Stumbles, Rumbles Out of Gate

Random thoughts, predictions and observations heading into the first weekend of NFL games:

* Preseason or not, it didn’t help the Indianapolis Colts to go 0-5 in exhibition games.

* Remember the name Tatum Bell. I’m guessing he’s the next in a long line of 1,000-yard Denver Bronco backs.

* Ben Roethlisberger the rookie was a lot better than Ben Roethlisberger the sophomore will be.

* Terrell Owens has been cooking up some kind of new touchdown celebration for his old San Francisco 49er teammates in the Eagles’ home opener Sept. 18.

* Peerless Price is in the Keyshawn Johnson mold: another overrated “star” receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.

* Stephen Davis is back for Carolina, but he’ll be upstaged by De-

Shaun Foster.

* Even though the New York Jet offense will be better with coordinator Mike Heimerdinger than it was under Paul Hackett, Donnie Henderson’s defense will still get the game ball for Gang Green.

* Nobody in the league -- except for New Orleans -- travels more than Seattle this season. The Seahawks will rack up 35,930 air miles. But when it comes to the playoffs, they still look like first-time fliers.

* There were some Raider fans on my flight from LAX to Boston on Wednesday. I know, I know, they’re hard to spot in a crowd.

* The worst quarterback matchup of opening weekend: Chicago’s Kyle Orton at Washington’s Patrick Ramsey. Minimum four picks between those two. (Orton, by the way, is the Bears’ 27th quarterback in the last 92 games.)

* The Miami Dolphins are 29-6 in home openers, best in the league, and have won the last three against Denver in Miami. But they won’t beat the Broncos on Sunday.

* Pittsburgh’s speedy new running back is Willie Parker, not to be confused with Steel City legends Willie Stargell or Dave Parker (no relation).

* Starting at left tackle for Tennessee in the Titans’ opener at Pittsburgh: Michael Roos, a rookie from Eastern Washington. Steve McNair may never know what hit him.

* Brett Favre will get to 50,000 in career passing yardage this weekend. He needs only 266 more.

* With Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams, the Lions might mix in a few three-receiver sets against Green Bay.

* The Arizona Cardinals will have to wait until next season to catch a break. They open on the road for the 17th time in 18 seasons.

* San Francisco is switching to a 3-4 defense, which means the 49ers might hold St. Louis to 34 points Sunday.

* When it comes to clutch quarterbacks, I’ll take anyone over Tim Rattay. Seven of his 10 interceptions came in the fourth quarter last season, and so did three of his fumbles.

* When people ask for Mr. Jones in Dallas, they mean Julius, not Jerry.

* It’s easy to forget this: San Diego is protecting a seven-game regular-season winning streak at home.

* With just about everybody switching from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, Baltimore is making the opposite change.

* Baltimore is still working out the kinks in its new defense, and Indianapolis is coming to town. That’s sort of like changing your swing in the middle of a big-money golf match.

* Heard of a three-headed monster? You might call Miami’s quarterback situation -- Gus Frerotte, A.J. Feeley and Sage Rosenfels -- a three-headed monstrosity.

* Chad Brown could follow in the footsteps of Ted Washington, Rodney Harrison and Corey Dillon and rediscover his career in New England.

* If I’m the special-teams coach for the Jets, I’m a little nervous. They have a rookie kicker, Mike Nugent; a rookie punter, Ben Graham; and a rookie return specialist, Justin Miller.

* Good news for new Cleveland back Reuben Droughns: He’s facing a 26th-ranked Cincinnati run defense that gave up an average of 162.8 yards in division games last season.

* This gem from STATS LLC: Jerry Rice had more catches, yards receiving and touchdowns than Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens have combined.

* It’s great that the NFL is donating money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

But the league and the Saints should make absolutely sure that anyone who put down money for Saints’ season tickets gets a full refund on request, no matter where the team plays its home games.

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For openers

*--* CONSECUTIVE TOUCHDOWN STREAKS

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Players with the most consecutive games with at least one rushing touchdown (*active streak):

*--* Player Team TD Years Career JOHN RIGGINS Washington 13 1982-83 104 GEORGE ROGERS New Orleans 13 1985-86 54 LADAINIAN TOMLINSON San Diego *12 2004- 54 LENNY MOORE Baltimore 11 1963-64 63 EMMITT SMITH Dallas 11 1994-95 164 EMMITT SMITH Dallas 11 1995 164 PRIEST HOLMES Kansas City 11 2002 80

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*--* COACHES WITH ONE TEAM

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The active and all-time most-tenured coaches with one team:

*--* Active Team Hired Yrs All-time Team Seasons Yrs coach coach Bill Pittsbur 1992 14 Curly Green 1921-49 29 Cowher gh Lambeau Bay Jeff Tennessee 1994 12 Tom Landry Dallas 1960-88 29 Fisher Mike Denver 1995 11 Don Shula Miami 1970-95 26 Shanahan Brian Baltimore 1999 7 Chuck Noll Pittsbu 1969-91 23 Billick rgh Mike Seattle 1999 7 Steve Owen N.Y. 1931-53 23 Holmgren Giants Andy Reid Philadel 1999 7 phia

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