Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 82

I IOC THE HARTFORD COURANT: Sunday, September 2, 1979 National Football League 1979 ationa niereiice New England at Baltimore New Orleans at Washington New York Giants at Los New York Jets at Houston i Philadelphia at Cincinnati Tampa Bay at Minnesota 29-Seattle at Atlanta Denver at Oakland Kansas City at Seattle Miami at New York Jets Minnesota at Detroit New York Giants at New Orleans Pittsburgh at Philadelphia St. Louis at Los Angeles San Francisco at San Diego' Tampa Bay at Chicago Washington at Atlanta Cowboys, Rams Are Equality ByBOBOATES L.A. Times Service As of the National Football League's 60th season, which begins this weekend, there seem to be a Washington at New York Giants 26-New York Jets at Seattle 29-New England at Miami DECEMBER 2 Atlanta at San Diego Baltimore at New York Jets Chicago at Tampa Bay Cincinnati at Pittsburgh Denver at Buffalo Detroit at Philadelphia Green Bay at Washington Houston at Cleveland Minnesota at Los Angeles New York Giants at Dallas San Francisco at St. Louis Seattle at Kansas City 3 Oakland at New Orleans 8- Dallas at Philadelphia Denver at Seattle 9 Buffalo at Minnesota Chicago at. Green Bay Cincinnati at Washington Cleveland at Oakland Kansas City at Baltimore, Los Angeles at Atlanta Miami at Detroit Ne" England at New York Jets New York Giants at St Louis San Diego at New Orleans Tampa Bay at San Fran- couple of differences between the American and National Conferences: The NFC only has two quality teams, Dallas and Los Angeles.

By contrast, the AFC has eight or 10. At the moment the Americans are clearly stronger top to bottom. But the future may belong to the Nationals, who, for the first time in many years, can at least match the other conference in promising young quarterbacks. Probably the best of these, Detroit's Gary Daniel-. son, starts the season injured, but he'll be back.

Doug Williams in Tampa, Vince in Chicago, Tommy Kramer in Minnesota and several others I nave Deen nanaicappea oy Deing on SEPTEMBER 1- Dctroit at Tampa Bay 2- Atlanta at New Orleans Baltimore at Kansas City Cincinnati at Denver Cleveland at New York Jets Dallas at St. Louis -Green Bay at Chicago Houston at Washington Miami at Buffalo New York Giants at Philadelphia Oakland at Los Angeles -San Diego at Seattle San Francisco at Minnesota 3- PitUburgh at New Eng land 6 -Los Angeles at Denver 9 Cincinnati at Buffalo Cleveland at Kansas City, Dallas at San Francisco Houston at Pittsburgh Minnesota at Chicago New Orleans vs Green Bay at Milwaukee New York Jets at New England" Oakland at San Diego St I.ouis at New York Giants Seattle at Miami Tampa Bay at Baltimore Washington at Detroit 10- Atlanfa at Philadelphia 16- Baltimore at Cleveland Buffalo at San Diego Chicago at Dallas Denver at Atlanta Detroit at New York Jets Kansas City at Houston Miami at Minnesota New England at Cincinnati Oakland at Seattle Philadelphia at New Orleans Pittsburgh at St. Louis San Francisco at Los Angeles Tampa Bay at Green Bay 17- New York Giants at Wash- ingon 23- Atlanta at Detroit Baltimore at Pittsburgh Chicago at Miami Green Bay at Minnesota Houston at Cincinnati Los Angeles at Tampa Bay New Orleans at San Francisco New Ybrk Jets at Buffalo Oakland at Kansas City -Philadelphia at New York Giants San' Diego at New England Seattle at Denver Washington at St. Louis 24- Dallas at Cleveland 30-Buffalo at Baltimore Cincinnati at Dallas Cleveland at Houston The NFC's other top team, Los Angeles, starts its 34th (and last) year in Los Angeles with the NFL's toughest defense but with more offensive problems than Dallas has. NFC East Dallas Cowboys: Because of the weakness of this division, the Cowboys' injury and retirement problems this summer won't bother them in their bid for another Eastern title.

The Cowboys are strong and well balanced everywhere, with Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Cliff Harris and Harvey Martin. They wouldn't win the AFC West, perhaps, but they don't have to. Philadelphia Eagles: This isn't great team but it can run and pass zith Wilbert Montgomery and Ron Jaworski. Coach Dick Vermeil, who got the Eagles in the playoffs last year, may find it harder to return. St.

Louis Cardinals: If the front office doesn't rock the boat and if one of the Cardinals' two top draft choices (Otis Anderson, Theotis Brown) is an NFL runner, they'll contend for second. New York Giants: Rebuilding under a new coach, Ray Perkins, who is expected to put rookie quarterback Phil Simms in the lineup before the season is over. He's starting Joe Pisarcik again for now. Washington Redskins: One of two contenders for the Eastern cellar, Washington has taken off on a youth movement with coach Jack Pardee and quarterbck Joe Theismann. NFC Central Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Any of five teams can win this division now that Detroit has lost its quarterback.

The Bucaneers seem to have the best balance of running, passing, defense and coaching, with Ricky Bell, Doug Williams, the Selmon brothers and John McKay. Green Bay Packers: In his fifth year in charge, Bart Starr is finally an experienced coach. That takes care of one problem. There is also now a talent nucleus with runner Terdell Middleton, receiver James Lofton and defensive lineman Ezra Johnson. Detroit Lions: This team was the division favorite before quarterback Gary Danielson went down with a knee injury requiring surgery.

Coach Monte Clark is constructing a solid offensive line and a stout defense with young end Bubba Baker. Chicago Bears: The Bears have some material now in most depart-v ments, leading off with running back Walter Payton. But throughout the practice season, quarterbacks Bob Avellini and Vince Evans blew hot and cold. Minnesota Vikings: A Minneapolis critic says Fran Tarkenton got off a sinking ship just in time. The Vikings threw the ball well this summer with their hew quarterback, Tommy Kramer, but their running game is gone and the defense keeps going downhill, v.

NFC West Los Angeles Rams: Most NFL coaches think the Rams have the best personnel in the conference except in the offensive backfield. New Orleans. Saints: Most improved team in the division, with stars in all departments: quarterback Archie Manning; big, fast running backs Tony Galbreath and chuck Muncie; speed receiver Wes Chandler, RBI receiver Ike Harris; underrated tight end Henry Childs; rookie kicker Russell Erxleben; and defensive men who play well togeth er. But the Saints don't know how to win big games, and this deficiency will still bother them awhile. Atlanta Falcons: Coach Leeman Bennett gets the most out of this team, which doesn't have New Orleans' kind of personnel except at quarterback (Steve Bartkowski) and linebacker (Fulton Kuykendall, Gerg Brezina, Robert Pennywell).

An effective blitzing defense makes the Falcons look better tlwn they are. San Francisco 49ers: Many of their good players (O.J. Simpson, Ken MacAfee) are injured. Many others aren't good enough. In time, coach Bill Walsh will build the 49ers into a team, but maybe not this year.

NOVEMBER 4 Cincinnati at Baltimore Cleveland at Philadelphia Dallas at New York Giants Detroit at Chicago Los Angeles at Seattle Minnesota at St. New England at Buffalo New Orleans at Denver New York Jets at Green Bay San Diego at Kansas City San Francisco at Oakland Tampa Bay at Atlanta Washington at Pittsburgh 5 Houston at Miami 11 Atlanta at New York Giants Balitmore at Miami Buffalo at New York Jets Los Angeles at Chicago Minnesota vs Green Bay at Milw. i New England at Denver Pittsburgh at Kansas City Oakland at Houston St. Louis at Washington San Diego at Cincinnati San Francisco at New Orleans Seattle at Cleveland Tampa Bay at Detroit 12 Philadelphia at Dallas 18 Baltimore at New England Cincinnati at Houston Dallas at Washington Denver at San Francisco Detroit at Minnesota Green Bay at Buffalo Kansas City at Oakland Miami at Cleveland New Orleans at Seattle New York Giants at Tampa Bay New York Jets at Chicago Pittsburgh at San Diego St Louis at Philadelphia 19 Atlanta at Los Angeles 22-Chicago at Detroit Houston at Dallas 25-Buffalo at New England Cleveland at Pittsburgh Kansas City at San Diego Los Angeles at San Francisco Miami at Balitmore Minnesota at Tampa Bay New Orleans at Atlanta Oakland at Denver Philadelphia at Green Bay St Louis at Cincinnati OCTOBER 1 New England at Green "Bay t' 7-Chicago at Buffalo Dallas at Minnesota -Detroit at New England Green Bay at Atlanta Kansas City at Cincinnati Lot Angeles at New Orleans New York Jets at Baltimore Philadelphia at Washington. Pittsburgh at Cleveland St.

Louis at Houston San Diego at Denver Seattle at San Francisco Tampa Bay at Mew York Giants 8 Miami at Oakland 14- Atlanta at Oakland Buffalo at Miami Denver at Kansas City Detroit vs Green Bay at Milw. Houston at Balitmore Los Angeles at Dallas New England at Chicago New Orleans at Tampa Bay Philadelphia at St. Louis Pittsburgh at Cincinnati San Francisco at New York Giants Seattle at San Diego Washington at Cleveland -it 15 Minnesota at New York Jets 21 Atlanta at San Francisco Baltimore at Buffalo Chicago at Minnesota Cincinnati at Cleveland Detroit at New Orleans Green Bay at Tampa Bay Houston at Seattle Miami at New England New York Giants at Kansas City Oakland at New York Jets St Louis at Dallas San Diego ai Los Angeles -Washington at Philadelphia 22- Denver at Pittsburgh 25-San Diego at Oakland 28-Buffalo at Detroit Chicago at San Francisco Cleveland at St Louis Dallas at Pittsburgh Green Bay at Miami Kansas City at Denver 10-Pittsburgh at Houston 15- Green Bay at Detroit New York Jets at Miami 16- Baltimore at New York Gi ants Buffalo at Pittsburgh Cleveland at Cincinnati Kansas City at Tampa Bay Minnesota at New England New Orleans at Los Angeles Philadelphia at Houston St. Louis at Chicago San Francisco at Atlanta Seattle at Oakland Washington at Dallas 17- Denver at San Diego losing teams, but the promise is there. And in the NFC West this promise is being fulfilled.

Formerly pro football's worst di-vison competitively, the NFC West now has competent quarterbacking in all four franchises. Strangely enough, contemplating its recent history, it seems better off at this, position today than any other NFL 'division. Archie Manning of New Orleans is the 1978 all-conference quarterback, Steve Bartkowski led Atlanta into the playoffs last year, the Rams have a rarity in football quarterback depth with Pat Haden and Vince Ferragamo, and, in San Fran-' cisco, the principal offensive problem is a lack of qualified supporting personnel for a good passer, Steve 1 DeBerg. It is, of course, true that the AFC still leads the world in quarterbacks. But aside from San Diego's Dan Fouts and Seattle's Jim Zorn, most AFC passers are either aging veterans (Bob Griese, Terry Bradshaw, Ken Stabler) or basically unproved types of varying ages.

So the National Conference may catch up some day, although proba- bly not this year, when Dallas can look forward to another setback in the Super Bowl. POST SEASON GAMES i Dec. 23 First Round Playoffs Dec. 29 AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs Dec. 30-AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs Jan.

6 AFC Final NFC Final Jan. 20 -Super Bowl XIV at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California Jan. 27 Pro Bowl at Night Game American Conference Ex-Weaver Star Walter Tullis Ready To Dance for tKe Pack Steelers, Pats Talented A f-y was drafted in the 12th round by the Washington Redskins in 1976. Released by the Skins, he was given a tryout by the New York Giants in 1977. He was cut in pre-season.

The next year Tullis went to a free-agent camp in Atlanta. The Packers liked what they saw, particularly his 4.3 speed in the 40. When the last cuts were made, Tullis had survived, a rare accomplishment for a free agent. "I just felt relieved," he said. Last season, he and ex-University of Connecticut standout Eric Torkelson were the two most effective specialty team members of the Pack.

Each of them had 12 kamikaze tackles. "Our goal this year is to make the playoffs. I think we have a good shot but we'll know a lot better after Sunday's game with the Bears," said the 26-year-old Tullis. But, his dream is to score a touchdown. He remembered the last one he scored without any trouble.

"It was in the third game of my senior year at Delaware State," he said. "I caught a 60-yard touchdown pass, ran into the goalpost and broke my leg. I would 'have been a lot higher draft choice if I didn't miss all those games." Just in case it happens today, Tullis has rehearsed his dance. By GEORGE SMITH Ex-Weaver High School, football star Walter Tullis knows exactly what he'll do when he scores his first pro touchdown. "I'll do a little old dance like I used to do at Weaver," said Tullis, now a wide receiver for the Green Bav Packers.

Tullis is a second-year man with Green Bay, and the Packers' open their 1979 season today in Chicago against the Bears. Tullis went to Delaware State after Weaver, turning down a full scholarship to Southern. Connecticut in 1972. "I got a half scholarship at Delaware State but it was in track. I went there on a prayer and a hope to play Houston Oilers: The dropoff in talent between Pittsburgh and Houston is marked.

But Oilers coach Bum Phillips does have a skilled nucleus: running back Earl Campbell, quarterback Dan Pastorini, receivers Billy Johnson and Ken Burrough, blocker Leon Gray, defensive stars, Elvin Bethea and Bob Brazile. Backup quarterback Gifford Nielsen may be coming. Cleveland Browns: In his first year as personnel director, Tommy Prothro made the trade of the year, landing defensive end Lyle Alzado. -The Browns have a great but brittle running back, Greg Pruitt, but a question-mark quarterback, Brian Sipe. Cincinnati Bengals: Could finish as high as second with a good quarterback, Ken Anderson: rookie running back Charles Alexander, and an excellent defensive line.

AMERICAN WEST San Diego Chargers: This is probably the division's best-balanced team (passing, running, defense) although Louie Kelcher's injury hurts the defense and although the Char WALTER TULLIS football," Tullis said this week from Green Bay. The 6-foot, 175-pounder O.J. May Join Tarkenton In Ranks of NFL Retirees ByBOBOATES L.A. Times Service On the third day of the long first weekend of the regular season, the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers will meet the New England Patriots in pro football's first "game of the year" Monday night at Fox-boro. These are the two most talented of the Nation's "28 pro teams, in the opinion of most of those who work and play in the National Football League.

Accordingly, the winner will be- ome the favorite to win Super Bowl XIV at Pasadena, on Jan. 20. Both are American Conference teams; and in any case the new Super Bowl champion is likely to epresent that conference. Only one WC entry, Dallas, has won the NFL i tie in the last 12 years. Altogether, there are five or six itle contenders in the AFC, maybe nore.

According to the coaches and (layers of the various teams, these ire some of the 1979 considerations: The Steelers have the NFL's best team. But in a violent sport with a short pennant race, talent and coaching are sometimes not as decisive as injuries. Most good NFL earns lost key players to wounds ast year but not the Steelers. The tdds that they'll have a second straight season of such good luck iren't impressive. There are two other questions about the Steelers.

As defending champions, they must maintain morale and momentum through 18 games of football, knowing they'll be judged solely on whether they win the 19th. This is psychologically difficult. So is the week-to-week confrontation with somewhat inferior teams going all out against the only three-time Super Bowl champion ever. New England is considered to have even more talent that Pittsburgh, except in the two most important places (quarterback and coach). Assuming injuries level out this season, the Steelers have the edge with Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll over New England with Steve Grogan and an untried new coach, Ron Erhardt.

Other AFC Super Bowl contenders include Miami in the East, Hous ton in the Central and the winner in the West, where there are four fa vorites: San Diego, Oakland, Denver and Seattle. Twelve of the 14 AFC clubs (all but Buffalo and Kansas City) have a chance to make the playoffs and, therefore, some kind of chance to make the Super Bowl. AMERICAN EAST Miami Dolphins: Coach Don Shula has most of the championship ingredients: Bob Griese's quarterbacking, Delvin Williams' running, and a young, active defense with a potential All-Pro linebacker, Larry Gordon. For five years the Dolphins have been stopped by injuries which could even out this time. Shula: "Our goal is to win our third Super Bowl of the 1970s." New England Patriots: The Patriots are talent-heavy, with defensive hitters (Julius Adams, Ray Hamilton, Steve Nelson) and offensive stars (Russ Francis, Stanley Morgan, John Hannah, Andy Johnson).

But quarterback Steve Grogan runs better than he passes, and the Patriots are under the direction of a new leader who may or may not have it, Ron Erhardt. Baltimore Colts: Rumors that quarterback Bert Jones' arm still hurts are ominous for a team that has enough of everything else to win the division if Jones has a peak year. The new backup, Greg Landry, will help, but not enough. New York Jets: With great speed at wide receiver (Wesley Walker) and a tough blocking line, the Jets seem to be coming back. Their quarterbacks, Matt Robinson and Richard Todd, are inexperienced centers of controversy for the New York media.

Buffalo Bills: Coach Chuck Knox's defense ranked 24th last year in a 28-team league. The Bills can run with. Terry Miller, but they think quarterback Joe Ferguson has defi- nite limitations. AMERICAN CENTRAL Pittsburgh Steelers: This is the only team that has won three Super Bowls each in the last five years and, says coach Chuck Noll, "We haven't peaked yet." To win again, all the steelers have to do is keep four players healthy: quarterback Terry Bradshaw, receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth and fullback Franco Harris. Tingelhoff.

Tingelhoff, 39, played in 240 consecutive games an NFL record for offensive players during his 17-year career and was named all-pro seven times. St. Louis running back Jim Otis, who holds six club rushing records, also announced his retirement after a nine-year career. The 31-year-old Otis was told by coach Bud Wilkinson that his playing time might be considerably reduced after the Cardinals drafted running backs Otis Anderson and Theotis Brown. "Rather than face the possibility of phasing out during this season, I thought it would be best to retire now," Otis said.

"In this way, I can begin to pursue full time my career (mortgage lend leasing) off the field which I have been planning for some time. "It has been a great nine years and I have enjoyed both the team's and my own individual success." Otis' club records include yours. I'm through. I've had it." It now also seems likely that O.J. Simpson, the premier running back of the last decade, may be on the verge of retirement.

With last Sunday's tragic death of his 23-month-old daughter, Aaren, who died one week after she was found lying at the bottom of a swimming pool at his former wife's home, the 32-year-old Simpson may decide not to return to the San Francisco 49ers. Simpson, who set the single-season rushing record with 2,003 yards with Buffalo in 1973, has been hampered by knee and shoulder injuries the past two seasons and saw limited action last Previously, Simpson Indicated that he would play this season but was undecided about tils plans after that, Tarkenton has plenty of company in the ranks of retired NFL players this season, beginning with his former teammate, center Mick NEW YORK (UPI) It became official early last May but it may not have hit home until you turned on your television and heard Fran Tarkenton instead of watching him perform. Tarkenton, who holds just about every quarterback record imaginable, has packed away his No. 10 jersey in favor of an ABC television blazer. As a player, he eluded gargantuan defenders with his mad scrambles for 13 years with the Minnesota Vikings which Included three Super Bowl appearances and five seasons with the New York Giants.

Now he's joined forces with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford as a commentator for a number of Monday and Thursday night games. It became apparent that Tarkenton, now 39, was ready to call it a career after the Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 34-10, in last year's playoffs when he told his replacement, Tommy Kramer, "it's all most career yardage (3,863) and most yards gained and most attempts in a season (1,076 on 269 carries, in 1975). Other players who retired during the off-season include running backs Pete Banasz-ak (Oakland), Don Nottingham (Miami) and MacAr-thur Lane (Kansas City); defensive backs Willie Brown (Oakland), Rick Volk (Miami), John Outlaw (Philadelphia), Emmitt Thomas (Kansas City) and Jeff Wright (Minnesota); offensive linemen Bob Johnson (Cincinnati), George Kunz (Baltimore), Tom Mack (Los Angeles), Bobby Maples (Denver) and Doug Dumler (Minnesota); kickers David Lee (Baltimore) Larry Sei-ple (Miami) and Jerrel Wilson (New England); defen-. slve linemen Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Jethro Pugh (Dallas); tight end Jim Mandich (Pittsburgh) and linebacker Skip Vanderbundt (New Orleans). gers don't run as dynamically as coach Don Coryell's St.

Louis teams did. Best big-play potential south of Seattle: Dan Pouts to John Jefferson. Oakland Raiders: This division could finish in a four-way tie for first. (Last year's finish: Denver 10-6, Oakland 9-7, San Diego 9-7, Seattle 9-7.) Ken Stabler is a resourceful quarterback, but the defense can't match San Diego's or Denver's. Oakland's untried new coach, Tom Flores, has Owner Al Davis with, him.

Denver Broncos: Minus Lyle Alzado, the defense isn't it was, though it still had three other All-Pros: Louis Wright, Tom Jackson, Randy Gradishar. Without an offense, coach Red Miller has won two titles in two tries and could do it again, Seattle Seahawks: The only team in the division with true offensive balance (Jim Zorn and runners Sherman Smith, David Sims) has a defensive expert for each coach, Jficl Pdtcrd Kansas City Chiefs: Hard-hitting wing-T running team (Tony Reed, Arnold Morgado) doesn't pass or de- fend that well. i I.