Pro Football Spotlight

THIS QUARTERBACK GETS HIS OWN SACKS

Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Trent Dilfer was fuming Sunday. By the third quarter of his game against the Minnesota Vikings, he had already been sacked six times. He was suffering through his ninth game in a row without a touchdown pass.

And he was subjected to the indignity of having lost the ball when Minnesota rookie defensive end Derrick Alexander rushed in and slapped it away without so much as touching Dilfer.

Enough was enough.

So the Tampa Bay quarterback reared back his arm and fired. Not the ball. His fist. Dilfer, acting most unquarterback-like, leaped on John Randle and punched the all-pro defensive tackle in the facemask.

Dilfer felt that Randle, who had chased Dilfer out the pocket, had gone for the quarterback’s legs with more on his mind than making the tackle.

Dilfer stood over Randle screaming at first. He was pushed away by an official, but shook free to jump on the lineman.

Dilfer was ejected.

Which probably left Randle dejected.

LOWERING THE BOOM DOESN’T BOTHER BOOMER

When St. Louis Ram quarterback Chris Miller was knocked out cold and out of the game against the New York Jets because of a mild concussion, Jet quarterback Boomer Esiason figured to be sympathetic. After all, Esiason was the victim of a vicious hit earlier this season, one administered by the Buffalo Bills’ Bruce Smith.

Forget it.

Esiason’s sympathy was reserved for Marvin Washington, who made the hit and was ejected.

“In my career, I’ve never seen a defensive lineman get thrown out for a play like that,” said the Jet quarterback, who then add sarcastically, “Obviously, for them to kick him out, it must have been really horrific.”

THE TEACHER STILL KNOWS MORE THAN THE PUPILS

Maybe the rest of the football world stifles a collective yawn at the thought of the mighty Dallas Cowboys facing the lowly Washington Redskins.

But for the Cowboys, an apprehensive gasp is a more common reaction.

And rightly so.

It’s no coincidence that the Redskins, who have given the Cowboys two of their three losses this season, are coached by Norv Turner, who used to be Dallas’ offensive coordinator.

“Norv knows something,” said Dallas offensive tackle Mark Tuinei. “He knows how to play us. He taught Michael Irvin how to run routes, showed Emmitt Smith where to run, and taught Troy [Aikman] how to throw. They play us differently than anybody.”

No argument there.

MAYBE THEY OUGHT TO TRY PRACTICING IN BALTIMORE

When the season began, big things were predicted for the Cleveland Browns. A trip to the Super Bowl was thought to be a realistic possibility. A permanent trip out of Cleveland wasn’t even considered a possibility.

The Browns were 4-4 after eight games, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC’s Central Division lead.

The day before owner Art Modell announced that the Browns were moving to Baltimore, the team lost and the Browns have continued to lose ever since, dropping their fifth in a row Sunday to the San Diego Chargers, making what is apparently their final season in Cleveland as miserable on the field as it has been off it.

In an attempt to avoid the distractions surrounding the move, the Browns had come west two days early, finishing up their practice week in San Diego.

No word yet on whether they are planning to go home.

--Compiled by Bob Cuomo and Steve Springer.

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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 TROY AIKMAN, Cowboys 48 29 285 1 WARREN MOON, Vikings 32 20 272 2 STEVE YOUNG, 49ers 44 28 243 0 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

*--*

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

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