The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 13

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1996 FOOTBALL 3 THE RECORD S-9 GEtmaii stands by Ms mm RANDY jury factor and the commitment to the new free agents and the new offensive system? Gutman gives little indication movement is afoot. While telling Jets fans something they've heard for years, he opens the window of change the tiniest crack. "You're going to have to be patient," he said, "and give us a chance to make a full evaluation and see what it is we think should be done for next year." The Jets on Tuesday waived DT Jeff Faulkner and special-teamer Sherriden May and re-signed kick-off specialist Don Silvestri to help pull Nick Lowery out of the worst start in his 17-year NFL career (eight field goals in 13 attempts). 7 ft Qn the, isn't making a knee-jerk reaction to the cries of fans and media, that he's willing to factor in the many injuries to front-line players and give Kotite a full second season to try to get the Jets in the air. It's also important that, in recent interviews, Gutman hasn't distanced himself from the team's extended misfortunes.

In the eight seasons since he took over the presidency in 1988, the Jets' record is 47-89-1 and they've played in one playoff game. In the 20 seasons since he joined the club as chief financial officer in '77, the record is 130-178-2 and the playoffs have been attained five times. "As president, I bear my part of the responsibility," he has said. "We wish it were different." But the calm approach and the mea culpas notwithstanding, this is the Nineties in the Not For Long league. Even Kotite, when asked in the off-season whether he should return for the third year of his contract if the Jets repeated the performance of his first season, was reported to have said, "If Vince Lombardi went 3-13 again, he shouldn't be back." '( 'Si ASSOCIATED PRESS For now, the Jets have no intention of firing coach Rich Kotite, despite the fact he's winless this season and 3-21 since taking over the reins.

out of options, put George on waivers Falcons The Associated Press ATLANTA The Atlanta Falcons and Jeff George ended their stormy relationship Tuesday when the club waived the veteran quarterback. George is an unrestricted free agent as of 4 p.m. today. But any team claiming George on waivers 14 loss to Oakland and will miss Sunday's game at Seattle. "Whenever I do get hurt it's no minor thing," Humphries said.

The left sleeve of Humphries' T-shirt dangled limp and empty, his shoulder and arm wrapped tightly in a sling underneath. The injury came courtesy of 320-pound Raiders tackle Chester LANGE lttit Gutman said that while "results remain elusive," the job being done by coaches and players has improved in the last month. "If you could chart from week to week the degree to which the players have prepared themselves, the way in which they execute, you'd get a higher grade each week," he said. "Penalties have diminished, the number of mistakes have diminished. We seem to have one or two plays in every game that undo an awful lot of hard work.

But overall, the way the players played against Buffalo was very good terrific, as a matter of fact, particularly for an 0-7 team." The rest of this season, figuratively if not literally, may be a no-win situation for Gutman and his team. If Marvin Jones, Hugh Douglas, Neil O'Donnell, and Jeff Graham return with a bang and the Jets win, say, five of their last eight, would that be a false positive, similar to the defense's strong finish with no playoff pressure after last year's 1-5 start? If not five wins, how few are too few before changes are made? Or will nothing be altered regardless of the second half because of the in McGlockton, who stuck his helmet into Humphries' shoulder as the quarterback slid at the end of a 5-yard run in the first quarter. Sean Salisbury, who played well after Humphries was hurt, will make his first start since the 1994 season finale, when he was with Minnesota. rish future hinges teve Gutman has taken note of Monday's coaching turnovers in Cincinnati and New Orleans. He says he has communicated with a good number of the millions of Jets followers, who, in a ratio of "probably 99 to 1," have been critical of the team's present direction.

And midway through a season that began with high hopes but has yet to produce a victory, the Jets' president is staying the course. "What other coaches do, what other teams do is, I guess, interesting because it's news," Gutman said this week. "What we do is related to what all of us working here on a regular basis evaluate and see. We remain committed to the program." The first person plural in this case includes owner Leon Hess, who Gutman said is "apprised of everything happening in the organization on a regular basis. We're not talking about any changes.

We're talking about what we have and how to improve what it is that we have." So, for the many fans who want to see Rich Kotite join Dave Shula and Jim Mora on the coaches' unemployment line, who want to see Dick Haley or Pat Kirwan or Ron Wolf move into the empty general manager's office who want to see someone pay for the losing that just doesn't quit the password is patience. It is admirable that Gutman this month after the suspension. But after a reported six-year, $30 million offer was made, George said he felt he was being rushed into a deal and decided not to approve a trade. Humphries to miss a start SAN DIEGO Chargers quarterback Stan Humpries dislocated his left shoulder in Monday's 23- on wins No. 19 and No.

20 in the two polls. "To have a realistic chance to be in a significant bowl," said Irish athletic director Mike Wadsworth, "we have to win every game." Wadsworth is trying to cultivate a Plan which he said would require a "concession" on the part of another bowl that already has conference commitments. "The only issue I raise is this: Is it a good thing for college football for a successful Notre Dame team to have no significant bowl to go to?" Wadsworth asked. replay game Lafayette-Fordham meeting would affect any team's championship-race status, the game will be played at Fordham at noon Nov. 27.

Lafayette and Fordham were about to play at Fordham's campus field in New York when former Bergen Catholic High star Bill Tierney collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. information on St to the free want: range using Estate Idea of 1995" A 1 SACK EXCHANGE The Jets were one of the worst NFL teams in protecting their quarterback, measured in pass plays for every sack, in their first four weeks. In the the last four weeks, the Jets were one of the best: Fewest pass plays per sack, weeks 1 -4 Plays Sacks Avg. Giants 103 13 7.9 Carolina 93 10 9.3 Jets 171 18 9.5 Most pass plays per sack, weeks 5-8 Plays Sacks Avg. New England 113 2 56.5 Jets 161 3 53.7 Washington 82 2 41.0 Crockett done for the year INDIANAPOLIS The Colts, who own the NFL's 25th-ranked rushing attack, have lost running back Zack Crockett for the season.

Doctors performed arthroscopic surgery on Crockett's right knee to repair cartilage damage and found he had also sustained ligament damage. Se Habla assumes the remaining share of his $3.6 million salary (about $1.9 million). "There really aren't any options," said coach June Jones, who suspended George for conduct detrimental to the team after a sideline tirade Sept. 22. George and the Seattle Sea-hawks discussed a contract earlier ESPN analyst Lee Corso said Saturday that if the Irish are 8-3, "they're going anywhere they want except the Sugar Bowl." Corso made the remark based on Notre Dame's popularity, which translates to masses of fans willing to travel and good TV ratings.

But unlike in previous years, that may not be enough. Why? Because to earn an alliance bowl bid, Notre Dame must finish at least 12th in either the AP or the coaches' poll. After its loss Saturday, the Irish dropped to Fordham may The Lafayette-Fordham football game postponed Oct. 12 when a Fordham player collapsed during pregame warm-ups and died, will be played Nov. 27, but only if it has a bearing on the Patriot League championship.

The league champion is determined by a point system in which a league win counts for two points and a tie for one. If, after the Nov. 23 games, the outcome of the 5 easy steps to instant l. f.i Had-. By TEDDY GREENSTEIN Special from the Chicago Tribune CHICAGO When reporters arrived at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, they were given brochures for the PoulanWeed Eater Independence Bowl, a game that only a lawnmower could love.

The Dec. 31 bowl takes place in Shreveport, La. According to the pamphlet, the site features "numerous outstanding restaurants, three riverboat casinos, and a moderate winter climate." It also may feature the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. After falling to 4-2 Saturday, the Irish might be on a path to mediocrity that will take them right into Bayou country. Then again, they still could earn a berth in one of the coveted alliance bowls or just maybe find another bowl willing to make an exception.

Confused? Let's try to simplify. If Notre Dame wins its remaining five games, it will be invited to play in either the Fiesta or Orange bowls. That isn't guaranteed, but it's as likely as Ross Perot coming in third. If Notre Dame loses any of its next five, the intrigue begins. I PROFESSIONAL LUBE OIL PROS I GREASE MONKEY PATERSON Rt.

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