Sunday, November 19, 2000
NFL Insider
Bears need home during renovation
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Now that the Bears and the city of Chicago have agreed on a renovation plan for ancient Soldier Field, the team is looking for a place to play in 2002.
The Bears would like to play at either the University of Notre Dame, the University of Illinois or Northwestern University.
Northwestern, in suburban Evanston, Ill., is running a distant third. At this time, Illinois has shown more interest in entertaining the team than ND.
The plan involves no new taxes and is part of a bigger ($587 million) lakefront improvement strategy.
The stadium gets most of the money, $365 million, and the Bears are contributing $100 million with another $100 million in the form of a loan from an NFL stadium fund.
The Bears expect to sell approximately 30,000 personal seat licenses in the 63,000-seat stadium. The overall improvement plan also covers the area around the stadium, which is home to three popular museums.
The plan requires the approval of the general assembly, and Gov. George Ryan thinks lawmakers will pass the plan if “the numbers are in the right place.”
LAST DANCE: The Jets Vinny Testaverde. who turned 37 Monday, is the team's quarterback. For now.
He could be on trial for next season. Coach Al Groh and the rest of the organization love rookie Chad Pennington and may want to pave the way for their first-round pick in 2001 if Testaverde fails to take the 6-4 Jets to the playoffs.
COSTLY BREAK: The contract is coming back to haunt Saints running back Ricky Williams again.
Because the incentive-laden, eight-year, $16.215 million deal has no injury clause, Williams' pocket book will again take a hit after his season-ending ankle injury. All told, Williams stands to earn at least $500,000 this season. He'll likely earn another $200,000 in incentives which are tied to team performance.
But his haul easily could have been $1.925 million. Williams will earn a base salary of $275,000 this season. He also will pocket another $200,000 in workout and weight clause bonuses. He also Williams was on pace to gain 1,600 yards rushing and 654 yards receiving before he broke the fibula in his lower leg against Carolina. Saints officials do not expect Williams back this season.
TROJAN HORSE: Add the University of Southern California to the rumored places that Redskins coach Norv Turner might work next season.
The San Diego Chargers were the early frontrunner.
Tampa Bay secondary coach Herm Edwards already also has been mentioned for the same jobs.
TRIPLE PLAY: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is 50 yards away from 3,000 for the season, which will make him the first Colts quarterback ever to top that figure in three consecutive seasons. The only others to do it at all were Johnny Unitas (1960, '63 and '67) and Bert Jones ('76, '80-81).
ONSIDE: The Eagles' come-from-behind win over the Steelers once again highlighted one of the NFL's stranger rules. After Donovan McNabb threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brian Mitchell late in the game to bring the Eagles to within three, 23-20, David Akers tried an onside kick.
Philadelphia recovered, but Je'Rod Cherry touched the ball before it traveled the necessary 10 yards. Under the rules, the Eagles were penalized five yards but get a second opportunity to try the onside kick.
The league admits giving a team a second chance like that is a bit illogical, but says it permits it because it's an exciting play.
League officials say that if the other team were allowed to take possession of the ball at the spot it was touched, it would discourage teams from trying onside kicks as a surprise element at other points in the game.
THANK YOU: The Chiefs, 5-5, can see six wild-card contenders ahead of them, not counting division leaders.
They need to get straightened out for Buffalo on Sunday, though Bills coach Wade Phillips has done them a big favor by benching Doug Flutie after scramblers Rich Gannon and Jeff Garcia ruined the Chiefs in consecutive games.
QUOTH THE RAVEN: Baltimore's defense ranks first in points allowed per game (11.6), yards allowed per game (245.6), yards allowed per play (4.4), rushing yards allowed per game (65.5), opponents' yards per rushing attempt (2.8), first downs allowed per game (13.9) and fumble recoveries (15).
PROGRESS: Their victory against New England assured the Browns of no worse than a 3-13 record, which would better last year's 2-14.
It also severely hurt their chances of drafting first for the third consecutive draft — something no NFL team ever has done.
BUS STOPPED: For the first time in history, his team lost a game in which Jerome Bettis rushed at least 30 times.
Before he ran 30 times for 134 yards in the Steelers' 26-23 overtime loss to Philadelphia last Sunday, the Bus was a perfect 10-0 in those games.
He did it seven times over his five seasons with the Steelers and three times with the Rams. He had extended his perfect record when he ran 33 times for 105 yards in the Steelers' 22-0 victory against Cleveland Oct. 22.
GETTING OLD: Even though Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher continues to express confidence in kicker Al Del Greco, Del Greco is now in his 17th season and has missed this season from 46 yards, 33, 44, 24 and the 43-yarder that would have beat Baltimore a week ago.
Del Greco has hit 15 game-winning field goals in his career, including two this year.
WELCOME BACK: The Rams are shooting for a Dec. 3 return for injured quarterback Kurt Warner.
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NFL Insider
