ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610280114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: ANALYSIS
SOURCE: BOB GLAUBER NEWSDAY
You want intrigue? Try the AFC East Division race, where one game separates first from fourth.
You want heroes? Try Steve Young running for a game-winning touchdown on a bootleg despite a groin pull. Or Jim Harbaugh continuing to play - and play well - after serving as a human punching bag for a month-and-a-half.
You want surprises? Just check out first place in the NFC East and realize it's not the defending-champion Dallas Cowboys, but their mortal enemies from the nation's capital and a bargain-basement quarterback.
You want drama? Try overtime on a Monday night at Lambeau Field.
We're halfway through another NFL season, and there isn't much we haven't seen. Shoot, we might even have ourselves the first 0-16 team before it's all over. We might even have two of them.
So while we wait to see if the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons will win a game, let's take a look back at the best and the worst of the first half and a glimpse at what's ahead:
Offensive MVP: Brett Favre, quarterback, Green Bay. Favre told us not to bet against him this year in his comeback from a painkiller addiction, and he has done his part by averaging three touchdown passes per game.
Defensive MVP: Bruce Smith, defensive end, Buffalo. He threatened to sit out the first part of the season in a contract dispute, but decided he would show team owner Ralph Wilson on the field why it's in the Bills' best interest to fork over a few million more after the season. Is it out of line to suggest that the one-time Virginia Tech star is one of the top three defensive ends ever to play the game?
Three best coaching jobs: 1. Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh. You lose the starting quarterback from a Super Bowl team because you can't match the Jets' $25 million offer for Neil O'Donnell. You lose the best player on your defensive front seven because Greg Lloyd's knee was not built to be torn in half. All Cowher does is go with his gut and put in quarterback Mike Tomczak after Jim Miller's opening-week loss to Jacksonville, and get his defense playing better than last year.
2. Norv Turner, Washington. Team owner Jack Kent Cooke kept telling everyone Turner was the second coming of Joe Gibbs. Well, maybe that's stretching it a bit, but Cooke's faith in the ever-patient coach is reaping huge dividends in what looks like a playoff year for Washington.
3. Dom Capers, Carolina. Forget this second-year expansion team junk. Capers is the brains behind a very good football team, period.
Three worst coaching jobs: 1. Rich Kotite, New York Jets. After his Philadelphia Eagles were 7-2 through nine games of the 1994 season, Kotite said: ``Judge me by my record.'' Well, three victories and 28 losses later, the judgment is in: Kotite is not the answer for what ails the Jets.
2. Dave Shula, Cincinnati. There was enough talent on this team to make a playoff run. Now, the Bengals will go with Bruce Coslet, who was promoted from assistant when Shula was fired Monday.
3. Rich Brooks, St.Louis. He had a defense that was adequately stocked with free-agent help and an offense that had loads of talent at the skill positions. All he's got to show for it is two victories.
Defensive rookie of the year: Zach Thomas, linebacker, Miami. He's the second coming of Chris Spielman, only shorter and better.
Offensive rookie of the year: Eddie George, running back, Houston. The Oilers have been searching for the next-best thing to Earl Campbell for what seems like an eternity. At last, he has arrived.
Best free-agent acquisition: Spielman, linebacker, Buffalo. This run-stuffing specialist has helped elevate the Bills' defense from decent to dominant.
Worst free-agent acquisition: Larry Brown, cornerback, Oakland. Nothing new here. Al Davis overpays for another overrated free agent.
Best trade: The Steelers were desperate for help at running back, so they shipped this year's second-round pick and next year's fourth-rounder to St.Louis for the Rams' third-rounder this year and a fellow by the name of Jerome Bettis. I'd say it was worth the risk, wouldn't you?
Worst trade: My, my, those Rams sure seem to be at the heart of matters. How about giving Sean Gilbert to the Redskins for the sixth overall pick, which the Rams used to select Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips? Needless to say, Phillips has fallen considerably short of expectations.
The three biggest surprise teams: 1. Washington: OK, so the Redskins have beaten only one team with a winning record. But after a 6-10 season in '95, a 6-1 start is a work of art.
2. Denver: They looked like they might be a good team this year. But Super Bowl good?
3. Minnesota: OK, so they choked in Tampa on Oct. 13. But really, now, could you ever have imagined they'd be only a game behind the Packers - with a victory over Green Bay, no less?
The three biggest disappointments: 1. Chicago. The Bears torch the Super Bowl champs in the Monday night opener, then watch helplessly as their season goes up in flames.
2. Cincinnati. I guess the good people of Cincinnati are used to this, but it shouldn't have come to this.
3. New York Jets. Leon Hess spent nearly $1 million for every year he has spent on earth in an attempt to buy a contending team. But he's 83 now and still not getting any results.
Most improved player, offense: Gus Frerotte, quarterback, Washington. You want the No.1 reason why the Redskins are in first place? Look no further than Frerotte, a seventh-round draft pick two years ago, who is about to become a rich man in a few months after winning the quarterback duel with Heath Shuler.
Most improved player, defense: Jeff Brady, linebacker, Minnesota. Brady is working on his sixth team in six seasons, but has found a home in the middle of the Vikings' defense. He is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and has become a solid run-stopper.
Comeback player of the year: Bettis. He ran out of Brooks' doghouse in St. Louis and right into contention for MVP honors with the Steelers. Your loss, Rams.
Best game: Packers 23, 49ers 20, OT. Who says you need great offense for great football?
Seven games you can't afford to miss in the second half of the season:
1. Dallas at Miami, today. Memo to Jerry Jones: Don't ruin this one by hugging Jimmy before the game. Smack him in the face or something, but please, keep the venom flowing.
2. Denver at Oakland, Nov. 4. It is the closest thing to mortal combat the NFL has to offer.
3. Green Bay at Kansas City, Nov. 10. Some say it will be a preview of things to come in January. But it won't be, because the Packers will expose the Chiefs' Achilles' heel - the lack of a consistent running game.
4. Green Bay at Dallas, Nov. 18. If the Packers want a shot at the Super Bowl, they'll have to figure out a way to beat the Cowboys for the first time in eight tries.
5. Washington at Dallas, Thanksgiving Day. Redskins coach Norv Turner beat Dallas twice last season - and that was with a lousy team. This one could be for the NFC East title, though they play again in the regular-season finale.
6. San Francisco at Pittsburgh, Dec. 15. It's all you can ask for - steam-through-the-face-mask football at Three Rivers Stadium.
7. Detroit at San Francisco, Dec. 23. Don't you just love seeing that pained expression on Wayne Fontes' face as the Lions' coach tries to stay one step ahead of the lynch mob and sneak into the playoffs again?
Seven predictions for the second half:
1. One of these days, Mike Tomczak will wake up and realize who he is. Then again, it might not happen until after the Super Bowl.
2. John Elway is going to give us some of his Mile High magic in January, and it's going to be a wonderful sight to behold.
3. Sorry, folks. Despite Jim Kelly's recent problems, the Bills are not going away.
4. The Panthers will become a playoff team before long. Like, before the season ends.
5. The Jets somehow will find a way to become the first team to go 0-16. Just their luck: Peyton Manning likely will be the first pick in the draft and the Jets invested all that dough in O'Donnell.
6. Jeff George will sit out the rest of the season, and every general manager will publicly swear he won't sign him in the off-season. A few hours into the free-agency period in February, the $30 million offers will start coming.
7. Count on Troy, Emmitt and Michael to be in New Orleans on Jan. 26 to accept their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
LENGTH: Long : 153 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. AP Buffalo's Bruce Smith, the former Virginia Techby CNBAll-American, is making a strong case for defensive player of the
year honors.
2. headshot of Favre KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL