TIMES NFL WRITER T.J. SIMERS POSES--AND ANSWERS--THE BURNING QUESTIONS ON : GAME DAY

1. Question: The Dolphins are going to honor Don Shula and the 1972 team for their perfect season at halftime Monday night, but why is Shula so ticked off?

Answer: Shula also wants perfect adoration. He wants the world to recognize the Dolphins as the NFL’s best team ever, and he wants the selectors to put one of his defensive players--any defensive player from 1972--into the Hall of Fame.

“I don’t understand why there’s even any question about it [being the best ever],” Shula said. “Doesn’t history go by team accomplishments and the record? Nobody had ever done 17-0 before, and nobody has ever done it since. We’ve done something that nobody else has ever done, so why doesn’t history ever recognize that fact?”

The Dolphins went 17-0 in 1972, 15-2 in 1973 and won two Super Bowls, but none of the players from the “No Name Defense” are in the Hall of Fame, for good reason: No one knows their names.

2. Q: Who has the best winning percentage over a career as a starting quarterback for the 49ers?

A: Wrong. Joe Montana was 100-39 with a .719 winning percentage. Steve Young is 74-26 with a .740 percentage.

3. Q: How is former USC tackle John Michels doing in Green Bay?

A: Terribly. Last year’s No. 1 pick was inactive last week, not even allowed to put on a uniform despite being ready to play. The Packers think Michels lacks the drive to be really good and are going with rookie Ross Verba and journeyman Bruce Wilkerson at tackle.

“I dare people to bet against me,” Michels said. “I really do, because at every level I’ve overcome people.”

4. Q: Why does New Orleans kicker Doug Brien get so upset about the Raiders’ inability to sell out?

A: Brien owns a home in Oakland, and because the team has not sold enough PSLs, Brien’s tax money will be used to pay for the remodeling of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

“Being a resident of Oakland, [those empty suites] are not real good news to me,” Brien said. “I’ll end up helping pay for those boxes.”

There were 22,000 empty seats when Brien kicked against the Raiders last week in the Coliseum.

5. Q: Why do the Oilers have no luck?

A: They can’t even give tickets away in Memphis. Last week an Oiler fan went to the Liberty Bowl the night before the game to buy four tickets, only to find a box on the ground, which had 531 tickets valued at $40,000 inside.

Instead of grabbing them, maybe even selling some and thereby padding the Oilers’ wretched attendance figures, he turned them in.