‘MNF’ Gets One of Its Lowest Ratings

ABC’s “Monday Night Football” received its second-lowest rating in its 31 seasons this week.

The New England Patriots’ 30-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs--a game between teams out of playoff contention--drew a 9.9 national rating and 16 share.

Only a 1986 game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants drew a lower rating, an 8.8. That game was played opposite Game 7 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, which had been rained out the previous night.

For the season, “Monday Night Football” is averaging a 12.7 rating and 22 share. That’s down 8% from last year to date.

The program’s season-ending rating has declined for five consecutive years, prompting an overhaul of the cast.

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Coach Dan Reeves of the Atlanta Falcons ended speculation that he might retire, telling local reporters he will return next season.

Reeves, who had a quadruple heart bypass in 1998, returned to coach his team in a 34-19 loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.

The Falcons are 8-22 since then.

This year, they’re last in the NFC West at 3-11.

“My intentions are to be back,” said Reeves, who has a year left on his contract. “The way I feel right now, I certainly want to be here, and hopefully get this thing turned around and going in the right direction.”

Team owner Taylor Smith told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution three weeks ago that Reeves would coach as long as he wanted to.

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With another concussion, worsening back pain and miserable statistics, Troy Aikman is going through his roughest season since 1989, his rookie year.

In a few months, the former UCLA quarterback will have to decide if he wants to continue playing--and the Dallas Cowboys will have to decide if they want him. That could present a $7-million question.

That’s how much Aikman is due March 8. The payment would enable owner Jerry Jones to either extend Aikman’s contract through 2007, primarily for salary cap purposes, or use it as a buyout.

The Dallas Morning News recently reported that Jones also can release Aikman between March 2 and 7 and pay him nothing.

With three games left in the season, neither Aikman nor the Cowboys have indicated which way they are leaning.

Aikman said it’s a nonissue right now.

“We have not sat down and visited about anything,” he said. “It’s easy to try to speculate. But until we actually sit down and visit, I would tend to think that, as has been the case over the years, the decision would be discussed and it would be something that’s decided by both parties.”

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Leslie Shepherd, the Miami Dolphins’ second-leading receiver, may sit out Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after having knee surgery. Shepherd had arthroscopic surgery on torn cartilage in his right knee. Team officials said Shepherd will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis but probably won’t play against the Buccaneers. . . . Cornerback Rodney Heath and defensive end Vaughn Booker will sit out the Cincinnati Bengals’ last three games of the season because of injuries. Heath, 26, suffered a separated right shoulder in Sunday’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Booker, 32, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today to alleviate pain from an arthritic condition and a cyst. . . . Atlanta linebacker Jessie Tuggle, who suffered the first significant injury of his 14-year career in October, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.