Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509060047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As the league begins its 76th season today, the closest thing to professional blocking and tackling there now is the O.J. Simpson trial.
The Rams moved from Cleveland to LA after the 1945 season, and so Paul Brown named a new Cleveland franchise for himself and started the rival All-America Football Conference. That led to the first pro football merger in 1950, when the Browns, San Francisco and Baltimore joined the NFL from the AAFC.
Years later, a lot of teams are sorry the NFL let in the 49ers. They've been so good in recent years the league has a division named for them - the NFC West, where San Francisco will frolic this season without Left Coast company. However, the Niners could lead the NFL in more than their 45,450 air miles traveled.
With returns to St.Louis and Oakland and expansion to Carolina and Jacksonville, the moving van hasn't been so prominent in the NFL since the Colts bolted Baltimore for Indianapolis. The league's landscape hasn't changed so much in one year since the last merger, in 1970. Now, Bud Adams is yelling, ``Houston, we have a problem!'' and is trying to land in Nashville.
Then, as perhaps Pat Summerall once said, the more things change, the more they stay the same in the NFL. For instance, Pulaski County native Gary Clark may have 50-plus receptions in each of his 10 seasons in the league, but his status to start the season is questionable - a hamstrung hamstring, again - with Miami.
Also, the NFC champion is going to win the Super Bowl. And the team that may determine which team wins the Super Bowl is ...
The Cincinnati Reds.
No, the Bengals haven't changed their nickname and put Schottzie's mug on their helmets instead of those hideous stripes. The Reds' trade of outfielder-cornerback-millionaire Deion Sanders didn't have much impact in the National League. In the National Conference, it might, because Cincy sent Deion to his football home of a year ago.
Sanders reportedly will decide this week whether he's staying in San Francisco or signing with Dallas, Miami, Denver or Philadelphia. Wherever he goes, he will be playing football a couple of weeks sooner than expected, because the Reds will be in the playoffs and the Giants won't.
Speaking of playoffs, it isn't a stretch to imagine the Cardinals, Colts and Buccaneers playing in January. Perhaps the NFL could schedule some wild-card games on The Weather Channel. If that forecast pans out, it definitely will end several droughts.
The 49ers and Cowboys are not as dominant as they have been, but both should have no trouble winning division titles. That's because the AFC may not be able to win the Super Bowl, but it is the better conference. When Buffalo or Kansas City could finish fourth in a division, that's depth.
Miami is a popular pick for the Super Bowl (see Don Shula). Oakland is an unpopular pick for the Super Bowl (see Al Davis). Pittsburgh may be better than both. The AFC Central will turn in a 14-day span in November, when the Steelers and Browns play twice. New England and San Diego should join the Browns as the wild cards.
The Colts and their new home blue blue uniform pants? Maybe next year.
Somebody has to win the NFC Central, and, in honor of the late Papa Bear Halas' 100th birthday in 1995 - he was born three days before Babe Ruth and even played in the same New York Yankees outfield with Ruth briefly in 1919 - it will be Chicago. The NFC wild-card picks are Tampa Bay, Arizona and Philadelphia.
The Redskins? Washington is long over the embarrassment of being the last NFC franchise to lose the Super Bowl, XII seasons ago. Owner Jack Kent Cooke sees his club as 9-7. Most others see a legitimate chance at an 0-7 start (Arizona twice, Oakland, Denver, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Philadelphia).
The Panthers and Jaguars will win eight games - together.
It's a long way to Tempe and Super Bowl XXX, but the pick here is Dallas - with or without Deion - over Oakland.
Want a safer bet? Los Angeles will get an NFL team again. It may be from the AFC Central.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB