47 yards for a touchdown.

First Quality Rebuke of NFL Network Insider: New England Coach Bill Parcells, asked if he had read a story written by Will McDonough of NBC and The Boston Globe.

“Believe me,” Parcells said, “if McDonough wrote it, I didn’t read it.”

RICKY, DON’T LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS

Remember the talk about how much the 49ers had no one to replace all-purpose back Ricky Watters, who deserted the Super Bowl champs to sign a free agent contract in Philadelphia?

The envelope please. . . . In his Philly debut, Watters combined for 71 yards (37 rushing, 34 receiving) and lost a crucial fumble in his team’s 21-6 loss to Tampa Bay.

Watters was booed heartily by fans at Veterans Stadium.

Imagine that. Booing in Philadelphia.

His replacements in San Francisco? Derek Loville combined for 86 rushing-receiving yards against New Orleans, and William Floyd had 48 yards rushing and 66 receiving.

BULLS, BEARS AND DOLPHINS

Dan Marino’s stock continues to rise in Miami. Not as a quarterback, but as a Wall Street investor.

The NFL ruled on Sunday that Marino’s investment in a company owned by Miami Dolphin owner Wayne Huizenga did not violate NFL salary cap rules.

Marino purchased more than $390,000 worth of stock in Republic Waste Industries, a company Huizenga bought in May. The stock closed at $22 Friday, making Marino’s stake worth nearly $2 million.

Inspired by the news, Marino completed 16 of 26 passes for 250 yards with three touchdowns in Miami’s 52-14 thrashing of the Jets.

His advice for youngsters trying to emulate him?

Pork bellies.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

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CENTRAL W L T Cincinnati Bengals 1 0 0 Houston Oilers 1 0 0 Pittsburgh Steelers 1 0 0 Cleveland Browns 0 1 0 Jacksonville Jaguars 0 1 0

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EAST W L T Miami Dolphins 1 0 0 New England Patriots 1 0 0 Buffalo Bills 0 1 0 Indianapolis Colts 0 1 0 N.Y. Jets 0 1 0

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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WEST W L T San Francisco 49ers 1 0 0 St. Louis Rams 1 0 0 Atlanta Falcons 1 0 0 Carolina Panthers 0 1 0 New Orleans Saints 0 1 0

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CENTRAL W L T Chicago Bears 1 0 0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 0 0 Detroit Lions 0 1 0 Green Bay Packers 0 1 0 Minnesota Vikings 0 1 0

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EAST W L T Washington Redskins 1 0 0 Dallas Cowboys 0 0 0 N.Y. Giants 0 0 0 Arizona Cardinals 0 1 0 Philadelphia Eagles 0 1 0

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SUNDAY’S RESULTS

* Oakland 17, San Diego 7

* St. Louis 17, Green Bay 14

* San Francisco 24, New Orleans 22

* Cincinnati 24, Indianapolis 21 (OT)

* New England 17, Cleveland 14

* Houston 10, Jacksonville 3

* Atanta 23, Carolina 20 (OT)

* Tampa Bay 21, Philadelphia 6

* Pittsburgh 23, Detroit 20

* Miami 52, N.Y. Jets 14

* Kansas City 34, Seattle 10

* Washington 27, Arizona 7

* Chicago 31, Minnesota 14

* Buffalo at Denver

TONIGHT’S GAME

* Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 6 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

* Oakland at Washington

* New Orleans at St. Louis

* Miami at New England

* Pittsburgh at Houston

* Detroit at Minnesota

* Carolina at Buffalo

* N.Y. Giants at Kansas City

* Tampa Bay at Cleveland

* Denver at Dallas

* Indianapolis at N.Y. Jets

* Jacksonville at Cincinnati

* Atlanta at San Francisco

* Seattle at San Diego

* Philadelphia at Arizona

MONDAY’S GAME

* Green Bay at Chicago, 6 p.m.

TOP PERFORMANCES

PASSING

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Player, Team Att. Cmp. Yds. TD FRANK REICH, Panthers 44 23 329 1 JOHN ELWAY, Broncos 41 22 317 0 STAN HUMPHRIES, Chargers 46 23 305 1 DREW BLEDSOE, Patriots 47 30 302 0 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 51 29 299 2 JEFF GEORGE, Falcons 45 27 290 2 STEVE BONO, Chiefs 23 18 278 3 JIM EVERETT, Saints 35 23 266 2 ERIK KRAMER, Bears 28 19 262 3 STEVE YOUNG, 49ers 27 21 260 2 VINNY TESTAVERDE, Browns 29 20 254 2 DAN MARINO, Dolphins 26 16 250 3

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD SHANNON SHARPE, Broncos 10 180 0 MICHAEL JACKSON, Browns 7 157 2 WILLIE DAVIS, Chiefs 6 155 2 HORACE COPELAND, Buccaneers 5 155 1 HERMAN MOORE, Lions 10 131 1 WILLIE GREEN, Panthers 7 121 1 SHAWN JEFFERSON, Chargers 6 120 1

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RUSHING

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Player, Team Car. Yds. TD TERRY ALLEN, Redskins 26 131 0 GREG HILL, Chiefs 15 109 0 BARRY SANDERS, Lions 21 108 0 CURTIS MARTIN, Patriots 19 102 1

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--Compiled by Bob Cuomo, Chris Dufresne and T.J. Simers