Reach Out and Level Someone

Jacksonville receiver Keenan McCardell says Pittsburgh’s Greg Lloyd hit him with a cheap shot Sunday because Lloyd mistakenly thought McCardell had made a threatening call to his house.

McCardell denied that he ever made such a call, but said he suspects that someone on the Steeler staff made the call to motivate Lloyd.

The Steelers took over first place in the AFC Central by beating the Jaguars, 23-17, in overtime.

McCardell said Lloyd came up and leveled him well after the whistle on the first play of the game, a long incompletion by Mark Brunell.

“He didn’t need to do that,” McCardell said. “He said I called his house and threatened his family. I don’t need to do that. I hope the league fines [him]. . . . for it.

“After the game, he told me, ‘Be a man. Own up to it.’ I used to have a lot of respect for him, but not now. He should remember that what goes around, comes around,” McCardell said.

The Jaguar receiver said he would never do to a fellow NFL player what he wouldn’t want done to him.

“I’m not threatening his family. I’ve got a family, too,” McCardell said. “Why would I own up to something I didn’t do? That must be his coaches doing that to motivate him. I wouldn’t do something like that, but he still said I did that. I don’t mess with anybody.”

Lloyd refused comment, but Steeler linebacker Jason Gildon had heard rumors about a supposed phone call for several days.

“I’ve been hearing something like that throughout the week,” Gildon said. “I don’t know how it went. You’d have to ask Greg.”

Lloyd, who has been having a sub-par season since missing all but one game last year because of an injured knee, finished with four tackles.

McCardell, who had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown last week in a 26-22 loss in Dallas, was held to two receptions for 22 yards.

LET’S SCHEDULE BUFFALO EVERY WEEK

Denver running back Terrell Davis had quite a day in the Broncos’ 23-20 overtime victory over Buffalo. He passed the 1,000-yard mark and set several personal and team records.

Davis has 1,068 yards rushing after his 207-yard performance. Davis, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons, reached the milestone in the eighth game, the fastest in team history, breaking his own record. It was also his 16th career 100-yard game, a team record. The 207 yards was the most given up by the Bills. And his 42 carries were the most ever against Buffalo.

HE CAN ALWAYS USE IT AS A HANDKERCHIEF

Philadelphia rookie Chad Lewis won the game against Dallas with his only reception, an eight-yard touchdown catch, and also won a bet with team ticket director Leo Carlin. Lewis said he made a bet before the game with Carlin that if he caught a touchdown, Carlin would give him the shirt he was wearing.

Afterward Carlin said he would make good on the bet, although there is one problem. Carlin is 5-8 and weighs about 160 pounds. Lewis is 6-6, 252 pounds.

THOU SHALT NOT ACT FOOLISH

One sign hanging in the upper deck of the Superdome during the New Orleans-San Francisco game read “Free Moses Now,” a reference to a Saint fan who has legally changed his name to Holy Moses. Moses, who dresses like the Biblical leader and leads cheers at home games, was arrested during last week’s game for disturbing the peace and getting into a scuffle with Superdome security.

A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: ‘I WAS HEATH SHULER’

What child--or adult, for that matter--hasn’t imagined that he is his favorite NFL star, throwing or catching the winning touchdown pass? Well, a new children’s book series entitled “The NFL/ABC Monday Night Football Club” helps your imagination along. Some of the NFL’s biggest names, including John Elway, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders and Junior Seau are the stars of the series, along with “Nicholas.”

In the first book of the series, Nicholas’ grandfather gives him an old, itchy football jersey and Nicholas’ first thought is to throw it out. But he tries it on and discovers the jersey has magical powers that allows him to switch places with NFL stars during Monday night football games. This month’s title is: “I was Dan Marino.”

The Rice volume was sold out, but hopefully it didn’t feature Nicholas going down with a knee injury in the first quarter and sitting out the season.

HEY, DON’T FORGET 0-8

Ram linebacker Michael Jones, after St. Louis lost to Kansas City, 28-20:

“It’s frustrating when you’re 2-6. It’s as frustrating as it can get, unless we’re 1-7.”

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Going the Distance

Oakland’s Napoleon Kaufman had a 55-yard touchdown run Sunday, and leads the NFL in highest average per touchdown. A look:

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Yards Player, Team TDs Per TD Napoleon Kaufman, Raiders 7 48.3 Barry Sanders, Lions 6 43.3 Warrick Dunn, Buccaneers 5 43.3 Tim Brown, Raiders 4 32.8 Steve Broussard, Seahawks 4 32.5 Rod Smith, Broncos 4 32.3 Mario Bates, Saints 4 31.5 Antowain Smith, Bills 4 31.5

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THE PLAYMAKERS

RUSHING

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Player, Team No. Yds. TD TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos 42 207 1 BAM MORRIS, Ravens 36 176 1 GARY BROWN, Chargers 28 169 1 EMMITT SMITH, Cowboys 25 126 0 NAPOLEON KAUFMAN, Raiders 17 112 1 TIM BIAKABUTUKA, Panthers 23 104 2

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PASSING

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Player, Team Att. Comp. Yds. TD WARREN MOON, Seahawks 44 28 409 5 KORDELL STEWART, Steelers 42 25 317 2 TONY BANKS, Rams 30 18 268 1 PAUL JUSTIN, Colts 39 28 243 2 JEFF BLAKE, Bengals 34 17 237 1 STEVE YOUNG, 49ers 32 20 230 2 BRAD JOHNSON, Vikings 29 20 230 0 STAN HUMPHRIES, Chargers 34 21 229 1

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team No. Yds. TD YANCEY THIGPEN, Steelers 11 196 0 JOEY GALLOWAY, Seahawks 7 117 3 TIM BROWN, Raiders 7 107 0 TERANCE MATHIS, Falcons 8 107 0 JAMES McKNIGHT, Seahawks 4 100 1 KEVIN ALEXANDER, Giants 5 100 0 FRANK SANDERS, Cardinals 10 98 0 ISAAC BRUCE, Rams 5 94 1 REIDEL ANTHONY, Buccaneers 5 92 1

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--Compiled by Houston Mitchell