Daily News from New York, New York • 56

l2l Spoirtts JiftLitoAA Floyd takes advantage of gift from above Hickey. the director of player personnel, calls it By BILL VERIGAN "a streak of the nasties." "Nobody intimidates me," Floyd said. "Sometimes a lineman will try to do that, and it just makes me want to kill them. I like to come up and hit. That's the job of a strong safety.

I've gotta get in the flow and contain the run. It's a lot different from when I'm playing the pass as a free safety, and I can do both jobs. But I like to hit If I don't make the tackle, at least I know I'll slow the guy down. Size doesn't mean a thing to me." He almost seems to be reliving some of the hits he delivered in the past when he tells about them, like the time he left some hapless Dayton player lying dazed on the ground. But he did not overlook the chance to intercept the ball, either.

Indeed, he had nine interceptions as a senior, best in the Ohio Valley Conference and second best in the nation. "If I see I can get to the ball clean, I go for it," he said. "Otherwise, I go for the man." The competition he faces as a safety is tough. Jesse Johnson is an experienced backup, who also can play both positions. So even Floyd knows if he makes the team, he'll have to make it for his kick returns, too.

The present return specialist, Kurt Sohn, will be difficult to dislodge, and there are several others competing for the job, including Floyd's roommate, Lonell Phea, a receiver. "Lonell and I talk about it all the time," Floyd said. "We know we'd make it mostly as kick returners. Anybody can fair catch, but I wanta run them. That's how a rookie has to make this team." Nobody had bothered telling George Floyd that the NFLrhad adopted a new that allows every team to carry four extra players under contract this season.

It came as news to him as he was preparing to leave with the Jets for his first professsional game against the Packers, and he accepted it like a gift from above, right from the office of Pete Rozelle. Only a very few, perhaps three or four, new players are expected to emerge from the training camp horde and make the team. Along with the likes of Dwayne Crutchfield and Bob Crable, Floyd is one of the newcomers with a chance, and the new rule increased that chance immensely. Coach Walt Michaels has mentioned Floyd's name over and over during his daily briefings for the press. Michaels likes the way Floyd plays safety and returns punts and kicks, and so do Michaels' assistants.

"He's a complete ball player, works hard, intelligent, a knack for getting to the football," Michaels said. "He came to make this team, and he's gotta play against Green Bay. He'll return and, play strong safety." At the beginning, Floyd tried to stifle his excitement. Only 5-11 and 180 pounds, he was a fourth round draft pick out of Eastern Kentucky, and he knew he'd have to fight to gain attention. "You don't get many chances, so you have to George Floyd: A belligerent safety make the most of every one," he said.

"I've really started getting excited now with this game. It means everything, my first game as a pro." His voice betrays little of the excitement, though. Or any of the belligerence he shows on the field. The Jets' scouts saw it, though. Mike Per Ions: I layers call If 1 4 lftiii! 110" ft I i if i II 11 if i flireaft off fines labor violation uk Of CSiTlpj to GIANTS FROM BACK PAGE UNION FROM BACK PAGE TWtm i If 4 r- if ''If v.

i 1 1 4 UPI "We were still in the game (rallying irom 16-0 to 16-14, then allowing a 67-yard TD pass with 33 seconds left) and a couple of guys were fooling around on the sidelines. That won't happen very often in the future." The Colts will again start veteran David Humm at quarterback, but if their offense is to hum, it will probably be with Mike Pagel or Art Schlichter. Schlichter is the No. 1 draft pick, but it was Pagel, a fourth-rounder, who played the most and did the most last week, leading Baltimore to both touchdowns. The rookies are expected to play a lot tonight.

Perkins, meanwhile, will start Phil Simms. It will be Simms' first game since separating his passing shoulder last November. Simms will play the first quarter, Perkins said, Scott Brunner the second, and Mark Reed will play the entire second half. Perkins plans to play his starting offense and defense at least the first quarter, then the second units, "then try to play everybody else," he said. And watch everybody else closely.

With the announcement this week that NFL regular-season rosters will increase from 45 to 49 (although only 45 can dress for each game, leaving a four-man taxi squad), there are four more jobs available on each roster. And one more reason to start playing the game. Sly McGrew, free-agent rookie LB from Tulane, became eighth Giant not to make trip to Baltimore. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will be out two weeks For Colts, two defensive starters out: DE Cleveland Pittsburgh Crosby (knee) will be replaced by rookie James Hunter, while ILB Gary Padjen will start for Steve Helmkreiter. Delay hearing for Reese Miami A judge delayed a probation violation hearing for former NFL lineman Don Reese yesterday because a prosecution witness, San Diego running back Chuck Muncie, must testify against another football player charged with drug trafficking.

UPI Coaches from both clubs prevented the demonstration by keeping their players in the locker rooms until after the playing of the national anthem, just before kickoff. But, Thursday night, Houston and New Orleans players ignored warnings from their coaches and shook hands before the start of their game. Seattle and St. Louis players planned to do the same before last night's game in Seattle. In its charge against Patera, the NFLPA will allege that the Seattle coach "threatened to fine each Seattle player an amount equivalent to one-half of (one) regular season paycheck if they participated in the handshake gesture." The NFLPA estimates that such a fine would cost each Seattle player an average of $2,800.

Miami and Washington players have said they will shake hands before tonight's game in the Orange Bowl. Shula has promised to take "whatever action I deem appropriate" if his players participate. He didn't elaborate. Shula said the handshake gesture would disrupt his team's preparation for the game. "Whert you're preparing a football team for a game, you don't want them doing things on their own," he said.

"When a person comes to a football game, they come to see football action on the field, not a demonstration of this type." The NFLPA charge against Shula will allege that he "admonished and threatened all his players" with "appropriate action" if they participated. Similar charges will be made against McKay, Phillips, Patera and Kush. Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday announced the hiring of Ron Blackledge as an offensive assistant to head coach Chuck Noll. Black-ledge 44, who was out of football last season, was head 'coach at Kent State in 1979 and 1980. Prior to that, from 1968 to 1978, he was an offensive line coach at Ashland College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, -Princeton and Kent State.

He te graduate, of Bowling" Green. UP USFL's Chicago Blitz coach George Allen does some jogging in his visit to the Apple. Former coach of Redskins is also chairman of President's Council on Physical Fitness..