Sunday, December 24, 2000
NFL Insider
Titans' George deserves MVP
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Now that the presidential election has finally been decided, it's that time of year to consider postseason NFL honors. One of the most convincing campaigns is Eddie George for MVP.
The Tennessee running back has accounted for 44.8 percent of the team's offensive plays — 384 rushes and 49 receptions in 967 plays.
He has accounted for 37.4 percent of the team's yardage (1,865 yards out of 4,976). During the stretch drive, he has been at his best, scoring 10 touchdowns in the past five games. He has also led the team in receptions in four games and in receiving yards in two games.
George has set career highs in yards rushing, 1,426; rushing touchdowns, 13; total touchdowns, 15; attempts, 384; yards from scrimmage, 1,865; and receptions, 49.
The 12-3 Titans, who end the season Monday night against Dallas, are 6-0 this season when George rushes for 100 yards.
George has never missed a start, giving him 79 in a row, second among active players to Ricky Watters, who has 112.
SCHEDULE ISSUES: The Saints have beaten one team — the Rams — that has a winning record.
And in Baltimore, the Ravens are tired of hearing they've beaten only one team that has qualified for the playoffs.
“We don't make the schedule, or we'd like to play Cleveland six or seven times or Cincinnati six or seven times,” tight end Shannon Sharpe told writers who cover the team. “We just play who they put in front of us. It's not my fault. The NFL put the schedule and we just play the games.”
FROZEN FISH: In the past five years, the Dolphins are 39-21 through the end of November and 9-15 from December on.
MOON GLOW: On one glorious afternoon in October, he was the Warren Moon of old, zipping passes with precision and helping the Chiefs to a rousing victory over the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams.
Five weeks later, he looked like an old Warren Moon, struggling to avoid the pass rush and misfiring passes in a humiliating loss to the then-winless San Diego Chargers.
That's not the image Moon wanted to go out on. But unlike Joe Montana and Marcus Allen, who finished their careers as Chiefs regulars and in playoff games, Moon, 44, will bow out as the Chiefs' third-team quarterback on today when he concludes one of the most remarkable careers in pro football.
Moon's 22-year odyssey took him to two countries where he played for five franchises; threw for more than 73,000 yards and 331 touchdowns; was voted to nine Pro Bowls, including a record eight straight; and won five league championships in Canada. His legacy will be as a trail blazer who helped break the stereotype that a black quarterback couldn't succeed in the NFL, and as a philanthropist who earned NFL Man of the Year honors for his many charitable programs.
BROWN BITS: In 2000, the Browns were shut out four times — a franchise record — by every AFC Central team except Cincinnati.
The Bengals did win their second meeting, 12-3. So every division opponent held the Browns without a touchdown in at least one game.
The Browns gave up 100-yard rushing games nine times. Jerome Bettis and George each slapped them two times, and Corey Dillon got them once.
Cleveland had a minus-258 scoring differential — 419 given up, 161 scored. That's the largest margin in the franchise's once-proud history.
TOOTHLESS CATS: If the Lions beat the Bears today, it will put them in the playoffs for the seventh time in the past 10 seasons. But since beating the Cowboys 38-6 in a 1991 divisional game, Detroit has lost six playoff games in a row.
PLAYOFF PRIMER: Since the NFL went to a 16-team schedule, only five wild-card teams have made it to the Super Bowl. No team has ever won the Super Bowl after playing all three playoff games on the road, and only one team, the 1985 Patriots, reached the Super Bowl after starting the playoffs as a wild card on the road.
What's more, five of the past seven teams in the NFC with home-field advantage has reached the Super Bowl.
MANY REASONS: Tampa Bay offensive tackle Jerry Wunsch wants a victory at frigid Green Bay today so reporters will stop asking him about the team's 0-18 losing streak in games in which the temperature at kickoff is below 40 degrees.
Bucs kick returner Aaron Stecker wants a win so he can celebrate before friends and family in his hometown.
Bucs coach Tony Dungy wants to win at Lambeau Field because Tampa Bay has never done it under his guidance and the franchise has lost its last 11 games in Wisconsin. But most of all, the Bucs want to beat the Packers because a victory ensures at least one home game during the playoffs, and that would give more legitimacy to their chances of becoming the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
ROOKIE CATCHERS: Peter Warrick and Plaxico Burress were the big-name receivers in the 2000 NFL draft.
Warrick went to Cincinnati and Burress to Pittsburgh in the first 10 picks. But four rookies have had 100-yard receiving games this season, and neither Warrick nor Burress is on the list.
They are Laveranues Coles, Jets, 131 yards; Sylvester Morris, Chiefs, (2) 102 and 112; Larry Foster, Lions, 106; and Danny Farmer, Bengals, 102.
TAZMANIAN TURLEY: With apologies to Willie Roaf, right tackle Kyle Turley is having the best season of any Saints lineman. He has only been credited with half a sack allowed and two quarterback hits in 15 games.
Coach Jim Haslett — who should run away with coach-of-the-year honors — said Turley received 30 out of 30 Pro Bowl votes by NFL head coaches, but was wiped out by a low vote from fans and players.
Seems Turley's reputation as a dirty player is damaging his chances of earning a spot in Hawaii.
Nevertheless, don't expect Turley to cut down on his cut blocking, pinching and late hits to win votes.
“I couldn't care less what people think,” he told New Orleans reporters. “I'll do whatever it takes to help the players in this locker room win football games. If it comes to that, I might throw blows or make a jab or two at your neck or twist a finger. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to kick your (butt).”
Sports Stories
Bengal helps bail out murder suspect
Many questions for 2001
High stakes for Eagles
Who's got the edge?
Bengals-Eagles by the numbers
Players to watch
Xavier 63, Toledo 61
Hard work pays off for Chalmers
Some players get to go home for holidays
Playing two sports puts weight on Peek's shoulders
Tourney honor surprises UC's Davis
Johnson still searching for NBA foothold
Reds keeping Sullivan - for now
Reds eyeing Stinnett as backup catcher
NFL Insider
