Colts Are Gone, but Not Forgotten

The Baltimore Ravens’ finale at Memorial Stadium on Sunday gave fervent football fans the long-awaited opportunity to say farewell to their beloved Colts.

They cheered each time a former Colt was introduced during timeouts, saving their loudest roar and a standing ovation for Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas.

They spelled out the name of the 43-year-old stadium’s former tenants as unofficial cheerleader Len Burrier contorted his body into the letters C-O-L-T-S.

And they stood respectfully after a 21-19 victory over the Tennessee Oilers as Unitas--and 21 other former Colts--ran one final play in street clothes covered by their familiar blue jerseys.

Unitas donned his No. 19--but not his trademark high-top, black cleats--for the final offensive set. Recent hand surgery prevented him from throwing another pass, but ex-Colt linebacker Stan White designed a running play that was just as pleasing to a screaming crowd.

After taking the snap, Unitas handed off to running back Lydell Mitchell, who then gave the ball to Hall of Fame halfback Lenny Moore on a reverse.

Moore ran into the end zone and the football eventually made its way into the hands of Raven receiver Michael Jackson in a symbolic transition between old team and new.

“It would have been a pass, but Johnny couldn’t throw the ball,” said White, host of a sports talk show on a Baltimore radio station. “With Unitas, Moore and Lydell, we included people from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, so that covered the whole spectrum of the Colts.”

It was a fitting end to what fans expected would be an emotional farewell.

“I’d better make sure I have my Kleenex,” said Pennie Bailey, 75, of Shrewsbury, Pa., two hours before kickoff. “I’ll need them. There’s lots of memories in this place.”

Bailey held season tickets to the Colts for 26 years, paying $7 for the entire first season, $13 less than it cost to park Sunday.

But Memorial Stadium has clearly outlived its usefulness: The outmoded elevator broke down between floors before the game, marooning the Oilers’ coaching staff for five minutes.

CHARLES WOODSON SHOULDN’T GET COCKY

The winner and top two vote-getters in last year’s Heisman Trophy race were on hand at the game between the Saints and Cardinals.

Quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the winner, was inactive for the Saints.

Second-place finisher Troy Davis had 13 yards in six carries for New Orleans.

Third-place finisher Jake Plummer, the starting quarterback for Arizona, completed 17 of 37 passes for 180 yards with two interceptions.

WIN TOSS OR WE WON’T RETIRE YOUR NUMBER

Buffalo special teams player Steve Tasker, a 13-year veteran who is retiring at the end of the season, was honored before his last game at Rich Stadium.

He was the only captain to go out for the coin toss.

AND THE STADIUM WAS CALLED FOR ICING

Otis Smith mixed his sports metaphors a bit, but he was entitled. After all, it’s not every day that he returns two interceptions for touchdowns, as he did in the second quarter of the New York Jets’ 31-0 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Hopefully I could have gotten the hat trick and be there by myself,” he said of his two second-quarter runs, which made him the 20th player in NFL history to do so and the 10th to do it in one quarter.

“It’s an honor. We’ll keep going and hopefully I can do it again.”

Another reason for the rout: When the weather gets cold, so do the Buccaneers.

They entered their game against the Jets with an all-time record of 0-17 in temperatures under 42 degrees.

Game-time temperature Sunday at Giants Stadium was exactly 42, with wind gusts that created a wind-chill and made it feel like 22 degrees.

That’s as good an explanation as any for their loss.

PACKERS A HARD HABIT FOR THEM TO BREAK

Some fans are so devoted to the Green Bay Packers that a Wisconsin store is selling rosaries with football-shaped beads and messages like “Go Packers” for fans who want a little divine guidance.

It all began with the suggestion of some loyal Packers fans--who also happen to be nuns.

The rosaries, which cost $20, are hand-wired and use alphabet beads for Hail Marys and green football-shaped beads for Our Fathers.

“I’ve only gotten a small percentage of negative comments,” said Karla Sponder, who makes the rosaries.

“Most of the nuns I know have them and consider them their way of helping the Packers win from their chair at home. Those nuns are great Packer fans.”

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What a Difference

Biggest one-season turnarounds in the NFL since the NFL-AFL merger: *--*

Team, year 1st year 2nd year Imp. N.Y. Jets, ‘96-97 1-15 9-6 8 1/2 Baltimore, ‘74-75 2-12 10-4 8 Indianapolis, ‘91-92 1-15 9-7 8 New England, ‘75-76 3-11 11-3 8 Cincinnati, ‘87-88 4-11 12-4 7 1/2 Denver, ‘90-91 5-11 12-4 7 San Diego, 1991-92 4-12 11-5 7 Detroit, ‘79-80 2-14 9-7 7

*--*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE PLAYMAKERS

RUSHING

*--*

Player, Team No. Yds. TD BARRY SANDERS, Lions 19 138 0 COREY DILLON, Bengals 26 126 1 EDDIE GEORGE, Oilers 26 126 0 FRED LANE, Panthers 19 119 1 ROBERT SMITH, Vikings 20 101 1 RICKY WATTERS, Eagles 15 95 1 WARRICK DUNN, Buccaneers 23 88 0

*--*

PASSING

*--*

Player, Team Att. Comp. Yds. TD MARK BRUNELL, Jaguars 32 24 317 0 x-JEFF HOSTETLER, Redskins 42 23 288 1 TROY AIKMAN, Cowboys 35 28 285 2 JON KITNA, Seahawks 37 23 283 1 JEFF GEORGE, Raiders 31 21 274 3 BOOMER ESIASON, Bengals 25 13 269 2 x-KORDELL STEWART, Steelers 48 26 266 1 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 34 18 256 3

*--*

RECEIVING

*--*

Player, Team No. Yds. TD ANTONIO FREEMAN, Packers 10 166 2 RANDAL HILL, Saints 5 124 1 MICHAEL IRVIN, Cowboys 9 117 0 DARNAY SCOTT, Bengals 4 112 1 CURTIS CONWAY, Bears 7 109 1 KEN DILGER, Colts 5 100 3 CHRIS SANDERS, Oilers 7 100 0

*--*

x-played Saturday.

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Compiled by Helene Elliott and Houston Mitchell