Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 10C

IOC Poughkeepsio Journal Sunday, September 7, 1986 NFL REPORT I tllllfll ft i Class of '83 having quick impact A kicker in place The Associated Press Cardinals placekicker John Lee. born in Seoul. South Korea, was considered by sme to be one of the greatest placekJckers in college football history before becoming a second round draft choice of St. Louis. Rams' Greene likes the Berets ANAHEIM Calif If Kevin Greene had been born In another age, he would have worn horns on his head, roved the teas and ravaged the coasts of Eu rope He would have been called Kevin the Red or Kevin the Terrible And his sandy beard would be crusted with salt spray from standing In a ship bow searching 1he horizon So It not surprising that Greene, born In 1962.

grew up to be a line backerv possibly the closest thing In clvlllantte to the Green Berets SelectcaSfeyJhe Rams In the fifth round of draft, the walk on defensive end at Auburn packed his bags and headed West I a traveling man," said the na five of New York who also has called Kansas Washington, West Germany, Illinois and Alabama home While Southern California may seem like paradise compared to some of his ports of call Greene approaches the game of football like It war When he was at an Impressionable age. the Vietnam war was at Its raging worst The son of a colonel In the Army his heroes were the Green Berets A lieutenant In the National Guard, a tank platoon leader and graduate of paratrooper school, he sewed his lieu tenant bar on the inside of one thigh pad and his paratrooper wings on the Inside of the other Before games, he listens to '60s war songs on a Walkman, and particularly tikes Sgt Barry Sadler's song "Ballad of the Green Berets Fighting soldiers Irom the iky," he sang the first tine of the song that In spires him Remember that?" I felt the paratrooper wings were Important Paratroopers ump from planes Into occupied territory behind enemy lines They go on dangerous missions, dropping out of the sky In the middle of the night A different kind of human Willing to sacrifice all for the good of the cause that Greene Idea of the Ideal line backer "I think linebackers are born In sane he said ''Look at Matt Mlllen (Raiders) You go Into a game with out regard of life or limb Linebackers have a psychotic mentality and we're Mike Kenn likes line mates Atlanta's enthused its offensive line by ATLANTA Flcon lelt tackle Mike Kenn says he thinks the team offensive line Is about the best he has seen In his nine years "The one we had In '80 when we won the (N FC) West had to be the best." he Mid This year's starting line Is made up of Kenn. 6 feet 7. 277 pounds, guard John Scullly. 6 feet 6 and 265, center Wayne Radlotf 6 feet 5 and 277.

guard Bill Frallc, 6 feet and 275 and tackle Brett Miller, 6 leet 7 and 29a Miller can bench press S50 pounds "He just a big physical guy who has super work habits." line coach Larry Belghtol said of Miller "Frallc and Milter ere lust two big mean pieces of meat They arc physl cal boys They can get real mean and nasty and I like that Steeler rookie rates very rare distinction Rookie quarterback Bubby Brister of Pittsburgh has to be one of the first players In history who has worked under the maor league baseball man ager and NFL coach of teams In the same city Several years ago, Brister played for the Lakeland. Fla affiliate In the Detroit Tigers' chain where Jim Leyland. the current manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was In charge On the very first pitch of his very first game In professional baseball. Brister broke his thumb, and he never played another Inning Instead, he went to college at Northeast Louisiana where he Impressed Steelert coach Chuck Noll enough to merit his becoming a third round draft choice In April Now that he's played both, Brister says that he much prefers football. It safer.

Tautalatasi, Waters will run for Eagles PHILADELPHIA Deiplte the presence of more celebrated draft picks and more experienced veterans the starting running backs for the Eagles opener with Washington will be Junior Taulaldtasl and Mike Waters "Ray Charles could have seen they were the best said Coach Buddy Ryan Ryan named Tautalatasi. a 10th round pick from Washington State ahead ot last year's starter. Earnest Jackson and first round pick Keith Byars who working his way back from otf season tool surgery Waters a free agent cut by the Jets last year will be starting ahead of second round pick Anthony Toney and last yc.ar starter Michael Had dla Hayes couldn't resist a drink on Patriots LOS ANGELES When Raiders cornerback Lester Hayes ran past the New England bench In a preseason game at the Los Angeles Coliseum, he suddenly had an urge for a drink of water So he nonchalantly went over to a table around which Patriots play. ers were congregated and decided to satisfy that urge. "Since this is our house our turf.

I felt It was OK to have a cup of water on the other side of the field," he later explained. "I mean, hey I was thirsty And he remained thirsty, because Raymond Clayborn slapped the cup out of Hayes' hands, sending the water splashing to the ground Chiefs' new punter a remarkable story Whin the Kansas City Chiefs waived former star punter Jim Arnold last week they added a chapter to the al ready remarkable story ot Lewis Col pert an eighth round draft pick Irom Auburn who was born with a club foot To overcome the affliction, Colbert required seven operations, Including two because of the effects ot his punt Ing He won a iob as a walk on at Au burn and then despite shanking a punt that traveled only 19 yards last week he beat out one of the NFL top performers 49ers get their wish of Cousineau at LB Linebacker Tom Cousineau. dropped from the Browns partly due to his S5O0 000 salary and largely be cause he had problems taking on blocks at thepolnt of attack, has been signed by the San Francisco 49ers One big reason was that he and owner Ed DeBartolo are friends, and when Cousineau was returning to the NFL from Canada, where he original fy played, DeBartolo wanted him for the 49er And now with San Francisco hurting overall coaches there feel he could be a definite asset By Barry Wtlner The Associated Press Just (our seasons after being drafted together in the first round, the quarterback class of 1983 is proving it may be the classiest ever in the NFL. Five of the Big Six have led their teams to the playoffs. Two have been to the Super Bowl.

This season, all will be starters. "There's no question that 1983 was, by far, the best year I've ever seen for quarterbacks," said Gil Brandt, theDallas Cowboys' vice president of player development. "I knew they had potential, but I didn't think all six would be so good." The class, in order of draft selection, included John Elway of Stanford, picked by Baltimore as the No. 1 Choice overall, then tradtfd to Denver when the Colts couldn't sign him; Todd Blackledge of Penn State, now with Kansas City; Jim Kelly of Miami, who tore up the USFL before getting a five year, $8 million deal with Buffalo; Tony Eason of Illinois, who helped lead the New England Patriots to the last Super Bowl: Ken O'Brien of Division II CaliforniaCalifornia Davis, the leading passer in the NFL in 1985 with the New York Jets; and Dan Marino of Pitt, the record setting passer for the Miami Dolphins. "I think you can say we were all in pretty good company," O'Brien said.

And what makes this class so remarkable is that it has come so far so fast; most NFL coaches say it takes five years to develop a top flight quarterback. Marin and Elway. of course, started as rookies, though Marino didn't come off the bench to replace David Woodley until the sixth game of the 1983 season. He passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns in a 38 35 overtime loss to Buffalo and has been almost unstoppable since. "We knew Danny could be something special when we drafted him," Dolphins Coach Don Shuta said.

"Frankly, we hadn't expected to get a quarterback on the first round because we were drafting so low (No. 27). But we had decided that our two choices In order would be Elway and Marino, so we really figured they would be the first two taken, and very high. "But there was Marino and I just didn't see how we could pass him up." Or let him sit on the bench. "He just bad too much talent to sit," Shula said.

"When we put him in there, he did the right things." Among those things were leading the AFC in passing efficiency, being named rookie of the year and starting in the Pro Bowl. In 1984, Marino shattered all kinds of passing marks hitting 362 of 564 passes for 5,084 yards and an incredible 48 touchdowns, or three per game in leading Miami to the Super Bowl where it lost to San Francisco. Even Marino concedes his third ftBAis ffl? i v3BBBBBBBBBBBfiH iTftManBBBaHPBBBBBBWHBBBlBVSEBBBa tlllll'UPlfnlUBBBBBWI While the quarterback clas of 1983 Is regarded at the belt ever, Miami's Dan Marino, left, and Tony Eason of New England are the only The Associated Press two of the Big Six to have already made It to the Super Bowl; Eoson losing to Chicago last year, Marino to the 49ors the yoar before. season wasn't quite up to that standard. "I might never have another year like that one.

but I'll keep trying." he said. Elway's development was slower. While at Stanford, he was called the best quarterback prospect in at least 10 years. The Colts drafted him even though Elway insisted he wouldn't play in Baltimore. After negotiating with the New York Yankees Elway also showed promise as an outfielder he forced the Colts to trade his rights to Denver, where he signed a multimillion dollar contract and beat out veteran Steve DeBerg as the starter.

"It was rough," he said. "There was a lot of attention on me instead of on the team, and we didn't get off so well." Indeed, Elway was benched for De Berg in the sixth game and didn't return until DeBerg was injured in the 12th game. Elway completed only 47.5 percent of his passes and had twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. 14 to 7. But last season, when the Broncos were 11 5 but did not make the playoffs, Elway set a team mark for passing yardage (3,891) and led the NFL with 605 attempts.

With the Broncos' running game by injuries, Elway's arm was the main weapon. After leaving Illinois with his name on every Big Ten passing record, Eason backed up Steve Grogan until the third game of the 1984 season. With the Pats down 23 0 late in the second quarter, Eason replaced Grogan and led the team to its biggest comeback ever a 38 23 victory over Seattle. O'Brien didn't play a down his rookie season and he missed so much training time in 1984 because of an assault trial involving him and teammate Mark Gastineau that Pat Ryan moved into the starting lineup. O'Brien took over for Ryan in the 11th game that year and has been No.

1 since. He also was No. 1 in the entire league last season with a 96 4 rating and only eight interceptions. The Jets were. 11 5 and a wild card playoff team.

"The difference in Kenny was tremendous," Coach Joe Walton said. "He took charge, he was comfortable with our system and the players were comfortable with him." O'Brien's main weakness is his inability to avoid a pass rush he was sacked 62 times last season. Blackledge led Pcnn State to the national championship in 1982, and though he doesn't have the arm strength of a Marino, O'Brien or a Kelly, he was picked ahead of them in the draft. "He's a leader." Chiefs Coach John Mackovic said. "He proved that at Penn State and he's gotten off to a good start with us." "I learned a lot as a backup, but you can only sit so long," Blackledge said.

"I know I have to cut the interceptions (14) and I need to read defenses better." Rejoining his '83 classmates in the NFL is Kelly, the acclaimed passing whiz from the Houston Gamblers who threw for 85 touchdowns in the last two USFL seasons. Jets at Bills KICKOFF 4pm. TV NBC. THE LINE Jets favored by 5V, points THE SERIES Buffalo leads 26 25. but New York swept last year, 42 3 at home and 27 7 on the road RECORDS Last year.

Jets II s. Bills 2 14 KEY JETS INJURIES CB Davlln Mullen (ankle). WR KR Michael Harper (finger). TE Billy Griggs (knee). Lester Lyles (ankle).

CB Jerry Holmes (ankle) are questionable. DE Mark Gastineau (groin), CB Russell Carter (ankle). LB Lance Mehl (ankle). RB Dennis Bll gen (ankle) are probable KEY BILLS INJURIES R8 Greg Bell (ankle), WR Chris Burkett (shoulder). DE Mike Hamby (knee) are questionable; LB Guy Frazler (knee) Is probable JETS AT A GLANCE Jets gained Wild Card playoff berth In '85 New York QB Ken O'Brien led all quarterbacks in passing (9a 2 rating) Remodeled offensive line after giving up 62 sacks In Jets'are 15 6 when RB Freeman McNeil rushes for 100 yards, but 28 28 1 when he Is under TE Mickey Shuler caught club record 76 passes tast season Bud Carson's attacking defense led AFC In fewest points allowed (264) and rushing defense (94 8 average yards per game) RB Greg Bell led team In rushing (883 yards) and receiving (S8 catches for 576 yards) Charles Romes (career high seven interceptions in '85) makes his 125th consecutive start at right corner back BILLS AT A GLANCE Buflalo OB Jim Kelly makes debut Bills are 7 In season openers at home, Including 3 3 vs Jets after winning '81 Inauggural 31 0.

Eagles at Redskins This n' that Tampa coach Leeman Bennett who la desperately searching for running back help. Is thinking of scrapping the two back ottenw and returning to ust James Wilder Robert Irsay bought the Colts In 1972 Since then, they've had only five seasons with five or more victories Before Irsay 's pur chase. Ihe Colts had 17 consecutive seasons of live or more victories Raiders cornerback Letter Hayes rated the top quarterbacks In the NFL In this order' Dan Marino, Dan Foots, Joe Montana, John Elway and Ken O'Brien Hayes meanwhile has dropped from 315 to 203 pounds, his lightest since his senior year of his school In Houston "I tee I stupe dous he said Rams coach John Robinson said his top five players after the 1985 season were Eric Dick erson, Gary Green, LeRoy Irvln, Jim Collins and Henry Eltard Now, Green career has ended because of a neck lnury, Collins' Is In jeopardy with a nerve problem In his shoulder and Ellard Is holding out. KICKOFF 1 p.m TV CBS THE LINE Washington favored by 5a points THE SERIES Redskins lead 57 39 2 Teams split road wins tast year. Eagles 19 4 and Red skins 17 12 RECORDS Last year.

Eagles 7 9. Redskins 10 4 KEY EAGLES INJURIES RB Anthony Toney (ankle). RB Mike Waters (ribs). LB Jeff Kraynak (knee). Ken Reeves (foot), Tom Jelesky (ankle).

DE Thomas Strauthers (knee) are questionable. QB Matt Cavanaugh (ribs) Is probable KEY REDSKINS INJURY WR Ricky Sand ers (hamstring) Is out EAGLES AT A GLANCE Game marks debut of Eagle coach Buddy Ryan, former Bears coor dlnalor and Inventor of famed "46" defense Eagles have 11 new starters Including running backs Mike Water and Junior Tautalatasi. and linebacker Alonzo Johnson Philadelphia ot fense (23rd In '65) led by veteran Ron Jaworskl (25) ol 484 attempts for 3 450 yards. 17 TDs, 20 INTs) Reshaped defense features four man line REDSKINS AT A GLANCE Redskins coach Joe Glbbs is 1 4 In openers, but 57 24 overall since taking over In 1981 Redskins are without re tired veterans Joe The I smarm and John Rlgglns Washington 4 1 with Jay Schroeder starting George Rogers (1,093 yards) and Kelvin Bryant will take over Rlgglns load Wide receivers Art Monk (91) and Gary Clark (72) combined for highest catch total ol any pair In '85 Defensive ends Dexter Manley (15 sacks In '85) and Charles Mann (14'a) anchor the veteran defense Cor ner backs Vernon Dean and Curtis Jordan each had live Interceptions In '85 i Browns at Bears KICKOFF 1 pm TV NBC THE LINE Bears favored by 10V points THE SERIES Cleveland leads 6 2 Last played In 19B0 RECORDS Last year. Browns 8 8, Bears 15 1 KEY BROWNS INJURIES LB Curtis Weath ers (knee elbow) Is doubtful, CB Hanford Dixon (thigh).

RB Curtis Dickey (hamstring), LB Scott Nicolas (back), TE Travis Tucker (hamstring) are questionable. KEY BEARS INJURIES QB Steve Fuller (ribs). CB Vestee Jackson (back) are probable. BROWNS AT A GLANCE Browns were one of two teams undefeated In preseason (4 0) Browns unveiled option route passing offense of new offensive coordinator Llndy Infante with Im, presslve results during preseason Quarter backs threw only one Interception, Including 130 attempts In a row with none OB Bernle Kosar. who started 10 games In '85 (124 of 248 for 1,578 yards.

8 TDs, 7 INTs) will start Backflcld duo of Earnest Byner (1,002 yards) and Kevin Mack (1,104) are only third running back tandem In NFL history to gain 1.000 yards each In the same season BEARS AT A GLANCE Super Bowl cham plon Bears open defense of their first NFL title since 1963 against AFC Central tltllst Browns Bears had NFL's 1985 top rushing offense (177 6 yard average), led by NFL's all time leader Walter Peyton (324 carries for 1.551 yards) QB Jim McMahon starts, although hampered during preseason with hip and arm lnurles Wide receiver Ken Margerum starts for Dennis McKlnnon. out for year with knee lnury De fense ranked No 1 (258 4 yard average yield) In '85 and held 10 opponents to 10 or fewer points Kicker Kevin Butler had ctub record 31 field goals and 51 of 51 extra points Exhibition standings Giants at Cowboys KICKOFF 9pm Monday TV ABC. THE LINE Cowboys favored by 1 point THE SERIES Dallas leads 32 13 2 Including a sweep last year, 30 29 at home and 28 21 on the road RECORDS Last year. Giants 10 Cowboys 10 6 KEY GIANTS INJURIES DE Eric Dorsey (knee) Is questionable, LB Pepper Johnson (ankle), LB Gary Reasons (wrist), WR Solomon Miller (knee) are probable KEY COWBOYS INJURIES WR Mike Ren fro (shoulder), DT Don Smerek (knee) Is out, CB Victor Scott (hamstring) Is doubtful. TE Thorn loh Chandler (ankle).

WR Karl Powe (con cusslon). Tom Raffcrty (thigh), Howard Richards (ankle). WR Mike Sherrard (knee). Glen I tensor (elbow) are probable GIANTS AT A GLANCE Giants QB Phil Slmms named Pro Bowl MVP Completed 275 of 495 attempts for 3 879 yards. 22 TDs and 20 INTs Joe Morris set team record with 21 touch downs, while gaining, 1.338 yards Linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, and detcn stve lineman Leonard Marshall head a defense which ranks among the best In the NFL.

COWBOYS AT A GLANCE Danny White will start with rival Gary Hogeboem exiled to India a polls Former USFLer Herschcl Walker will team with All Pro Tony Dorsett at running back WR Tony Hill set club mark with 74 catches for 793 yards and six TDs CB Ever son Walls Is first player to lead NFL In interceptions (nine In '85) three times Randy White, Ext Jones and John Dutton return to Dallas' front line 1 i AMERICAN CONFERENCE East Pet PF PA New England 4 10 800 103 90 Miami 2 2 0 W0 67 NY Jets 2 7 0 JOO 9S 10S Buffalo 13 0 250 67 Indianapolis 13 0 250 75 95 Central Cleveland 4 0 0 1 000 88 70 Houston 4 0 0 I 000 81 61 Cincinnati 13 0 250 71 90 Pittsburgh 1 3 0 .250 81 105 San Diego 3 10 750 106 75 Denver 7 7 0 JOO 67 S8 Kansas City 7 2 0 JOO 63 52 LA Raiders 2 2 0 JQO 70 86 Seattle 2 2 0 JOO 85 82 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East Pet PF PA NY Giants 3 0 750 83 64 Washington 3 10 750 76 St Louis 2 3 0 400 99 89 Philadelphia 13 0 250 100 in Dallas 0 5 0 000 67 119 Central Chicago 4 10 BOO 126 71 Minnesota 110 70 90 Detroit 2 2 0 JOO 87 84 Green Bay I 3 0 250 73 66 Tampa Bay 0 4 0 000 43 88 West Atlanta 2 2 0 JOO 93 97 LA Rams 2 2 0 500 75 70 New Orleans 2 7 0 J00 70 79 San Franc lie 2 2 0 JOO 79 55 Sunday Sept 7 Atlanta al New Or leam I Cleveland at Chicago. I Detroit at Minnesota I Houston at Green Bay I Los Angeles Rami at St Louti I Philadelphia al Washington San Francisco al lampa Bay I Miami at San Otego ipm New York Jefj at Buffalo 4pm Los Angeles Raider at Denver, 4pm IndLanapolls at New England 4pm Cincinnati at Kanuii City 4pm Pittsburgh at Seattle 4 pm Monday 5ept I New York Gland ai Dallas, Thursday Sept 11 New England at New York Jets, 8pm Sunday Sept 14 Buffalo at Cincinnati Ipm Cleveland at Mouiron. 1 Dallas at Detroit Ipm Green Bay at New Orleans 1 LA Raiders at Washington, ipm Philadelphia at Chicago I St Loult at Atlanta I San Dwqo al New York Giants. 1 San Francivco at A Rams, 4pm Minnesota at Tamp Bay. 4 Indianapolis at Miami 4pm Kansas City Seattle 4pm Monday Sept 15 Denver at Pirtiburgh Ipm Thursday Sepl II Cincinnati at Cleveland ipm.

Sunday Sept 21 Atlanta at Dallas. 1 Denver al Philadelphia 1 A Rami at Indianapolis. I Miami at New York Je'i. 1 Pirtiburgh at Minnesota 1 St Lou 11 at Buffalo Seattle al New England 1 Tamps Bay al Detroit I Houston at Kanus City 4pm New Orleani at San Francisco 4pm Giants st A Raiders 4pm Washington at San Diego 4pm New York loams at a glance JU Sunday, Sept 7 Jets at Buffalo Thursday, Sept. tl New England at Jets Sunday, Sept.

21 Miami at Jets Sunday, Sept. 28 Jets at Indianapolis Sunday, Oct 5 Buflalo at Jets Sunday, Oct 12 Jets at New England Monday, Oct 20 Denver at Jets Sunday, Oct. 26 New Orleans at Jets Sunday, Nov 2 Jets at Seattle Sunday, Nov. 9 Jets at Atlanta Sunday, Nov. 16 Indianapolis at Jets Monday, Nov 24 Jets at Miami Sunday, Nov.

30 I A Rams at Jets Sunday, Dec. 7 Jets at San Francisco Saturday, Dec. 13 Pittsburgh at Jets Sunday, Dec. 21 Jets at Cincinnati Giants Monday, Sept 8 Giants at Dallas Sunday, Sept. 14 San Diego at Giants Sunday, Sept 21 Giants at A Raiders Sunday, Sept 28 New Orleans at Giants Sunday, Oct 5 Giants at St Louis Sunday, Oct 12 Philadelphia at Giants Sunday, Oct 19 Giants at Seattle Monday, Oct.

27 Washington at Giants Sunday, Nov. 2 Dallas at Giants Sunday, Nov. 9 Giants at Philadelphia Sunday. Nov. 16 Giants at Minnesota Sunday, Nov 23 Denver at Giants Monday, Dec.

1 Giants at San Sunday, Dec. 7 Giants at Washington I Sunday, Dec. 14 St Louis at Giants Saturday, Dec. 20 Green Bay at Giants 4pm 8 pm. 1 m.

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