Editors Also Regret Error of His Ways

A review at the halfway mark of the NFL season, and another look at some of the fine-print preseason predictions here that probably went unnoticed, such as once the wraps were taken off Donald Hollas there would be no stopping the Raiders.

Correction:

The editors regret the error, they always do, you know, but before the start of the season some early editions included a projected season-ending prognostication: “Kansas City will defeat San Francisco in Super Bowl XXXIII.”

For those unfamiliar with the newspaper business it’s an editor’s job to catch such mistakes.

On Any Given Sunday . . .

* You will see more commercials featuring Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart than touchdown passes thrown by Kordell Stewart. Stewart went over the 200-yard mark passing for the first time this season--then was benched.

* History will take notice that 26 teams competed Sunday in the NFL, and that Billy Joe Tolliver threw for 325 yards--more than any other quarterback. Who says this league lacks good quarterbacks?

* Someone from the Bay Area will be flagged for misconduct. The San Francisco 49ers with 73 penalties and the Oakland Raiders with 71 rank 1-2 in the NFL in infractions.

* Brett Favre will throw an interception. In a league with the likes of Bobby Hoying, Danny Wuerffel and Trent Dilfer, Favre trails only Peyton Manning in most interceptions thrown. Manning has been picked off 16 times, Favre 15.

* The Rams will probably lose. Since 1990, the Rams have a 43-93 record.

Feel the Power

Doug Flutie, Vinny Testaverde and Neil O’Donnell are the three highest-rated passers in the AFC; Randall Cunningham, Steve Young and Steve Beuerlein are the highest in the NFC. Would someone explain how Young got in that group?

Still To Come This Season

* Broadway Vinny Testaverde delivered a spirited speech to his teammates in the huddle on their final drive to set up a game-winning field goal against Kansas City. Look for Broadway Vinny to get his Jets to the playoffs and after losing to the Broncos, guarantee that Denver wins the Super Bowl.

* San Diego quarterback Ryan Leaf, like gymnast Dominique Moceanu, will petition the courts to declare him an adult, igniting a huge debate.

* When Testaverde and Flutie meet this week it will be only the second time in NFL history that Heisman Trophy winners have squared off at quarterback. Roger Staubach and Jim Plunkett played against each other three times.

* Another AFC Super Bowl victory. The AFC is 19-9 in games against the NFC this season, and headed for its third-straight year of dominance in head-to-head play.

Not Everyone Can Be an Expert

Anyone who knows anything about football could have foreseen the greatness of the Atlanta Falcons this year. But what separates the amateurs from the pros is an expense account that allows one to buy any supermarket football magazine, an open line to Mel Kiper Jr. and the instincts to know that Minnesota Coach Dennis Green will find a way to mess things up.

In Green’s seven years on the job in Minnesota, his teams have gone 37-19 in the first eight games of the season, 26-22 down the stretch.

In six playoff games, the Vikings have won once.

Midseason Awards

* Comeback-player-of-the-year award goes to Minnesota’s Cunningham in a squeaker over Flutie, although Flutie is 102-36-1 in the ‘90s in the Canadian Football League and the NFL.

* Most valuable player is easy. Denver running back Terrell Davis, continuing where he left off, has 20 touchdowns in his last 12 games.

* Coach of the year is another no-brainer. John Elway’s favorite coach, Dan Reeves went 6-2 to close out last year and 6-2 to start this season, and for you Oakland fans, that’s a combined 12-4 with a collection of nobodies.

* Rookie of the year is Minnesota wide receiver Randy Moss, but he catches a break and avoids being smothered by rookie Oakland cornerback Charles Woodson.

* It would be easy to name Leaf the stiff of the year after he went one for 15 against Kansas City for four yards, but Elvis Grbac has come on strong, losing three in a row after replacing Rich Gannon and has so irritated the hicks from the sticks that they are booing him for ripping into his own teammates.

* Dumb coach of the year is a tie between Detroit’s Bobby Ross and Washington’s Norv Turner. They spent the off-season building their teams around starting quarterbacks they later benched, and their teams are a combined 3-13.

“This is not even a bad situation,” Detroit wide receiver Herman Moore said. “This is a dire situation. This is critical. The caretakers have lowered us into the hole, and they’re kicking a little bit of dirt in.”

And the Winners Are . . .

Three of the worst pass defenses in the league duke it out in the playoffs as the class of the NFC with San Francisco winning the West, Green Bay edging Minnesota out in the Central and the Vikings advancing as top wild card. The Cowboys win the East, and the Falcons and Cardinals present their credentials as the worst wild-card teams in the history of the NFC.

Denver clinches the AFC West with five games to play, Jacksonville runs away with the Central and the Jets defeat the Patriots in the season finale to win the East. The Patriots, Dolphins and Oilers (Sorry Raiders, Al Davis should have asked for more advice) advance, playing the role of scout teams for the Broncos.

And as Predicted Here

As you probably read here at some time or another, there was never any doubt about Flutie; the pick here to start at quarterback in Minnesota was always Cunningham, and there’s no call for Davis to pass on his thanks for all the helpful advice--that’s what friends are for.

The Browns are looking for a publicity director . . . look for Kevin Gilbride to get the job.