FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PRE-1 7/27/98
NFL PRESEASON KICKS OFF WITH HALL OF FAME GAME,
JAPAN AMERICAN BOWL
Five former stars receive the ultimate honor…two teams get cheered after a long journey…and the NFL begins a key phase of its summer preparation – preseason games.
That will be the scenario this week as NFL football returns.
First, the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys kick off a 64-game preseason schedule on Friday night in Dallas. On Saturday, the NFL returns to Canton, Ohio, birthplace of pro football, for the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, this time with a twist. When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on ABC-TV, it will be in prime-time -- 7:00 PM ET -- for the first time.
It’s "prime time" for the principals honored Saturday, too. The Hall of Fame, which this year celebrates its 35th anniversary, welcomes the class of ’98 – PAUL KRAUSE, TOMMY MC DONALD, ANTHONY MUNOZ, MIKE SINGLETARY and DWIGHT STEPHENSON. Fans tuning in will be able to see highlights of the afternoon’s induction ceremony.
Munoz’ induction signifies two firsts. He is the first player inducted into the Hall who spent his active career with the Cincinnati Bengals. And Munoz is the first Hispanic player to enter the Hall.
"What a thrill to be enshrined," says Munoz. "It lets Hispanic people see they can strive to be excellent in any area of life."
That night (ESPN, 10:15 PM ET) -- or really the next morning on the other side of the world -- the Green Bay Packers, the small-town team from Wisconsin, will play their first overseas game. Far overseas – in Tokyo, Japan in the first of three American Bowls in the ’98 preseason.
The Packers face experienced international NFL travelers, the Kansas City Chiefs, who will play in their fourth American Bowl. The game at the Tokyo Dome – the ninth there, most of any American Bowl city -- will actually take place on Sunday morning at 11:15 AM. Whether it’s Saturday night in the states, or Sunday morning in Japan, the Packers are glad to be there.
"It’s a long trip, but I think it’s a valuable thing," says Green Bay head coach MIKE HOLMGREN. "Forget about the football for a second. It’s a good thing for the players to experience other places, other people, other customs. That’s all part of learning."
Four Japanese are receiving an intense learning experience themselves through the game. The four were players in the NFL Europe League this spring, and have become the first Japanese players to participate in NFL training camps. They will travel back to Japan to play in Saturday’s American Bowl -- linebacker MASAFUMI KAWAGUCHI and running back TAMON NAKAMURA with the Packers, and tight end NACHI ABE and wide receiver MASATO ITAI with the Chiefs.
While noting the "firsts" taking place in this weekend, the first priority for NFL players and coaches is to prepare for the regular season.
In these days of free-agent player movement, teaching players a new system, and ensuring that they know it, has given the NFL preseason schedule even more importance.
"The games don’t count in the standings," says St. Louis Rams head coach DICK VERMEIL, "but they do matter. They matter to a lot of people because the players are going to be graded on every snap. And if they fail too many snaps, they’re not going to play in the NFL."
"…AND, NOW, TO PRESENT THE HONOR…"
Almost as awaited as the identities of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class every year are the names of the "presenters" of those inductees on their special day.
One of this year’s inductees, MIKE SINGLETARY, had no hesitation in choosing his presenter. "She was my greatest fan," he says. "No matter how cold and miserable it got, she was always in the stands cheering me on." Wife KIM is Singletary’s presenter…and the first wife in Pro Football Hall of Fame history to present an inductee.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame class of ’98 presenters:
| Inductee | Presenter | Relationship |
| Paul Krause | Jerry Burns | Krause’s coach at Iowa and an assistant with Vikings. |
| Tommy McDonald | Ray Didinger | Former Philadelphia sports writer. Now with NFL Films. |
| Anthony Munoz | Michael Munoz | Son, an offensive lineman for Cincinnati’s Moeller High School. |
| Mike Singletary | Kim Singletary | Wife Kim. "My best friend," says Singletary. |
| Dwight Stephenson | Don Shula | Stephenson’s head coach with Miami. Fifth time as a presenter. |
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME GAME -- PITTSBURGH STEELERS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
SERIES
| STEELERS | BUCCANEERS | |
| LEADER | 4-0 | |
| STREAKS | Last 4 | |
| COACHES VS. OPP. | Cowher: 0-0 | Dungy: 0-0 |
| LAST GAME | 12/24/89: Steelers 31 at Buccaneers 22. Pittsburgh WR Louis Lipps has four catches for 137 yards & 2 TDs. | |
| HOF RECORD | 2-1 | 0-1 |
| TV | ABC (7:00 PM ET): Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esiason, Lesley Visser (Reporter) | |
STARTERS ’97 STATS
| QBs | Stewart: 236-440-3,020-21-17-75.2 | Dilfer: 217-386-2,555-21-11-82.8 |
| RBs | Bettis: 375 (1L)-1,665 (2C)-4.4-7 | Dunn (R): 224-978-4.4-4 |
| WRs | Johnson: 46-568-12.3-2 | Dunn (RB-R): 39-462-11.8-3 |
| OFFENSE | 346.4 (3C) | 273.5 |
| TAKE/GIVE | +1 | +3 |
| DEFENSE | 294.1 (2C) | 289.3 (3L) |
| SACKS | Lake: 6 | Sapp: 10.5 |
| INTs | Perry: 4 | Abraham: 5 |
| PUNTING | Miller: 42.6 | Barnhardt: 45.0 |
| KICKING | Johnson: 106 (40/40 PAT; 22/25 FG) | Husted: 71 (32/35 PAT; 13/17 FG) |
NOTES
STEELERS:
Have won last 4 AFC Central titles……Head coach BILL COWHER one of only two coaches in NFL history (PAUL BROWN, Cleveland Browns, 1950-55) to earn postseason berth in first 6 seasons as head coach……RAY SHERMAN (Vikings) new offensive coordinator……QB KORDELL STEWART’s 11 rushing TDs in ’97 second-best in season by QB since 1970 (STEVE GROGAN, 12, 1976)……RB JEROME BETTIS has 3,096 rush yards over past 2 seasons – third-most in NFL (BARRY SANDERS, 3,606 & TERRELL DAVIS, 3,288)……In 1997, Pittsburgh led NFL in rush offense (154.9) & rush defense (82.4) – one of only 7 teams to do so since 1970……Steelers also one of 4 clubs since 1970 to lead NFL in rush offense & defensive rush yards per carry (3.3) (1992 Bills, 1976 Steelers & 1974 Cowboys)……Steelers second in AFC in ’97 with 20 INTs……BUCCANEERS: Strive for first back-to-back playoff seasons since 1981-82……Bucs open new Raymond James Stadium vs. Bears on 9/20/98 …… Sent NFL-most 8 players to Pro Bowl in ’97: RB MIKE Alstott, LB DERRICK BROOKS, QB TRENT Dilfer, RB WARRICK Dunn, S JOHN LYNCH, LB HARDY NICKERSON, C TONY MAYBERRY & DT WARREN Sapp……Dilfer set Bucs record & finished second in NFC with 21 TD passes in ’97. Set career-high with 82.8 passer rating……Dunn was named ’97 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of Year. Led all rookies & set Bucs rookie record with 1,440 yards from scrimmage (462 receiving). Led all NFC rookies with 978 rushing yards. RB MIKE ALSTOTT led team with 10 total TDs (7 rushing, 3 receiving) …..Club’s 77 penalties were fewest in league & tied Bucs’ record (’90)……Defense allowed NFC-fewest 263 points & had NFC’s No. 3 rush defense (101.0)……Set team record with 44 sacks, surpassing 42 in ’83.AMERICAN BOWL AT TOKYO, JAPAN –
GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFSSERIES
| PACKERS | CHIEFS | |
| LEADER | 5-1-1 | |
| STREAKS | Last 4 | |
| COACHES VS. OPP. | Holmgren: 0-2 | Schottenheimer: 4-1 |
| LAST GAME | 11/10/96: Packers 20 at Chiefs 27. RB Greg Hill scores 3 TDs, including game-winning 24-yard scoring run 22 seconds into third quarter. | |
| AM. BOWL RECORD | 1-0 | 1-2 |
| TV | ESPN (10:15 PM ET): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire | |
STARTERS ’97 STATS
| QBs | Favre: 304-513-3,867-35 (1L)-16-92.6 (3L) | Grbac: 179-314-1,943-11-6-79.1 |
| RBs | Levens: 329-1,435 (2C)-4.4-7 | Anders: 79-397-5.0-0 |
| WRs | Freeman: 81-1,243-15.3-12 (T2L) | Rison: 72-1,092-15.2-7 |
| OFFENSE | 350.9 (2C) | 316.5 |
| TAKE/GIVE | 0 | +14 (1C) |
| DEFENSE | 301.7 | 305.0 |
| SACKS | White: 11.0 | Williams: 10.5 |
| INTs | Butler: 5 | McMillian: 8 (T1C) |
| PUNTING | Landeta: 42.1 (Tampa Bay) | Aguiar: 42.3 |
| KICKING | Longwell: 120 (3C) (48/48 PAT; 24/30 FG) | Stoyanovich: 113 (35/36 PAT; 26/27 FG) |
NOTES
PACKERS: First overseas trip……Seek to become first-ever NFC team to play in 3 straight Super Bowls……Since ’95, have won 27 straight games at Lambeau, including 3 playoff games. Need 5 consecutive regular-season home wins for all-time record, passing Dolphins (27, 1971-74)……Pack finished ’97 with NFC’s No.1 pass offense (231.6)……QB BRETT FAVRE named ’97 Associated Press co-MVP (Detroit RB Barry Sanders). Favre led league with 35 TD passes & became first QB ever with 4 straight 30-TD seasons. Needs 2,128 yards passing to become Packers’ all-time leader, surpassing BART STARR (24,718). Can join Johnny Unitas (1957-60) & Len Dawson (1962-63, 1965-66) as only players in NFL history to lead league in TD passes 4 times……RB DORSEY LEVENS rushed for 1,435 yards, second-most in franchise history (JIM TAYLOR 1,474 in ’62). Set club record with 1,805 yards from scrimmage (370 receiving)……WR ANTONIO FREEMAN set career highs with 81 catches (5th in NFC); 1,243 yards (4th); & 12 TDs (tied for second in league)…… Opposing QBs had 59.0 passer rating, lowest in NFL. Defense did not allow TD pass in final 23 quarters……CHIEFS: Play in fourth American Bowl……Head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER is .500-or-better in each of his 13 full seasons as a head coach – tops in the NFL……QB ELVIS GRBAC has second-best win pct. (.737, 14-5) among active QBs with at least 10 starts……Club added 1,000-yard WR DERRICK ALEXANDER (Baltimore)……KR TAMARICK VANOVER one of only 3 players (LEON JOHNSON & BRIAN MITCHELL) with PR & KOR TDs in ’97……Defense tied for third in NFL in ’97 with 54 sacks. Added DE LESLIE O’NEAL (St. Louis, 122.5 career sacks) & DT CHESTER MC GLOCKTON (Oakland)……Club had AFC-high 21 INTs in ’97……Sent NFL-high 2 CBs – starter DALE CARTER & reserve JAMES HASTY – to ’98 Pro Bowl……Chiefs allowed 91 second-half points in ’97 – fewest in NFL……K PETE STOYANOVICH converted 96.3 percent of field-goal attempts (26 of 27), tying NORM JOHNSON (26 of 27 for Atlanta in 1993) for third-most accurate season in NFL history. He has converted 20 straight FG attempts – one shy of NICK LOWERY’s club record (1990-91).
FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PRE-1 7/27/98
THIS WEEK'S NFL SCHEDULE (JULY 31-AUGUST 2)
(All times local, except American Bowl, ET)
| Friday, July 31 |
| Seattle (AFC) at Dallas (NFC), 8:00 |
| Saturday, August 1 Pittsburgh (AFC) vs. Tampa Bay (NFC) in Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Canton, OH, 7:00 (ABC) |
| Green Bay (NFC) vs. Kansas City (AFC) in American Bowl at Tokyo, Japan, 10:15 (ESPN) |
| Sunday, August 2 New England (AFC) at San Francisco (NFC), 3:00 |
| AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE | |||||||||||||
Eastern Division |
Eastern Division |
|||||||||||||
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. | OP | W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. | OP | |||
| Buffalo | 0 |
0 | 0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Arizona | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Indianapolis | 0 |
0 | 0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Dallas | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Miami | 0 |
0 | 0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | N.Y. Giants | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| New England | 0 |
0 | 0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Philadelphia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| N.Y. Jets | 0 |
0 | 0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Washington | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
Central Division |
Central Division |
|||||||||||||
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. | OP | W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. | OP | |||
| Baltimore | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Chicago | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Cincinnati | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Detroit | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jacksonville | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Green Bay | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pittsburgh | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Minnesota | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tennessee | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Tampa Bay | 0 |
0 | 0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
Western Division |
Western Division |
|||||||||||||
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. | OP | W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. | OP | |||
| Denver | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Atlanta | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kansas City | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | Carolina | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Oakland | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | New Orleans | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| San Diego | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | St. Louis | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seattle | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | San Francisco | 0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 | 0 | 0 | |
NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE (AUGUST 6-9) |
Thursday, August 6
N.Y. Jets (AFC) at Philadelphia (NFC), 8:00
Friday, August 7
| Arizona (NFC) at Detroit (NFC), 7:00 |
Tennessee (AFC) at Atlanta (NFC), 7:30
Saturday, August 8
Buffalo (AFC) at Pittsburgh (AFC), 7:30
Chicago (NFC) at Baltimore (AFC), 7:30
Cincinnati (AFC) at N.Y. Giants (NFC), 8:00
Denver (AFC) at St. Louis (NFC), 7:00
Indianapolis (AFC) at Seattle (AFC), 7:00
Jacksonville (AFC) at Carolina (NFC), 7:30
Kansas City (AFC) vs. Tampa Bay (NFC) at Norman, OK, 7:00
Miami (AFC) at Washington (NFC), 7:30
New Orleans (NFC) at Green Bay (NFC), 7:00
Oakland (AFC) at Dallas (NFC), 8:00
San Francisco (NFC) at San Diego (AFC), 7:00
Sunday, August 9
Minnesota (NFC) at New England (AFC), 7:30