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Sunday, November 04, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Paul Hackett taught Mike McCarthy many things and McCarthy can help pay back his old mentor today.

McCarthy, a Greenfield native, is the hot young offensive coordinator of the Saints. Hackett is offensive coordinator of the New York Jets who taught McCarthy the West Coast offense for nine seasons, first at the University of Pittsburgh and then with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Saints and Jets play today.

"Paul had a very big influence on my career," McCarthy said. "He was the guy who basically taught me this offense, taught me the intricacies of coaching the fundamentals of quarterback play."

Expanding empire

Chuck Noll gained three victories on Curly Lambeau without ever having to engineer a comeback.

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sports writer, Cliff Christl, did some digging and discovered that Lambeau was not the coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1921 as long has been held. He was the team captain. Joe Hoeffel was the coach.

Lambeau ranks fourth in the NFL with 226 career victories, 33 more than Noll, in fifth place. The Packers were 3-2-1 in 1921. Although the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Packers acknowledge that the evidence is clear Lambeau was not the team's coach in 1921, the record may not be changed. Apparently, there are too many problems, including changing the record on his bust at Canton.

Role reversal

The New York Giants have lost as many games as they did all last season, when they went 12-4 and reached the Super Bowl.

The Giants won five in a row last year after Coach Jim Fassel guaranteed they would make the playoffs. At 3-4, he's not prepared to make a similar guarantee.

"No, not now," he said. "Now's not the right time," although, "I really do feel the same way as I did then."

The Giants have lost three in a row.

"In a way, we felt we had a formula last year," quarterback Kerry Collins said. "The defense was always going to play well, so let the offense just do enough to get by. Now, with the situation of us being the hunted instead of the hunter, that's not going to work any more. Maybe teams weren't bringing their 'A' game to us last year. They have a bigger chip on their shoulder when they play us now."

Metrodoom

The Steelers play the Minnesota Vikings at home on Dec. 2, which is almost as good as a guarantee.

The Vikings are 1-9 in their past nine road games, including 0-3 this season. Their only victory during that stretch was 27-15 at Dallas. They finish the season with four road games in their final six.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy when the schedule came out," owner Red McCombs said, "but there's nothing we can do about it other than winning on the road."

McCombs also put the heat on receiver Randy Moss, who has only two touchdown catches in seven games. He said he expects him to get 20.

"Twenty is not too many," McCombs said.

Quick slants

The NFC Least Division could wind up with a loser winning it. Arizona can tie the Eagles for the division lead at 3-4 by beating them today.

Michael who? Atlanta quarterback Chris Chandler is second in the league to Brett Favre with a 97.8 passer rating. His average gain of 9.23 yards leads the league. There's not such a rush to put Michael Vick into the lineup anymore.

There's speculation that George Seifert will retire as coach of the Carolina Panthers after the season, and that Tom Modrak will take over as general manager.

Washington quarterback Tony Banks says yoga improved his passing. "It was something I used to think was a little foo-foo," Banks said. Or, was that Yogi's Yoo-Hoo?

Carolina cornerback Doug Evans has interceptions in six consecutive games, a feat not accomplished in the past 14 years.

Chicago has allowed only two sacks all season. At this point last year, the Bears had given up 21 sacks.