Former Husky Apparently Faces Impossible Task

Eric Bjornson is charged with a task he knows he cannot accomplish. He must replace injured Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek on the football field and in the mind of quarterback Troy Aikman.

So Bjornson, the second-year player from the University of Washington, hopes to come close.

“It’s so hard for people to really understand how good Jay is,” said Bjornson, 24. “If you look at it on paper, I mean, I run faster than Jay, I lift more than Jay, I weigh more than Jay. But I’m not Jay.

“Jay is better than I am, and he probably always will be… . I think I can be a damn good tight end, but I don’t know if I can ever get to his level.”

Back problems leave Novacek, 33, unavailable for the immediate future. He will probably miss the Cowboys’ first regular-season game and could miss more.

The Cowboys’ plan when they drafted Bjornson in the fourth round last year was to let him learn from the master. A quarterback and receiver in college, Bjornson was asked to make a big leap to tight end. He put on nearly 30 pounds and packs almost 240 pounds on his 6-foot-4 body.

The plan did not include various injuries during Bjornson’s rookie season, including a late-season abdominal strain, or a training-camp hamstring pull this season. And it most certainly did not include a starting position in only his second year. But that is where Bjornson and the Cowboys are situated.

My mother told me to choose …

It is one of the most hotly contested races in Washington and it has nothing to do with the White House. Who will be the Redskins’ starting quarterback for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles?

Gus Frerotte and Heath Shuler have been heading for this showdown since they were both drafted in 1993. Shuler was the Redskins’ first-round pick and Frerotte was a seventh-round pick. Shuler was supposed to be the savior and Frerotte was supposed to be a nice backup. But Shuler’s progress has been slowed by injuries, and Frerotte has flourished.

Now, Redskins Coach Norv Turner has to chose one. The decision will come before the last preseason game against the New England Patriots on Aug. 23.

Turner said the key factors in his decision will be the quarterbacks’ decision-making, their grasp of the offense and how they handle the team. He gives both high marks in all the areas.

Close call for Bengals

The Bengals, who lost Ki-Jana Carter in the preseason last year, got another first-round draft pick scare Saturday night against the Arizona Cardinals.

Playing in his first game, right tackle Willie Anderson, Cincinnati’s first-round selection this season, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and sprained his right foot on a third-quarter play. The 325-pound tackle, who was the 10th player selected over all, is listed as questionable for next week’s game.

Bucs lose Copeland

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t going anywhere to find a replacement for Horace Copeland.

Coach Tony Dungy said he is not interested in acquiring a veteran wide receiver to replace the speedy Copeland, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Bucs’ 16-0 exhibition victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The injury, a ruptured patella tendon of the left knee, is not considered career-threatening.

Former owner settles

Former New England Patriots owner William Sullivan will receive $11.5 million in a settlement of his lawsuit against the league, according to the Boston Sunday Globe.

Sullivan sought $116 million when he sued the NFL in May 1991, claiming its refusal to allow him to sell public stock forced him to sell the team to Victor Kiam in October 1988 for what Sullivan considered to be a low price, $84 million.

League owners were notified Saturday that Sullivan will receive $11.5 million over the next four years to settle the antitrust suit, the newspaper said.

Ex-Bronco lands in jail

Former Denver Broncos cornerback Michael Harden was being held without bond on misdemeanor domestic violence charges In Denver.

Harden, 38, was arrested Saturday night after working as a color commentator for a Denver radio station on the Broncos’ exhibition game against the Carolina Panthers at Mile High Stadium.

Harden joined the Broncos in 1980, becoming one of the cornerstones of the defense.

Sunday’s exhibitions Packers 24, Steelers 17

Desmond Howard, fighting for a spot on the roster, returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown that lifted Green Bay past visiting Pittsburgh.

Howard took Shayne Edge’s punt at his 23-year-line and raced down the right sideline for a 21-14 lead with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

With Green Bay well stocked at receiver, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner’s heroics before a crowd of 59,284 - largest ever for a Lambeau Field exhibition - probably earned him a role on special teams.

Pittsburgh’s Kordell Stewart threw a 53-yard TD pass to Corey Holliday, who outjumped the pack in the end zone, as the first half expired.

Bears 24, Dolphins 21

Kevin Butler kicked a 22-yard field goal on the final play as the host Chicago Bears beat Miami 24-21, handing Jimmy Johnson his first loss as Dolphins coach.

The Bears blew a 19-0 lead, then came back to tie it on a late safety.