Highlight Film May Be Police Surveillance

Two weeks ago, I used this space to argue the Minnesota Vikings were the NFL’s most messed-up team, a franchise filled with shoulder-shrugging laggards and infighting malcontents. A loser’s Shangri-La.

I owe Jacksonville an apology.

No team is in greater disarray than the Jaguars, who have had several locker-room fights (including a naked tussle between two players); a player who threatened to shoot two police officers in the face; and a star receiver who told police he gets “drunk, really drunk” after every game then tested positive for cocaine use.

Keep in mind, this team is coached by the clench-jawed Tom Coughlin, who approaches his job with all the humor and breeziness of a CNN military analyst. A couple of years ago, these Jaguars were better known for their Champions for Christ players than their hell raisers. Consider that arrow-straight reputation history.

A quick rundown of Coughlin’s recent headaches:

* Receiver R. Jay Soward, drafted in the first round out of USC in 2000, has been a flop on the field and a nightmare off it. He was so irresponsible as a rookie that Coughlin had to arrange for a limousine to shuttle him to team meetings. He spent 10 weeks in a Miami rehab center, then was suspended twice by the league--for four and six games--after violating the substance-abuse policy. On July 22, he was arrested by off-duty police officers outside a hotel at Universal Studios in Orlando. According to the police report, Soward threatened to shoot the officers and said, “The police kill people. I’m from California.”

* Larry Smith, a 284-pound defensive tackle, has been in the middle of four locker-room brawls. Two days before a game against Tennessee this season, he sucker-punched starting center Jeff Smith. Two years ago, during halftime of the AFC championship game against Tennessee, Larry Smith cussed out return man Reggie Barlow (who fumbled late in the second quarter).

* Of course, a verbal undressing isn’t as awkward as a literal undressing. Larry Smith and tight end Damon Jones were involved in a nude punch-out. For obvious reasons, teammates decided not to intercede. Jones was released this week after tangling with rookie offensive tackle Maurice Williams, one of the team’s few pleasant surprises. Who could have guessed Jones would be a troublemaker? His reputation was impeccable. OK, so he was kicked out of Michigan as a freshman for lobbing a Molotov cocktail, but otherwise ...

* One guy who did have a sterling reputation was Pro Bowl receiver Jimmy Smith, who tested positive for cocaine after a Nov. 11 traffic stop.

Smith has denied using the stuff, and let’s hope that’s true. But already the damage is done. The police released an hourlong videotape of his arrest, when he talked about drinking after every game, and the embarrassing video was posted on the Florida Times-Union Web site.

Rumors are swirling that Florida Coach Steve Spurrier might want the Jaguar job. His mother lives in Jacksonville, and Spurrier owns a condominium at nearby Crescent Beach. Insiders say he would accept an NFL job only if he could stay in Florida. Meanwhile, Coughlin has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Bob Davie, who likely will be fired soon by Notre Dame.

But why on earth would Coughlin want to leave?

Something remarkable is happening in New England. The Patriots have switched quarterbacks, from Drew Bledsoe to Tom Brady, and have done so without capsizing the ship. Sure, there are hurt feelings, but Bledsoe and Brady have remained close friends.

Growing up in the Bay Area, Brady learned how tense quarterback controversies could be. He was a huge 49er fan, and remained one throughout the bumpy transition from Joe Montana to Steve Young.

Brady, 24, was even in the stands for the playoff game between the 49ers and Cowboys that ended with “The Catch,” Montana’s touchdown pass to Dwight Clark. But it’s doubtful Brady, then 4, was paying close attention to the history-making reception.

“It happened on the other end of the field,” recalled his father, Tom, who has season tickets for 49er games. “He was upset, anyway. He spent the first half complaining that I wouldn’t buy him one of those big foam fingers.”

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So far, the comeback player of the year is Pittsburgh’s Kordell Stewart. In his last five games, he has completed 60% of his passes (93 of 155) for 1,176 yards and five touchdowns, with no interceptions. His passer rating over that stretch is 94.4, up from 65.3 in his first five games.

Said Terry Bradshaw, who interviewed him this week for Fox: “He just looks like a totally different guy.”

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Oakland linebacker William Thomas was named the AFC’s defensive player of the week for his 11-tackle performance in a victory at the New York Giants. He played despite learning two days earlier his half-brother--and close friend--died in Texas. He immediately flew home to be with his mother, and rejoined the team only Sunday morning.

“What Willie did was one of the most inspiring, emotional things I’ve seen as a coach,” Jon Gruden said. “He really inspired a lot of other players, me included, and hopefully a lot of other people.”

It should be noted Thomas is one of the friendliest people in a locker room filled with good guys.

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Lots of people have had their doubts about Randy Moss this season, whether the Minnesota receiver was really giving his best effort all the time.

No need to wonder anymore. Moss admits he’s a slacker.

“I play when I want to play,” he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Do I play up to my top performance, my ability every time? Maybe not. I just keep doing what I do, and that is playing football. When I make my mind up, I am going out there to tear somebody’s head off. When I go out there and play some football, man, it’s not anybody telling me to play, or how I should play. I play when I want to play, case closed.”

That should warm the hearts of the Vikings, who signed him to an eight-year deal worth $75 million.

Ah, money well spent.