Davis Not Frightened of This 2K Bug

Terrell Davis became the fourth player in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in a season and won his first rushing title Sunday by gaining 178 yards against the Seattle Seahawks.

Eric Dickerson (2,105 yards in 1984), Barry Sanders (2,053 in 1997) and O.J. Simpson (2,003 in 1973) are the other members of the 2,000-yard club. Davis finished the season with 2,008 yards. When ranked by yards-per-carry, Sanders moves to the top of the list: 1. Sanders, 6.1; 2. Simpson, 6.0; 3. Dickerson, 5.6; 4. Davis, 5.1.

Davis, held under 100 yards in three of Denver’s previous four games, led Atlanta’s Jamal Anderson by 87 yards for the season rushing title entering the season’s final week but found himself 16 yards behind at kickoff.

Davis needed only three carries to regain the lead and clinch the first rushing title of his four-year career. He nearly earned the title in 1996, but Sanders ran for 175 yards on the season’s final day to edge Davis 1,553 to 1,538.

Davis also became the top rusher in Bronco history with 6,413 yards, doing in four years what it took Floyd Little (6,323) nine years to accomplish.

A look at some of Davis’ milestones this season:

* Sept. 13 vs. Dallas--Davis becomes the third player in NFL history with two touchdown runs of 50 or more yards in the same quarter when he scores from 63 and 59 yards on consecutive first-quarter carries.

* Oct. 4 vs. Philadelphia--Reaches the 5,000-yard rushing mark in his 50th game, fourth fastest in history.

* Oct. 25 vs. Jacksonville--Becomes the third player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the first seven games of a season.

* Nov. 29 vs. San Diego--Becomes the second player in NFL history with 1,500 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons.

LEAGUE ADDRESSES COACHING PROBLEM

The NFL, in an effort to promote the hiring of black coaches, will videotape interviews of selected assistant coaches and make the tapes available to its teams.

The New York Times reported Sunday the interviews will be done by an independent consulting agency in the next few weeks and will include about 20 to 30 candidates, most of them black.

There are only three black head coaches in the league and one, Philadelphia’s Ray Rhodes, is expected to be fired. The others are Dennis Green of Minnesota and Tony Dungy of Tampa Bay.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue initiated the plan of the taped interviews and the league’s competition committee approved it. Former NFL coaches and current college coaches will be excluded in an attempt to introduce owners and general managers to new individuals.

The New York Times, citing several owners and team executives, said Oakland defensive coordinator Willie Shaw, Jet running back coach Maurice Carthon, both black, and Giant defensive coordinator John Fox, who is white, may be among those taking part.

“I think there are some things here that could finally begin to solve this issue, which is complicated,” one NFC assistant coach said. “I finally see some hope. The commissioner deserves a lot of credit.”

ALL THE NUMBERS FIT TO PRINT

* Packer quarterback Brett Favre and 49er quarterback Steve Young passed for more than 4,000 yards, becoming the fifth and sixth players, respectively, in NFL history with multiple 4,000-yard seasons. Who are the other four? (Answer at end of item).

* Colt running back Marshall Faulk moved into seventh place for single-season yards from scrimmage. The top 10, with year and total yards: 1. Barry Sanders, 1997, 2,358 yards; 2. Marcus Allen, 1985, 2,314 yards; 3. Eric Dickerson, 1984, 2,244; 4. O.J. Simpson, 1975, 2,243; 5. James Wilder, 1984, 2,229; 6. Dickerson, 1983, 2,212; 7. Faulk, 1998, 2,192; 8. William Andrews, 1983, 2,176; 9. Sanders, 1994, 2,166; 10. Emmitt Smith, 1995, 2,148.

* Saint wide receiver Qadry Ismail finished his second consecutive season without a catch. His last reception was Dec. 28, 1996, when he was with the Vikings. On Feb. 27, Ismail signed a four-year, $6-million contract with the Saints. He was inactive for five of the last six games.

* Minnesota, Atlanta, Denver and San Francisco finished the season undefeated at home. Of the 21 teams that have done that since 1979, 14 have reached the conference title game, eight have advanced to the Super Bowl and five have won the Super Bowl.

* Since the AFL-NFL merger, 118 teams have started the season 0-3, but Buffalo is only the fourth non-strike team to start the season 0-3 and still make the playoffs.

* Cincinnati has finished 3-13 under three head coaches in the ‘90s--Sam Wyche in 1991, Dave Shula in 1993 and 1994, and now Bruce Coslet.

* The Jets, 6-27 in December in the 1990s, went 4-0 this year, their first spotless record in the month. Coach Bill Parcells is 36-20 in December.

* San Francisco defeated the Rams for the 17th game in a row, the second-longest win streak against an opponent in NFL history, trailing Washington’s current 18-game run over Detroit.

* Answer: Dan Marino (six times), Warren Moon (four), Dan Fouts (three) and Drew Bledsoe (two).

YOU MAKE THE CALL

For once, some of the year-end awards are up for grabs. Who should win? It’s a tough choice.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER--Candidates: Terrell Davis, Denver; Randall Cunningham, Minnesota; Randy Moss, Minnesota; Vinny Testaverde, New York Jets; Jamal Anderson, Atlanta; Ryan Leaf, San Diego (just kidding). Spotlight’s pick--Should win: Moss. Will win: Cunningham.

COACH OF THE YEAR--Candidates: Dan Reeves, Atlanta; Dennis Green, Minnesota; Bill Parcells, New York Jets; Mike Shanahan, Denver. Spotlight’s pick--Should win: Reeves. Will win: Reeves.

--Compiled by Houston Mitchell

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE PLAYMAKERS

PASSING

*--*

Player, Team Att Cmp Yds TD JOHN ELWAY, Broncos 36 26 338 4 DAN MARINO, Dolphins 36 21 320 1 BILLY JOE TOLLIVER, Saints 41 23 296 3 STEVE YOUNG, 49ers 32 22 288 2 JAKE PLUMMER, Cardinals 41 20 274 0 JON KITNA, Seahawks 37 22 242 1 STEVE BONO, Rams 30 15 240 3 PEYTON MANNING, Colts 34 17 225 1 ROB JOHNSON, Bills 18 12 216 3 CRAIG WHELIHAN, Chargers 40 16 214 1 STEVE STENSTROM, Bears 30 17 199 1 FRANK REICH, Lions 29 18 195 1

*--*

RUSHING

*--*

Player, Team No Yds TD TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos 29 178 1 PRIEST HOLMES, Ravens 28 132 1 TERRELL FLETCHER, Chargers 23 127 0 GARY BROWN, Giants 25 112 0 TIM BIAKABUTUKA, Panthers 25 109 1

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RECEIVING

*--*

Player, Team No Yds TD HERMAN MOORE, Lions 10 120 0 CAMERON CLEELAND, Saints 10 112 1 ROD SMITH, Broncos 9 158 1 ORONDE GADSDEN, Dolphins 9 153 0

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