Platoon System Leaves Him Feeling Queasy

Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles was a rare breed of player as he wound up his NFL career in the early 1960s. He played both ways--center on offense, linebacker on defense.

In an interview with Ray Didinger of Knight-Ridder newspapers, Bednarik recently said:

“I was the end of an era. No NFL player could do it today. These guys play three or four plays and come off sucking air.

“And they are making millions of dollars. It makes me sick.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the NCAA Division I-A record for most yards gained rushing in a game?

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Tight-lipped: Asked about his relationship with Ram Coach Chuck Knox, whom he played for in recent years, New Orleans quarterback Jim Everett told Pro Football Weekly:

“I really don’t have much to say about Coach Knox. I think by far John Robinson was the best head coach I’ve ever had, and I’m very excited about playing for Coach (Jim) Mora.

“And I’ll look forward to playing against Coach Knox.”

Mark Oct. 23 on your calendar, the first Rams-Saints meeting in New Orleans.

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Splintered future? Jim McMahon was reportedly stunned by his promotion to starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

“I envisioned sitting on my . . . all year,” he said.

In view of the Cardinals’ 32-0 loss to the Browns, McMahon may return to his former position.

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Mr. TV: Blackie Sherrod in the Dallas Morning News: “Someone with little else to do figures up that Frank Gifford, the Monday night toob fixture, has worked more prime-time hours than anyone in history of the toob. Walter Cronkite, Johnny Carson, Wah-wah Walters, anyone.”

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Remember when? The Rams lost at home to the San Francisco 49ers for the eighth consecutive time on Sunday. However, that’s not a record for futility in the series.

From 1967 through 1980, the Rams beat the 49ers 13 times in the Bay Area with one tie. Overall, in that period, the Rams had a 23-4-1 record against the 49ers.

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Looking back: On this day in 1982, the NFL Players Assn. announced a strike at the completion of the Green Bay Packer-New York Giant Monday night game.

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Trivia answer: Tony Sands of Kansas, with 396 yards against Missouri on Nov. 23, 1991.

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Quotebook: Tim McDonald, San Francisco 49er defensive back on new teammate Deion Sanders: “He’s not as obnoxious as you might think.”