PRO FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 23, 1996 12 AM PT

HE DOESN’T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON

From past experience, Dana Hall knew what to expect when Morten Andersen lined up for a 30-yard field goal that would have doomed the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I’ve seen him hit 50-yarders that were game-winners,” Hall said. “I knew I had to get a great jump. I didn’t get the ball and my face went into the ground. Then I looked up and I was in shock.”

Andersen slipped on his follow-through, the ball squirting off just wide of the left goal post to preserve the Jaguars’ 19-17 victory over Atlanta and complete their amazing journey to the playoffs.

It was made even more amazing by the circumstances.

Andersen, one of the best kickers in history, has kicked 23 game-winning field goals, and he had not missed from 30 yards or in since 1989, a span of 59 field goals.

Michael Huyghue, the Jaguars’ vice president of football, couldn’t even watch.

“I just waited for the silence, and there was none,” Huyghue said. “It was a great feeling.”

Andersen earlier made a 46-yard field goal and he also slipped on the follow-through. He went looking for a good chunk of turf for the 30-yarder and thought he found it.

“It’s not a pleasant thing to have happen to you, but it’s happened just a minimal number of times in my career,” Andersen said. “It all happened so fast. It was over in just a few seconds.

“It might appear that my plant foot gave way. I’m not sure. I knew as soon as I kicked it and fell down that it was no good. It was a good snap, good hold, good protection. Maybe it was more just an indication of how our whole year went.”

And it was another gift for the Jaguars, who finished the year with five consecutive victories to join Carolina in the expansion-flavored playoffs.

“If I was a betting man, I would have bet my life that we win that game,” Atlanta quarterback Bobby Hebert said. “But shoot, I would be dead right now.”

As it is, the Jaguars have a new life. They open the first round of the playoffs Saturday in Buffalo.

IF YOU’RE GOING TO OVERWORK ME, I QUIT

Le’Shai Maston, who has started every game at fullback for Jacksonville, had one carry for five yards against Atlanta. It was his first carry in eight games.

YES, IT’S SPELLED R-E-A-L-I-T-Y C-H-E-C-K

Apparently, not all of the Chicago Bears are convinced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hadn’t scored 30 points in a game since Oct. 31, 1993, are a better team than they are, despite Sunday’s 34-19 victory.

“I still ain’t got no respect for this team at all. Next year we’ll beat them twice,” Bear defensive end Alonzo Spellman said. “They are terrible. They know it. We know it. Fluke. That’s how I explain it. Fluke. Can you spell that? Terrible. They’re terrible, period.”

YOU’RE ASKING A LOT OUT OF SANTA

Banners seen in the upper deck at Giants Stadium during the Jets’ 31-28 loss to Miami:

“Dear Santa: All I Want for Christmas is a Good Jets Team,” and “Over a Quarter-Century and Still Rebuilding.”

YOU KIDS KEEP YOUR CAT OFF MY LAWN!

Sir Purr, Carolina’s mascot, drew a penalty flag in the second quarter against Pittsburgh when he pounced on a punt that was rolling through the back of the end zone, obviously unaware the ball was still alive. Players from both teams had already given up on the ball, so referee Dick Hantak declared a touchback. Hantak then picked up the flag and, instead of walking off a penalty against the Panthers, decided to settle for a lecture of the furry black mascot.

Just as he seemed to be getting through to the feline, Sir Purr was distracted by a nearby ball of yarn, coughed up a hairball, and found a nice warm spot to take a nap.

HE HAS A FIRM GRASP OF THE OBVIOUS

Jet rookie Keyshawn Johnson, after the Jets fell to 1-15 with a 31-28 loss to Miami: “It’s very hard to believe, but it is right here in our face. There’s no hiding from it, we were 1-15.”

IT’S A REGULAR GLEE CLUB

Halftime, and restrooms that should have been jammed were roomy, concessions all but deserted. At the final game the Washington Redskins played at RFK Stadium, the fans climbed out of their seats not to see to personal business but to cheer a stream of middle-aged men jogging onto the field in street shoes and old football jerseys.

“Quarterback from Duke,” the announcer began.

“Son-NY!” hollered Craig Glee, throwing a fist into the air even before Sonny Jurgensen stepped into view.

“Running back from Kansas. . . .”

“Riggo!” cried Cedric Lockhart, as John Riggins took the field one last time.

It was a day about sentiment, with no reason to look anywhere but back.

“Honestly, the whole section over there, it’s almost like a family,” Glee, 23, said, gesturing toward Section 225, where he began watching the home team 16 years ago. “You see the same people every week. My dad wasn’t here today. People asked about him.”

And when the final gun sounded for the final time, some could not resist scrambling onto the field to take some of the specialness home with them.

When time ran out, the first men over the fence were tackled by some of the 250 police officers stationed around the field. But as the minutes passed, what began as a trickle turned into a stream, and the police were overwhelmed, making only four arrests.

“All I want is a piece of turf,” Bart Gibbs shouted to a police officer who was trying to restrain him. “I’m 31 years old, and I’ve been coming here all my life. This will never be this again. I just want a piece of history.”

Soon, a chant went up: “Goal posts. Goal posts.”

But the police made a goal line stand at both ends of the field, and the uprights stayed that way.

“I’ve got the 40-yard-line arrow,” John Atkinson, 30, said. “I’m going to plant it in my yard. This is an end of an era. Fans are never going to have a kinship with a stadium like this again.”

LOOK! IT’S ROY DE SOTO AND JOHN GAGE!

A look at the injuries the playoff teams suffered on Sunday: Dallas cornerback Deion Sanders left after the first series against Washington when he aggravated his sore back. . . . Minnesota linebacker Dixon Edwards injured his right knee in the first quarter against Green Bay. . . . Philadelphia lost linebacker Ray Farmer in the second quarter against Arizona because of a strained ligament in his right knee. . . . Indianapolis receiver Mark Stock suffered a concussion against Cincinnati.

--Compiled by HOUSTON MITCHELL

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NOTEWORTHY

Carolina’s John Kasay kicked three field goals against Pittsburgh to finish with 37, an NFL record. The top 10 all-time, with team, year and field goals:

1. John Kasay, Carolina, 1996: 37.

2. Cary Blanchard, Indianapolis, 1996: 36.

3. Ali Haji-Sheikh, New York Giants, 1983: 35.

3. Jeff Jaeger, Los Angeles Raiders, 1993: 35.

5. Jim Turner, New York Jets, 1968: 34.

5. Nick Lowery, Kansas City Chiefs, 1990: 34.

5. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions, 1993: 34.

5. John Carney, San Diego Chargers, 1994: 34.

5. Fuad Reveiz, Minnesota Vikings, 1994: 34.

5. Norm Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1995: 34.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre broke his NFC record by passing for 39 touchdowns this season. The all-time NFL leaders:

1. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1984: 48.