Down and Out a Bad Call for Aikman

A review of Week 2 in the NFL, and looking ahead to Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami, the smart money’s already on New Orleans to edge San Diego.

That Explains It

Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman chose not to run out of bounds, got clobbered while trying to pick up extra yardage and broke his collarbone. Denver tight end Shannon Sharpe said you would never see John Elway doing something like that in a regular-season game. “Troy went to Oklahoma and UCLA and John went to Stanford. John knows when to get down.”

Stats to Ponder

Arizona is now five for 25 on third down, so maybe Jake Plummer isn’t Joe Montana. . . . New Orleans quarterback Danny Wuerffel has been sacked 13 times and doesn’t count the times he has been berated by Mike Ditka. . . . Peyton Manning has turned the ball over to the opposition eight times. He keeps playing like that and Indianapolis will be in position to draft Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch with the first pick.

More Stats

Green Bay ran 25 times against Tampa Bay and gained 37 yards, just killing time while waiting for Trent Dilfer to come on and throw the game away. . . . The Raiders attracted a crowd of 40,545 optimists for their game with the Giants. . . . There were 31 penalties called in Oakland--and those were just the ones on the field. Imagine what was going on in the stands.

Bible Update

No, not the Good Book, but rather the empty playbook of Dana Bible, who continues to struggle as Jon Gruden’s replacement as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles’ offense has scored two touchdowns in two regular-season and four exhibition games.

Congrats

* Reggie White had three sacks for Green Bay and offended no one--a new personal record.

* Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher has caught Norv Turner’s disease, and can no longer coach.

* Jacksonville tackle Tony Boselli not only prevented Kansas City’s Derrick Thomas from getting within the same area code as quarterback Mark Brunell, but put an abrupt end to that Thomas talk of the Chiefs going 16-0. That’s ridiculous. Atlanta really has the only chance of going 16-0.

Off Limits

If the Lions won’t do it, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue should step in and, for the good of the game, prohibit Detroit quarterback Scott Mitchell from ever throwing the football again.

He either hands the ball to Barry Sanders or they hire some other stiff to do it.

With 35 seconds to go and the score tied, Mitchell threw a pass up for grabs, which was intercepted by Cincinnati cornerback Ashley Ambrose, setting up a game-winning field goal try that was blocked.

Hello. Hand the ball off to Barry. But no, four plays into overtime and Mitchell is throwing, Cincinnati’s Corey Sawyer is intercepting, running 53 yards for a touchdown, and in the Lions’ locker room teammates have to restrain Herman Moore from tearing off Mitchell’s bad arm.

Mitchell Clone

The Lions replaced Erik Kramer with Mitchell, so what does that tell you about Kramer? That’s right, game on the line, 44 seconds to play, the Bears are losing by five but they have the ball on the Pittsburgh 16-yard line and Kramer throws. To Carnell Lake. He plays for the Steelers. Bears lose.

Time to Kick Butt

Georgia Frontiere has yet to put her heels down, but the Rams are in trouble. While it’s not clear if she knows who is coaching the Rams, the players have revolted because Coach Dick Vermeil has long practices, and why practice when you don’t need it?

The Rams, 0-2--and where have you seen that before?--came within a yard of defeating Minnesota. St. Louis quarterback Tony Banks, understandably reluctant to pass after having thrown four interceptions, chose to run on the final play of the game, needing a touchdown to tie. He was tackled at the one with no time remaining.

Honor Roll

Denver’s Terrell Davis ran for 191 yards, Detroit’s Sanders went for 185, Minnesota’s Robert Smith rolled up 179 and Tennessee’s Eddie George piled up 11 yards.

It’s not easy to gain less than a yard a carry, but George averaged .7 of a yard a carry--against the Chargers’ defense. That’s what you would normally expect from Jeff George.

Don’t Answer the Phone

Baltimore kicker Matt Stover missed his last eight field-goal tries last season, three of five in an opening-day loss to Pittsburgh, and was one for two in a win over the Jets.

The Ravens have already given a tryout to former Colt--that’s Indianapolis Colt--Cary Blanchard.

He Went to Princeton

Jason Garrett now takes over for Aikman, and although he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since 1995, he hasn’t thrown an interception since 1994. Starting in place of Aikman in 1994, he led Dallas to 36 first-half points against Green Bay, and was NFL player of the week.

“We lose a marquee player, and we’re coming up with Rudy,” said Dallas running back Emmitt Smith, referring to the Notre Dame walk-on made famous in a movie. “I think Rudy is going to lead the way.”

Never a Doubt

* The Chargers have to be thinking playoffs after shucking aside the Oilers and Bills. Bring on those Chiefs!

* Dan Reeves is winning with Chris Chandler in Atlanta, and they thought Elway carried the Broncos when Reeves was there.

* Seattle is going to find it difficult to fire Dennis Erickson, the NFL’s coach of the year.