A Painful Opener All Around

Several teams were blindsided by injuries on opening day, none more viciously than the New York Jets.

The Jets went virtually the entire 1998 season without a serious injury while coming within one victory of the Super Bowl, losing in the AFC championship game to the Denver Broncos.

But their luck has run out.

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde didn’t even survive the opener, suffering a season-ending ruptured Achilles’ tendon eight minutes into the New England Patriots’ 30-28 comeback victory Sunday at East Rutherford, N.J.

And this was after cornerback Otis Smith and wide receiver Wayne Chrebet suffered major injuries during the exhibition season.

Then later Sunday, Jet running back Leon Johnson was sidelined for the season after suffering torn ligaments in his left knee.

Still, the Jets were defiant.

“They ain’t going to cancel the schedule,” linebacker Bryan Cox said. “We lost one of our leaders. We lost a great player. But we’re going to continue to play football the rest of the season.”

Other notable injuries:

* Pro Bowl linebacker Chad Brown of the Seattle Seahawks was taken off the field in an ambulance after suffering a neck injury in the second quarter of a 28-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Seattle.

Brown was taken to a hospital for X-rays, and the Seahawks said all neurological signs were positive. “I think Chad is OK,” Coach Mike Holmgren said.

* In the first quarter at Seattle, wide receiver Herman Moore of the Lions suffered a sprained left knee, ending his streak of 107 consecutive games with a reception--10th- longest in NFL history. He is expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

* Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers injured his throwing hand in a collision with Russell Maryland’s helmet in the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders, but still managed to lead the Packers to a 28-24 comeback victory at Green Bay, Wis. The Packers said X-rays showed no broken bones in the hand.

* Running back Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills suffered a rib injury on the first play of a 31-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Indianapolis and did not return. X-rays were negative.

* Quarterback Chris Chandler of the Atlanta Falcons suffered a strained right hamstring when he was sacked by Duane Clemons on the Falcons’ final drive in a 17-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta. He hobbled off the field, and his status was uncertain for next Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys at Dallas.

* Running back Ricky Williams of the New Orleans Saints suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter of a 19-10 win over the Carolina Panthers at New Orleans, cutting short the NFL debut of the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas after only 10 carries for 40 yards. X-rays revealed a slight strain in his left ankle in a slightly different location from the one that sidelined Williams for most of the exhibition season.

“It wasn’t that painful,” Williams said. “I wanted to go back in, but they said no.”

* Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens suffered a hip injury in the second quarter of a 27-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams at St. Louis and did not return.

* Lawrence Phillips of the San Francisco 49ers ran for only eight yards in a 41-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville, Fla., before leaving because of a concussion.

BIG NOISE IN MUSIC CITY

Tennessee Titan fans finally believe they have an NFL team they can call their own, and they showed that they won’t be shy about expressing their opinions.

Even though fans gave rave reviews to the Titans’ $292-million Adelphia Coliseum, they alternately booed and cheered as the Titans edged the Cincinnati Bengals, 36-35, before 65,272 at Nashville.

Some players weren’t happy with the boos directed at Steve McNair, who lost a fumble and had a pass intercepted but also passed for three touchdowns and led the Titans to 10 fourth-quarter points. Coach Jeff Fisher chose to point out the cheering on the final drive.

“It was awfully hard to hear out there,” he said. “Those are the kind of things we’re talking about as far as home-field advantage. You don’t realize it at times, but they’re very significant.

A home-field advantage is something new for a team that spent two throwaway years as the Tennessee Oilers at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis and Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville.

The Oilers had the lowest attendance in the NFL the last two seasons. This year, the Titans already have sold out five of their eight regular-season games at 67,700-seat Adelphia.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW . . .

The Packers’ comeback victory over the Raiders got an assist from the NFL’s new replay rule, which returned after an eight-year absence. The system, which allows challenges of calls by coaches before the last two minutes of each half, was used several times in Sunday’s games, but to no greater effect than at Green Bay.

With 8:10 to play and the Packers trailing, 24-14, tight end Tyrone Davis leaped for a catch at the Raider 14, but officials ruled the pass incomplete. Packer Coach Ray Rhodes challenged the call by pushing his beeper, and referee Tony Corrente reversed the decision and ruled a completed pass.

Two plays later, Favre completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Corey Bradford. The score cut Oakland’s lead to 24-21 with 7:20 remaining, and the Packers scored again with 11 seconds left for a 28-24 victory.

“Over the course of the season I think it will work very well,” Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said of the new system. “Will it make officiating perfect? No, but nothing in life is perfect.”

A WEIGHTY ISSUE

Quarterback Scott Mitchell had three pass intercepted and was sacked five times in the Ravens’ 27-10 loss to the Rams.

“He can’t run very well; he’s too big,” Ram defensive tackle D’Marco Farr said of the 240-pound Mitchell, who has a weight clause in his contract. “By the time he got set, we were there.”

WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD

With the San Diego Chargers drawing an unusual opening-day bye, several players said they would spend the day in front of their televisions. Not Pro Bowl free safety Rodney Harrison.

“I watch so much film here,” he said, “the last thing I want to do is watch somebody else play.”

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

The Detroit Lions filed a grievance with the NFL to get back $5.5 million of the signing bonus paid to running back Barry Sanders in 1997, his agent said.

David Ware said he had been negotiating with the club concerning the $11-million bonus Sanders got when he signed a six-year contract. But he said talks ended without resolution.

“An arbitrator will decide if the money is owed,” Ware said.

Sanders abruptly retired last month. The Lions then began talks to get back the unearned portion of the signing bonus.

CBS Sports first reported the grievance Sunday. The network quoted Lion General Manager Chuck Schmidt as saying the team would still welcome Sanders and “will not consider trading his rights.”

THE HOME FRONT

A fifth season without NFL football in Los Angeles is under way, and the effort to get a team drags on again today in New York.

Three groups from the Southland--representing the Coliseum, Hollywood Park and Carson--will make their pitches to league officials, as will a group from Houston.

Is a decision close? Don’t hold your breath.

*

--Compiled by Jerry Crowe