ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 17, 1996 TAG: 9611180104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NOTES
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS, WASHINGTON POST AND NEWSDAY REPORTS
It was perhaps the greatest single-season harvest of receivers in NFL history. In the first round alone, four receivers would develop into Pro Bowl-caliber players. One or two might end up in Canton, Ohio.
The year was 1988, and the names were Michael Irvin, Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe and Anthony Miller - the wideout equivalent of the quarterback Class of '83 that brought us Dan Marino, John Elway and Jim Kelly.
Until now, perhaps. For as brilliant as the Class of '88 receivers has become, this year's group might be better. Wide receiver was considered to be the deepest position entering the '96 draft, and the performances of the rookies have reflected that assessment.
``It's got the potential to be an extremely good class of receivers,'' says New York Jets personnel director Dick Haley, whose team made wideout Keyshawn Johnson the No.1 overall pick. ``I mean, you have to wait for these things to pan out, but there are enough guys in this group that over time can have a big impact.''
Their impact already is being felt. Entering Week 12, the first-round receiver crop of Johnson, New England's Terry Glenn, St.Louis' Eddie Kennison, Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison and Buffalo's Eric Moulds was on pace to better the first-year accomplishments of the Class of '88. The six '88 first-rounders (including Aaron Cox of the Los Angeles Rams and Wendell Davis of Chicago) combined for 209 catches, 3,506 yards and 19 touchdowns, while this year's five first-rounders are on pace to finish with 277 catches for 3,493 yards and 22 touchdowns.
``For wide receivers, this is the best I've seen in the 11 years I've been doing it,'' said Bill Kuharich, New Orleans' general manager.
It's early to be talking about this group in historic terms. Injuries, slumps and other unforeseen circumstances ultimately may reduce their effectiveness. But if the early returns are any indication, it's difficult to project anything but great days ahead.
Some have exceeded expectations. Glenn barely practiced in training camp because of a hamstring problem. At one point, Bill Parcells was asked how Glenn was doing, and the exasperated coach said, ``She's coming along.'' Glenn has shrugged off such skepticism by playing so well he will be a major consideration for offensive rookie of the year. He has 53 receptions for 691 yards and three touchdowns and is on pace to break the rookie wide receiver record of 72 catches, set by the Houston Oilers' Bill Groman in 1960.
Johnson and Kennison have been terrific, but their feats have been overshadowed by their teams' miserable performances. The Jets are 1-9, the Rams 3-7.
Moulds hasn't had a major impact with Buffalo, but coach Marv Levy has a history of bringing along young players slowly, only to see them blossom later.
And there's more to this year's class than just the first round. It's not unreasonable to expect second-rounders Bobby Engram of Chicago, Derrick Mayes of Green Bay, Virginia Tech alumnus Bryan Still of San Diego, Amani Toomer of the New York Giants, Muhsin Muhammad of Carolina and Alex Van Dyke of the Jets to emerge.
And how about Charlie Jones, the fourth-round sensation with San Diego? Or Terrell Owens, the San Francisco 49ers' third-round pick who has started while J.J. Stokes is injured?
``It's a very deep group, no question,'' Haley said.
THE SMITH-MILLEN FEUD: Former NFL linebacker Matt Millen isn't getting along with Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith these days. Millen, now a broadcaster for Fox and CBS Radio, criticized Smith for missing last year's playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the flu, and the former Virginia Tech star remains angry about it.
``I had a talk the other night with a player who got on me because I dogged him because he didn't play because of the flu,'' Millen said. ``I'm not going to mention names, but his initials are Bruce Smith. He said to me, `I'm not talking to you because you dogged me.' So I said, `You're right. And if you get sick again and don't play, then I'm going to dog you again.'''
```Let me tell you something,''' Millen said he told Smith. ```I've been there. You take the shot, you throw up and you do what you have to to play.' You know what his excuse to me was? `This is the '90s. The game has changed.' In my mind, that's a bunch of bull.''
COACH OF THE YEAR?: Cincinnati's 34-24 victory over Pittsburgh just about ensured coach Bruce Coslet will be back next season and beyond.
Coslet, who played for the Bengals and was offensive coordinator in Cincinnati before his four-year stint as head coach of the Jets, was the odds-on favorite to get the full-time job anyway. But losing would have made him a much harder sell.
At 3-0 since taking over for David Shula, he has one fewer victory in three games than Rich Kotite, in Coslet's old job with the Jets, has in 26.
The victory over Pittsburgh also counts more than the previous two, over Jacksonville and Baltimore. The Steelers are the class of the AFC Central Division, and the victory came before a nearly full house in Pittsburgh.
Coslet also is winning with the same players Shula had, simply by imposing more discipline and letting every player know his role. An example is Ki-Jana Carter, the No.1 pick in the 1995 draft, but for now no more than a third-down and short-yardage specialist.
THE AFC REIGNS: While oddsmakers still list Green Bay, Dallas and San Francisco as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, the AFC finally has some hopes of ending its 12-season drought in the NFL's championship game.
The AFC leads the NFC 24-15 in interconference games, and AFC teams have outscored their NFC counterparts by 399 points.
Buffalo, which has lost four Super Bowls this decade, finished the season 4-0 against the NFC East. Four other AFC teams are unbeaten in interconference games: Baltimore, Denver, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
By contrast, only the 49ers are unbeaten against the AFC.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: When San Francisco tried and failed to sign Rodney Hampton as a free agent the spring, they turned to Plan B in their search for a running back.
Plan B was a back by committee.
While the Niners rank ninth in the NFL in rushing, their leading rusher, former Virginia star Terry Kirby, ranks 16th in the NFC and 34th in the NFL. San Francisco is the only team in the league to have six players with more than 100 yards rushing, including quarterback Steve Young.
In order, they are Kirby, 299; Derek Loville, 160; Tommy Vardell, 158; Anthony Lynn, 137; Young, 131; and William Floyd, 101.
QUICK HITS: Cowboys guard Nate Newton, the latest NFL player to create his own web site on the Internet, tells his readers how he put on extra weight in high school. ``My dad came up with a way to give me extra incentive for winning football games,'' he says. ``Any time we'd win, he'd take me to Wendy's for a thing we call the `Home Run,' which consisted of a single cheeseburger, a double cheeseburger, a triple cheeseburger, a large fries, a large Frosty and a large soda. We had a winning team that season, and I put on some pounds.'' Former Bears coach Mike Ditka said there is no way he would have suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Jeff George for swearing on the sideline after being benched during a game Sept.22. ``If I suspended every guy for swearing at me on the sideline, you know how many players I'd have left?'' Ditka said. ``Figure it out.'' University of Miami Coach Butch Davis has been mentioned as a possible successor to Jim Mora in New Orleans. There also is speculation Davis might take over the Cowboys if Barry Switzer decides to leave - or if owner Jerry Jones asks him to step down - after this season.
LENGTH: Long : 132 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP New England's Terry Glenn is on pace to break theby CNBrookie wideout mark of 72 catches by Houston's Bill Groman in 1960. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL