Heavenly Healing Helps White During Postseason

The skeptics say Reggie White is simply playing in pain, taking it like a man. White will gladly tell you otherwise. The Green Bay Packers’ 6-foot-5, 300-pound, 10-time Pro Bowl defensive end and ordained minister insists he has been healed by no less power than the Lord himself.

Anyone care to argue with him?

“If you felt the back of my leg now, my muscle is not there,” said White, who despite his sore left hamstring will lead the Packers against the Cowboys in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. “But God has taken the pain away. He’s let this game be my way of glorifying His name.”

White announced his season was over in an emotional team meeting Dec. 13, the day doctors recommended surgery to repair the hamstring he tore 10 days earlier against Cincinnati and which ended his streak of 166 straight games played.

But that night, White said his leg suddenly felt better. White returned to practice the next day, calling it a miracle. In the Packers’ final two regular-season games and their playoff victories over Atlanta and San Francisco, White has been limited to straight bull-rushing.

His biggest impact on Green Bay’s manhandling of the 49ers last Saturday was made known this week, when it was learned White dispersed his entire $13,000 divisional playoff game paycheck to teammates in the form of $500 bonuses for hard hits and big plays. He plans to give more rewards Sunday.

White has had more than his share of troubles this week. In the midst of having to prepare for his battle with Dallas tackle Erik Williams, White was shaken early Monday by the racially-motivated firebombing of the Tennessee church for which he serves as associate pastor.

Cleveland files suit

The city of Cleveland sued Maryland and the Browns for more than $300 million, alleging that the state’s efforts to lure the NFL franchise amounted to an illegal conspiracy.

Camp Hairspray

Jimmy Johnson conducted his first team meeting as Miami Dolphins coach and had a simple message.

“This is a bottom-line business,” Johnson said after the 45-minute session at the team’s headquarters. “I expect results. And as long as I get results, I’ll be a very happy person. I’ll be their very best friend, if they perform well and they work hard. I’ll be their worst enemy if they don’t work hard and they don’t perform.”

About two-thirds of the roster attended the meeting. Among the missing was linebacker Bryan Cox.

More to Shula story

Two days before Don Shula announced he was stepping down last week, he met with his assistants and told them he was definitely coming back. That all changed the next day when Shula met with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. Huizenga offered Shula a two-year contract extension.

But it came with a demand that he do a major housecleaning of his coaching staff. Shula opted to quit rather than hand out pink slips.

Mora to return

Saints owner Tom Benson announced he will honor the final year of coach Jim Mora’s contract, and also said Bill Kuharich has been promoted to general manager.

Cornerback Rod Woodson, out since the first game of the season with bad knee, has been deactivated for Sunday’s game, the Steelers said.