Monday, Oct. 1, 2001

Monday Musings

McNabb for MVP, three unbeaten, Philly follies and head shots

By Jeff Reynolds, Associate editor of special projects

The other big number that came out of Philadelphia was six first-half fumbles, including four in the first 23 minutes that led to 23 total points — 17 for Philadelphia. Speaking of things slipping away, Jerry Jones has to be lowering his preseason prescription for a 10-win season in Dallas following the drubbing at the hands of the Eagles.

• We’d like to recognize the effort made by Saints WR Willie Jackson on the final play of the New Orleans-New York Giants affair Sunday. With the Giants leading 21-13, Saints QB Aaron Brooks lofted the ball to the back of the endzone in the direction of Jackson, who was flagged for returning to the field of play after taking his pass route out the back of the endzone, and also flagged for offensive pass interference for shoving Giants DB Emmanuel McDaniel before making the nullified touchdown catch.

• If you had San Diego, Green Bay and St. Louis penciled in as your lone unbeaten teams after three weeks of football, stand up — you deserve a lie-detector test.

• Sunday’s games proved to at least one person that St. Louis is the best team, right now, in the NFL. But who is worst? The schedule-makers won’t see it decided on the field, but you have to think it’s between Washington and Buffalo. And in the college ranks, here’s a vote for Notre Dame (0-3 for the first time in school history and only 23 points scored in three games).

• There is no truth to the rumor that the Washington Redskins spent part of Friday afternoon’s practice refreshing their offensive players on the universal hand signal for a touchdown. It took nine quarters before WR Rod Gardner scored the team’s first TD of the season. The Redskins have been outscored 112-16.

• After three weeks of RB LaDainian Tomlinson’s performances, you have to wonder which team really got the best of the pre-draft trade that essentially shakes out as Michael Vick for Tomlinson and Tim Dwight. Tomlinson has 310 yards and five touchdowns in three games, and Dwight has scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a punt return.

• The turf at The Vet reminded me of a bad ice-skating display. But the worst field conditions of the day could be found at Ericsson Stadium, where the Packers and Panthers had players scooping up cranium-sized chunks of two-week-old turf. It’s not like the field had been worn out for 16 weeks. This is Carolina’s home opener we’re talking about.

• Will Marty Schottenheimer ever smile again? I hope so, but it may take a date with Dallas or Arizona to get it done. But, if getting Marty to smile means the smug mug of Daniel Snyder will be wearing a grin, I can wait until January. Somewhere, Norv Turner, Ray Rhodes and Terry Robiskie are fighting back tears of joy.

• Instead of a fine, suspension or reprimand of Browns DT Gerard Warren for his malicious helmet-to-earhole pop on Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell, let’s have Brunell get a 10-yard head of steam and spear Warren beneath the chin strap.

• Not counting the arrest warrant issued by the fashion police Sunday, Saints ORT Kyle Turley was flagged for two personal fouls and involved in another in New Orleans’ loss to the Giants. Not to worry, Turley took care of business. Errr, maybe not. DE Michael Strahan went head-to-head with Turley and finished with three sacks.

• The infirmary was packed at the end of Sunday. We may have an All-Pro game with guys on the injured list. RB Jamal Anderson, who is two years removed from a ruptured ACL, appears to have suffered the same injury in the other knee.

"I think he’s out for the year," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said. "I don’t think anyone touched him on this one, either."

That all-star team is packed at running back, with Anderson, Ricky Watters (shoulder), Tiki Barber (hamstring) and Warrick Dunn (foot). Brunell could quarterback, and TE Kyle Brady (hip pointer) could catch intermediate passes opposite TE Ernie Conwell (concussion).

Need defense? How about DE Trace Armstrong (ruptured Achilles)? LB Dan Morgan (broken leg) and DE Phil Hansen (elbow) qualify as well.

The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season