Quick Kicks

Ironhead has an iron will

Craig “Ironhead” Heyward knows it will take a lot of work, but he’s confident he will resume his football career in some capacity next season.

Heyward was released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on Sunday after undergoing a 12-hour operation Nov. 12 to remove a benign tumor from the base of his skull.

Doctors were not able to completely remove the shrimp-sized tumor known as a chordoma. It was entwined with vital brain structures and had been blurring Heyward’s vision.

No one can answer definitively if he will be able to resume his career. But Heyward has plans.

“Not at the end of this season, but next season, I’ll be making an impact in the NFL,” he said during an interview Friday with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If the NFL doesn’t work out, I’ll be surrounded by it somewhere, whether it be commenting (as a television or radio analyst) or whatever. It’s just something I want to do.”

Heyward’s right eye is still shut, the muscles controlling the eyelid temporarily paralyzed by the procedure on the cancer-free tumor touching the optic nerve behind the eye. There is pain and weakness and uncertainty whether complete sight will come back.

Through it all, Heyward hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

“I learned to accept the way my face is by watching, ‘Raging Bull,”’ he said.

Legend in his own mind

New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who earlier in the week informed the Tennessee media he was having a “phenomenal” season, said he did not want to sound “cocky,” but he knew he would make a crucial third-quarter touchdown catch against the Houston Oilers.

After all, he called for it.

“I had to score,” he said, “because it was something that I asked for. And you don’t ask for something that you don’t want.”

The third-quarter, third-down 3-yard touchdown catch gave the Jets a 10-3 lead en route to a 24-3 win at Vanderbilt Stadium.

“I asked (coach Bill Parcells) to call it,” said Johnson, who had a “phenomenal” day, with a career-high 10 receptions for 112 yards and that touchdown, his eighth of the season, which also tied a career high set in 1996.

‘Weeb’ decals missing

A plan for the New York Jets to remember former coach Weeb Ewbank went awry when the box of decals carrying his name apparently disappeared from their Nashville, Tenn., hotel.

The Jets had planned to wear a black decal in the shape of a football with the word “Weeb” on their helmets in memory of the one-time New York coach.

The decals apparently were delivered to the Jets’ hotel, but did not get to team officials. Team spokesman Frank Ramos said the team reported the loss to hotel security.

The Jets will wear the decal on their helmets next week when they host the Carolina Panthers.

Ewbank, 91, died Tuesday and was the only coach to win titles in the AFL and NFL, taking the Jets to the Super Bowl championship in 1969.

The last word …

“We don’t need those demons back in this locker room. We don’t need those demons back in this organization. We’ve got to keep Chris healthy.” - Falcons WR Terance Mathis on QB Chris Chandler’s injury.