FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PRE-3 8/5/97
Ask any NFL head coach which position in football is the toughest to master and the answer probably will be "quarterback."
That’s why this week, as the NFL reaches the midpoint of its preseason, is so interesting. It features a schedule packed with notable quarterback matchups. Veterans preparing for record-setting seasons will face young arms getting stronger every season. Other games feature quarterbacks either new to a starting role or anxious to claim one.
On Monday night (ABC-TV, 8:00 PM ET), when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans can see one of the NFL’s 11 new starting quarterbacks since the start of last season, the Steelers’ KORDELL STEWART. His nickname the past two seasons was "Slash," due to the different positions he played -- quarterback, running back, wide receiver. But no more. Pittsburgh head coach BILL COWHER has named the 24-year old Stewart as the Steelers’ starter -- yet one more talented under-30 quarterback for the NFL.
The Eagles are in the midst of a strong competition for their quarterback position. RODNEY PEETE was the starter last season and led the Eagles to a 3-1 start until felled by a knee injury in late September. TY DETMER took over and took Philadelphia to a 7-4 record and a playoff berth.
The week’s other national TV game -- the Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins on Sunday (TNT, 8:00 PM ET) -- presents one quarterback aiming to add to career NFL milestones and another seeking to establish himself as the starter for a new team.
The Dolphins’ DAN MARINO is already the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, attempts, completions and yardage. This year he can become the first quarterback in NFL history to attempt 7,000 passes (he needs 96) and complete 400 TD passes (he needs 31).
On the Bears’ side, newcomer RICK MIRER, the second selection overall in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, will seek to recapture the glory of his rookie year when he set NFL freshman records for attempts, completions and yards. The Bears traded their first-round selection in the ‘97 draft for the 27-year old.
Other interesting quarterback matchups this week? Dallas at New England features two Super Bowl contenders led by Pro Bowl caliber QBs -- TROY AIKMAN of the Cowboys and DREW BLEDSOE of the Patriots.
Green Bay at Oakland matches the Packers’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback BRETT FAVRE against yet another QB new to a team. JEFF GEORGE of the Raiders, like Mirer, is getting a fresh start in a new city.
And when Denver visits Carolina, one of the league’s old masters, pending an update on his injured throwing shoulder, will be competing against a QB who looks like he could develop into one. The Broncos’ JOHN ELWAY this year can become the NFL’s No. 2 career leader (behind Marino) in attempts, completions and yards. The Panthers’ KERRY COLLINS last season, in only his second pro year, led his team -- themselves in their second NFL season -- to the NFC Championship Game. Elway hurt his shoulder on Monday night in the Mexico City American Bowl against Miami.
Every year, the NFL polls its new head coaches on a number of subjects. The questions range from the name of the person who influenced them the most, to their favorite vacation spot, to the football position they think is the toughest to master. Some subjects received consensus votes this year:
| QUESTION | CONSENSUS | COACHES IN AGREEMENT |
| Toughest Position? | Quarterback | Joe Bugel, Pete Carroll, Mike Ditka, Jim Fassel, Kevin Gilbride, Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves, Bobby Ross, Dick Vermeil |
| Toughest Player Ever Coached? | Dean Steinkuhler | Ditka, Gilbride |
| Person Most Like To Meet? | Pope John Paul II | Fassel, Gilbride, Steve Mariucci, Ross |
| Toughest Coach Ever Faced? | Joe Gibbs | Bugel, Ditka, Parcells |
| Best Pure Athlete Coached? | John Elway | Fassel, Reeves |
| Most Overrated Aspect of Pro Football? | Pregame pep talks | Bugel, Fassel, Ross |
Friday, August 8
Arizona (NFC) at St. Louis (NFC),
7:00
Baltimore (AFC) at New York Jets (AFC), 8:00
Cincinnati (AFC) at Detroit (NFC), 7:30
Dallas (NFC) at New England (AFC), 8:00
Green Bay (NFC) at Oakland (AFC), 7:00
Minnesota (NFC) at Buffalo (AFC), 7:30
Saturday, August 9
Denver (AFC) at Carolina (NFC),
8:00
Indianapolis (AFC) at San Diego (AFC), 7:00
Jacksonville (AFC) at New York Giants (NFC), 8:00
Kansas City (AFC) at New Orleans (NFC), 7:00
Seattle (AFC) at San Francisco (NFC), 6:00
Tampa Bay (NFC) at Atlanta (NFC), 7:30
Tennessee (AFC) vs. Washington (NFC) at Nashville, Tenn., 7:00
Sunday, August 10
Chicago (NFC) at Miami (AFC), 8:00 (TNT)
Monday, August 11
Philadelphia (NFC) at Pittsburgh (AFC), 8:00 (ABC)
| AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct. | Pts. | OP | W | L | T | Pct. | Pts. | OP | ||
| Indianapolis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 20 | 16 | N.Y. Giants | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 21 | 20 |
| N.Y. Jets | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 31 | 17 | Washington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 20 | 8 |
| Miami | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 38 | 39 | Arizona | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 34 |
| New England | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 3 | 7 | Dallas | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 27 | 34 |
| Buffalo | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 27 | 51 | Philadelphia | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 17 | 31 |
| Central Division | Central Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct. | Pts. | OP | W | L | T | Pct. | Pts. | OP | ||
| Pittsburgh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 58 | 31 | Green Bay | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 27 | 3 |
| Jacksonville | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 23 | 9 | Minnesota | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 52 | 32 |
| Baltimore | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 20 | 21 | Detroit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 20 | 17 |
| Cincinnati | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 16 | 20 | Chicago | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 37 | 47 |
| Tennessee | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 12 | 21 | Tampa Bay | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 8 | 20 |
| Western Division | Western Division | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct. | Pts. | OP | W | L | T | Pct. | Pts. | OP | ||
| Oakland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 34 | 27 | New Orleans | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 21 | 12 |
| San Diego | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 20 | 13 | Atlanta | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 17 | 20 |
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 50 | 48 | Carolina | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 9 | 23 |
| Seattle | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 60 | 34 | St. Louis | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 24 |
| Kansas City | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 14 | 28 | San Francisco | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 13 | 20 |
LAST WEEK'S
RESULTS
(Announced attendance in parentheses. Home team in capitals)
| AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
| INDIANAPOLIS 20, Cincinnati 16 (47, 913) | DETROIT 20, Atlanta 17 (40,425) |
| Pittsburgh 28, KANSAS CITY 14 (72,726) | MINNESOTA 24, St. Louis 6 (36,971) |
| * MIAMI 38, Denver 19 (104,629) | Washington 20, TAMPA BAY 8 (41,360) |
| INTERCONFERENCE |
| GREEN BAY 7, New England 3 (60,778) |
| SEATTLE 34, Arizona 6 (49,445) |
| Chicago 20, BUFFALO 17 (OT) (33,525) |
| N.Y. Giants 21, BALTIMORE 20 (53,268) |
| N.Y. JETS 31, Philadelphia 17 (25,600) |
| SAN DIEGO 20, San Francisco 13 (62,542) |
| NEW ORLEANS 21, Tennessee 12 (22,811) |
| JACKSONVILLE 23, Carolina 9 (67,280) |
| Oakland 34, DALLAS 27 (61,028) |
* American Bowl in Mexico City, Mexico
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