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Sunday, November 19, 2000

The Steelers are getting closer to setting NFL history -- or preventing it.

No team has gone 0-16 since the NFL started playing 16 games in 1978. The Chargers are 0-10 and the Steelers play them in San Diego in their final game on Christmas Eve.

"It's a little rough, but guys are trying," San Diego right guard Kevin Gogan said.

Five teams have gone 1-15.

Dolphins President Eddie Jones, whose team slapped the Chargers with their 10th loss last week, worked in the Saints' front office when they came the closest to losing every game in 1980. They beat the Jets by one point after starting 0-14.

But it did not soothe the feelings of Coach Dick Nolan, who would be fired after that season.

"He called me at home and was just down in the dumps," Jones said. "You can imagine what a 1-15 season can do to you. It didn't do anything for him."

Courageous or foolish?

Not everyone is lauding Denver quarterback Brian Griese for continuing to play and leading the winning drive to beat the Raiders on Monday night despite a separated shoulder.

Griese will miss up to a month because of the injury, and he gets no sympathy from Raiders defensive tackle Darrell Russell.

"He had no business being in the game," Russell said. "Yeah, he beat us, great. He did a great job. But now look at the long run. They're trying to make a playoff run and he's banged up.

"I remember when I was at USC, Coach [John] Robinson would say, 'If you're hurt, you're on the sidelines. I don't want Rocky films.' "

Parental guidance

Buffalo linebacker Sam Cowart's mom has been stumping for Pro Bowl votes for her son on the Bills' Web site.

Here's her latest message:

"I am e-mailing you today to make you aware of some very serious voting irregularities currently taking place in the state of Florida and elsewhere.

"Of course, I'm referring to the Pro Bowl balloting at the AFC's inside linebacker position. Despite playing in just six of his team's nine games and not putting up half the numbers that Sam is, Zach Thomas of the Dolphins is leading the fan voting."

Thomas has 42,679 votes. Cowart is fifth with 16,729, about 2,000 behind the Steelers' Levon Kirkland in fourth.

Pathetic Patriots

The New England Patriots are having a tough time dealing with 2-8.

"This is as bad as it's been since I've been here," said safety Lawyer Milloy, who arrived in 1996.

"This is worse than it's been since I came here," said receiver Troy Brown, a Patriot since 1993.

"This is shocking and extremely disappointing," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe, aboard since '93. "Going 2-8 just wasn't in the realm of possibility when we started the season."

Quick slants

Seattle defensive end Michael Sinclair, who led the NFL with 16 1/2 sacks in 1998 and got a $6 million signing bonus before the 1999 season, has 8 1/2 sacks in his past 26 games, including 2 1/2 in 11 games this season.

San Diego became the first team in seven seasons to have three quarterbacks throw interceptions in the same game last week.

Saints defensive tackle La'Roi Glover, cut by the Raiders before the 1997 season, has 13 sacks. The Raiders, who play in New Orleans today, have 18 as a team.

Chad Brown is having another outstanding season in Seattle, even though the Seahawks are not. The former Steelers linebacker leads the team with six sacks playing a position that does not normally yield many. He has made the past three Pro Bowls.