Lessons of Past for Use in Future

This NFL season has reached its halfway point. What we thought we knew when the season began, what we’re almost sure we know now ...

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Consensus then: Name a better defense.

Consensus now: OK, for starters, the 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers. And the 2001 Chicago Bears. And the 2001 Green Bay Packers. And the ...

NEW YORK GIANTS

Then: Won’t have the Super Bowl to kick them around anymore.

Now: Or the playoffs, either.

DENVER BRONCOS

Then: Ray Rhodes holds the key to the Super Bowl.

Now: See what happens when he lends it to Chester McGlockton?

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Then: This is the year ...

Now: ... they look for a replacement for Tony Dungy.

OAKLAND RAIDERS:

Then: Might have overachieved last season. Due for a letdown.

Now: That explains the Seattle game.

CHICAGO BEARS

Then: It will take a miracle to save Dick Jauron’s job.

Now: Actually, it took two. Both hand-delivered by Mike Brown.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Then: How can they win with Kordell Stewart? “Substitute.”

Now: How can they win with Kordell Stewart? “The Magic Bus.”

ST. LOUIS RAMS DEFENSE

Then: Albatross! Albatross!

Now: Latest NFL ranking: Fourth, just behind Ravens.

ELVIS GRBAC

Then: Finally, Baltimore has a quarterback who can win games instead of just not losing them.

Now: That’s right. And his name is Randall Cunningham.

RYAN LEAF

Then: Career gone to hell in a handbasket.

Now: Career gone to Dallas. Who’d have thought they’d be one and the same?

TERRELL DAVIS

Then: Can he come back from latest debilitating leg injury?

Now: Can he come back from latest debilitating leg injury?

DICK VERMEIL

Then: Went out on top and should have stayed there.

Now: He’s no Michael Jordan.

TRENT GREEN

Then: Did well in St. Louis backing up Kurt Warner, but was it the player or was it the system?

Now: It was the system.

ROBERT SMITH

Then: The Vikings are really going to miss him.

Now: But not as much as they miss Randy Moss.

CRIS CARTER

Then: One Viking who didn’t walk away when the going got tough.

Now: If only he had.

MATT HASSELBECK

Then: After Mark Brunell and Aaron Brooks, the next ex-backup to Brett Favre to find success in the NFL.

Now: Doug Pederson now backing up Favre. Seahawk scouts studying his every move.

WARREN SAPP

Then: This is year he breaks Mark Gastineau’s single-season sack record.

Now: Meant to say Michael Strahan. Honest.

BRAD JOHNSON

Then: Johnson to Johnson = Super Bowl.

Now: Johnson, handoff to Alstott. Buccaneers, 4-4 once more.

MATT MILLEN

Then: So he’s a TV announcer trying to run a football team. What could possibly go wrong?

Now: Go, you Pistons!

KEVIN CARTER

Then: Major free-agent signing for Tennessee. Sure to make a big impact.

Now: Tennessee: 13-3 in 2000, 3-5 in 2001.

LORENZO NEAL

Then: Great blocking fullback leaves Titans for Cincinnati. Jeff Fisher denies Eddie George will miss him.

Now: Fisher still in denial.

JEFF GARCIA

Then: One-season wonder?

Now: Better numbers than Montana and Young after 21/2 seasons.

JEFF GEORGE

Then: D.C.’s not big enough for Marty Schottenheimer and him.

Now: Nor, apparently, is the NFL.

TONY BANKS

Then: Cut before he could throw a regular-season pass for Dallas, proving, once and for all, that you can’t fool all the people all the time.

Now: Talking contract extension with Washington.

DOUG FLUTIE

Then: Unwisely run out of Buffalo.

Now: Running out of gas?

DREW BLEDSOE

Then: If anything should ever happen to him, it’s disaster for the Patriots.

Now: Either that or the playoffs.

PRO FOOTBALL IN LOS ANGELES IN OUR LIFETIMES

Then: Maybe the Saints. Maybe the Chargers. Maybe the Vikings. Maybe the Colts.

Now: Will you settle for a Ram-Raider Super Bowl?

Detroit Lions: Chasing History

The quest: To become the first NFL team to finish a season 0-16.

Credentials to date: 0-8, the Lions’ worst start since 1942, when Detroit finished 0-11, scoring a total of 38 points in those 11 games.

Next defeat: Today, at Arizona.

Odds for success: On the ropes last week. Blew deficits of 0-10 and 7-17 against Tampa Bay, rescued in overtime by Martin Gramatica’s 35-yard field goal, 17-20. Survived that, but skeptics growing in numbers, now wondering if the streak will survive the weekend.

Potential obstacles: Big one today--Cardinals favored by only 11/2 points. Jake Plummer proving he’s not the next Joe Montana after all. On the other hand, Charlie Batch hasn’t proved to be the next Jake Plummer. Or even the next Scott Mitchell.

X factor: Lion Coach Marty Mornhinweg has Mike McMahon, rookie quarterback from Rutgers, warming up.

Historical footnote: In 1942, the Cardinals were based in Chicago and the Lions played them twice. Lions lost the opener in Chicago, 13-0, and the rematch in Detroit, 7-0.