Voters Settle On Rhodes For Reviving The Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles made Ray Rhodes’ first season as an NFL coach something special, taking him to the playoffs and 1995 coach of the year honors.

Rhodes, defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion 49ers last year, was hired after Philadelphia owner Jeff Lurie was turned down by Jimmy Johnson and former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. But it worked out well, because Rhodes turned a disjointed team that lost its final seven games in 1994 it into a 10-6 playoff squad.

That earned Rhodes 24 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters in balloting by the Associated Press. He edged Dom Capers of Carolina and Marty Schottenheimer of Kansas City, who had 21 apiece.

“I’m not a guy who’s big on personal achievements - anybody who knows me knows that,” Rhodes said Tuesday. “Really, this award is a reflection on this organization for making the commitment to get this thing pointed in the right direction.”

Rhodes, 45, displayed an aptitude at keeping this year’s team focused.

“What you have to do is rally the troops as quick as you can,” he said. “If you’ve noticed, every time we’ve lost, our players have been able to bounce back the next week.”

The Eagles did just that. After an opening loss at home to Tampa Bay, they won at Arizona. Following two more defeats, home to San Diego and at Oakland, they responded with four straight victories. A loss at Dallas was followed by three more wins, and after a distressing defeat at Seattle, the Eagles beat the Cowboys.

Mara capitulates

Giants co-owner Wellington Mara said he would reluctantly vote for the Cleveland Browns’ proposed move to Baltimore.

Mara said the league had damaged itself by not challenging the Rams’ move from Los Angeles to St. Louis for the 1995 season.

“I’m a guy who wants everybody to stay where they are,” he said. “But we damaged our position by yielding on the Rams.”

“Art Modell is one of my closest friends,” said Mara, referring to the Browns’ owner. “I can’t condemn him unless I’ve been in his shoes. Having let the Rams move, I can’t vote against the Browns.”

Honors for Elway

John Elway, who rallied the Denver Broncos to a 31-28 victory over Oakland on Sunday, was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

It was the 37th fourth-quarter game-saving drive of Elway’s career, and the 29th fourth-quarter game-winning drive. In his 13-year pro career, Elway has won 13 Player of the Week honors, including two this year.

George should play

Quarterback Jeff George, sidelined with a sprained neck in the second quarter of Sunday’s victory over San Francisco, is expected to be back in the starting lineup when the Atlanta Falcons visit Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs.

“He’ll be able to probably take everything (in practice beginning today), I would think,” coach June Jones said.