Barry’s Dad Says Brown Still The Best
The Detroit Lions’ Barry Sanders needs just 15 yards today against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay to surpass Jim Brown’s 12,312 career yards, the standard for running backs before Walter Payton.
Sanders is playing his 128th game in his ninth season; Brown set his record in 118 games in nine seasons. Both have had 58 100-yard games. Brown’s record 5.22-yard average is best among the top 10 rushers; Sanders’ 4.92 is second. Pretty good, but Sanders is unlikely to get big-headed about it, at least not at home.
“Let me tell you this here,” father William Sanders said. “O.J. Simpson, Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris, Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, even Walter Payton, they’re only imitations of Jim Brown.
“Even Barry. They’re just imitations of how great a back Jim Brown was and what he did over his lifetime. You’ve seen how many games Jim Brown played. He didn’t carry the ball 50 times a ballgame. They didn’t play a 16-game schedule. Even Walter Payton - those guys are only replicas of what Jim Brown is.”
Barry Sanders doesn’t disagree.
“I never saw (Brown) play, obviously, but I always had great respect for him,” he said. “I heard about him. For me (to pass Brown), it just says I’ve been incredibly fortunate and blessed.
“With Jim I think it was a little different, because Jim, if he wanted to, probably could have had 20,000 yards. It tells the story when you look at his average carry.”
Brunell was almost an Eagle
While the Philadelphia Eagles ponder quarterback questions, they face Mark Brunell and the Jacksonville Jaguars today.
In the spring of 1995, the Eagles had agreed with the Packers on a trade for Brunell, but it fell through because Brunell wanted a three-year contract and the Eagles insisted on five.
Giant step for Moon Warren
Moon’s 45,133 career yards and 260 career touchdowns should be enough to get the Seahawks quarterback into the Hall of Fame. But if he does not make it, a piece of him is already there. When the Seahawks defeated the Oilers, 16-13, last week, it marked the 10,000th regular-season game played in the 78-year history of the NFL. At day’s end, the game ball and jersey of Moon, the winning quarterback, were sent to Canton.
Collins under fire
Benched Carolina Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins told the Charlotte Observer that the controversies that have swirled around him on and off the field have affected his play.
The Panthers are 2-3 and two games behind the 49ers in the win column.
On the last night of training camp, Collins was punched in the face by offensive lineman Norberto Davidds-Garrido and angered some black teammates with a racial slur. Collins also broke his jaw in a preseason game.
“Let’s evaluate the situation here,” Collins said. “I’ve been called a drunk and a racist. I’ve been benched and booed. I don’t know that I didn’t go out there sometimes thinking about that stuff and what people are saying and the perception of me. It’s impossible for anyone to just ignore that stuff. Those are serious accusations against my character. That’s hard to take.”
O’Donnell doesn’t mind
Parcells Jets quarterback Neil O’Donnell says things are going fine between him and Bill Parcells, but not because Parcells is yelling any less. It’s just that O’Donnell has been well-prepared after playing in Pittsburgh for Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, two coaches who could be a little mercurial themselves.
“When they’re yelling at you, what they’re telling you is trying to make you a better football player,” O’Donnell said. “As long as you keep that in mind, everything is fine. I understand what they’re trying to get across.”
Morris released from jail
Baltimore Ravens running back Byron “Bam” Morris posted bond and was released from a Rockwall, Texas, jail in a probation revocation case. Morris was expected at practice Monday.