When Jimmy Johnson Isn’t Stealing Headlines, He’s Writing Them

Just because NFL has been quiet doesn’t mean people aren’t whispering. . . .

--Word is, nobody is going to be a bigger target this year than Jimmy Johnson and his Miami Dolphins. Perhaps because Johnson is already popping off.

“We will win, there’s no doubt in my mind that we will win,” said Johnson at the coach’s breakfast during the recently completed owner’s meetings in Palm Beach, Fla.

He looked around the room.

“In all honesty, there’s 29 others [coaches] here, and they all know . . . that we’re going to win too,” he said.

He later added, “I want us to believe that we are the team to beat, and I want you to print this in Dallas. Print, ‘Jimmy Johnson says the Dolphins are the team to beat.’ ”

Johnson, by the way, traveled to the meetings by boat in a raging storm from his home in the Keys. And didn’t get seasick once.

--Word is, Miami will play host to the Dallas Cowboys this year in a Sunday afternoon in November, around the same time the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers held their past great battles.

The league doesn’t need to schedule this marquee game on the opening Monday night, because that particular game is a ratings winner no matter who plays. And they don’t need to schedule them late in the year because of playoff-inspired ratings.

Barry Switzer, seated at a table next to Johnson at the breakfast, shook his head and said, “We lost so many players, we’re dead. We’re just dead. Might as well not even show up.”

This should be fun.

--Word is, there’s big trouble in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers were in disarray before starting running back Bam Morris was arrested on drug charges, a move that could lead to his suspension for at least one year, if not forever.

They’ve also lost quarterback Neil O’Donnell and league-best right tackle Leon Searcy. They are the two biggest reasons they advanced to the Super Bowl, no matter how much you love their defense.

Steeler Coach Bill Cowher recently shrugged and said, “We have not relied on one person before, and we won’t do it now. We’ve won as a team, and that’s what we’ll keep doing.”

Don’t let him fool you. He’s furious, particularly at O’Donnell, who tucked tail and ran to the New York Jets after being supported by Cowher--and sometimes only Cowher--for four years.

“The only thing I said to Neil was, look at the whole picture, look at our relationship for the last four years,” Cowher said. “And not two days before he left, he said he was staying.”

Cowher was insulted not only because O’Donnell then signed with the New York Jets, but because O’Donnell claimed he did it because he thinks the Jets are a great organization.

“Just once, I would like see somebody say, ‘I left because I got more money,’ ” Cowher said.

The Steeler coach, who will probably start third-year quarterback Jim Miller--he of the 53.9 rating in mopup work last year--received more bad news recently.

The Competition Committee slyly clarified a rule that allows just one radio-equipped helmet on the field during play. That means Kordell Stewart can no longer take advantage of the radio play-calling, and must begin taking hand signals from the sidelines when he lines up under center.

That is, if he still hopes to fool anybody.

--Word is, the Baltimore team may never get a new nickname.

Consultants have sifted through nicknames like Ravens, Mustangs, Marauders and Knights, with nothing emerging as a clear leader. The Ravens was nominated because Edgar Allen Poe is from Baltimore, which makes as much sense as calling the team the Baby Ruths.

“Right now we’re ‘The NFL Baltimore franchise’ or ‘The team formerly known as the Browns.’ ” Kevin Byrne, team vice president, told reporters. “We feel like Prince.”

--Word is, things have gotten so twisted in this league that one team, the Dolphins, recently threw an invitation-only party for agents.

--Word is, the Cowboys’ Michael Irvin has finally been exposed as the arrogant fool that he is.

After spending all season oozing goodwill as the Cowboys’ on-field leader, he strutted through Super Bowl week surrounded by hip-looking manservants and speaking in condescending tones to anyone who would listen. Now, he was found in a motel room where a woman was arrested on drug charges.

When that Texas grand jury gets through with him, there may not be enough gold chains in the world that can make him look good.

--Word is, the Jets’ recent acquisition of receiver Jeff Graham may ruin any chance of USC receiver Keyshawn Johnson being taken as the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft.

Johnson’s only shot now may be for the Jets to trade the pick to Jacksonville, which, drafting No. 2, would love to add Johnson to former USC stars Tony Boselli and Rob Johnson.

The other top four picks, in some order, will probably be UCLA tackle Jonathan Ogden, Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips, and Illinois pass rushers Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice.

--Word is, Switzer would like a final word about last year’s fourth-and-one controversy against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“For the last time, it was not fourth and one!” he shouted. “It was fourth and inches. Hell, if it was fourth and one, I would have punted the sucker.”

And the Cowboys would have never won the Super Bowl.