ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701280009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS
SOURCE: N.Y. Times News Service
If you are a wide receiver and your career needs a pick-me-up, pack those bags and go to Green Bay.
Take Andre Rison. He became known as the bad boy who dated rappers when he was with the Atlanta Falcons and his house was burned down by a member of the group TLC. On his passing routes he would zig when he was supposed to zag.
Dateline Cleveland: He had made the Pro Bowl four times as a Falcon, but he was unceremoniously dumped after one season by the Browns.
Dateline Jacksonville: Rison and coach Tom Coughlin? That was like Madonna and Tipper Gore being pals.
So he was cut by the Jaguars in November and was claimed off waivers by the Packers. Offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis said Rison has been a model citizen and a good player.
``I think what got everybody mad at me was that the Browns gave me such a big contract,'' said Rison, referring to his troubles, which began in 1995. ``My productivity went down, but they weren't throwing me the ball.''
Then there's Don Beebe. He played in three Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills. But Beebe's career otherwise was fairly nondescript. Then came the Oct.14 game against San Francisco in which he had 11 catches for 220 yards, the third-most receiving yards for a single game in Packers history.
What has been his secret? ``He can take a hit, and he's extremely fast,'' Lewis said.
And there is one more piece in this weird Packers receiving puzzle: Desmond Howard, Mr.Heisman Trophy himself. Howard was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1992, then became known as someone who couldn't escape the line, was soft, didn't work hard and fell asleep in meetings. Now, he is known as a great punt-returner and solid receiver.
Add an outstanding talent in former Virginia Tech star Antonio Freeman, and you have one of the more productive receiving corps in the NFL.
Still, the Packers say no one outside Green Bay appreciates what their receivers have done. ``We still don't get any respect,'' Freeman said. ``I think we have some terrific receivers, but all we hear about is Terry Glenn and Ben Coates.'' He was referring to the Patriots' receivers. ``But that's all right. We just want to win the game.''
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Former Virginia Tech standout Antonio Freeman (left)by CNBand Don Beebe have had great seasons for Green Bay.