PRO FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT : SNOWSTORM PUTS THEM OVER A BARREL

Niagara Falls, N.Y., is a popular destination for honeymooners or daredevils who attempt to go over the falls in a barrel.

But the Buffalo Bills had neither honeymooning nor barrel-riding in mind Sunday when they headed there after their 45-27 victory over the Rams at St. Louis. Niagara Falls was the closest airport to Buffalo, which was paralyzed by a winter storm that dumped more than two feet of snow on the city.

“I don’t want to stay here,” running back Thurman Thomas said before the team left St. Louis. “We did what we needed to do there, let’s go home.”

Thirty-four inches of snow fell in some areas around Buffalo and a state of emergency was in effect, with all non-emergency travel barred.

FEEL THE CRUNCH

Got an urge to sit in a moving, multimedia simulation chamber where you can “feel the crunch of smashing into the defensive line, pilot the Goodyear Blimp over the stadium on a windy day, or feel the bleachers rumble as fans chant in unison”?

Feel conducting interviews, choosing commercials and producing a telecast?

Then the NFL has a place for you.

A plan to build a high-tech indoor theme park in South Boston as part of a complex that would include a new stadium for the New England Patriots “has taken on high priority status,” according to a league memo obtained by The Boston Globe.

The newspaper said the so-called “NFL Pavilion” concept has been under development since 1991 and the league plans to build only three around the country.

The memo said the pavilion “represents the powerful marriage of entertainment and sports, providing fans the ultimate ‘NFL Experience’ by interacting with the game, players and clubs in unique, once-in-a-lifetime activities.”

YOU HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS

Not many fans braved the cold weather in Cincinnati to attend the Bengals’ 16-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The crowd at Riverfront Stadium was only 38,642, meaning there were 21,078 no-shows. That’s probably just as well, because frozen pipes closed many of the stadium’s restrooms.

A FINE HOW-DO-YOU-DO

The Pittsburgh Steelers used a simple game plan for Oakland Raider quarterback Billy Joe Hobert’s first NFL start: Pressure him, annoy him and generally make his life miserable.

It worked almost perfectly, as the Steelers intercepted Hobert four times in a 28-10 victory at Oakland.

“We figured we had to come here and shut down the run and make their young guy go to the air,” said Pittsburgh defensive end Ray Seals. “I felt as though I was in his face almost every other play. That’s his welcome to the league.”

HOT TIMES IN FOXBORO

NFL officials will investigate a sideline altercation involving New York Jet kicker Nick Lowery and a ballboy during the Jets’ game against the New England Patriots at Foxboro, Mass.

According to a statement from the Patriots, Lowery asked 20-year-old ballboy David Foscaldo to provide heated footballs when he kicked. Foscaldo told Lowery it was not his job to provide heated footballs. “According to Foscaldo, Lowery--using profanity--told him that it was his job to provide heated balls,” the statement said. “Words were exchanged between the two and Foscaldo said Lowery then struck him with an open hand in the face and demanded that he provide heated balls.”

Jet Coach Rich Kotite asked a Foxboro police officer to arrest Foscaldo, who was taken from the field but not arrested, the Patriots said.

“I’ve never heard a ballboy use that kind of language directed toward a player in 15 years. It was totally inappropriate,” Lowery said. “I went over and apologized and he apologized and it’s done. It’s over with.”

SHULA STILL HAS FRIENDS

Miami Dolphin Coach Don Shula has been second-guessed by critics who say the game has passed him by, but Kansas City Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer disagrees.

‘I don’t think that makes any sense,” said Schottenheimer, whose team plays at Miami tonight. “Don has always been able to adapt to various circumstances. But hey, anything any of us as coaches have done in the past is of no consequence. [New England Coach] Bill Parcells has won two world championships and now they’re talking about replacing him.”

Said Dolphin receiver Irving Fryar: “If we keep winning, the bashing will stop and everybody will jump on the bandwagon.”

BLOCK THAT MOVE!

A civic group working to keep the Cleveland Browns from moving to Baltimore plans a series of activities leading up to what could be the team’s final game at Cleveland Stadium.

Arnold Pinkney, co-chairman of Save Our Browns, said the group asked local schools to have students prepare art indicating opposition to the move and bring the artworks to a rally at noon Friday.

The committee also said it requested resolutions of support from suburban city councils and $1,000 contributions to fund the group’s efforts through the Jan. 17 meeting of NFL team owners. But only one suburb, Bay Village, has paid so far.

A judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the team’s move, but the issue of a permanent injunction must go to trial. Team attorneys want a trial date set soon, but city attorneys said they cannot be ready until March.

INJURY REPORT

Jacksonville Jaguar receiver Desmond Howard suffered a concussion on a late hit early in Jacksonville’s 41-31 loss to Indianapolis. Colt safety David Tate was given a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. . . . Minnesota Viking quarterback Warren Moon, who took two hard shots to the ribs in Saturday’s 27-11 victory over the Cleveland Browns, learned Sunday his ribs are merely bruised. . . . San Francisco running back Jamal Willis sprained his right knee during the 49ers’ 31-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Carolina wide receiver Eric Guliford pulled a hamstring. . . . Cincinnati middle linebacker Steve Tovar left the Bengals’ 16-10 victory over the Chicago Bears in the first quarter because of a sore right hand and sprained right knee. Defensive lineman Dan Wilkinson was taken to a hospital in the fourth quarter because of a neck injury. The injury did not appear to be serious and he was expected to stay in the hospital overnight for tests. . . . Philadelphia defensive tackle Rhett Hall sprained his left knee in the second quarter of the Eagles’ 20-17 victory over Dallas. Cowboy tackle Russell Maryland sprained his right foot in the third quarter.

NOTEWORTHY

St. Louis Ram receiver Isaac Bruce set team single-season records with 95 receptions and 1,503 yards, breaking the reception record he shared with Henry Ellard and breaking Elroy Hirsch’s record of 1,495 yards. . . . Despite losing to Cincinnati, 16-10, the Chicago Bears held the Bengals scoreless in the fourth quarter and ended a franchise-record streak of giving up a score in 23 consecutive quarters. . . . Erik Kramer’s 18 completions for the Bears gave him 280 for the season, surpassing Jim Harbaugh’s record of 275, set in 1991.

Curtis Martin set a New England Patriot rookie record with 1,264 rushing yards. He gained 148 in 31 carries and broke John Stephens’ mark of 1,168, set in 1988. . . . New England’s Matt Bahr extended his streak to 16 games with at least one successful kick when he connected from 31 yards in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ 31-28 victory over the Jets. . . . Wayne Chrebet had four catches to set a Jet rookie record with 57 catches in a season. . . . New England’s Ben Coates extended his streak with at least one catch to 47 games. . . . With 178 yards, 23-year-old Drew Bledsoe became the youngest player in NFL history with 10,000 passing yards. He has 10,034. Dan Marino was the youngest at 24 years, 63 days. . . . Art Monk made his first two catches with Philadelphia, extending his streak to 181 consecutive games with a reception. . . . Dallas’ Emmitt Smith broke his team record with his 23rd rushing touchdown. . . . Morten Andersen’s three field goals of 50 yards or more (51, 55, 55) broke the NFL record of two in a game shared by 29 kickers, including Andersen. The three 50-plus field goals gave him six for the season, tying the NFL mark set by Dean Biasucci in 1988 and tied by Chris Jacke and Tony Zendejas in 1993. . . . Jim Everett’s two touchdown passes gave him 23 for the season, tying the New Orleans club record set by Archie Manning in 1980.

QUOTEWORTHY

New York Jet defensive end Marvin Washington after the Jets committed six fumbles and eight penalties and missed their lone field goal try in a 31-28 loss to the New England Patriots:

“We have come up with new and ingenious ways to come up with bad plays.”

Chicago receiver Curtis Conway, after a 16-10 loss to Cincinnati, the Bears’ fifth loss in six games:

“At one time we were 6-2. Now, it’s pathetic. It really is.”

--Compiled by Bob Cuomo and Helene Elliott