Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Fridav. September 18. 1998
Steelers' Stewart changes his style
The Associated Press
Here's some bad news for Jimmy Johnson and his Dolphins defense as they prepare to welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kordell Stewart is ready to improvise.
After a meeting with coach Bill Cowher and Ray Sherman, the new offensive coordinator, Stewart is
ready to play the way he did when Chan Galley had Sherman's job. "I think I'm pretty much OK," said Stewart, ranked fourth from the bottom among NFL quarterbacks after two games. "You want to go 10-for-10 with 300 yards and two or three touchdowns, but it's not always going to happen that way."
If Pittsburgh scores, the Dolphins will call more often on Dan Marino, who has thrown just 50 passes in two games, about 30 fewer than normal.
Stewart's problems adjusting to Sherman's more conservative offense are probably the main reason the Steelers have stumbled at the start—if 2-0 can be considered a stumble.
Miami's defense has capitalized so far on the inexperience of Peyton Manning and Rob Johnson. But Stewart is more mobile and comparatively more experienced. He has 19 NFL starts compared to three for Johnson and two for Manning.
"Kordell's putting a lot of pressure on himself because he knows how much is expected of him," Sherman said. "All I want him to do is relax because he'll be fine."
Other NFL games
Detroit (0-2)
at Minnesota (2-0)
Are the Lions tossing in the season by replacing Scott Mitchell with rookie Charlie Batch at quarterback?
The way Mitchell was playing they weren't going anywhere, anyway. But even Batch didn't think he'd be put into this position so early.
"I think Charlie's ahead of his time," said Bobby Ross, who demoted Mitchell all the way to third string behind Frank Reich. "Frankly, that's why we're doing this."
Batch has one advantage, Barry Sanders, against a defense that
allowed 31 points in St. Louis last week. Another plus for Detroit: Not only will Randall Cunningham replace Brad Johnson at quarterback, but Cris Carter could be out, giving Randy Moss his first start as a pro.
Dallas (1-1) at New York Giants
(1-1) Monday night.
Jason Garrett starts for the Cowboys in place of Troy Alkman, who is out 4.8 weeks with a broken left shoulder. The Giants have 13 sacks in their two games.
Not to worry,
says owner
Jerry Jones,
back in his
"coach" mode
Jones claims the Cowboys will win at half the games Alkman misses
The Giants have won three straight from the Cowboys, scoring 20 points in each. Their loss to the Raiders was their fifth in the last six games against AFC teams.
Denver (2-0) at Oakland (1-1)
The first road game for the Broncos and they may play without John
Elway, who might not decide until he steps on the field Sunday whether he'll test his sore hamstring.
The Raiders
hope for a repeat of last season, when Denver's first loss came at Oakland, 28-25 as Napoleon Kaufman ran for 227 yards. Kaufman had an 80-yard touchdown run last week against the Giants as Jon Gruden his first game as an NFL coach.
San Diego (2-0)
at Kansas City (1-1)
This is Ryan Leaf's first major test, against one of the NFL's toughest defenses in one of the NFL's loudest and most difficult venues — if he plays after being hospitalized during the week with a viral infection.
Kansas City actually outplayed the Jaguars from scrimmage in Jacksonville, even without Andre Rison and with Rich Gannon at quarterback for Elvis Grbac. But the Chiefs couldn't get the ball into the end zone until late and the special teams gave up two big plays that beat them.
Baltimore (1-1)
at Jacksonville (2-0)
The Ravens are likely to be a factor in the AFC Central. Their undersung defense stopped the Jets three times from the 1-yard-line last week and also produced a touchdown on an interception return by Rod Woodson.
The Jaguars, on the other hand, will be a factor in the AFC as a whole. Despite two wins, they're worried that running backs James Stewart and Fred Taylor have carried the offensive load rather than Mark Brunell and the passing game. That's a sign they don't have much to worry about.
Chicago (0-2)
at Tamna Bay (0-2)
Two teams whose 0-2 records are deceptive in the opener at the Bucs' new stadium.
The Bucs have lost at Minnesota and Green Bay, losses that would hardly be noticeable if they came, say, in Weeks 6 and 12. But their offense ranks 25th and a lot of what they did gain came at the end of games that got out of hand early.
The Bears, on the other hand, were supposed to get blown away by Jacksonville and Pittsburgh and lost instead by a total of six points. Curtis Enls, their rookie running back, hasn't started yet but has 174 yards and a 5-yard average.
Green Bay (2-0) at Cincinnati (1-1)
The Bengals, who have awful start this decade, were ecstatic to get the overtime win against Detroit in Week 2, the game that got Mitchell benched.
The Packers are tougher. Although they're without Dorsey Levens, Raymont Harris and Travis Jervie are good enough to share the load. Reggie White demonstrated he could play as well as talk with three sacks last week, and rookie Vonnie Holliday provides pressure on the other side.
Chapter III for Peyton Manning, who has six interceptions and a fumble in his first two NFL games. "He'll be all right," coach Jim Mora says. "A lot of it was just poor decisions by a rookie."
Indianapolis (0-2) at New York Jets (0-2)
ting more practice snaps this week and will be No. 2 after starting the season as the emergency No. 3.
Glenn Foley, the Jets' quarterback, has separated rib cartilage but likely will start. Vinny Testaverde is get
The Seahawks probably could win the NFC East, and get the 'Skins on a down note after beating Arizona and Philadelphia. Can things get any worse for the Redskins? Jeff Hostetler walked out, then returned after his request to be release wasn't granted. But he's still behind Trent Green and Gus Frerote this week.
Washington (0-2)
at Seattle (2-0)
Tennessee (1-1)
at New England (1-1)
The Oilers got a full home stadium for the first time in two years last week, then lost to Ryan Leaf and the Chargers 13-7. One problem: Eddie George has just 97 yards on 40 carries in two games, perhaps because guard Kevin Donnalley went to Miami in the offseason.
That may not improve against the Patriots, whose defense is carrying
them while Drew Bledsee learns the new offense installed by Ernie Zampese, his third offensive coordinator in three seasons.
St. Louis (0-2) at Buffalo (0-2)
Some Rams suggested after they nearly made up a 14-point deficit against the Vikings last week that they were worn out by Dick Vermell's tough practices.
Buffalo's problem is offense. Rob Johnson, who got a $25 million, five-year deal after starting just one NFL game in his previous three seasons, has been less than scintillating in the Bills' two losses.
Arguably the two worst teams in the NFL in this nationally televised Sundav night game.
Philadelphia (0-2)
at Arizona (0-2)
One reason is the two young quarterbacks, Arizona's Jake Plummer and Philadelphia's Bobby Hoying. Plummer, who Arizonaans thought was about to become the next Joe Montana, is last in the NFL in passing, and Hoying is sixth from the bottom. Both can blame bad offensive lines.
Cablevision offers Steinbrenner deal attempts monopoly
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — George Steinbrenner soon might be boss of three New York teams.
Steinbrenner has been talking to the broadcast company about a
The Yankees owner would gain operating control of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers under a deal in which he would sell the New York Yankees to Cablevision while still running the baseball team.
deal since November when Cable vision offered $500 million for the Yankees. Talks intensified recently when Cable
vision chairman Charles Dolan substantially increased the price and offered control of the Knicks and Rangers as a sweetener, industry sources, speaking on condition they not be identified, told The Associated Press yesterday.
The New York Post reported the new offer could be worth as much as $650 million. But one source said Steinbrenner, who bought the Yankees for $10 million in 1973, would demand considerably more.
Cablevision's $486 million, 12-year deal to show Yankees games on the Madison Square Garden network expires after the 2000 season, and rights under a new deal could cost more than $100 million a year. Also, the Yankees are talking with the city about building a stadium that significantly could increase the team's revenues.
Dolan, who wants to prevent any competitor from using the Yankees to start a rival sports channel in New York, apparently is hoping the opportunity to run three of New York's most prestigious teams could be too enticing for
Steinbrenner to pass up.
Cablevision said in a statement: "We make special note that we have had no discussions to relinquish either the control or management responsibilities of Madison Square Garden and its teams, and we do not expect to have any such discussions in the future."
Steinbrenner refused to comment, and commissioner Bud Selig downplayed the reports.
"George and I talk a lot," Selig said. "I'm sure if he's got something to say to me, he'll say it."
The Yankees would be a more logical investment for Dolan, whose $500 million offer for the expansion Cleveland Brown fell $30 million short of Alfred Lerner's winning bid.
Acquiring the Yankees would represent a coup for Cablevision in its attempts to solidify a monopoly on New York sports programming. Cablevision owns the Knicks, Rangers and Madison Square Garden and has the rights to the Mets, Islanders, Devils and Nets telecasts on its Fox Sports New York channel.
Cablevision's interest in the Yankees is part of a trend in which major media and entertainment companies buy stakes in sports franchises to provide reliable programming.
Comcast Communications recently bought the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Flyers. Time Warner owns stakes in the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and the NHL expansion Atlanta Thrashers. The Walt Disney Co. owns the Anaheim Angels and Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Media mogul Tom Hicks recently bought the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars. The Tribune Co. owns the Chicago Cubs, and Ascent Entertainment owns the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.
Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB television has an agreement to buy Manchester United, England's most prestigious soccer team, for $1 billion.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association Breast Cancer Action Present the 6th Annual
Stepping Out Against Breast Cancer Benefit Dance Featuring
The Benders
A great idea for parent's weekend!!
Saturday, October 3rd
7pm to Midnight
@ Lawrence Eagle's
Lodge 1803 W 6th St.
Let Byron, Johnny, Kevin and Larry take you back to the '50s & '60s as you dance the night away in support of breast cancer awareness. This year, 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 44,000 women will die. Early detection saves lives. $12.50 per person All proceeds from this event will benefit Health Care Access and Breast Cancer Action, Inc. for education, mammograms and treatment. Tickets available at the door.
All proceeds from this event will benefit Health Care Access and Breast Cancer Action, Inc. for education, mammograms and treatment. Tickets available at the door.
For advance tickets or more information, please call 840-3131