Pro Football Spotlight

IS THERE A LESSON HERE?

The baseball season cannot pass into history without this reminder: Quarterbacks Vince Evans of the Oakland Raiders, Steve Bono of the Kansas City Chiefs and Erik Kramer of the Chicago Bears--all of whom bear some responsibility for their teams’ success this season--played for NFL strike-replacement teams in 1987.

INJURY REPORT

San Francisco fullback William Floyd and tight end Brent Jones may miss the rest of the season because of knee injuries. . . . Cleveland safety Eric Turner injured his lower back and Coach Bill Belichick said he evidently suffered two fractured vertebra. . . . Cincinnati guard Bruce Kozerski broke his right ankle.

NEGOTIATING STRENGTH

Tight end Keith Jackson caught his first pass for the Green Bay Packers, who lost to Detroit, 24-16, and you have to wonder if there’s a cause-and-effect situation here. The Packers feared a chemical reaction--adding Jackson, who held out to be traded to a warmer climate, to the team’s chemistry could be a formula for problems--and a loss to the lowly Lions seems to support the fear. The Packers’ other tight end, Mark Chmura, a leader all season, seems to have no problem with the Wisconsin weather. He caught two balls for 12 yards. Green Bay is trying to re-sign Chmura, who can be a free agent after the season.

GROWING UP QUICKLY

Who says it takes years to educate an NFL quarterback? Rookies Kerry Collins of Carolina and Eric Zeier of Cleveland passed for more than 300 yards and led their teams to overtime victories.

NICE SUB, COACH

Quarterback Rick Mirer had never been benched, not in high school, not in college, not in the NFL until Sunday, when Seattle Coach Dennis Erickson said he was throwing too many interceptions. Erickson let John Friesz start for Mirer and throw the interception that was returned 72 yards by Lorenzo Lynch to beat the Seahawks, 20-14, in overtime.

CALL A TAILOR

The Eagles-Rams game was delayed for five minutes after the second-half kickoff because of a torn seam in the artificial turf at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium.

THEY WANT REFUNDS

More than 60,000 fans have attended each of the Patriots’ five homes games at the 60,292-seat Foxboro Stadium, and New England has sold all the seats it made available for season tickets for the first time in its history.

HELP WANTED

Look for a “position available” in today’s classified ads after New England’s Pat O’Neill had punts of 34, 22, 35 and 31 yards, the latter setting up Carolina’s winning points in overtime.

Parcells is not known for his patience with kickers and punters.

“During the week, this guy kicks the ball just fine,” he said of O’Neill. “The pressure of the game has got to him now.”

NOTEWORTHY

Nick Lowery of the New York Jets became the third player in NFL history to score 1,600 points. Only Hall of Famers George Blanda (2,002) and Jan Stenerud (1,699) have scored more than Lowery’s 1,603 in 16 seasons. . . . St. Louis’ Isaac Bruce was “held” to 105 receiving yards and failed to become the first NFL player to have four consecutive 150-yard games. . . . The Jets haven’t scored a rushing touchdown. . . . The Carolina Panthers have never given up a 100-yard rushing game or a 300-yard passing game. . . . When right end Sean Gilbert plays, St. Louis has 15 sacks. In the two games he hasn’t played, the Rams have no sacks. . . . Chris Jacke’s 50-yard field goal for Green Bay was the 14th of 50 yards or longer in his career. . . . Detroit’s Barry Sanders passed Earl Campbell into 10th place on the NFL’s rushing list with 9,510 yards. . . . Dallas’ Emmitt Smith topped the 8,000-yard mark in rushing with his 167 on 26 carries. He has 8,162 yards. . . . Dallas’ Michael Irvin has six 100-yard-plus receiving games in a row, tying the second-longest streak in NFL history. The record of seven is held by Charley Hennigan and Bill Groman, both of Houston in the AFL in 1961. . . . Atlanta kicker Morten Andersen scored in his 182nd consecutive game, four behind Jim Breech’s NFL record. . . . Green Bay has lost nine in a row on artificial turf. . . . Miami’s Keith Byars caught a pass for the 120th consecutive game, placing him seventh among active players.

QUOTEWORTHY

Jacksonville center Dave Widell, after a loss to Pittsburgh:

“The Steelers didn’t have the suntan lotion out like they did the last time. They were being challenged by their coaching staff, by the media and by the fans, and it was put up or shut up for them.”

Philadelphia’s Greg Jackson apparently believes he’s back at Louisiana State:

“We deserve to be No. 1.”