Green Bay Fans Elevate Expectations

A crowd of 40,000 showed up at Lambeau Field for Green Bay’s intrasquad scrimmage last month, and the Packers were serenaded with chants of “Bring on Dallas” and “Super Bowl.” Expectations have shot through the roof in 1996.

And well they should. In their final four football games of 1995, the Packers beat defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco and eventual AFC champion Pittsburgh and also led eventual NFC champion Dallas in the fourth quarter. But the Cowboys rallied to beat the Packers in the NFC title game on their way to a third Super Bowl this decade.

An argument can be made that the Cowboys won’t be as good in ‘96 as they were in ‘95. They took their usual round of hits in free agency, losing four more starters on defense, and also must play the first five games without Pro Bowl receiver Michael Irvin because of an NFL suspension.

An argument also can be made that the Packers will be better in ‘96 than they were in ‘95. Veteran additions Santana Dotson at tackle, Ron Cox at linebacker and Eugene Robinson at safety improve the defense, and rookie wide receiver Derrick Mayes upgrades the offense.

The overwhelming mood in Green Bay is that ‘96 can be a special season.

“The people are excited around here,” Packers coach Mike Holmgren said. “Everyone’s up. It’s a wonderful place to be right now.”

But looming on the schedule is a November game in Dallas and another, presumably, in January. The Packers have played in Dallas in the playoffs each of the past three Januarys - and lost each time.

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If Pittsburgh fans had their way, Kordell Stewart would be starting at quarterback when the Steelers open the regular season in two weeks. But they are not making the decision. Coach Bill Cowher is. And when he makes his decision, chances are he will go with veteran Mike Tomczak and third-year veteran Jim Miller.

Stewart won the hearts of Steeler fans last season as a rookie when Cowher decided to use him as a quarterback, running back and receiver. The multiple roles earned Stewart the nickname “Slash.” He caught a touchdown pass, threw a touchdown pass and rushed for a touchdown.

So, if Stewart is not named the starting quarterback this year will he return to the “Slash” role?

“If Kordell is not the starting quarterback I would foresee him being used very similar to the way he was last year,” Cowher said.

Shuler or Frerotte?

One of the hottest quarterback battles in the league is in Washington where Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte are running neck and neck.

Coach Norv Turner said he will make his decision by Monday, which means the starter will have an opportunity to work exclusively with the first unit in Friday’s preseason finale at New England.

Neither Shuler nor Frerotte were stellar in the Redskins 28-7 loss to Cincinnati last Friday night, making Turner’s decision even tougher. They were a combined 11 of 29 for 113 yards, one interception, one fumble and no touchdowns. Neither did enough to move ahead of the other.

“It’s going to be crazy,” Frerotte said. “It’s not your life in somebody’s hands, but it’s your job in somebody’s hands. It think it’s going to be a hard decision. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.”

Like most political matters, there’s a lot of fence-sitting among the receiving corps.

“There’s no special trait about either that I like as a receiver,” said Wesley Shepherd. “For the most part they both seem to be doing very well. They both know the offense. For me it doesn’t matter which one of them is the starter.”

Ranking Wannstedt

Jim Harbaugh, who found a second career in Indianapolis, still obviously hasn’t forgotten that coach Dave Wannstedt got rid of him in Chicago.

When Harbaugh heard reports that Wannstedt wasn’t high on two former Bears who signed with the Colts as free agents, Troy Auzenne and Jay Leeuwenburg, Harbaugh said, “I told Jay and Troy, ‘Don’t worry about it. Dave Wannstedt is not the best judge of talent.’ I said ‘I wouldn’t let it hurt your feelings because his track record isn’t the best.”’

Wannstedt’s reply: “I wish him the best.”

Irvin for hire?

After 12,851 fans attended the preseason opener for the lame duck Houston Oilers last week, the team’s radio announcer, Tom Franklin, said: “The Oilers were so desperate for fans they offered Michael Irvin 4 hours of community service if he’d show up.”

MEMO: Changed from the Regional edition