Abandoned Fans In L.A. Make Dolphins Their Team

Two hosts of Los Angeles sports-talk shows asked their listeners to adopt an NFL team for their abandoned city. The overwhelming winner: Miami, with nearly 27 percent of the vote. It might have helped that Dolphins vice president Eddie Jones offered the station and its listeners use of a suite at Joe Robbie Stadium for the San Francisco game on Nov. 20. …

Still wondering why St. Louis is 3-0? Consider that their quarterback, Chris Miller, has started and finished three straight games for the first time since 1992. The former Atlanta QB had missed half of his team’s games over the last three years because of knee injuries and concussions. He has not thrown an interception. …

The NFL set an all-time attendance record for a single weekend last week by drawing 959,781 to 14 games - with no help from the New York Jets. They drew 49,970 for their slumber party with the Jaguars. That was the smallest crowd to watch a September home game for the Jets since a 1981 loss to Cincinnati. …

If Paul Tagliabue could do something about Jerry Jones of Dallas, the NFL commissioner would have a perfect life. Not only is attendance up, but there have been seven overtime games played in the first three weeks of the season. That was the largest number in the first three weeks of any season since overtime was instituted in 1974, breaking the record of five set in 1979 and tied in 1983. …

That deer you just saw in your headlights is Wayne Fontes. “I’m like that big buck that’s in the field,” Detroit’s embattled coach said. “They’re trying to hunt him down, trying to shoot him. I just keep dodging those bullets. Everybody wants my rack on the wall. Sure, I feel the heat from the fans and the media. Am I under close scrutiny by my owners? No.” Hey, Wayne-o: “Bang!”