The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 40

6C THE PALM BEACH POST MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1990 Gallery's FG lifts Vikings over Oilers 22-21 Eagles faced with Quick decision The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS Jim Gallery atoned for missing a 25-yard field goal with 5:14 left by hitting a 24-yarder with one second to go Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings posted a 22-21 preseason victory over the winless Houston Oilers. "It felt great to have another chance," Gallery said. "That's what a kicker hopes for." 8C Summary San Diego and Atlanta won Saturday night, improving to 3-0, equaling the mark of the Detroit Lions, who beat Kansas City 35-21 Friday. The only other unbeaten team is the New York Giants, but they're used to it. Not only are they usually winners during the regular season, but their preseason mark under Bill Parcells is 27-6.

The Falcons, 3-13 a year ago, have equaled their regular-season win total of 1989. "We did a lot of things wrong, we made a lot of errors, but you've got to win on the road and we did that," Atlanta coach Jerry Glan-ville said. Chargers 29, 49ers 28 Billy Joe Tolliver and Mark Vlasic threw touchdown passes and Thomas Sanders scored on a 1-yard run for San Diego. Steve Young, who relieved Joe Montana in the third period, led a 79-yard drive in his first possession that ended in Spencer's Tillman 1-yard touchdown run. Young also ran for a late fourth-quarter Cowboys 20, Steelers 9 Troy Aikman and former University of Miami star Steve Walsh threw second-half touchdown passes, rallying Dallas (1-2).

The Cowboys trailed 6-3 when Aikman threw a 2-yard scoring pass to tight end Steve Folsom with 3:28 left in the third period, two plays after Aikman hit James Dixon with a 44-yard pass. Walsh took the Cowboys 51 yards in six plays, hitting Michael Irvin, also out of UM, with a 28-yard scoring pass. Gary Anderson kicked field goals of 53, 52 and 35 yards for Pittsburgh (1-2). Rams 27, Cardinals 7 Derrick Faison, a rookie free agent from Howard University, caught two touchdown passes and rookie Tony Lomack from Florida caught another for Los Angeles (2-1). Faison leaped to grab a 26-yard touchdown pass from Chuck Long 7:01 into the third quarter, giving the Rams a 20-0 lead.

He also caught a 23-yarder from Long 3:09 into the fourth quarter. Pro Football Oilers (0-3) overcame an early 12-0 deficit. Gallery, who beat out Jim Breech to gain the kicking job in Cincinnati last year only to be cut a month into the season after a 2-for-6 start, is doing most of Minnesota's kicking because of Rich Karlis' holdout. He made a 49-yard first-quarter field goal but his 25-yard miss seemingly ruined any chance of a Minnesota comeback. With 4:09 left, however, Pat Eilers intercepted a Don McPherson pass and Salisbury capped a four-play, 36-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Smith that made it 21-19 with 2:31 to go.

LATE SATURDAY Last year's losers are preseason winners The NFL exhibition season can provide a lot of solace for perennial losers. Unless they remember what happened to Dallas last season 1-15 after a 3-1 preseason. The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS Preseason games normally are unimportant to five-time Pro Bowl selection Mike Quick. Tonight's game against Indianapolis is a different story for the Philadelphia wide receiver. Quick will be trying to prove himself in his first game action since the sixth week of last season.

That was Oct. 15 and since then he's had surgery on both knees the second consecutive year his season was terminated early due to injury. Quick, third on Philadelphia's career list in receiving yards and fourth in touchdown receptions and total catches, didn't begin working out in pads until Aug. 2 and did not dress for the first two preseason games. Coach Buddy Ryan is reserving judgment on the eight-year veteran as he ponders his roster decisions.

"We're going to play him a TV: WPBF-25, WPLG-IO, 8 p.m. half," Ryan said about Quick, adding that he believes he'll know after tonight's game about Quick's future. "That's what I'm trying to find out," Ryan said of Quick's physical condition. "I'm not going to make a (roster) decision not knowing for sure. I'm not going to go on past experience.

We won 21 games without him the last two years. We'd love to have him, but only if he's the Mike Quick of a couple of years ago." Rookie Calvin Williams, a star at Purdue, goes into the game in line for a starting role at wide receiver with the Eagles. Another rookie, top draft pick Jeff George, also will be in the -f spotlight of the nationally vised game. George, a former teammate of Williams at Purdue, is slated to make his second consecutive start. -The Vikings (2-1) won despite generally poor quarterbacking by Rich Gannon, making his first career start, and Wade Wilson.

Third-stringer Sean Salisbury rallied Minnesota from a 21-12 fourth-quarter deficit against mostly Houston reserves. "I say the best thing that happened today is that we won the game," Minnesota coach Jerry Burns said. "We're happy with the win, but I don't think you can fool yourself into thinking that we played well." Warren Moon, whose practice time was reduced this week because of a "tired arm," woke up Houston's offense by accounting for 14 second-quarter points as the Dolphins get mixed reviews By JEFF MILLER Palm Beach Post Staff Writer MIAMI From the aftermath of Saturday night's 17-16 preseason victory over Denver, Miami coach Don Shula plucked both roses and thorns. In turn, he tossed both bouquets of praise and barbs of disappointment. The roses: Joe Jacoby's rehabilitation appears complete.

Coach Joe Gibbs was so impressed with Jacoby, who underwent major knee surgery on his left knee last November, in Saturday's 31-3 victory over Cleveland, that he said he expected the 31 -year old tackle would remain on the active roster for the Sept. 9 opener. AFC Around The NFL Bears cut Duerson, 13 others Palm Beach Post Wire Services LAKE FOREST, III. The Chicago Bears Sunday cut four-time Pro Bowl safety Dave Duerson, along with 1 3 other players. 4 z-iffl The Bears, who have a surplus of defensive backs, had demoted Duerson to second string during the preseason.

There had been rumors the eight- Duerson year veteran would be traded. The cuts included three veterans, two draft choices and nine free agents, bringing the Bears' roster to 58 players. Tuesday is the deadline for all NFL teams to reduce their rosters to 60 players. Teams must be at the 47-man limit by September 3. Coach Mike Ditka said he didn't like the tough choice of putting Duerson, 29, on waivers.

CLEVELAND BROWNS An angry coach Bud Carson said his offense was as impressive as it had been in his two seasons in Cleveland, but called his defense's effort "the worst game we've had. I was embarrassed." DENVER BRONCOS squandered a second-half lead for the second consecutive game. They led San Francisco last Monday 24-7 before losing 27-24 HOUSTON OILERS RB Alonzo Hlghsmlth, a former University of Miami standout, doesn't want to sit on the bench when the season begins. "If I'm not the starting back when the season opens, what would be my role?" Highsmith said in Saturday's editions of the Houston Chronicle. "I'd have to sit on the sidelines and wait until my time comes.

I don't want to have to go through that I feel as though I'm one of the top three fullbacks in the league." Highsmith is one of four top backs on the roster, joining Mike Rozler, Allen Plnkett and Lorenzo White. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Harvey Armstrong (back spasms), Sam Clancy and Donnell Thompson (both pulled groins), three of Indianapolis' top four defensive linemen, are doubtful for tonight's game against Philadelphia. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Have cut 12 players, to trim their roster to 66. The players released included: WR Glenn Antrum, Pat Crowley, RB James Gray, Tim Hauck, DL Charles Jackson, RB Anthony Landry, WR Mike Murphy, Chuck Pellegrini, QB Michael Proctor, Blaine Rose, LB Mac Stephens and TE Kirk Warner. NEW YORK JETS Marty Ly- ons, the final link to the famed New York Sack Exchange, is expected to miss the 1990 season after suffer- 1 ing a torn bicep tendon in Saturday night's preseason game against the New York Giants.

Lyons, 33, was scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday to reattach a tendon in his right bicep muscle. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Traded a future conditional draft pick Saturday to the Lions to acquire John Ford, a second-round draft pick by Detroit Lions in 1989. He has caught only five passes for 56 yards in seven games. LOREN G. HOSACKStaff Photographer Miami receiver Mark Clayton couldn't hold onto this ball with Denver's Tyrone Braxton covering him during Saturday's 17-16 victory over the Broncos.

Clayton finished the game without a reception. Schwedes among veteran Dolphins hoping to slip by Tuesday cutdown NFC Not just the end, but the means. "It was our manner of winning. We had a good drive to score a touchdown to go ahead, then defensively held them when we had to hold them. I felt that was very important to us, confidencewise.

That was one of the things that had plagued us in the past, not being able to win in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line." The running game. "There were some positive signs there. There was some good slashing running and some good lead blocks by Tony Paige mostly. One play where we pulled (rookie linemen Keith) Sims and (Richmond) Webb was a good-looking play. In the end when we had to have it running, we came up with the plays." I Rookie nose tackle Alfred Oglesby.

"We thought he played pretty well. He was only credited for one tackle, but after grading the film he. was involved in four or five tackles." The three take-aways (two interceptions and one fumble recovery) compared to one giveaway (fumble lost). "That was another positive step for us." The thorns: Outside linebacker Eric Ku-merow. "He got beat on the touchdown pass (John Elway to Paul Green for two yards) again, the second week in a row.

It's a short yardage defense we use that puts him in a tough situation. We'll keep working it and hope he makes some plays." DALLAS COWBOYS Cut six players including veteran Luis Zendejas, RB Junior Tautalatasi, LB Terrence Cooks, DE Walter Johnson, Tom Huebner and LB Dave Harper. Also, the team placed TE Steve Johnson, RB Keith Jones and Scott Ankrom on injured reserve. DETROIT LIONS Six-year veteran Lomas Brown out of Florida, slow to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery, blames it on nine years of playing on artificial surfaces at the Silverdome and Florida Field. unable to perform list.

That will reduce the active roster to 66. Among the players along the borderline is quarterback Cliff Stoudt, an 11-year NFL veteran. Stoudt, who is competing with rookie Scott Mitchell for the third spot behind Dan Marino and Scott Secules, has appeared in only one preseason game. Neither he nor Mitchell played against Denver. "It's tough making these decisions, but the tougher decisions are when you have to cut from 60 down to 47 that final week," Shula said.

"These are all guys who have worked hard to make this football team. It's tough making those decisions at the end." ty tossed in Martin's direction. And like any good receiver hoping for a break, Martin caught the chance and has squeezed it for all its worth. "Scott really hurt himself by holding out," Seiple said. "I know the players have to do what they think is right, but that opened the door for Tony to steal his job.

I guess we're going to have to make a decision in the next week or so." This week's decisions won't be nearly as difficult as next week's, Shula said. Three players safeties Bobby Harden (shoulder) and Stevon Moore (knee) and corner-back Sean Vanhorse (foot) will be placed on the reserve physically DOLPHINSfrom 1C the Broncos Saturday. Standing along the sidelines, he had a great view as Martin caught three passes for 47 yards before the knee injury. Martin has eight receptions for 124 yards in the preseason and has returned six punts for 99 yards. Schwedes has one reception in the preseason for 2 yards.

Period. End of production. End of the line? "Scott's always been a slow starter," receivers coach Larry Seiple said. "And he has been one this season, too." A contract dispute that led to Schwedes missing the first 16 days of training camp was an opportuni "That's basically it," he said. "The wear and tear on the turf starts taking its toll.

But I've been lucky. I've had no major surgery." TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Running back Gary Anderson has a toe injury and probably will sit out Thursday's game against the Jets in hopes of being 100 percent for the regular season opener against the Detroit Lions. WASHINGTON REDSKINS WLAF link to NFL should make international league successful operate under a salary cap, with foreign exchange Proposed WLAF Sites, Stadiums WLAFfrom 1C 20,526 miles by air during the 1990 regular season, including trips to New England, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington, Buffalo and twice to New York. One round-trip between Sacramento, the western-most WLAF city, and Milan is 14,000 miles. Were not the whole idea blessed and bankrolled by the NFL, it would make no more sense than the mournful USFL and every other spring league that has tried and failed to gain a City Stadium Capacity Barcelona Montjuic Stadium 70,000 Birmingham Legion Field 75,000 Frankfurt Waldstadion 61,000 London Wembley Stadium 80,000 Memphis Liberty Bowl 63,000 Mexico City Aztec Stadium 80,000 Milan Monza Stadium 23,000 Montreal Olympic Stadium 65,000 New York Giants Stadium 72,000 Orlando Citrus Bowl 70,000 Sacramento Hughes Stadium 30,000 San Antonio Alamo Stadium 30.000 financial foothold.

Already, how- rfr- A ever, the WLAF has lined up tele vision contracts wun adu wun none other than Brent Musburger as play-by-play announcer) and the USA network. And since the Schramm and has its championship game June 9, remains a mirage. "I think it's all new ground and I don't think anybody has really figured out yet how or what to do," Shula said. "First of all, we'll get through this season and then see where their league gets their players, and what the commitment of their players is going to be to them. "This is not going to be a developmental league, per se.

It'll be a spring league. The important thing will be to spend time scouting it and finding out the caliber of play, to see which of their players could be prospects for our league. As far as us using their league to develop players, all coaches with young quarterbacks are interested in giving them playing time and exposure to game situations. "We'll keep a close eye on them. I'm sure everything will be done in a first-class way.

I give Tex so much credit for the way our game is presented. But there's no way we could plan on what's going to happen next spring. Our whole thrust is this year. After this year, if we feel this would benefit some of our younger players, at that point we would see what arrangements are possible." For 29 years Schramm directed the daily operations of the Dallas Cowboys, hiring Tom Landry and promoting the "America's Team" concept. He talked NFL owners into providing seed money for the spring league and 26 of the 28 (Chicago and Phoenix excluded) invested $50,000 each.

Schramm next got Jerry Vainisi, another trusted NFL executive, to scout players and sign them to WLAF contracts. At every step, careful consideration has been made to avoid competition over players between the WLAF and the NFL, as well as competition between WLAF franchises. Vainisi will sign players to a standard WLAF contract, without telling them where they will play. A player draft follows, distributing the talent as equally as possible, and at that point the offseason NFL and CFL players and the free agents who will people the WLAF discover if they have been assigned to San Antonio or Frankfurt, West Germany Each team will rates laKen inio accouni. Global outlook "We want to build our own stars and our own reputation," said Bob Rose, the WLAF's vice president of communications.

"We want people watching for the first time to really see the bigger picture. This is going to be a global sports league. There is tremendous interest in Japan and the Soviet Union to have teams. "We are certainly going to be challenged just to have a league operating on two continents. That alone is history.

What's important is to get to Year 4 or 5, and then maybe we'll have a restructuring of the league. "We want to put the best possible players on the field. A very high percentage, perhaps 90 percent, will be American players. I'm sure most of those will be players who probably are the final cuts in NFL camps. Obviously, there are going to be other sources.

Certainly, we'll be signing college seniors who choose to come into our league, as well as free agents from the CFL. The initial contract our players sign will commit them to our first season. After the championship game June 9, at that point they will have the option to go to an NFL training camp. If they do not make an NFL roster, there is then a good possibility to re-sign with us, maybe for a multiyear commitment." American franchises are in Orlando, New York, San Antonio, Birmingham, Memphis and one other city to be announced. Also on the North American continent are teams in Montreal and Mexico City.

The European teams are London, Milan, Barcelona and Frankfurt. TV banking on success ABC will televise Sunday afternoon games and USA will show prime-time games on Saturdays and Mondays. ABC televised USFL games in the spring and is banking heavily on the NFL connection with the WLAF. The ABC-USA contract is worth an estimated $50 million to the league. "We think the early performance of the USFL is an indication that there's an appetite for spring football," site of 1 992 Olympic Games track and field events and opening ceremonies.

New Arco Stadium (56,000 capacity) scheduled to open in 1992. New Alamo Dome (65,000 capacity) scheduled to open in 1993. NFL will be working with the new league, rather than trying to run it down like a rival, Schramm's their man. "We might be the biggest boon to frequent-flier miles you've ever seen," said Schramm, able to jcke about his venture's unique problems. One facet of the new league's character that is deadly serious to Schramm, however, is its perception as a minor league training ground for the NFL.

Players who fail to make the final cut on NFL rosters likely will wind up with WLAF teams, hoping to be scouted and rediscovered there, but that is not the sole intent of league founders. "I don't see it at all as a 'Triple-A' relationship," Schramm said. "These are two separate products." Coach's questions Exactly what NFL coaches should see when they look toward the WLAF is uncertain. There have been no seminars to brief them on personnel procedures within the new league and most of them, including Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. will make their cuts and form their rosters this summer as they always have The WLAF, whir opens training camps March 2 said Steve Solomon, executive vice president of ABC Sports.

USFL games on ABC drew an average Nielsen television rating of 6.2 in 1983 and 5.7 in 1984. Rob Correa, USA's programming director, said, "We're betting on the success of spring football. If the USFL had continued, it would have been successful. We're not looking for the 10 ratings the NFL gets on ESPN, but we think we can get ratings of 3.5 to 4." Football in any season and on any continent would seem guaranteed of at least limited success with the corporate backing of the NFL. Already, the WLAF has hired NFL Properties to handle the licensing of the league's products, and NFL Films to produce slick highlights packages for European consumption.

Now all they need is players..