Quick Kicks

“Boo hoo hoo…”

Oakland wide receiver Tim Brown said umpire Jeff Rice stepped into his path, causing quarterback Jeff Hostetler to throw the ball to Kansas City cornerback James Hasty who returned the interception for a touchdown.

Hostetler said that Rice’s interference actually took away a win.

“If Timmy had caught that ball - and he would have - we’re inside the 30,” Hostetler said.

Said Brown: “I don’t know why a 47-year-old man thinks he’s going to outrun me. For some reason, he decides to step up and get in front of me. I have an option on that play to turn back but I look up and the ball isn’t here and he’s in my face.”

Referee Gary Lane, speaking for the officials through a pool reporter, said: “The umpire lined up in his normal position. He read pass and started toward the line of scrimmage. The wide receiver hit him and knocked him down.”

Meanwhile, Hostetler’s and Brown’s loss proved to be K.C. offensive line coach Art Shell’s gain.

Shell, who was fired as the Raiders head coach after last season, was presented with the ball Hasty returned for the game winning score. The win was the Chiefs 11th in their last 12 meetings against the Raiders.

“I’m happy where I am and I’m sure they’re happy where they are (the Raiders back in Oakland).”

The Chiefs did try to take advantage of his knowledge of the Raiders.

“Some of the defensive linemen asked me certain things about the offensive linemen. And some of the offensive linemen asked me certain things about the defensive linemen,” he said. “I would tell them. But other than that, I didn’t tell these guys a whole lot.

“They know how to beat the Raiders.”

Wanted: A team leader

Carolina fans, instead of seeing their new team get its first victory, saw something else for the first time: the makings of a quarterback controversy.

Ineffective starter Frank Reich was replaced in the second quarter by Jack Trudeau. But Trudeau, like Reich, was unable to generate any solid drives behind the Panthers’ inexperienced line.

Late in the third quarter, chants of “Kerry! Kerry!” began to build throughout the stands. With 5:45 left in the game, top draft pick Kerry Collins entered the game - and was intercepted on his first play by Torin Dorn, who returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.

Local watch

Kansas City cornerback James Hasty, formerly of Washington State, provided the Chiefs with a game-winning touchdown against Oakland… . Pullman High graduate Will Furrer of the Houston Oilers made his second NFL start in a 14-7 loss against Cleveland. He completed 22 of 41 passes for 258 yards and threw for one touchdown but threw four interceptions… . Ex-Mead High and Washington State kicker Jason Hanson made 1 of 1 field goal attempts and two extra points… . Drew Bledsoe New England’s QB from WSU, was 21 of 51 for 241 yards with one interception.

Monday night matchup

The Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker Greg Lloyd pay a visit to Miami to take on the Dolphins and quarterback Dan Marino. The Dolphins offensive line had better be ready. Last week, Lloyd said he would “knock Marino into next week.”