Fans’ Walking Does the Talking

Sometimes, it pays to act like a Dodger fan.

If New York Giant fans were sending a message by walking out in droves during an embarrassing 24-7 loss to Buffalo on Sunday, co-owner Wellington Mara wanted them to know he received it.

“The crowd is our customers,” the 87-year-old Mara said. “When they leave, it’s the same as someone calling up or writing and saying you’re not doing what it is I want you to do.

“I’m very dissatisfied. The message comes across loud and clear. All it tells me is that we need to improve the product. And how we go about that is something we will discuss.”

The Giants (4-8) pretty much saw their playoff hopes end with the loss. It was their fourth consecutive defeat and fifth in six home games during a season when many expected to see Coach Jim Fassel take the team to the Super Bowl for the second time in four seasons.

Mara refused to discuss Fassel’s future, saying that would be evaluated after the season. Fassel has a year left on his contract; he is to earn $2.7 million next season.

Mara had high hopes for this season’s team after the Giants rode a high-powered offense to the playoffs last year, only to lose in the first round because of injuries on defense and poor special teams.

“I had a great feeling after the 49ers’ loss,” Mara said of the 39-38 playoff defeat. “But that’s a lot of months ago and the feeling has disappeared. I felt we could score on anyone, but I do realize every year is a new year, just like every game is a new game.”

Turnovers, penalties, injuries on the offensive line and close losses to Dallas and the New York Jets have turned the season into a nightmare.

“It’s not tough to watch, just disappointing,” Mara said. “What’s tough is playing, or coaching them. The owners have an easy time.”

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Leonard Little was making up for lost time.

After sitting out four games because of a torn chest muscle, the St. Louis defensive end had four sacks and forced two fumbles in the Rams’ 48-17 victory over Minnesota.

“I was away from the game for a whole month and I was hoping I would pick up where I left off,” Little said. “Today was a good outing.”

Little’s devastation of the Viking offensive line had teammates showering him with accolades.

“Leonard Little is back,” Tyoka Jackson said. “Put him in the Pro Bowl where he belongs. He got a sack for every game he missed.”

Little’s career-high four sacks increased his season total to 11, putting him well ahead of any teammate. The rest of St. Louis’ defensive line has combined for 12 sacks.

Jackson, who started three games while Little was out, is second on the team with 4 1/2 sacks, and safety Adam Archuleta has four.

“He was out there on fire,” Archuleta said. “And they couldn’t block him. This league cannot block Leonard Little.”

Little played with a brace on his right shoulder as protection for a torn pectoral muscle suffered tackling Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis.

“He’s the best defensive end in the league,” said Grant Wistrom, the Rams’ right defensive end. “He comes out and takes control of the game like no other defensive lineman in the league. There’s nobody in this league who plays as hard with his athletic ability, nor as smart as he does.”

Martz said Little was more than the best defensive end in the NFL.

“I think he’s the best defensive player in the league,” Martz said.

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The line between pro wrestling and the NFL continues to blur. Not only does the league have players copying the gimmicks of WWE wrestlers Scotty “2 Hotty” and Booker T, but now comes this quote from New York Jet special teams coach Mike Westhoff in preparation for tonight’s game against Tennessee: “I don’t want special teams play tonight to be like ‘WWE Raw Is War,’ where anything goes.”

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Bests of the Day

*--* PASSING Att Cmp Yds TD Daunte Culpepper, Vikings 47 33 330 1 Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks 35 26 328 3 Tommy Maddox, Steelers 42 28 313 1 Kordell Stewart, Bears 37 22 284 2 Peyton Manning, Colts 48 29 278 4

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*--* RUSHING Att Yards Avg TD Clinton Portis, Broncos 34 170 5.0 2 Deuce McAllister, Saints 30 165 5.5 0 Priest Holmes, Chiefs 31 162 5.2 2 Brock Forsey, Bears 27 134 5.0 1 Shaun Alexander, Seahawks 27 127 4.7 1

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*--* RECEIVING No Yards Avg TD Randy Moss, Vikings 10 160 16.0 1 Hines Ward, Steelers 13 149 11.5 1 Jimmy Smith, Jaguars 10 136 13.6 1 Koren Robinson, Seahawks 6 122 20.3 0 Chad Johnson, Bengals 6 117 19.5 1

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*--* DEFENSE Breakdown Ray Lewis, Ravens 18 tackles, 29-yard int. return for a TD Leonard Little, Rams 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 tackles Aaron Schobel, Bills 3 sacks, 5 tackles Nicholas Harper, Colts 12 tackles and an interception Reggie Tongue, Seahawks 8 tackles, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles

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Associated Press contributed to this report.