PRO FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT : WITHOUT INSTANT REPLAY COACH USES INSTANT CAMERA

Is a picture worth a thousand words? Not for Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher.

Cowher, armed with an instant photo taken in the press box, ran onto the field to prove that a penalty against the Steelers for too many men on the field was wrong.

But referee Gordon McCarter wouldn’t even look at the photo, even with Cowher waving it in his face and poking him with it. McCarter said line judge Ben Montgomery counted twice and got 12 both times, even though two other officials had only 11. A television replay showed only 11 defenders.

The call gave Minnesota kicker Fuad Reveiz a second chance after he missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the first half. He then connected from 43 yards, giving the Vikings a 13-6 lead on its way to a 44-24 victory.

“You have a potentially lost game because somebody counted wrong, and that’s wrong,” Cowher said. “I’ve sat here for 3 1/2 years and I’ve defended the officiating, but today was a debacle.”

WATTERS’ LOOSE HANDS MAKE FOR UNHAPPY RETURN

Although he wasn’t playing against his former team, Ricky Watters’ return to the Bay Area this weekend drew plenty of attention.

The former San Francisco star running back, who bolted for Philadelphia in the off-season, was back in town as the Eagles took on the Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum.

The local press did stories on Watters’ return all week, and he was greeted with boos and catcalls by Raider fans.

The attention did not help his game as Watters fumbled for the third time this season and his second-quarter bobble proved costly. It was returned by defensive tackle Austin Robbins for a six-yard touchdown, tying the game at 17 after Philadelphia had led, 17-0.

“I kind of thought that broke their back,” said Raider safety Eddie Anderson, who recalled seeing Eagle players pointing fingers and bickering among themselves after Robbins’ score. “After that it was all downhill for them.”

Watters, who still resides in San Francisco, finished with 75 yards in 15 carries.

HE PLAYS, SHOVES AN OFFICIAL AND LEAVES

Alvin Harper, the Tampa Bay receiver who signed a four-year, $10-million contract with the Buccaneers in March, was ejected in the fourth quarter of a 14-6 victory over Washington. Harper, who sat out the first three games because of a sprained right ankle, was upset after officials initially ruled a seven-yard catch he made in the left corner of the end zone was not a touchdown because he didn’t get both feet inbounds. While disputing the call, Harper touched an official.

The call was eventually reversed when referee Mike Carey ruled Harper had been forced out by Washington’s Darrell Green.

“Mr. Harper came up behind me and said, ‘I was in bounds. I caught the ball in the end zone.’ And he grabbed me by the shoulder and jerked me around. That’s a foul in the NFL,” head linesman Earnie Frantz said.

Said Harper: “I was trying to catch my balance. I grabbed [teammate] Lawrence Dawsey, but I got [Frantz’s] shoulder.”

TUPA FEELS AT HOME BACK IN THE POCKET

Cleveland’s Tom Tupa, who successfully made the transition from backup quarterback to punter last season, was back throwing the ball against the Chiefs.

Tupa, the Browns’ third-string quarterback, completed a 25-yard pass to safety Louis Riddick on a fake punt to extend a touchdown drive. The pass came on fourth and eight from Cleveland’s 41-yard line, and it led to a four-yard scoring pass from Vinny Testaverde to Andre Rison midway through the third quarter. It was Tupa’s first completion in three years.

FOR RAMS, ST. LOUIS IS HOME SWEET HOME

The St. Louis Rams are a far cry better than the Los Angeles Rams and their numbers this season back up that claim.

Consider, their four victories tie the amount of total wins they had last season. They also have not given up a turnover this year.

Even Chris Miller, who is not known for producing All-Pro numbers with the Rams, has passed 143 times without an interception.

And when is the last time the Rams played two homes games in a row before sellout crowds?

HAMPTON RUNS UP BIG NUMBERS FOR 1-3 GIANTS

Rodney Hampton continues to write himself into the Giant record book. In his team’s 45-29 rout of New Orleans, the running back set all kinds of marks:

--His four rushing touchdowns top the previous mark of three set by seven different players, including Hampton.

--His 33 carries for 149 yards give him 1,330 career carries, topping Joe Morris’ 1,318.

--He also tied the team record for most touchdowns (four) in a game and most points (24) in game.

Hampton needs 128 rushing yards to top Morris’ record of 5,296.

INJURY REPORT

Running back Marcus Allen sat out most of the game against Cleveland after getting cut above the eye on the Chiefs’ first offensive play. Allen was staggered when he was hit hard at the end of a three-yard run. He went to the locker room for treatment and returned to the field in uniform but did not get back in the game, his left eye badly swollen. . . . After being knocked unconscious and leaving the field on a cart, Tampa Bay cornerback Charles Dimry later said he suffered from a stiff neck. X-rays were negative. . . . Washington lost safety James Washington in the third quarter because of a groin pull. . . . Steeler left tackle John Jackson’s 97 consecutive games-played streak ended due to a hyper-extended right knee. . . .The Rams’ Chris Miller sustained yet another concussion in the fourth quarter against Chicago and did not return.

A pulled hamstring forced Jacksonville’s Ernest Givens to miss his first start in 87 games, the second longest active streak of consecutive starts for receivers. . . . Erik Kramer’s left forearm was cut when he was hit while throwing a second-quarter touchdown pass to Keith Jennings for Chicago. The cut was stitched in the locker room and Kramer did not miss a play. . . . The Cardinals lost Pro Bowl cornerback Aeneas Williams because of a left knee injury. . . . Emmitt Smith fell hard on his left elbow late in the Cowboys’ game against Arizona. He has a bruise and will be examined again today. . . . Falcon running back Craig Heyward sprained his right knee in the second half and left after gaining 120 yards. . . Bronco defensive end Dan Williams and defensive back Ronnie Bradford sustained knee injuries and their status is uncertain.

NOTEWORTHY

This is the first 0-4 start in Saint Coach Jim Mora’s career, and it is the worst start for New Orleans since 1980 when it lost its first 14 en route to a 1-15 season. . . . In contrast, Dallas’ 4-0 record is its best start since 1983 when it went 7-0. . . . Michael Irvin of Dallas has at least one catch in 69 consecutive games. . . . Cleveland’s Vinny Testaverde became one of 10 active passers to surpass 20,000 career yards passing, completing 21 of 36 for 204 yards. He has thrown eight touchdowns this season with one interception.

Otis Smith of the Jets kept alive his streak of intercepting a pass in each game this year with his fourth of the season. . . . Atlanta linebacker Clay Matthews played in his 251st NFL game, tying former Falcon tackle Mike Kenn for sixth place on the NFL list of games played. . . . The Steelers, who committed 17 turnovers last season, turned the ball over five times in a 7 1/2-minute span of the third quarter against the Vikings. Pittsburgh has 17 turnovers in four games. . . . The West Coast offense is not producing big numbers for Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham. Cunningham, who threw for more than 3,000 yards last season, is averaging only 129 yards passing a game and has been benched twice by new coach Ray Rhodes, who came from San Francisco.

QUOTEWORTHY

Minnesota’s Robert Smith, who broke three tackles on a 58-yard touchdown run completed partially with only one shoe: “I’ve lost my shoe three times this season. Maybe I’ll get a sock contract.”

Houston Coach Jeff Fisher on the performance of his quarterback, Chris Chandler, who completed 23 of 26 passes in a 38-28 victory over Cincinnati. “For the life of me, I cannot understand how Chris Chandler could throw three incomplete passes in a game like this. It’s beyond me.”

Pittsburgh’s Kevin Greene after his team suffered a 44-24 loss to Minnesota at home.: “We pretty much disintegrated. I don’t know if we were into it mentally. We like to hammer people, and it’s pretty hard for the Pittsburgh Steelers to accept somebody else came in here and hammered us.”

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TOP PERFORMANCES

PASSING

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Player, Team Att. Cmp. Yds. TD CHRIS CHANDLER, Oilers 26 23 356 4 JEFF BLAKE, Bengals 46 24 356 3 DAVE KRIEG, Cardinals 33 24 324 2 ERIK KRAMER, Bears 38 27 317 4 JEFF HOSTETLER, Raiders 32 22 272 1 STEVE BONO, Chiefs 49 29 272 2 DAVE BROWN, Giants 27 19 258 1 JIM EVERETT, Saints 32 19 256 3 TROY AIKMAN, Cowboys 30 19 251 1 CHRIS MILLER, Rams 31 21 231 3 GUS FREROTTE, Redskins 40 21 230 0

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD ROB MOORE, Cardinals 9 154 1 JEFF GRAHAM, Bears 6 145 1 YANCEY THIGPEN, Steelers 10 141 1 DARYL HOBBS, Raiders 7 135 1 KEITH CASH, Chiefs 8 111 1 TONY McGEE, Bengals 8 109 1 TROY DRAYTON, Rams 8 106 1

*--*

RUSHING

*--*

Player, Team Car. Yds. TD RODNEY HAMPTON, Giants 33 149 4 CRAIG HEYWARD, Falcons 19 120 0 EMMITT SMITH, Cowboys 21 116 2 ROBERT SMITH, Vikings 15 115 1 NATRONE MEANS, Chargers 27 115 2

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--Compiled by Bob Cuomo, Eric Shepard and Larry Stewart