Pro Football Spotlight

SHAKING OFF THE PAST

When Kansas City Chief assistant coach Art Shell congratulated running back Marcus Allen on Sunday with a handshake and a smile as Allen came to the sidelines after a big play, a television camera zoomed in to capture the moment.

The two were close when they were both Raiders until Allen blasted owner Al Davis on Monday Night Football, saying that Davis had benched him for unspecified personal reasons. The next day, Shell took Davis’ side, publicly refuting Allen’s charge by insisting that he, the coach, made the decisions on playing time.

That created a split between Shell and Allen, but they have now buried the past in order to concentrate on a common goal: Burying the Raiders.

INJURY REPORT

Indianapolis Colt quarterback Jim Harbaugh sprained his right knee and will need an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. . . . Green Bay Packer defensive lineman Reggie White strained his left hamstring, but said he hopes to play this Sunday. . . . New Orleans Saint safety Vince Buck broke his right leg. . . . Houston quarterback Chris Chandler left the Oilers’ game against the Pittsburgh Steeler at halftime because of flu and did not return.

NOTEWORTHY

With 10 receptions for 101 yards, Dallas Cowboy receiver Michael Irvin set an NFL record with his 11th consecutive 100-yard receiving game. . . . Green Bay Packer defensive lineman Reggie White, the NFL’s career leader in sacks, added to his total with one and a half against the Cincinnati Bengals, giving him 12 1/2 this year and 157 1/2 for his career. Cincinnati’s Jeff Blake became the 59th quarterback to fall victim to White. . . . Atlanta’s Morten Andersen set an NFL record by scoring in his 187th consecutive game, breaking a mark he shared with Jim Breech.

MORE MODELL, MORE MISERY

If Cleveland Brown owner Art Modell thought San Diego was a good place to hide from his problems, that illusion was easily shattered by looking out into the seats at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium. Transplanted Clevelanders and other sympathetic to their cause have set up their own “Dawg Pound” behind the north end zone of Jack Murphy.

And they had their signs out in full force Sunday. One read: “Save Our Browns.” Another said: “Sorry--These Dawgs Are Not For Sale.”

Finally, there was one addressed directly to Modell which read: “Art--Baltimore Hates You Too!”

JUNE’S SWOON

Leading the Miami Dolphins, 20-15, with less than two minutes to play, Atlanta Falcon Coach June Jones, facing a fourth-and-one, turned thumbs down on the idea of letting reliable Morten Andersen try a 45-yard field goal, certainly within Andersen’s impressive range. That would have left the Dolphins needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion just to get a tie.

Instead, Jones gave the ball to running back Craig Heyward, who was stopped short of the first down by the Dolphins’ Bryan Cox.

Miami got the ball, got a touchdown and got the victory, 22-21.

Said a chagrined Jones: “Sometimes, you have to overcome the coaching, too.”

QUOTEWORTHY

St. Louis Ram defensive tackle D’Marco Farr after getting credit for three and one-half of the six sacks the team racked up against the New York Jets:

“We had so much fun going after Boomer. It was like a racetrack out there.”

Houston Oiler cornerback Chris Dishman on the team’s only chance of making the playoffs:

“If we pick up the paper in the morning and it says we’re 8-5, rather than 5-8.”

Former Cowboy Coach Jimmy Johnson, now a television commentator, on persistent rumors that he will replace Don Shula in Miami:

“ It’s a non-story. “

Don Shula on the stories of dissension surrounding his team, which had lost three in a row and was in danger of falling out of postseason contention heading into Sunday:

“This past week has been the toughest I’ve spent in my coaching career.”

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TOP PERFORMANCES

PASSING

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Player, Team Att. Cmp. Yds. TD DAN MARINO, Dolphins 50 35 343 2 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 43 31 339 3 V. TESTAVERDE, Browns 41 28 303 1 JIM EVERETT, Saints 26 17 293 2 JOHN ELWAY, Broncos 34 22 286 4 WARREN MOON, Vikings 32 20 272 2 S. HUMPHRIES, Chargers 25 18 230 1 VINCE EVANS, Raiders 38 24 227 0 BOOMER ESIASON, Jets 35 20 218 1

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD TIM BROWN, Raiders 10 150 1 CRIS CARTER, Vikings 6 136 2 TONY MARTIN, Chargers 9 132 1 MARK CHUMRA, Packers, 7 109 1 MICHAEL IRVIN, Cowboys 10 101 1 O.J. McDUFFIE, Dolphins 6 96 0 YANCEY THIGPEN, Steelers 6 94 1

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RUSHING

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Player, Team Car. Yds. TD AARON HAYDEN, Chargers 32 127 2 MARCUS ALLEN, Chiefs 21 124 1 MARIO BATES, Saints 15 123 1 CURTIS MARTIN, Patriots 31 112 2 BAM MORRIS, Steelers 18 102 1 TERRY ALLEN, Redskins 25 98 2 SCOTTIE GRAHAM, Vikings 16 98 1 ERRICT RHETT, Buccaneers 20 96 0 CHRIS WARREN, Seahawks 27 93 1

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