The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 26

-5" Ci THE EVENING SUN, Wednesday, December 24, 1980 Chargers key to lose top linebacker for NFL playoffs over 400 yards per game for an entire season. The last time it was done was in 1968. A team spokesman announced "Tuesday that the Chargers set six NFL records in 1980, including four by quarterback Dan Fouts. Fouts set new season marks for most completions, most passes attempted, most 300-yard games, and passing yardage. The Chargers broke NFL team records with most first downs in a season and most total yards.

Fouts, with 348 completions, bettered by one the previous high set last year by San Francisco's Steve DeBerg. His 589 attempts broke another DeBerg record of 578, also set last year. Fouts passed for 300 or more yards in eight games, eclips- ing the previous record of six that he shared with Joe Namath. Fouts tied the mark last year. Namath set the record in 1967.

For the year, Fouts passed for 4,715 bettering his own mark of 4,082 set last year. San Diego finished with 372 first downs, 22 more than the record set by Cleveland last year. The Chargers' 6,414 total yards broke the previous team mark of 6,288 set by the Houston Oilers in 1961. In addition, second-year tight end Kellen Winslow led the NFL in receptions with with 89, a record for tight ends. Wins-low's total is the fifth highest in NFL history.

Rolf Benirschke's 24 field goals set a team record, bettering the previous high of 22 set in 1968 by Dennis Partee. Lowe finished the year with 133 tackles 89 unassisted -had one sack, forced or recovered three fumbles, blocked two kicks and defensed 14 passes. He sustained the injury in the third quarter but continued to play through much of the fourth quarter. Coryell said the Chargers' well-balanced offense is an indication the team has developed a running game to take the pressure off the vaunted passing attack. Operating against the same Steeler defense that won the Super Bowl last year, San Diego amassed 488 total yards, including 180 on the ground.

"The last six or seven games we've been averaging well over four yards a rush," he said. The Chargers became only the ninth NFL team to average SAN DIEGO (AP) A badly sprained knee is likely to knock linebacker Woody Lowe, San Diego's leading tackier this year, out of the Chargers' Jan. 3 National Football League playoff game, the club has announced. Lowe, a five-year pro out of Alabama, was fitted with a walking cast after injuring the knee in the third quarter of Sari Diego's 26-17 victory over Pittsburgh on Monday night. rf the Chargers, 11-5, win the game against either Houston "or Buffalo, Lowe could possibly be ready for the AFC championship game a week later.

'There's a slight possibility he can play in a few weeks but I think that's very doubtful," said Coach Don Coryell, who described Lowe as "one of our very best players, a real leader." Bills at home a chilling possibility S-Y iff -t 1 sit -'4 Vv rtM -t sxW jVw fJ 4 ill AP Photo Well worth the wait for him Al Shote of Northfield, Ohio, proudly Browns' first playoff game since 1972 shows off four tickets to Cleveland after he stood in a line overnight. Oiler-Raider playoff brings trading rash info focus again ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) A month ago, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney called 8-year-old Rich Stadium "the finest outdoor facility in the National Football League." At that time, "finest" was the key word. Now the word "outdoor" commands attention because that's where a visiting team must play the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo, which won its first NFL division title over the weekend, will travel either to San Diego or Cleveland for a semifinal American Conference game.

If Cleveland loses and the Bills win in the first round, Houston, San Diego or Oakland would have to play here Jan. 1 1 for the AFC championship. It might not be as bad as it sounds, according to a U.S. Weather Service official. "The lake (Lake Erie certainly has a moderating effect," meteorologist Donald Wuerch said yesterday.

"The lake is our heat sink, you might say. It fills the air with moisture. Of course, it also produces snow squalls for the same reason." The Bills were in the American Football League playoffs four straight seasons from 1963 through 1966. The latest a professional football game has ever been played here was Jan. 1, 1967, when the Kansas City Chiefs whipped the Bills 31-7.

But the game was played in War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo. Since then, local football weather has escaped attention because the team's only other playoff appearance 1974 was on the road and because of the conditions NFL teams found in playoffs at Green Bay and Bloomington, Minn. On Dec. 31, 1967, the Packers stopped the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in 13-below weather which ranks as the coldest in NFL history. Several players were treated for frostbite.

It would take outlandish conditions to equal those because Buffalo's record Jan. 11 low temperature was 8 below in 1968. The record high was 59 in 1975. Wuerch said an average Jan. 11 would hit 30 degrees in the afternoon and cool off to 1 8 at night.

Jan. 11, 1980, hit 14 for a high and dropped to minus 6, he said. "Precipitation would be fairly common. The climatic probability is 60 percent based on our 30-year records, and most likely it would be snow. That's not a forecast, though, it's just a probability for a midwinter day," Wuerch added.

Budd Thalman, the Bills' public-relations spokesman, said the stadium has an artificial cover, less yielding than grass. "I can't speculate on conditions, but we would do whatever it takes to get the field into the best possible condition," he said. Wuerch said snow left on the field until game day if the teams practiced elsewhere would insulate the earth beneath. "Otherwise, the ground might be frozen below a foot in depth," he said. "However, we have no data on frost depth.

The only thing I've ever seen on it was when I was in Wisconsin. It was supplied by gravediggers. They were the only people who used to dig holes in the winter, so I asked them to send me some statistics." AP Photo San Diego Chargers' mighty Kellen Winslow ruimbles down-field with one of 10 passes he taught in Monday night win. Earl Campbell wins rushing title again somed into the Raiders' leading rusher with 761 yards despite being troubled by injuries in the latter part of the season. "If we had changed our style and built the offense around him, we could have used him more," Phillips said.

"That's what Oakland did and he's been effective there. Our backs have to block. We couldn't have used him and Earl in thebackfield together." Tatum, noted for his fierce hitting style at Oakland, has turned pass thief for the Oilers, leading the team with, seven interceptions going into the playoffs. The acquisition of Casper allowed the Oilers to go to a two-tight end offense and the former Raider has contributed 34 receptions for 526 yards including seven for 120 in Sunday's 20-16 playoff clinching victory over Minnesota. said.

"We both made those trades because we thought they were right for our teams." Last March, Phillips and Oakland General Partner Al Davis exchanged starting quarterbacks Stabler and Pastorini. Tatum followed Stabler to Houston in exchange for King. Minutes before the trading deadline, Davis sent Casper to the Oilers in exchange for Houston's first two draft choices next year and a second round selection in 1982. Phillips doesn't expect to see Pastorini, just recovered from a broken leg, come off the bench to play against his former teammates. "They've got to go with the guy that got them there," Phillips said, referring to Jim Plunkett, who led the Raiders to an 11-5 record.

King gained only nine yards on three carries for the Oilers last year but blos HOUSTON (AP) Houston Coach Bum Phillips fancies himself a good horse trader and he hasn't done too "badly in the player market place either. The Oilers travel to Oakland Sunday for a first-round game of the National 'Football League playoffs and it will be homecoming for Ken Stabler, Dave Casper and Jack Tatum, all members of the Raiders 1976 Super Bowl championship team. They'll be greeted by former Oiler Dan Pastorini and Kenny King, who went to the Raiders during a hectic off-season trading campaign between the two teams. Phillips says he won't be drawn into any comparison of which team got the best deals. I guess some people will look at it like that, but it's just another football game that we have to win," Phillips Ram QBs: Together but apart top passer for touchdowns with 31, Dan Fouts led in yardage with 4,715 and Richard Todd of the Jets was No.

1 in interceptions with 30. The scoring title went to John Smith of New England with 26 field goals and 51 PATs for 129 points. The NFL's top receiver was Kellen Winslow of San Diego with 89 catches, while teammate Jefferson led in TD receptions with 13 and in yardage with 1,340. The interception leader was Oakland's Lester Hayes with 13, Horace Ivory of the Patriots was tops in kickoff returns with a 27.6-yard average and J.T. Smith of Kansas City paced the punt returners with a 14.5-yard average.

The top punter was the Giants' Dave Jennings with a 44.8-yard norm. The Dallas Cowboys were No. 1 in points scored with 454 while their NFC East counterparts, the Philadelphia Eagles, were the stingiest on defense, surrendering only 222 points. The Chargers were tops in total yardage gained, 6,410, built mainly on their air offense. Los Angeles finished first in rushing yardage with 2,799.

On defense, Buffalo was best overall, yielding 4,101 yards. Detroit was best against the run, giving up 1,599 yards, and Washington's 2,171 yield through the air was best. NEW YORK (AP) Earl Campbell, who came within 66 yards of the coveted mark which only O.J. Simpson has broken, was the leading rusher in the National Football League for the third straight season, the league office announced yesterday. Campbell paced the Houston Oilers into the playoffs with his 1,934 yards, the second highest total in league history.

Only Simpson's 2,003 yards in 1973 surpasses Campbell's total. The Houston fullback set a league mark for carries with 373 in winning the rushing title for the third time in his three-year professional career. He had four 200-yard games, also an NFL record. His 10 100-yard games fell one short of Simpson's mark and, had he not injured a groin muscle against the Jets and missed one full game, Campbell might have exceeded Simpson's 2,003. A distant second to Campbell in the rushing race was Chicago's Walter Pay-ton with 1,460.

Campbell also tied John Jefferson of San Diego and Baltimore's Curtis Dickey for the AFC lead in touchdowns with 13. The NFL leader was Billy Sims of Detroit with 16. The NFL's top passer was Cleveland's Brian Sipe with a 91.9 efficiency rating. He edged Philadelphia's Ron Jaworski by one point. Steve Bartkowski of Atlanta was the Starr's status to be resolved 105 and 108 on Intelligence Quotient tests, but there is no rule that doctors or quarterbacks must be geniuses.

Better they have good memories and common sense and courage. Ferragamo also has nerve. Early this season he complained when Haden was given a chance to play when the Rams took a big lead. He has also grumbled when Haden listened in on huddles in practice. His blunt putdown of a decent teammate made fans temporarily angry with Ferragamo, but he has come out on top.

Last Monday night when Ferragamo opened a 38-14 lead, the coaches wanted to save his ribs. They had to tell Lee several times that, no kidding, they really wanted him to finish up the game. Haden has not taken off the blue golf cap he wears on the sidelines in weeks, which is apparently O.K. with Ferragamo. "Pat's always been tight with management," Ferragamo said recently.

"I haven't. They've always been good to Pat. He's more the politician. I'm not interested in politics. I'm just interested in action." He also said: "I can't have any sympathy for him.

Nobody had sympathy for me. I can remember when Joe Namath was gone two years ago and Pat said something like, 'I finally feel free that there is no controversy. I feel great. I don't feel threatened by anybody behind You know what that made me feel like? I didn't even threaten him. That was the spark that kept it going." Now the Rams play at Dallas next Sunday, 13 days after the massacre on national television.

Ferragamo says Dallas "should have the home field in their favor," but adds his club "has the vivid impression of those films from the last ame." By George Vecsey New York Times ANAHEIM, California Eleven. Fifteen. Nineteen. The lockers are assigned numerically in the Los Angeles Rams clubhouse, which means that Pat (11) Haden, Vince (15) Ferragamo and Bob (19) Lee are side-by-side. It does not mean they are together.

Twenty minutes after the Rams' dramatic 20-17 victory over Atlanta on Sunday, the clubhouse door finally opened, and reporters started looking for Ferragamo, the dark and handsome -medical student who has replaced lladen, the blond law student, at quarterback. 1 The only quarterback to be seen was Lee, and he was already combing his sandy hair. dress ast- somebody said. Haden's already gone," Lee Said7 executing a sprint-out toward the "Besides, I've got to catch a plane." cwi Haden had beaten Lee to the door. Whether Haden showered is his business but he may not have needed one because his only exercise for the day 'liadbeen a quick catch with Lee in over- time after Ferragamo had aggravated T-htSalready-bruised ribs.

some inspection from the doc-; --tojv-Ferragamo had been assured that nothing was broken, and had joined the game of catch as a signal that he was alive. T'Jfle was not needed because of the field goal by Frank Corral, btrPwhen Ferragamo finally emerged from the training room after the game, he assured reporters he would have gone back. "A little more pain," he said. "That's all." Ferragamo has felt pain, but he has also given his share to the Rams front office this year. Between the salary dis- Sports Commentary putes, his blunt statements and his snubbing of Haden, Ferragamo has emerged as a major talent in the new offensive era of pro football.

The hard look in his eyes indicates he knows he is winning his war with the Rams. He is showing them he is a quarterback for the next decade. Whether he plays for Los Angeles or somewhere else is up to the Rams. The Rams always have a quarterback problem a family curse that asserts itself from generation to generation, whether it is Van Brocklin versus Waterfield in the '40s or Ferragamo versus Haden in 1980. The Rams thought they had finally exorcised their curse when the Rhodes Scholar, Haden, sent the interloper, Joe Namath, to his well-deserved retirement, after 1977.

The Rams seem delighted in Haden, who is blond, gracious, and attended the "right" school the University of Southern California, but last year when Haden was injured, Ferragamo passed the Rams to the Super Bowl. This year he is still operating on a $52,000 salary, and after he turned down one agent's deal, the Rams said they would not talk money again until after the season. "I don't think about it now," he said Sunday, fixing his piercing stare on the person who had asked the question. But a few weeks ago he was quoted as saying how he and his equally resolute wife, Jodi, cursed the Ram management as they drove home after games. If Ferragamo has the ability to put money out of his mind, it is the same single-mindedness that gave him a 3.6 average and got him into Creighton University Medical School.

The magazine, Inside Sports, recently claimed Ferragamo had scored only Starr had been under fire after a 0-4-1 preseason record and 1-3 regular season start. Asked if the executive committee had reached a tentative position on Starr's future at yesterday's meeting, Torinus said, "It didn't get to that point. There was an exchange of ideas. But the only decision reached was to call the board of directors together." Packer president Dominic Olejniczak declined to comment on yesterday's meeting. However, Starr told The Sentinel he met with Olejniczak after the meeting.

Asked if he were optimistic that he would be back, Starr replied, "Yes, I am. I would prefer not to elaborate." Olejniczak, who has held his position for 23 years, is believed to be a staunch ally of Starr's. "The fans hired Bart Starr and the fans will fire Bart Starr," Olejniczak once said, referring to the strong ground-swell of public support for Starr's hiring in December, 1974. A poll taken for WLUK-TV here after the Packers' 24-3 defeat by Detroit Sunday indicated strong public support for Starr. Of 222 Brown County residents polled, 63 percent of respondents said Starr should not be fired.

Mail received at the club's offices reportedly is running heavily in tavor of retaining Starr. "I think he'll be retained because the executive committee wants him to be retained," said Charles "Buckets" Golden-berg, a director. "But I don't think it's the total membership of the executive committee." GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) The status of Bart Starr as coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers will be resolved at a special meeting of the National Football League club's 45 directors Saturday, it was announced yesterday. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Sentinel reported that Starr probably will be retained in 1981, the final year of his contract.

Starr, quarterback on the Packers' five NFL championship teams during the 1960s, has a 31-57-2 record in six seasons as coach and general manager. The Packers finished the 1980 season with a four-game losing streak and a 5-10-1 record. The Packers' executive committee held a special 90-min-ute meeting yesterday and scheduled the directors' meeting Saturday afternoon. The executive committee had not been scheduled to meet until Jan. 8.

However, club secretary John Torinus said the panel met yesterday to try to "resolve the question and get all you people media) off our backs." "Everybody felt the whole coaching staff deserved to know exactly what is coming," Torinus said. "We were instructed by the board of directors to get them in on the act in October, and so we decided to call a meeting for Saturday and get it done as fast as we could." The directors, at a meeting hours before the Packers' 14-9 victory over Cincinnati here Oct. 5, voted support for Starr and decided to rev, few his status at the end of the season..