Dempsey Proud to Share His Record

As you must know by now, Denver’s Jason Elam kicked a 63-yard field goal on Sunday, tying Tom Dempsey’s 28-year-old NFL record. And Dempsey couldn’t be happier.

Elam’s kick, which came at the end of the first half, matched the record Dempsey set for the New Orleans Saints against Detroit on Nov. 8, 1970.

“I was watching it and gave a big cheer when it went through,” Dempsey said Sunday. “It was a great kick, a great effort. You have to admire it.

“As good as people are getting now, I knew it was just a matter of time. People are kicking them longer and longer.”

Elam’s kick barely cleared the crossbar, and the Bronco sideline erupted when it went through. A beaming Elam clutched the ball as he sprinted into the locker room for intermission.

Elam’s kick bettered the Denver record of 57 set by Fred Steinfort in 1980.

Dempsey said the rule that puts the ball back at the line of scrimmage after a missed field-goal attempt makes long attempts more rare.

“It still might be broken,” he said. “It will have to be at the end of the half or the end of the game, though. That’s the only time a coach will take a chance like that. It’s too risky to do it any other time. It could be blocked or not make it. Mine was at the end of the game.”

Dempsey said the record is a great memory.

“He’ll be talking about it for a long time,” Dempsey said. “I have been. It’s nice the way people remember it.”

SAPP’S BARK WORSE THAN HIS BITE

Warren Sapp’s war of words against Kerry Collins never made it to the field--or the parking lot, either.

Sapp, a defensive tackle for Tampa Bay, last week called Collins a “disgrace” to football and a “coward.” Collins was waived by the Carolina Panthers after he reportedly said he no longer had the heart to play for the winless team, which drafted him No. 1 in 1995.

“I’ve pretty much ignored the whole thing,” said the quarterback who was picked up off waivers by the Saints. “I was kind of surprised he’d say anything. He’s a good player and doesn’t need to talk his game.”

On Sunday on CNN-SI, Peter King quoted Sapp as saying, “I’m going to hurt the hell out of him. If he’s got a personal problem with that then see me afterward in the parking lot.”

NFL vice president Gene Washington sent a letter to Sapp, saying, “If the quotes attributed to you are accurate you should be aware the league will not tolerate threats of violence off the field involving NFL players.”

Collins did not play on Sunday and said he didn’t talk with Sapp.

“I have no problem with him saying he would hurt me,” Collins said. “That’s what he gets paid to do, knock the quarterback out of the game.”

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER CATCH

Jerry Rice didn’t waste any time adding another NFL record to his collection Sunday.

Rice extended his pass-catching streak to 184 straight games with a 12-yard reception on San Francisco’s first offensive play in a 28-10 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

That broke the mark for consecutive games with a catch set by Art Monk from 1980-95.

“There’s no doubt [Monk] was one of the best receivers to ever play the game and it’s an honor to break his record,” Rice said. “Art Monk, he was an ideal receiver. The thing I liked about him was that he would show up for every game and go out there and play.”

Rice also is the NFL’s leader in touchdowns (170), touchdown receptions (159), total receptions (1,092) and yards receiving (17,018).

Quarterback Steve Young said the latest record means more because the 49ers have been one of the dominant teams in the NFL.

“I think it’s neat that it came over a period of time when we’ve won championships and been successful,” Young said. “We’ve had to work for every one because people the last four or five years knew the ball was going to Jerry.”

Rice leads the 49ers with 35 catches for 563 yards and has four touchdowns.

The last time Rice was shut out was Dec. 1, 1985, near the end of his rookie season, in a 35-8 victory over Washington.

FOOTBALL IS TOUGH ON OFFICIALS TOO

NFL official Bob Boylston broke his right hip when Raider running back Napoleon Kaufman ran into him during Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Boylston winced in pain as he was carried off the field on a stretcher just after the start of the second quarter. The game was delayed five minutes.

On a running play, Kaufman inadvertently plowed into Boylston, his helmet hitting the umpire on the neck. Boylston was knocked to the ground.

THINGS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER ABOUT SUNDAY

1. Minnesota receiver Cris Carter made his mark on the Viking record books. He broke Anthony Carter’s team record with his 106th straight game with a reception, then tied Bill Brown’s Minnesota mark of 76 career touchdowns.

2. Barry Sanders’ 127 yards rushing for Detroit gave him 72 career 100-yard games, second to Walter Payton’s 77 on the NFL list.

3. Detroit kicker Jason Hanson has made 11 straight field goals from between 40 and 49 yards, a streak dating to the end of the 1996 season.

4. The Dolphins have scored only six points in the first quarter this season.

5. Cincinnati quarterback Neil O’Donnell extended his streak of pass attempts without an interception to 172.

6. The Bengals had only two turnovers this season until Sunday, when they had three--two fumbles and an interception.

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Compiled by Houston Mitchell

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE PLAYMAKERS

PASSING

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Player, Team Att Cmp Yds TD MARK BRUNELL, Jaguars 46 28 353 3 JOHN ELWAY, Broncos 35 21 295 1 S. BEUERLEIN, Panthers 39 22 286 1 DOUG FLUTIE, Bills 22 18 282 2 RYAN LEAF, Chargers 52 25 281 1 DAN MARINO, Dolphins 42 23 279 0 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 41 22 260 2 DREW BLEDSOE, Patriots 33 13 240 0 JOHN FRIESZ, Seahawks 21 14 234 1 CHARLIE BATCH, Lions 37 20 231 1 STEVE YOUNG, 49ers 24 13 227 3 V. TESTAVERDE, Jets 29 16 206 2

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RUSHING

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Player, Team No Yds TD NAPOLEON KAUFMAN, Raiders 31 143 0 EDDIE GEORGE, Oilers 21 137 0 TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos 31 136 3 ROBERT SMITH, Vikings 19 134 1 BARRY SANDERS, Lions 24 127 0

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RECEIVING

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Player, Team No Yds TD ERIC MOULDS, Bills 5 145 2 JOEY GALLOWAY, Seahawks 4 130 1 JIMMY SMITH, Jaguars 8 121 0 TERRELL OWENS, 49ers 5 120 1

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