Quick Kicks
You don’t say?
A couple of budding broadcast journalists, Joe Montana and Sterling Sharpe, made their regular-season debuts Sunday.
Sharpe, the former Green Bay Packer star receiver, didn’t even speak to most reporters last season.
Now that his career has been shortened by a neck injury, he has plenty to say for ESPN.
Sharpe is pretty sharp. He is, however, short on humilty.
Asked if Cleveland receiver Andre Rison was still a premier receiver, Sharpe said, “Other than that guy who got hurt last year (himself), yeah, he’s one of the best.”
Buy! Buy! Buy!
Dan Marino’s stock continues to rise in Miami. Not as a quarterback, but as a Wall Street investor.
The NFL ruled Sunday that Marino’s investment in a company owned by Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga did not violate NFL salary cap rules.
Marino purchased more than $390,000 worth of stock in Republic Waste Industries, a company Huizenga bought in May. The stock closed at $22 Friday, making Marino’s stake worth nearly $2 million.
His advice for youngsters trying to emulate him?
Pork bellies.
Big blows
Green Bay defensive end Reggie White increased his career sacks total to 147-1/2, most in NFL history, with 2-1/2 in the Packers 17-14 loss against St. Louis. But before the game, a single-engine plane planning to circle Lambeau Field towing a banner during the game crashed just after take-off, killing the pilot.
Local watch
New England quarterback and former Washington State star Drew Bledsoe picked up where he left off last season, completing 30 of 47 passes for 302 yards in the Patriots 17-14 win over Cleveland. He didn’t throw for any touchdowns but he also threw no interceptions. Detroit placekicker and Mead High grad Jason Hanson kicked field goals of 43 and 36 yards in the Lions 23-20 loss to Pittsburgh.
Here’s brotherly love
Philadelphia’s Ricky Watters really brought out the Philly boo-birds when he pulled up on a pass route over the middle with about four minutes to go in the game and avoided being hit.
“I’m not going to trip up there and get knocked out. For who? For what? I mean, there’s another day,” he said, adding quarterback Randall Cunningham shouldn’t have thrown the pass.
“That has to be a quick throw, or it has to be early, or you can’t throw it.”
Fast fantasy starts
Kansas City quarterback Steve Bono riddled the Seattle secondary and threw for three touchdowns to spoil Dennis Erickson’s coaching debut. Chicago’s Erik Kramer also threw three touchdown passes, including 73-yarder to Curtis Conway.
Monday matchup
Dallas coach Barry Switzer versus New York Giants’ coach Dan Reeves. Only bigger mismatch is New York quarterback Dave Brown versus Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman.