Some Inside Information

CENTRAL

Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher closed practices to the media this week for the first time in the franchise’s 64-year history because he doesn’t want the Broncos to know where Carnell Lake will line up. Attention, Denver: He will play right cornerback. . . . The Bengals have not talked with defensive end Dan Wilkinson, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and Wilkinson wants no part of a rebuilding process in Cincinnati. “Rebuilding is a word to cover up losing seasons,” Wilkinson said before Thursday night’s rout of Tennessee. “That’s a scientific word passed around the NFL by teams getting their [butt] kicked every Sunday. I don’t want to be a part of that.” Cincinnati defensive end John Copeland and wide receiver Darnay Scott will also be free agents. “If we let a lot of guys go, that rebuilding word comes in,” Wilkinson said. “We don’t have to just keep a few; we have to go get more [free agents]. It’s hard to get players. History shows this is not the first place where players are rushing in.” . . . Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell appears to be hitting stride as the Jaguars near the playoffs. “Mark is coming back to being the old Mark,” wide receiver Keenan McCardell said. “He’s throwing the ball better than anybody in the league.”

Trouble: There have to be questions now about the judgment of Raven owner Art Modell, who continues to insist Baltimore is not a crummy team. “I think we’re two or three players away from being a very, very competitive team,” he said. “They’ll either come by free agency or the draft--preferably free agency where you get experienced players.” John Elway and Brett Favre will not be free agents next year.

WEST / Wake-Up Call Needed

What kind of life is this? “I woke up at 5 this morning thinking of Napoleon Kaufman,” Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “The guy reminds me of Barry Sanders. It’s frightening the things he does,” Schottenheimer said. . . . Jeff George tried to get the Raiders interested in signing Andre Rison in the off-season, but Rison said, “They had already committed a lot of money for Desmond Howard.” Ouch. Rison caught eight passes for 162 yards against the Raiders earlier this season and scored the winning touchdown. Howard has caught four passes for 30 yards in 13 games and has not scored as a Raider receiver, punt returner or kickoff returner.

Trouble: Denver defensive end Alfred Williams says he “can’t wait until ’98. I’ve been locked out of my car this year, I’ve had flat tires, had to walk three and a half miles in the [blizzard], had a back spasm for a game, then the [irregular] heartbeat deal. This has been a freaky year.” Last week Williams tore his right triceps.

EAST / It Hurts Just to Look

The Colts have to check out the injury report each week to see who is available to play quarterback, but does anyone care who plays quarterback for a 1-12 team? Just in case: Jim Harbaugh this week. . . . Miami, which signed troubled fullback Roosevelt Potts earlier, now has the league’s all-troubled backfield with running back Lawrence Phillips. “I understand [why people are upset], but I can’t let that affect me,” said Phillips, and isn’t that part of his problem? . . . The Patriots have won two in a row, but the players know they have been fortunate. “The way we’re playing is a disgrace to our organization, a disgrace to our fans and a disgrace to ourselves,” cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock said. . . . Neil O’Donnell has led the Jets to six touchdowns in the last 69 drives he has directed and quarterback Glenn Foley is sidelined with a sore knee.

Trouble: The NFL has pretty much decided to expand to Cleveland, in part because no franchise is in position to move there. But wait, there is still no deal in Indianapolis, although both sides expected to announce a new lease for the RCA Dome as of Dec. 1. “It is a difficult situation,” Mayor Stephen Goldsmith said. “Talks are ongoing. We are hopeful to find a resolution before the end of the year within the parameters we set, meaning no tax dollars.” The Colts currently receive $2.5 million a year under the existing lease, and team owner Jim Irsay, who asked for $20 million in Dome-generated revenues, is expected to get $8 million a year.