The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 76

H2 Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000 SPORTS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution FALCONS NOTEBOOK KEN SUGIURA Div. I-AA game looking better vs. a so-so NFL slate Ambrose leading ex-Saint contingent if' six "v-V 'jV I Receiver Phihaw activated Coach Dan Reeves made the move Friday to sign rookie wide receiver Mareno Philyaw, the Falcons' sixth-round draft pick, off the practice squad. He replaces wide receiver Jammi German, who went on injured reserve Wednesday with a high ankle sprain.

Philyaw, a graduate of North Clayton High, will see a familiar team in the Saints. He was on their practice squad for about a month after the Falcons cut him in the preseason. When the Saints released him from their practice squad in October, the Falcons picked him back up. "It's a blessing," said Philyaw. "Just being patient, that's the one thing you have to do when you're in this business, work hard and be patient." Philyaw will get a weekly check of about $11,650, about 2'A times the pay for first-year practice squad players.

Even better, Philyaw said he's done with Christmas shopping. "I can just take that and put it in the bank," he said. The team has not made a decision on whether to fill Philyaw's space on the practice squad. Keep hope alive The Falcons haven't won since Oct. 29 a run of five games but they are still optimistic, even as they go to play playoff-contending New Orleans.

After the bye week, linebacker Henri Crockett said practice was more intense. JOHN GLENN Staff Ashley Ambrose grew up In New Orleans and played for the Saints last season before signing with the Falcons as a free agent For the third year in a row, Georgia Southern will play before a national television audience on ESPN in the Division I-AA championship game. Unfortunately, with the contest falling on the first Saturday of NFL games on Fox and CBS, not much of the nation is expected to watch the Eagles play Montana. In 1998, Georgia Southern's game against Massachusetts was seen in just 500,000 homes. The audience for last year's matchup with Youngstown State rose to 710,000 homes with a .92 cable rating.

ESPN would gladly take another rating near the 1.0 mark for a telecast competing with the NFL There are no break-out numbers for the Georgia homes in those totals. But watching the Eagles and second-team All-America fullback Adrian Peterson going for their sixth championship should be more intriguing than watching the second half of the disappointing Redskins against the also-ran Steelers on Fox or the first half of the homeward-bound Seahawks against the playoff-bound Raiders on CBS. "We're not talking about guys who can't play, and we're not talking little smurfs," said ESPN's Rod Gilmore, who will be in the booth with play-byplay announcer Rich Waltz. "If you like college football, you've got to like the variety of styles these two teams present," he said. "Montana likes to throw the ball, and Georgia Southern is a throwback to those good option teams.

Montana is the No. 1 seed, but they might be the underdog." Praise for Lefty When CBS basketball analyst Billy Packer was asked which team in Georgia had the best prospect of landing an NCAA berth, he called Georgia State a lock. "It's great to see Georgia State's Lefty Driesell proving once again Smith into the lineup, Reeves said he didn't intend to do any more of that Sunday. Extra points The alma maters of two team members play championship games today. Americus High, where Reeves played quarterback, faces Washington-Wilkes High for the Class AA state title.

Neil's Montana Grizzlies play Georgia Southern for the Division I-AA NCAA title. Rookie quarterback Johnson was recruited to Florida by then-Gators defensive coordinator Ron Zook, who now holds that position with the Saints. Flowery Branch Falcons cornerback Ashley Ambrose doesn't mind that his former team, the New Orleans Saints, is experiencing so much success with out him. But he'd like some payback from them Sunday in New Orleans. "I want to go out there and beat this team this time," he said.

"They came in the Georgia Dome earlier this season and beat us. We played close and I want to really get a little revenge." Ambrose played last season with the Saints before the Falcons signed him as a free agent. They also signed defensive end Brady Smith away from their NFC West rivals. Other Falcons with ties are kicker Morten Andersen, who became the Saints' all-time leading scorer when he played there from 1982 through 1994, and two Baton Rouge natives who played for LSU, defensive lineman Chuck Wiley and center Todd McClure. Ambrose grew up in New Orleans.

He's shelling out for 30 tickets for the game in the Super-dome. "There's some people I know that are probably going to get left out, but it's hard when you've got that many people to try to get tickets for," Ambrose said. SI Redskins at Steelers, 12:30 p.m. Record: Redskins 7-7, Steelers 7-7. Series: Redskins lead 42-28-3.

Notable: This game is the last for Three Rivers Stadium. Both teams need victories to keep alive slim playoff hopes. The Redskins play their second game under interim coach Terry Robiskie, who replaced the fired Norv Turner Dec. 4. Favorite: Pick.

Raiders at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. Record: Raiders 1 1-3, Seahawks 5-9. Series: Raiders lead 25-20. Notable: The Raiders played a near-perfect game in their 3 1 -3 victory over the Seahawks in Oakland in October. The game matches one of the best rushing offenses in the league, the Raiders 1 47.4 yards per game), against one of the league's worst rushing defenses, the Seahawks (allowing 143.9 rushing yards per game).

Favorite: Raiders by 6lA. A Broncos' Davis out at least 3 weeks ASSOCIATED PRESS If the Denver Broncos are going to make another Super Bowl run, it looks like they will do so without running back Terrell Davis. Davis, sidelined by the onset of a stress fracture in his lower left leg, will miss the final two games of the regular season and could be out for the playoffs after tests Friday revealed no change in his condition. "He's obviously frustrated," Davis' agent, Neil Schwartz said. "In his mind, he was hoping the results would be negative and he would be able to play against the 49ers (Dec.

23) and come back to help the Broncos win the Super Bowl." The Broncos said Davis would continue to wear a protective boot on his lower leg. He will be reevaluated in three weeks. With two games remaining, Denver (10-4) still has a chance to win the AFC West and earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs. If the Broncos are a wildcard team, they would have to play at least one playoff game SUITOR' UK CHOICE JUST TV RADIO PRENTiS ROGERS he is one of the greatest program builders in America," Packer said; "He did it at Davidson, Maryland, and now he is doing it at Georgia State. "I'm glad to see they have given-him a new contract," he said.

"I -don't think he will ever want to retire. My hat is off to Lefty." But Packer's attention today will be on the 1 p.m. Kentucky-Michigan State matchup that looks a bit less attractive with the Wild-; cats off to a 3-4 start. "Kentucky is one of those teams that will be fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth," Packer said. "With their very difficult schedule, a team so young and the pressure that is on Kentucky basketball to be at the top of the class, it could be -very difficult for them to start gaining some confidence." Bits and pieces North Clayton quarterback D.J.' Shockley is scheduled to be the studio guest on Fox Sports Net's "Countdown to Signing Day" today at noon.

Fox Sports Net said Shock-ley is considering Georgia Tech, -Georgia, North Carolina, Clemson and Florida State. The show also will showcase Tucker running back Jabari Davis, who is leaning toward Tennessee, according to FSN. With Friday's AAAA high school championship between Statesboro and Shaw in Columbus, the travel schedule for tonight's Harrison-Parkview AAAAA championship will be easy for the GPTV crew, which has Clark Atlanta voice Charles Ward and former Falcon Gerald Riggs as announcers. ESPN's "Outside The lines" at 9:30 a.m. Sunday will offer an inside look at Manny Ramirez's $160 million deal with Boston as its cameras tracked the seven-week negotiating process by agent Jeff Moorad.

100 SILK DESIGNER TIES $799 Compare at $251 STONE MOUNTAIN On East Park Place 0ffHwy78 770-879-3537 10-7t SUN 12-6 I' mr nil seven years and would include a signing bonus of between $10 million and $20 million. Favre, 31, has three years remaining on a seven-year, $47.25 million contract. Steelers: Fans at today's final game at Three Rivers Stadium should count on taking home memories not souvenirs. Remembering the chaos that accompanied the closing of Forbes Field three decades ago, officials will bolster security for the home finale. fiQ Cf 1 YOUR "I have a real good feeling about the game," he said.

"I think we had a good week of practice," Reeves said. "I think guys are ready to play." The Falcons have two statistics on their side. They have won five in a row in the Superdome, and the Saints' home record this year is 2-4. Roster moves The four players placed on the Friday inactive list were guards Anthony Redmon and Chris Banks, cornerback Terry Cousin and tight end Dallas Neil. While he has begun working rookies like quarterback Doug Johnson, cornerback Darrick Vaughn and running back Maurice PRO FOOTBALL without Davis.

Around the NFL Browns: Team president Carmen Policy said he will begin a complete re-evaluation of the team next week. "Coach Chris Palmer will be part of that re-evaluation, and he will help initiate some of the changes," Policy said. "If Chris is willing to accept these changes, then he will be with us and this management team will go forward intact." Cardinals: Quarterback Jake Plummer, sidelined two of the past three games with sore ribs, will start Sunday. Dolphins: Quarterback Jay Fiedler took most of the snaps in practice and was upgraded to probable on the injury list. That means there's a 75 percent chance hell play Sunday.

Packers: The agent for quarterback Brett Favre met with the team's director of finance, amid speculation they may be near an agreement on a long-term contract for the player. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported they were near-ing an agreement that would extend Favre's current contract by three to OUTSIDE THE LINES Packer persecution New Prague, Minn. Ten-year-old Rocky Sonkowsky was allegedly banned from a class pizza party with the Minnesota Vikings because he repeatedly refused to take off his Green Bay Packers jersey. Two days before the rival NFL teams meet, the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union announced a lawsuit in federal court against the school district, two teachers and the school principal for violating Rocky's right to free speech. The New Prague Intermediate School entered a statewide geography contest in 1999, A visit to the Vikings facility in Eden Prairie to meet star receiver Cris Carter was the top prize.

But, according to Rocky's attorneys, school officials made the youngster cover his Packers jersey in a photo for the contest. When he wouldn't back down from showing the team's green and gold, they also kept him out of a parade the class was in. After the class won the trip, they refused to let him go. "They were afraid that his being a Packer fan would embarrass the Vikings and Cris Carter," said Charles Samuelson, executive director of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union. Associated Press each Compare at '300 each! Breasted Tuxedo Why Rent! nvanaum hi uuuuii, vuuuii ana uouoie areasiea aiyies: a DESIGNER DRESS SHIRTS Compare at $30! NATIONALLY KNOWN DRESS SHOES Sports Event Time TV, radio Basketball College: Arizona vs.

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