WEST / Ditka Not Sold on Top...

WEST / Ditka Not Sold on Top Pick

Saint Coach Mike Ditka has alreay said he would prefer trading the No. 1 pick in the draft to using it on one player, such as quarterback Peyton Manning. “First off, I don’t want the No. 1 pick because that’s a sign that you’re not doing your job,” Ditka said. “But if I had it, I would have to think long and hard. There is no one person that can rectify our problems on offense.” Looking at the Saints’ quarterbacks, he might want to rethink that position. . . . The Raiders made a star of Carolina Panther running back Fred Lane, and now Lane gets his first NFL start against Denver. Lane, who replaced Tshimanga Biakabutuka on the fifth play of Sunday’s game after Biakabutuka suffered a rib injury, ran for 147 yards. Said Coach Dom Capers: “Obviously, he’s talented to go from the point where nobody knows your name to where you’re the NFC offensive player of the week.” . . . The 49ers go to Philadelphia to face their former running back, Ricky Watters, but linebacker Gary Plummer doesn’t expect any trash talking. “When you go into a battle of wits unarmed, you don’t have much to say. He talked absolutely no trash in the playoff game. I expect the same thing on Monday night.” The 49ers beat the Eagles, 14-0, in a wild-card game last year with Watters gaining 57 yards in 20 carries.

Hard to believe: The Atlanta Falcons might win some more. The second half of the Falcons’ schedule is against opponents with a combined record of 25-40; their first-half opponents were 38-27.

CENTRAL / Conway’s $10,000 Mistake

Boys and girls, the Bears have established the price for throwing a helmet: $10,000, tagging linebacker Bryan Cox and wide receiver Curtis Conway. “It was something I don’t want kids to see,” Conway said. “I felt bad about that.” . . . Detroit goes up against Washington cornerback Darrell Green this week, and while Green has played only nine of his 227 games against the Lions, eight of his 48 interceptions have come against them. Green is still looking for his first interception this season. . . . The Vikings have limited each of their last five opponents to fewer than 20 points. They gave up an average of 23.5 points in the first six games; 12.7 in their last three. . . . It might not mean much, but Atlanta beat Tampa Bay in an exhibition, 17-12, by running for 137 yards in the first half when both teams had their starters on the field.

Hard to believe: Bear punter and team player Todd Sauerbrun has been quick to point out that he’s not at fault for the team’s demise. “I am not the reason why we’ve been losing. We lost, 31-8, last week. I mean, two better punts wouldn’t have changed the game. But in [the coaches’] eyes, it seems like I could have won the game. It just seems like when we lose a game, a lot of the blame is put on me.”

EAST / Switzer Tackles Rumors

Controversy continues to swirl around Barry Switzer with reports that he’s on the brink of a nervous breakdown and might be fired next week. “I’d take wagers on it in Vegas,” that it won’t happen, said Switzer, and now the NFL will probably investigate him for gambling. Switzer said, “I’ve never felt the heat. The only thing that would make me have a breakdown is if something happens to my family or my kids. It damn sure ain’t going to be no football game or coaching job.” . . . Dave Brown, 23-30 as the Giants’ starting quarterback since 1994, has a torn chest muscle and isn’t ready to start again, but Coach Jim Fassel offered Brown no incentive to get well quickly. Fassel said the Giants will start Danny Kanell at quarterback for the remainder of the season. “I think in both their minds they knew what was going to come,” Fassel said. “That’s why it shouldn’t come as a shock to them or anybody else.” . . . The Eagles signed kicker Chris Boniol away from Dallas, and now Boniol has gone 11 for 18 in field-goal attempts, while Richie Cunningham has replaced Boniol in Dallas and made 26 of 28. It has been that kind of year for the Eagles.

Hard to believe: When Jake Plummer was benched in the fourth quarter last week after completing seven of 18 passes for 132 yards with one touchdown and one interception, Cardinal fans booed and began chanting, “We want Jake.” Kent Graham then led the Cardinals to a come-from-behind victory, but Coach Vince Tobin listened to the fans and decided to start Plummer this week.

Hard to believe II: The fans in Arizona booed Graham when it was announced on the scoreboard after the game that he was offensive player of the game.