WICKED WITCH HAS NOTHING ON HIM

The volcano known as Bryan Cox finally erupted, mercilessly ripping his teammates for lacking heart and challenging the Chicago Bear organization to find better players.

“We need to look at ourselves in the mirror because some of us need to go see the wizard,” Cox said Sunday after the Bears lost, 37-6, to the Green Bay Packers. “We don’t have a lot of heart.”

Asked what he meant, the linebacker began screaming: “Get some damn heart, like the lion in the Wizard of Oz! Heart! Heart! Heart! Heart! See the wizard, get some heart!”

He might not have known that it actually was the tin woodsman who wanted a heart, but he had an idea how the Bears could get some without seeing the wizard.

“Search the waiver wire,” Cox said. “This ain’t college. If people are not doing their job, let’s get out and get some people in who want to play.”

Cox was infamous for his emotional reaction to bad plays and bad games during his five-year career with the Miami Dolphins--including a spitting incident in Buffalo last season. Signed as a free agent in February to give the Bears some fire, he instead spent about six minutes firing on his teammates Sunday.

He was especially upset about the last play of the first half--Brett Favre’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman that made the score 20-3. Favre scrambled away from pressure to throw the pass, and Freeman emerged from a six-player scrum with the ball.

“We’ve got a sack, we’ve got the quarterback wrapped up, and every week they find a way to get away and throw the ball,” Cox said. “We probably lead the league in giving up big plays. That ain’t coaching, it’s the players.”

Of the coverage by Mark Carrier, Anthony Marshall and Kevin Miniefield on the play, Cox said: “When you get into a pile like that, it’s whoever comes away with it. You just want to knock the ball down. The chances of you catching the ball and running 102 yards for a touchdown are very slim.”

After the play, Cox raised his middle finger to on-field officials, threw his helmet and stood in the end zone, helmetless, during a Green Bay extra-point attempt. He drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing that Freeman pushed on the play, but later said he wasn’t really agitated about the officiating.

“I was upset about the misplay that we had, not doing a good job, and them getting a touchdown,” Cox said. “So I threw my helmet.”

Other Chicago players either dismissed or tried to diffuse their teammate’s comments.

Carrier: “That’s just Bryan being Bryan. There’s definitely heart here, there’s character. We’ve just got to go out and show it.”

Donnell Woolford: “That’s what we talked about that we shouldn’t let happen. We may not win another game if we don’t stay together.”

Rashaan Salaam: “I ain’t got no heart problem. That’s his opinion.”

Alonzo Spellman: “I don’t believe in going out of the house with any comments. Cox has a mind of his own.”

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE SHE WON’T

Before the Rams were routed by the 49ers, 28-11, St. Louis Coach Rich Brooks had this to say about the chances that a new stadium will end his team’s 12-game losing streak to San Francisco:

“It didn’t work in Anaheim. It didn’t work in Candlestick. It didn’t work at 3Com. It didn’t work at Busch. Maybe the tooth fairy will make it work in the Trans World Dome.”

With all the Ram teeth the 49ers have knocked out over the years, the tooth fairy probably doesn’t have enough money to cover the expense.

Since Brooks took over as coach last season, the 49ers have outscored the Rams, 147-34, in four games.

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

Yeah, the Packers routed Chicago, 37-6, warming the hearts of fans everywhere. But there was something missing at Chicago. Those of us who love to come in close contact with sweaty 240-pound guys wearing lots of padding were left somewhat melancholy.

Robert Brooks and the rest of the Green Bay Packers have been told to confine their leaps into the stands to home games.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Friday he told his players to refrain from such celebratory acts away from Lambeau Field.

“On the road, we won’t do that anymore,” Holmgren said. “Robert did it in Minnesota and a couple of people responded like you would expect the visiting team to respond. That has to be a home-field thing for us.”

THEY ALSO SAY ‘THAT’S MORE THAN 10 ITEMS’

Green Bay running back Edgar Bennett can show his face at his local supermarket with pride after the Packers’ victory over Chicago.

“Every time I go to the grocery store, people say to me, ‘Whatever you do, beat the Bears,’ ” Bennett said before Sunday’s game.

HOW ABOUT A FREE TRIP TO EVERY FAN

New York Jet defensive tackle Jeff Faulkner is one of four players who were born in the Virgin Islands. Faulkner would like to join fellow Virgin Islanders Quentin Coryatt (Indianapolis), Joe Aska (Oakland) and Renaldo Turnbull (New Orleans) in teaching the game back home.

“Being Virgin Islanders, we should try to give something back,” Faulkner said.

IS THERE A DOCTOR AMONG OUR READERS?

Jacksonville’s Andre Rison left the game against New Orleans in the second quarter because of a strained right hamstring and did not return. . . . Patriot cornerback Ricky Reynolds sprained an ankle in the first quarter against Baltimore and missed the remainder of the game. . . . Baltimore defensive back Eric Turner sprained his right ankle. Raven offensive tackle Tony Jones sprained his left knee and Raven running back Earnest Byner suffered a bruised left shoulder. . . . Already depleted by injuries, the Carolina Panthers lost several more players in Sunday’s 14-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Guard Greg Skrepenak didn’t finish the game because of rib injuries, safety Brett Maxie and backup linebacker Duane Bickett pulled hamstrings on the same third-quarter play and didn’t return and Sam Mills was unable to continue after straining his right calf in the fourth quarter. . . . Lion defensive tackle Luther Elliss sprained his right knee in the first quarter against Atlanta and did not return. . . . John Michels, a rookie making his second start at left offensive tackle for the Packers, suffered a sprained right knee in the first quarter against Chicago. . . . Bear guard Chris Villarrial, a rookie starting because of an injury to Todd Burger, suffered a concussion in the third quarter and didn’t return. . . . Bear cornerback Donnell Woolford suffered a hamstring tendon injury in the second quarter and did not return. . . . The New York Jets lost three more starters Sunday. Quarterback Neil O’Donnell is out at least four weeks because of a separated right shoulder. Wide receiver Webster Slaughter is expected to sit out three weeks because of a pulled hamstring. Defensive tackle Marc Spindler will sit out one week because of a strained calf. . . . Oakland running back Derrick Fenner hurt his groin and tackle Robert Jenkins got a concussion.

WE ALWAYS KNEW HE COULD TAKE A LICKING

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the new George Halas stamp, which will be issued in 1997. The 32-cent stamp, depicting the former Bear coach on the sideline at a game, is the first ever to honor a pro football coach.

The Postal Service considered using a stamp honoring Buffalo Coach and Super Bowl struggler Marv Levy, but in trial runs, all mail using his stamp was lost.

Compiled by HOUSTON MITCHELL