Walsh Takes Offense at What He Sees Around the League : Pro football: Free agency, violence are disturbing to former 49er coach, who hasn’t ruled out a return.

He has an interest in returning to Los Angeles if football makes a comeback here, but Bill Walsh remains a spectator--unhappy with the game he once dominated as coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

“I’m disappointed in a lot of teams,” Walsh said. “The Raiders in particular. Dallas is floundering suddenly. . . . The whole fabric of the game seems to have changed because of free agency. There has been so much upheaval, and it’s not good.

“It’s good for certain players who make more money, but as an example, the Bengals have an excellent following in Cincinnati and yet that team is finding it can’t meet the financial demands needed to compete in this league. They can’t raise ticket prices fast enough to stay up with the salary cap.

“I feel badly for Mike Brown and the Bengals because they don’t want to move. But they may not have the financial resources to keep up with other teams. I know that’s what happened to Cleveland. The Browns tried to go big time signing all those players, and Art Modell went into deep financial trouble trying to do it.”

Walsh, of course, knew only stability in San Francisco during his 10-year tenure as coach. But he said the movement of franchises and the out-of-control violence that is taking place on the field are now threatening to destroy the game.

“The violence in the game is so obvious and reckless and it is not being controlled by officials and the league,” Walsh said. “People get conditioned to violence, they see players behaving as they do on the field, and I’m not sure that’s what we want seen on TV in every household.

“Your star players are getting hurt through unnecessary conflict, and people seem dumbfounded to deal with it. You also have your best players looking over their shoulders to the next great [free-agency] opportunity; players just don’t have the commitment to the team that they used to have. All of this is really testing the game, the loyalty of its fans. . . . It’s moving toward running itself out of business almost like baseball.”

Although the game has changed, as Walsh sees it, he has thought about returning, though not necessarily as a coach. He has talked to investors, league officials and interested parties about the return of football to Los Angeles.

“I would have an interest in a team if it would occur soon,” said Walsh, who was born in Los Angeles. “But if it were to take a long period of time, no, my life would go in another direction.”

Walsh won three Super Bowls with the 49ers and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He walked away from the game a Super Bowl champion in 1989 but now second-guesses himself.

“It was probably smarter to coach another couple years,” he said, “But I wouldn’t want to go through what Don Shula is going through.”

Walsh’s genius for offense continues to leave its imprint on the game. In addition, seven of the assistant coaches who trained under him are now working as head coaches in the NFL.

“I’m not driven to go back into the NFL,” Walsh said. “I’m certainly not a man without a job. But I don’t know if there are many people available with my kind of experience. I don’t think I would coach, but I would help coach.”

Walsh, a consultant for the NFL, tours the country making speeches to corporations and is also writing a management book.

“I think it’s really unfortunate what has happened in L.A.,” Walsh said. “People get more games on TV than they used to, but those ratings will dry up without any hometown identification for a team. I can’t believe everybody in Southern California will start cheering for the 49ers or the Chargers. There might not be a lot of impact on the TV ratings this year, but the appeal for the game will change significantly in Southern California with time.

“I think it’s a great market, and there should be a team there sooner than later. I’m sure some people would like to step forward and make something happen, but they don’t want to appear foolish and embarrass themselves without knowing what’s going to happen. That’s why I’m not anxious to put myself out front to any great extent.”

Two weeks ago, Walsh was in the 49ers’ locker room after their victory over Buffalo. Last week he went to Cincinnati to watch the Bengals and Bears.

“The 49ers look so much better than anybody else,” he said. “It’s not even close.

“Dallas looks like it no longer has it together, and when you go around the league, you just don’t see anything to get excited about. Pittsburgh is probably the best team in the AFC. Kansas City had its foot to the floor all season long, but that could start eroding after the game it had in Miami. They were playing so intensely without having a great team, and what happened in Miami could foretell what’s going to happen there.”

So will the 49ers repeat as Super Bowl champions?

“I don’t think the 49ers are nearly as good as previous 49er teams, but they still have just too much offense for other teams. Teams with sputtering offenses--opportunistic offenses like San Diego had last year--can’t move the ball until the game is all but over.

“If Pittsburgh plays in the Super Bowl, I see the same kind of game we saw last year. I don’t see the AFC ending the NFC’s streak in the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh will be beaten by three to four touchdowns.”

ON TV

* HOW EXCITING

Washington (4-10) at St. Louis (7-7) Channel 11, 10 a.m.: It has been almost a year since the Rams played the Redskins in their farewell Anaheim Stadium performance. The Rams said their goodbyes with a loss, and now get the chance to kiss off their remaining playoff hopes--after a 4-0 start--with one more defeat.

Considerable mismatch: The Redskins have the NFC’s No. 2 pass defense and the Rams have a broken-down Mark Rypien at quarterback.

* CALLING IT QUITS

Denver (7-7) at Kansas City (11-3) Channel 4, 1 p.m.: The Broncos crashed last week against Seattle and now have to take on the Chiefs, who are playing for the right to stay home throughout the playoffs. Denver quarterback John Elway needs three touchdown passes for a career-best 26, but after last week’s pratfall, it’s a wonder he still has a job.

History lesson: Kansas City is 6-0 in the division and is looking to go undefeated in the AFC West for the first time in club history.

* GO FOR IT

N.Y. Giants (5-9) at Dallas (10-4) Channel 11, 1 p.m.: The Giants haven’t beaten a team with a winning record, but hold on, cowboy, now they get a Barry Switzer-coached team. Dallas running back Emmitt Smith needs two touchdowns to become the NFL’s single-season leader with 25, surpassing John Riggins.

So what: The Giants have won eight of their last nine games in December, including five in a row.

* TWO SHIPS PASSING . . .

Oakland (8-6) at Seattle (7-7) ESPN, 5 p.m.: Chances for that Ram-Raider Super Bowl appear to be dimming. The Raiders collapsed after losing quarterback Jeff Hostetler (shoulder). Hostetler’s back, but does that mean the Raiders will no longer be penalized or will no longer be ineffective rushing the ball?

Stuck in place: Oakland’s Harvey Williams needs 40 rushing yards to become the first 1,000-yard runner with the Raiders since Marcus Allen in 1985.

LET IT SNOW

Miami (8-6) at Buffalo (9-5): The Bills can wrap up the AFC East Division title, which will force some poor playoff team to play in the freezer--otherwise known as Buffalo. Who thought Don Shula and Wayne Fontes would ever have something in common--they won’t go away.

Guess who? Who holds the Bills’ single-season record for touchdowns scored with 23? Thurman Thomas? No. O.J. Simpson.

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

Tampa Bay (7-7) at Chicago (7-7): The Buccaneers might move, might fire Coach Sam Wyche, and might make the playoffs. It has been that kind of year in the NFL. The Bears have lost three games in a row, so imagine sitting outside in sub-freezing weather watching these two titans battle for postseason abuse.

Coming on: Rookie running back Rashaan Salaam has rushed for more than 100 yards three times this season, including 105 yards in 22 carries last week.

STAYING ALIVE

San Diego (7-7) at Indianapolis (8-6): The Chargers continue to hang around, although one more loss will do them in. The Colts have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 1987: The Colts against the Cowboys, now wouldn’t that be a Super Bowl to end all Super Bowls? Jim Harbaugh returns as the Colts’ starting quarterback; raise your hand if you knew he was gone.

Say what? Wide receiver Tony Martin, known best in San Diego for dropping passes, posted his first 1,000-yard season. He probably could have had 2,000 if he could catch.

Atlanta (8-6) at Carolina (6-8): The Falcons can clinch a playoff berth with a victory and loss by either Detroit or Minnesota. Did you ever think you would see the day when Atlanta and Indianapolis would be in the playoffs and there would be no football in Los Angeles?

Jacksonville (3-11) at Detroit (8-6): The Lions are t-h-a-t close to clinching a playoff berth, and did you ever think you would see the day when Atlanta, Indianapolis and Detroit would be in the playoffs?

FAREWELL

Cincinnati (6-8) at Cleveland (4-10): Is this it for the Dog Pound? The Bengals remain barely alive in the playoff hunt, but the Browns went dead as soon as owner Art Modell announced his intention to move to Baltimore.

N.Y. Jets (3-11) at Houston (5-9): Is this it for the Astrodome? The Oilers have said they will play somewhere in Tennessee next year, and probably with Steve McNair at quarterback, while awaiting construction of a new stadium in Nashville. The Jets can look forward to the end of the season.

THE BUDDY BOWL

Arizona (4-10) at Philadelphia (9-5): The knock on Buddy Ryan when he was coach of the Eagles was his inability to win playoff games. No such problem in Arizona.

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Playoff Possibilities

A look at the NFL playoff picture heading into today’s games:

*

AFC

ALREADY IN

* Pittsburgh (11-4) has clinched the Central title and a first-round playoff bye.

* Kansas City (11-3) has clinched the West title.

IN WITH A VICTORY

* Buffalo (9-5) with a victory against Miami.

NEED SOME HELP

* Indianapolis (8-6) can clinch with a victory against San Diego and a loss by Miami, Denver or Oakland.

* Miami (8-6) can clinch with a victory against Buffalo and a San Diego loss and either a Denver loss or tie or an Oakland loss. Also, the Dolphins are in if they lose and Denver, San Diego and Seattle lose.

* Oakland (8-6) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory against Seattle and a Denver loss or tie and either a Miami loss or a San Diego loss or tie.

NEED A LOT OF HELP

* Cincinnati (6-8), Denver (7-7), San Diego (7-7) and Seattle (7-7) remain playoff contenders.

NO HELP LEFT

* The New York Jets, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Houston Oilers and Jacksonville Jaguars have been eliminated.

*

NFC

ALREADY IN

* Dallas (10-4) and Green Bay (10-5) have clinched playoff berths.

IN WITH A VICTORY

* Philadelphia (9-5) with a victory or tie against Arizona

* San Francisco (10-4) with a victory or tie against Minnesota.

NEED SOME HELP

* Detroit (8-6) can clinch with a victory against Jacksonville and a Minnesota loss and a St. Louis loss or tie.

* Atlanta (8-6) can clinch with a victory against Carolina and loss by Detroit or Minnesota.

NEED A LOT OF HELP

* Minnesota (8-6), Chicago (7-7), St. Louis (7-7) and Tampa Bay (7-7) remain playoff contenders.

NO HELP LEFT

* The Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have been eliminated.