Tight End Record Coming Into Quite a Sharpe Focus

Shannon Sharpe needed six catches to set an NFL record Sunday. He got three in the Baltimore Ravens’ 13-10 road victory against Pittsburgh.

Sharpe fell short of breaking Ozzie Newsome’s mark of 662 receptions by a tight end, and it was obvious he wanted to do it sooner rather than later.

“I really wanted to get it this game. Why wait a week when you can do it right now?” Sharpe said. “I was looking at the game plan, and for what they were asking me to do, I could have gotten six, I could have gotten two.”

Two of the three Sharpe did make were key. One was a 13-yard touchdown, the 50th of Sharpe’s career, and another was a 26-yard gain late in the fourth quarter to set up Matt Stover’s winning field goal.

Now he gets the chance to set the record next Monday night on national television against the Tennessee Titans.

“At least my grandmother will be able to see the game now,” Sharpe said. “That was the only frustrating thing; in her region, she wasn’t able to see [Sunday’s] game anyway. So now, hopefully, I can do it early, because her bedtime is 10 o’clock.”

With all his bank, perhaps Shannon might think to invest in a DirecTV plan so grandma won’t miss a thing.

Topsy-Turvy World

A little more than a year ago, backup quarterback Trent Dilfer was spending his Tuesdays diligently preparing videotapes for starter Tony Banks with the Baltimore Ravens. When Banks was demoted, he sulked while Dilfer led the Ravens to the Super Bowl title.

Now Dilfer, despite a 13-game winning streak as a starter, is backing up an inexperienced quarterback with the Seahawks, while Banks is the Redskins’ starter.

The teams met Sunday, with Banks leading the Redskins to a 27-14 victory. But Dilfer also played, starting the second half for Matt Hasselbeck after the Seahawks trailed, 20-7.

“Well, that’s the way this league is these days,” Dilfer said of the turn of events between he and Banks. “I really like Tony. He’s weathered the storm very well.”

Sunday’s game, and every Seahawk game for the foreseeable future, is a referendum on Coach Mike Holmgren and Hasselbeck. Holmgren admits Dilfer has become “a real popular guy on our team.”

“He’s really good for me,” Holmgren said. “I have a tendency on occasion to get excited, and he’s kind of a calming influence. And when called upon to play, he has done a great job.”

Now, about that starting spot.

Leaving His Legacy

Marty Mornhinweg, a San Francisco Bay area native who spent the previous four seasons as the 49er offensive coordinator, didn’t plan on seeing friends or family until his Detroit Lions were finished Sunday.

Mornhinweg helped Bill Walsh and Steve Mariucci build one of the NFL’s best offenses before he left last January to start over with the Lions.

“To be honest, I’ve been too busy to give it any thought,” Mornhinweg said of his return. “Right now, we’re trying to win football games. The rest of that stuff can wait until after the season.”

San Francisco’s offense was one of the NFL’s best last season under Mariucci and Mornhinweg. The coaches spent four years adding wrinkles to the West Coast offense to build a system best suited for their players--particularly quarterback Jeff Garcia and receiver Terrell Owens, who both made the Pro Bowl last season.

“With the way our season has been going, I’m pretty sure Marty wants to be on the other side of the fence now,” Owens said. “It was a great opportunity for him. To land a head coaching job is obviously a rarity.

On to Greener Pastures

Kansas City Chief quarterback Trent Green was the San Diego Chargers’ third-stringer in 1993. He beat the Chargers as Washington’s starter in 1998, and threw a touchdown pass in relief of Kurt Warner in St. Louis’ 57-31 win over San Diego last year.

Sunday was Green’s first game in San Diego.

When the Chargers played at St. Louis during the 1999 exhibition season, Green tore up his left knee when he was hit by Charger safety Rodney Harrison. That opened the way for Warner, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory.

Green said he’s not bitter.

“He’s been called out a few times on whether or not his hits are borderline questionable ... ,” Green said. “But I don’t feel there was anything wrong with the hit.”

This Suits Glenn

Terry Glenn is at it again. Now there is a report the controversial New England wide receiver has sued the NFL, claiming a disability makes it difficult for him to adhere to certain rules in the league’s substance abuse policy.

As first reported on the “NFL Today” on CBS and CBS Sportsline.com, Glenn filed the complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but it did not specify what disability Glenn suffers.

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Compiled by Jim Barrero