From Hard Time to Prime Time

He has paid his dues, if not on the football field then behind bars.

Second-year cornerback Tyrone Williams started for the Green Bay Packers in their 10-9 loss to Philadelphia, only three months after spending time at the Lancaster County Correctional Facility outside Lincoln, Neb.

Williams served 126 days of a six-month sentence after being convicted of shooting a gun at an occupied car during a drunken stupor while at the University of Nebraska in 1994.

Williams replaced left cornerback Craig Newsome, who is sidelined with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The former Cornhusker star said he not only expects quarterbacks to try and target him, but he also assumes opposing fans will try and rattle him with ridicule.

“It won’t bother me, though. The key is to have peace of mind,” Williams said. “When you’ve got that, things don’t bother you.”

No one was hurt Jan. 30, 1994, when Williams fired two shots that struck a car carrying Kevin Porter, then a player for the New York Jets, and university student Brooke Bohac.

Delays in his case allowed him to compete in 1995, when Williams won his second national championship with the Cornhuskers. The Packers drafted him in the third round in 1996, certain he’d get only probation.

In November, Williams pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault. He, too, expected probation.

But he got jail instead.

“It changed me in a better way,” Williams said.

“I’m a more mature person about life. I’m a family now, a godly man now.”

And now he’s a starter in the NFL.

YOU CALL THAT A PASS? WHAT A GREAT CATCH!

Jay Riemersma, who caught the 10-yard touchdown pass that gave Buffalo the victory over the New York Jets, switched from quarterback to tight end at the University of Michigan because he couldn’t beat out Todd Collins. Collins threw him the winning pass Sunday.

SURGERY OR SPEND TIME WITH GEORGIA? GEE. . .

On Sunday, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue was supposed to make his first visit to St. Louis since the Rams arrived in 1995 but was not able to make the trip after recent back surgery.

OK, WHO DROOLED ALL OVER THE FOOTBALL?

Sunday marked the Superdome return of Bleu, the Australian shepherd used by the Saints to fetch the kicking tee from the playing field after kickoffs. After each fetch, the Superdome message board flashes: “Fetch Monster!” Bleu had performed at Houston Oiler games the past three seasons. But when the Houston Oilers became the Tennessee Oilers, Bleu became available.

The Saint publicity department built up the return of Bleu all week, mentioning it in newspaper ads and in flyers outside the stadium. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Saint kicker Doug Brien. After the opening kickoff, Brien picked up the tee before the dog could get to it. Brien was booed by the Superdome crowd for the rest of the game.

Oh, by the way, don’t fret when Bleu stumbles and misses the tee on her first try. She’s trained to do that.

AND BLAIR KIEL’S IN THE STANDS SELLING SODAS

The Indianapolis Colts held their first alumni reunion, which included a halftime ceremony at Sunday’s game to honor those who played for the franchise after it moved out of Baltimore in 1984. Those recognized included kicker Dean Biasucci, quarterback Jack Trudeau and linebacker Duane Bickett.

Seeing these legendary NFL greats really seemed to inspire the Colts. They were outscored by the Patriots, 17-0, in the second half.

THEY WERE TRYING TO PUNCH UP THE OFFENSE

Michael Westbrook, fined $50,000 for repeatedly punching Washington teammate Stephen Davis in practice last month, took a handoff from Davis on an end-around in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh. The play lost one yard.

THIS IS DR. DOOLITTLE. HE CAN TALK TO BEARS

Bear guard Chris Villarrial, switched over from center this week because an injury to Todd Perry, broke his left leg early in the second quarter against Minnesota and is lost for the year. . . . Dolphin fullback Stanley Pritchett sustained ligament damage in his right knee in the first quarter against Tennessee. He will undergo an MRI today. . . . Falcon quarterback Chris Chandler left the game against Carolina in the second quarter because of a concussion.

IT’S FUN TO PRETEND

On one banner at the Buffalo Bill-New York Jet game at East Rutherford, N.J.: Just Expect The Super Bowl.

--Compiled by Houston Mitchell

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Spreading the Wealth

New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe passed for four touchdowns Sunday, giving him eight this season. Each was to a different receiver. A look:

WEEK ONE: Patriots 41, Chargers 7

First quarter

* Four-yard pass to Ben Coates

* 25-yard pass to Terry Glenn

Second quarter

* 12-yard pass to Sam Gash

* Two-yard pass to Keith Byars

WEEK TWO: Patriots 31, Colts 6

First quarter

* 34-yard pass to Shawn Jefferson

Second quarter

* 21-yard pass to Curtis Martin

Third quarter

* Six-yard pass to Vincent Brisby

Fourth quarter

* 21-yard pass to Troy Brown

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THE PLAYMAKERS

Rushing

*--*

Player, Team No. Yds. TD JEREOME BETTIS, Steelers 27 134 1 EMMITT SMITH, Cowboys 19 132 0 WARRICK DUNN, Buccaneers 24 140 1 CURTIS MARTIN, Patriots 25 121 0 TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos 21 107 1

*--*

***

Passing

*--*

Player, Team Att. Comp. Yds. TD SCOTT MITCHELL, Lions 50 29 331 2 DAN MARINO, Dolphins 43 24 324 0 JEFF BLAKE, Bengals 45 25 317 1 BRAD JOHNSON, Vikings 44 33 285 2 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 42 19 279 0 VINNY TESTAVERDE, Ravens 36 25 275 1 GUS FREROTTE, Redskins 35 19 270 0 STEVE BEUERLEIN, Panthers 35 21 268 0 DREW BLEDSOE, Patriots 25 15 267 4 STEVE MATTHEWS, Jaguars 35 23 252 0 WARREN MOON, Seahawks 33 20 222

*--*

***

Receiving

*--*

Player, Team No. Yds. TD WESLEY WALLS, Panthers 7 147 0 O.J. McDUFFIE, Dolphins 8 135 0 IRVING FRYAR, Eagles 8 125 0 JAKE REED, Vikings 12 118 1 JIMMY SMITH, Jaguars 8 117 0 CRIS CARTER, Vikings 9 107 0 BARRY SANDERS, Lions 8 102 1

*--*