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Posted on Sun, Sep. 25, 2005
NFL Insider
What Dilfer lacks in fame, he makes up for with game
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Baltimore Ravens would be Super Bowl contenders if Trent Dilfer were their quarterback. The Cleveland Browns will be better than they were last season because Dilfer is their quarterback.
Dilfer, the sixth overall pick in 1994, never has gotten enough respect.
But then, all he does is win.
He is 27-9 as a starter since the 1999 season, his last in Tampa Bay, and he has a Super Bowl ring from the 2000 season, when he took over as the Ravens' starter in the ninth game.
"He's a proven NFL quarterback," Browns coach Romeo Crennel told reporters last week. "He's won a Super Bowl and has gone to a Pro Bowl. He has years of experience, and that's why we wanted him here."
Dilfer, whose Browns play the Indianapolis Colts today, has produced better numbers than two-time league MVP Peyton Manning this season. Dilfer has passed for 614 yards, 238 more than Manning, with four touchdowns, two interceptions and a 95.1 rating. He has not been sacked.
Dilfer earned AFC offensive player of the week honors last week by outplaying Brett Favre and winning in Green Bay for the first time in his 12 seasons. But Dilfer, as usual, wanted no credit.
He presented the game ball to Crennel in the locker room after the game and later treated his offensive linemen to dinner as a thank you.
"I've never been high on individual honors or stats stuff," Dilfer told reporters last week. "Anytime you get a guy that's recognized, it's a team effort, and that's what we are trying to do here. ... We make each other look good, and as I review the film, it was probably less of me and more of everyone else."
Dilfer, 33, has accepted that he is what he is. Not even a Super Bowl could turn him into a star.
"Most teams that get to the championship game don't necessarily have the star power but rather the team power," Dilfer said. "I hope that's how our identity grows. Anytime you have one guy that gets too much attention, it takes away from everybody else. Plus, the face of our team is [rookie quarterback] Charlie Frye."
Give him the ball
If the Chargers want to climb back into playoff contention this season, they have to get the ball into the hands of the league's best running back.
The Chargers have given LaDainian Tomlinson only 19 carries in each of their first two games. He has not caught a pass after catching at least one in each of the first 63 games of his career.
In his first four seasons, he averaged 26.0 touches per game, including 4.0 receptions. When he gets at least 26 touches, the Chargers are 19-15. They are 10-23 when he doesn't.
"I don't know, and it hasn't really been talked about [internally]," Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I can't tell you I don't wonder, because I do. I just figure [offensive coordinator Cam Cameron] will know when the right time [is]."
The time is now, Cam.
My five cents
1Carolina running back Stephen Davis appears fully recovered from microfracture surgery on his right knee. The Panthers will ride Davis, who already has 38 carries this season, as far as he can take them.
2 Giants quarterback Eli Manning is going to hear it from San Diego fans this week, as he should, after refusing to play for the Chargers after they made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2004.
3 Vikings coach Mike Tice has tossed offensive coordinator Steve Loney and quarterback Daunte Culpepper under the bus. The truth is: Tice is unqualified to be a head coach, and, because he is in the last year of his contract, this should be his last season charading as one.
4 No cornerback is playing better than Chicago's Nathan Vasher. The ex-Longhorn has three interceptions in two games and eight in his two seasons.
5 The Jaguars still haven't figured out how to make the best use of rookie Matt Jones' talents. The former Arkansas quarterback, whom the Jags are trying to convert into a receiver, has more rushing attempts (four) than catches (three).
THE BLITZ
The Lions, who won't get Jeff Garcia back from a broken right fibula for another five or six weeks, brought in quarterbacks Shaun King and Jeff George for tryouts last week. Detroit has no interest in signing a veteran now, but they were auditioning players for a short list if Joey Harrington continues to struggle.
The Jags have gone 52 straight games without scoring 30 points.
Two losing seasons after their victory in Super Bowl XXXVII, is it possible the resurgent Tampa Bay Buccaneers could make it back this season? It's possible in the soft NFC, but first the Bucs will try to snap a 13-game losing streak in Wisconsin against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Their last victory in Green Bay was in 1989.
Randy Moss' jersey has been the top seller in the NFL through Sept. 15. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's No. 7 is second.
If the Patriots beat the Steelers today, Tom Brady will be 50-15 as a starter in regular-season games. He will have won 50 games in 65 starts, the second-fewest starts to reach 50 since 1970. Oakland's Ken Stabler won his first 50 games in 62 starts, and Dallas' Danny White reached 50 in 69 starts.
For the first time in 81 career regular-season starts, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has gone back-to-back games without more than one rushing attempt. He didn't have any last week against the 49ers and had only one in the Eagles' Week 1 loss to the Falcons. That one came when he was chased out of the pocket and went for no yards. Because he's still nursing a chest bruise, and now also has a slight groin strain, he probably won't be running much.
The 20 receivers who had 100-yard games this season (Randy Moss and Terrell Owens twice each) are an average age of 28.05. Only three of the 20 100-yard games are from the 14 receivers drafted in the first round the past three years: Larry Fitzgerald in Week 1 and Donte Stallworth and Braylon Edwards in Week 2.
The Cardinals signed right tackle Oliver Ross to a $17.5 million contract as a free agent from Pittsburgh, even though the Steelers didn't really care if he came back. So far, Ross hasn't been good, and neither has the Cards' line. "The criticism should be on me," coach Dennis Green said. "I'm the one who made the judgment that the line needed to be revamped."
Since 1990, 17 teams have begun 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason. In 1993, the 0-2 Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVIII; in 1996, the 0-2 Patriots played in Super Bowl XXXI; and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI.
The Ravens' offense has been awful. It ranks last in the league in rushing yards (45.5), 31st in rushing attempts (17 per game) and 30th in yards per carry (2.7). The 14 rushing yards the Ravens had against Tennessee were the franchise's lowest total in more than 10 years, a span of 146 games.
The Rams' best draft choice this season has been Ball State punter Reggie Hodges, a sixth-round pick. St. Louis' first- and second-round picks, tackle Alex Barron and cornerback Ron Bartell, have yet to suit up; guard Richie Incognito (third round) isn't under contract; tight end Jerome Collins (fifth round) is on the practice squad; receiver Dante Ridgeway (sixth round) was cut during training camp; and Ryan Fitzpatrick (seventh round) has been inactive as the No. 3 quarterback.
Before Monday night's come-from-behind 14-13 victory over the Cowboys, the Commanders hadn't rallied to win in the fourth quarter since Jan. 6, 2002, when they overcame a 17-12 deficit to beat Arizona 20-17 in Marty Schottenheimer's final game as their coach.
This report contains material from other writers. To contact Charean Williams, call (817) 390-7760 or send email to cjwilliams@star-telegram.com.
NFL Insider
What Dilfer lacks in fame, he makes up for with game
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Baltimore Ravens would be Super Bowl contenders if Trent Dilfer were their quarterback. The Cleveland Browns will be better than they were last season because Dilfer is their quarterback.
Dilfer, the sixth overall pick in 1994, never has gotten enough respect.
But then, all he does is win.
He is 27-9 as a starter since the 1999 season, his last in Tampa Bay, and he has a Super Bowl ring from the 2000 season, when he took over as the Ravens' starter in the ninth game.
"He's a proven NFL quarterback," Browns coach Romeo Crennel told reporters last week. "He's won a Super Bowl and has gone to a Pro Bowl. He has years of experience, and that's why we wanted him here."
Dilfer, whose Browns play the Indianapolis Colts today, has produced better numbers than two-time league MVP Peyton Manning this season. Dilfer has passed for 614 yards, 238 more than Manning, with four touchdowns, two interceptions and a 95.1 rating. He has not been sacked.
Dilfer earned AFC offensive player of the week honors last week by outplaying Brett Favre and winning in Green Bay for the first time in his 12 seasons. But Dilfer, as usual, wanted no credit.
He presented the game ball to Crennel in the locker room after the game and later treated his offensive linemen to dinner as a thank you.
"I've never been high on individual honors or stats stuff," Dilfer told reporters last week. "Anytime you get a guy that's recognized, it's a team effort, and that's what we are trying to do here. ... We make each other look good, and as I review the film, it was probably less of me and more of everyone else."
Dilfer, 33, has accepted that he is what he is. Not even a Super Bowl could turn him into a star.
"Most teams that get to the championship game don't necessarily have the star power but rather the team power," Dilfer said. "I hope that's how our identity grows. Anytime you have one guy that gets too much attention, it takes away from everybody else. Plus, the face of our team is [rookie quarterback] Charlie Frye."
Give him the ball
If the Chargers want to climb back into playoff contention this season, they have to get the ball into the hands of the league's best running back.
The Chargers have given LaDainian Tomlinson only 19 carries in each of their first two games. He has not caught a pass after catching at least one in each of the first 63 games of his career.
In his first four seasons, he averaged 26.0 touches per game, including 4.0 receptions. When he gets at least 26 touches, the Chargers are 19-15. They are 10-23 when he doesn't.
"I don't know, and it hasn't really been talked about [internally]," Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I can't tell you I don't wonder, because I do. I just figure [offensive coordinator Cam Cameron] will know when the right time [is]."
The time is now, Cam.
My five cents
1Carolina running back Stephen Davis appears fully recovered from microfracture surgery on his right knee. The Panthers will ride Davis, who already has 38 carries this season, as far as he can take them.
2 Giants quarterback Eli Manning is going to hear it from San Diego fans this week, as he should, after refusing to play for the Chargers after they made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2004.
3 Vikings coach Mike Tice has tossed offensive coordinator Steve Loney and quarterback Daunte Culpepper under the bus. The truth is: Tice is unqualified to be a head coach, and, because he is in the last year of his contract, this should be his last season charading as one.
4 No cornerback is playing better than Chicago's Nathan Vasher. The ex-Longhorn has three interceptions in two games and eight in his two seasons.
5 The Jaguars still haven't figured out how to make the best use of rookie Matt Jones' talents. The former Arkansas quarterback, whom the Jags are trying to convert into a receiver, has more rushing attempts (four) than catches (three).
THE BLITZ
The Lions, who won't get Jeff Garcia back from a broken right fibula for another five or six weeks, brought in quarterbacks Shaun King and Jeff George for tryouts last week. Detroit has no interest in signing a veteran now, but they were auditioning players for a short list if Joey Harrington continues to struggle.
The Jags have gone 52 straight games without scoring 30 points.
Two losing seasons after their victory in Super Bowl XXXVII, is it possible the resurgent Tampa Bay Buccaneers could make it back this season? It's possible in the soft NFC, but first the Bucs will try to snap a 13-game losing streak in Wisconsin against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Their last victory in Green Bay was in 1989.
Randy Moss' jersey has been the top seller in the NFL through Sept. 15. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's No. 7 is second.
If the Patriots beat the Steelers today, Tom Brady will be 50-15 as a starter in regular-season games. He will have won 50 games in 65 starts, the second-fewest starts to reach 50 since 1970. Oakland's Ken Stabler won his first 50 games in 62 starts, and Dallas' Danny White reached 50 in 69 starts.
For the first time in 81 career regular-season starts, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has gone back-to-back games without more than one rushing attempt. He didn't have any last week against the 49ers and had only one in the Eagles' Week 1 loss to the Falcons. That one came when he was chased out of the pocket and went for no yards. Because he's still nursing a chest bruise, and now also has a slight groin strain, he probably won't be running much.
The 20 receivers who had 100-yard games this season (Randy Moss and Terrell Owens twice each) are an average age of 28.05. Only three of the 20 100-yard games are from the 14 receivers drafted in the first round the past three years: Larry Fitzgerald in Week 1 and Donte Stallworth and Braylon Edwards in Week 2.
The Cardinals signed right tackle Oliver Ross to a $17.5 million contract as a free agent from Pittsburgh, even though the Steelers didn't really care if he came back. So far, Ross hasn't been good, and neither has the Cards' line. "The criticism should be on me," coach Dennis Green said. "I'm the one who made the judgment that the line needed to be revamped."
Since 1990, 17 teams have begun 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason. In 1993, the 0-2 Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVIII; in 1996, the 0-2 Patriots played in Super Bowl XXXI; and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI.
The Ravens' offense has been awful. It ranks last in the league in rushing yards (45.5), 31st in rushing attempts (17 per game) and 30th in yards per carry (2.7). The 14 rushing yards the Ravens had against Tennessee were the franchise's lowest total in more than 10 years, a span of 146 games.
The Rams' best draft choice this season has been Ball State punter Reggie Hodges, a sixth-round pick. St. Louis' first- and second-round picks, tackle Alex Barron and cornerback Ron Bartell, have yet to suit up; guard Richie Incognito (third round) isn't under contract; tight end Jerome Collins (fifth round) is on the practice squad; receiver Dante Ridgeway (sixth round) was cut during training camp; and Ryan Fitzpatrick (seventh round) has been inactive as the No. 3 quarterback.
Before Monday night's come-from-behind 14-13 victory over the Cowboys, the Commanders hadn't rallied to win in the fourth quarter since Jan. 6, 2002, when they overcame a 17-12 deficit to beat Arizona 20-17 in Marty Schottenheimer's final game as their coach.
This report contains material from other writers. To contact Charean Williams, call (817) 390-7760 or send email to cjwilliams@star-telegram.com.