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Sunday, September 03, 2000

No one's pulling for Kerry Collins to continue his successful comeback with the New York Giants more than his old Penn State teammate, Joe Jurevicius.

Jurevicius, who left Penn State three years after Collins, has been a disappointment since the Giants drafted the receiver in the second round in 1998. He's caught only 27 passes for 464 yards and one touchdown in two seasons.

But Jurevicius and Collins have formed a bond off the field they hope will continue on it. The receiver drives the quarterback to work while Collins serves his one-year suspension for driving under the influence of alcohol.

"We talk in the car or going out to dinner, and those things translate into knowing a person better and knowing him as a quarterback," Jurevicius said. "It also gives him the opportunity to yell at me. That's his job. He's the quarterback and the leader of the offense."

Jurevicius had a life-changing experience of his own this summer. He was among the volunteers who helped victims of a terrace collapse July 1 at a winery on a Lake Erie island that killed one and injured dozens. He said he was near the person who died.

"It kind of woke you up," Jurevicius said. "You're here one second and gone the next. It's just good to know in a time of need you would hopefully act again."

Enis sinking

In keeping with the Penn State theme, Curtis Enis rushed for 119 yards for the Chicago Bears this summer. Marlon Barnes, a free agent rookie from Colorado, rushed for 116 and looked quicker and more effective than the Bears' former first-round draft pick.

Next up at BYU

Look for Gary Crowton, a Mormon with a BYU background, to succeed LaVell Edwards as BYU coach next year.

Crowton, Chicago's offensive coordinator, keeps a home in Utah and did not sign a contract extension that was offered by the Bears this year. His contract expires after the season.

"I think Gary's going to take the job," said Eagles Coach Andy Reid, another former BYU assistant.

Chip on his shoulder

Prognosticators did not think much of the Atlanta Falcons in 1998, when they went to the Super Bowl, and they certainly don't think much of them now after their 5-11 record in 1999.

But halfback Jamal Anderson is back after missing most of the season with a knee injury, and he's talking the talk.

"Everybody's talking Rams and Redskins," Anderson said. "Fine. Take all the R's. Take Tampa Bay. They can have them. There are a lot of Super Bowl champs in July in the NFC.

"We'll just come in and do what we're supposed to do. That's fine and dandy. We don't have the Big Three [like the Colts] -- all we have is the Little Me."

Color blind

Linebacker Jack Golden of the Giants still hasn't heard the end of it about his mental lapse when he tackled a teammate near the end zone and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Jacksonville Jaguars two weeks ago.

Cornerback Fred Lewis intercepted a pass in the end zone and tried to run it out when Golden tackled him, trying to get him to fall down so the Giants could run out the clock.

Said Giants Coach Jim Fassel this week, "I told him, 'Just remember which uniforms we have on each week, dark or light.' "

Fleeing Philly

Cleveland's new backup quarterback, Doug Pederson, is happy to be out of Philadelphia, where the fans ridiculed him in grocery stores.

After one game in Veterans Stadium last year, he reached into the stands to lift up his four-year-old son Drew to give him a kiss. As his wife, Jeannie, handed Drew to him, a fan spit in Pederson's face.

"You're trying to do your best on the field," Pederson said, "and that's how a lot of people want to pay you back. The way I feel is that I kind of get a new lease on things."

Up his alley

The city of Chicago has renamed McFetridge Drive in front of Soldier Field, "Payton Place."