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Sunday, November 12, 2000

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

The Chicago Bears finally have the quarterback in the pocket they favored all along, even if he's not what their head coach wanted.

Chicago players have favored steady Jim Miller over arrogant Cade McNown the past two seasons. Now they have him, thanks to an injury to McNown and an apparent change in thinking by Coach Dick Jauron.

Miller and the Bears beat Peyton Manning and the Colts last week and the job apparently is his as long as he keeps playing well.

"It was a great victory for the entire team and Jimmy was a huge part of that," Jauron said. "We're not looking or thinking long-term and we're not looking backward. We're looking at Buffalo, that's our only concern now and Jimmy will be the quarterback."

Miller had big games when he replaced McNown last season, including games with 422 and 357 passing yards, but he was suspended by the NFL for using an over-the-counter supplement that contained a banned steroid.

Instead of testing the free agent market, he signed a two-year deal with the Bears. They drafted McNown in the first round in 1999 but he hasn't overwhelmed them on the field or off.

"In this offense," Miller said, "if you don't try to be the star, if you just let the offense be the star and get the ball in the right guy's hands and let them do the work, I think you can be very successful."

Said receiver Marcus Robinson, "Jim's out there making good decisions and no mistakes."

A pain to play

The Cowboys, especially their receivers, are happy to be done with the Eagles this season.

In the opener against Philadelphia, Dallas lost Joey Galloway to a season-ending knee injury. Last Sunday in Philly, they lost Rocket Ismail for the season to a knee injury. Last year, they lost Michael Irvin to a career-ending neck injury against the Eagles.

That's not all. End Greg Ellis had his leg broken in an Eagles' game last year, and safety George Teague suffered a broken foot last Sunday.

Without Galloway and Ismail, the Cowboys' top three receivers are guys named James McKnight, Jason Tucker and Wane McGarity.

Caught in the net

Saints Coach Jim Haslett is more in-your-face than Internet. His team plays Carolina today, but he fell asleep watching the Panthers against St. Louis Sunday night.

"I woke up at about 2 a.m.," Haslett said, "and I got on the Internet until about 3:30 trying to find the score. I was yelling at my wife to get me on because I couldn't get on.

"The Internet drives me crazy."

Too generous

San Francisco has a different problem than the Steelers -- good offense, bad defense.

The 49ers have allowed the most points in the league (323) and the most yards per game (404.7). They also lead the league with 89 penalties for 732 yards.

San Francisco has lost all six games in its division. From 1989 through 1998, they were 54-14 in the NFC West. Since then, they are 2-12.

Quick slants

The Eagles' Brian Mitchell can tie Gale Sayers' record of scoring touchdowns four different ways in the same season two different times by running, receiving, kickoff return and punt return. It has been done eight times since 1960, but only Sayers has done it twice. Mitchell, who did it in 1997, needs only a touchdown reception to accomplish his second grand slam.

Receivers dropping passes don't only happen here. The Packers dropped eight passes against Minnesota last week, their most since a 1994 game in Philadelphia.

The Saints' six victories were built against teams with a combined 14-42 record.