Quick Kicks

Call them the Ducklings

The ugliness has begun for the Detroit Lions after losing to the lowly Philadelphia Eagles.

The run defense was ugly. The passing game was ugly. The penalties were costly and ugly.

And coach Bobby Ross was in an ugly mood when it was all over.

“I’m not low, I’m ticked off,” Ross said. “I take the blame, I get all the damn criticism, people hammer at me. I’m a good coach.

“That was terrible what happened out there today with us. On our last drive, we’ve got two holding penalties, a motion penalty that takes us five yards out of field goal (range).

“You think I coach that stuff? I don’t coach that stuff. I work on that stuff, I spent the time on it. And I’m gettin’ all the damn heat with everybody, each and every one of y’all hammerin’ my tail.

“I don’t coach that way. I don’t coach ‘em to do that type of thing. And they’ve got step up and start making some plays. This game is still won by players, and I’m tired of taking it. I work too hard, put too much of myself into it.”

With seven games to go, however, the Lions (2-7) are buried in last place in the NFC Central Division with virtually no chance of escape.

Paging Fran Tarkenton

Forget the Vikings’ quarterback controversy between Randall Cunningham and Brad Johnson.

Today, the Vikings are hoping just to have one of them healthy for next Sunday.

Cunningham suffered a knee injury and Johnson broke the thumb in his right (throwing) hand in a victory over the New Orleans Saints, bringing up the possibility Jay Fiedler could get his first career start.

Johnson saw a hand specialist Sunday evening, and Cunningham had an magnetic resonance imaging exam. The results of the tests will be announced today, but coach Dennis Green said Cunningham likely would undergo arthroscopic surgery.

If either player is out, Green acknowledged the situation could “jeopardize our season. I’m hoping they can both play next week. If we have one that isn’t there, it’s going to be tough.”

Emmitt runs to glory

Emmitt Smith became the eighth player in NFL history to rush for 12,000 yards and passed Tony Dorsett to become the leading rusher in Dallas Cowboys history. He gained 163 yards on 29 carries in a win over the New York Giants.

“Today was a special day for me and my family,” said Smith. “Man, there’s so many names, so many guys who have helped me achieve this.”

Smith came into the game 58 yards from 12,000 and 94 behind Dorsett. He passed them both in the game’s first 20 minutes.

Enis sidelined for season

Chicago Bears rookie running back Curtis Enis will miss the remainder of the season with a torn knee ligament, the team said.

Enis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Rams.

Ex-Coug signs new deal

The New Orleans Saints have signed ex-Washington State linebacker Mark Fields to a new six-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The last word …

“I might be able to get a few hours sleep, but only a few hours.” - Eagles coach Ray Rhodes after Philadelphia edged Detroit 10-9 to improve his record to 2-7.