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Sunday, November 05, 2000

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Say it ain't so. A Subway Super Bowl? New Yorkers are beginning to talk about a possible Super Bowl matchup between the Giants and Jets. Of course, the 7 train doesn't reach Tampa, where the Super Bowl will be held in January, but the thought of an all-New York (or all New Jersey, where the Giants and Jets really call home) has the Big Apple giddy to its core.

The Giants lead the NFC East at 6-2 and the Jets own a piece of the AFC East at 6-2.

Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi talked about such a pairing when he called to congratulate Jets Coach Al Groh on his 40-37 comeback victory against Miami two weeks ago.

"Everyone will allow himself to dream once in a while, and I told [Groh], 'If you can do it, then why can't we do it?' " Accorsi said. "I think it would be great. It would be sensational for football here."

Yes, but what about the rest of the country? Football could only hope an all-New York Super Bowl would not do for the TV ratings what the Subway Series did for the World Series, which dipped 12 percent from the all-time low.

Defense a dying breed

Bud Carson, the architect of the Steel Curtain, doesn't have much hope for the future of defense in the NFL, even as he comes out of retirement to help the St. Louis Rams.

"That's all it is today, offense," Carson said. "There are no defenses. If I was coaching today, I wouldn't be a damn defensive coordinator, because you can't win. I went back out there in '97 and I saw it getting worse and worse. You're programmed to lose. There are a couple of guys that for the most part will maybe stick their heads above the clouds, like Tampa Bay, Tennessee, whoever, but it's a thankless job."

Carson said hardly anyone works on defense anymore.

"I think St. Louis has proven that a new philosophy is in order. I love Tony Dungy, but I think the days of saying we're going to win on defense is gone."

Plummer problems

Arizona is sticking with its $30 million failure at quarterback, Jake Plummer, who has proven he's no lead-pipe cinch to plug the many leaks in the Cardinals.

Plummer has shown an occasional moment of brilliance, but overall he has been a washout.

Since they gave him a $16 million signing bonus to extend his $30 million contract at the end of the 1998 season through 2002, the Cardinals are 8-16. He is third from the bottom in the NFC with a 68.2 rating this season. He has 51 touchdowns and 73 interceptions in his career.

Redskins cornerback Deion Sanders hasn't given up trying to play baseball again. "I probably will. You never know. I love baseball. It's a challenge. Every man loves challenges." The Reds still have his rights.

Saints defensive tackle La'Roi Glover, who weighs just 272 pounds, is tied or the NFL sacks lead with 12. He earned a $700,000 bonus for No. 11. One more sack and he will earn another $1.3 million bonus. "It's a beautiful thing," said Glover.

Tampa Bay's 37 sacks put the Buccaneers on a pace for 74 sacks, which would break the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Bears.

Redskins wide receiver Irving Fryar, who continued to play Monday night despite a rib cartilage tear: "I wasn't dead. Nothing was hanging off."

Eagles Coach Andy Reid, his team trailing the Giants, 24-6, in the fourth quarter after a touchdown, opted to go for one point rather than two to make it 24-7. He said he could have gone for two after the next two touchdowns, forgetting that even if successful that would have caused the Eagles to lose, 24-23.