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Sunday, September 29, 2002

Compiled by Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Here's a suggestion for beleaguered Cincinnati Bengals President Mike Brown: Hire Tom Modrak as your general manager.

Modrak, Buffalo's sharp director of football operations, has two Super Bowl rings from the Steelers, whom he served as a scout and pro and college scouting director through the 1980s and most of the 1990s. He left to become the boss in Philadelphia and helped turn the Eagles into what they are today, a Super Bowl contender. He's the one who stuck by his guns and drafted Donovan McNabb when all of Philadelphia wanted Ricky Williams.

The Bengals need a man like Modrak, desperately.

They've been outscored, 84-16, on their way to an 0-3 start and likely their 12th consecutive year without a playoff appearance. ESPN Magazine dubs them "Cincinnati Zoo" on a recent cover and calls for the entire Brown family, which holds five of the top six executive jobs in the organization, to resign.

That's not necessary. Brown is a good man, a good owner. But he has proven he's no general manager. The Bengals need someone to turn it around. They should hire Modrak, who cleaned up the Eagles and set them back on track.

Brad is back

Terry Bradshaw is reconnecting with the Steelers and the city. He attended Mike Webster's funeral Friday and he will be the honorary co-captain on the sideline at a Steelers game when they play Indianapolis Oct. 21 in a Monday night game.

Longhorns reunion

At the University of Texas in 1996, Priest Holmes played behind Ricky Williams.

Today, they meet on the football field again as the 1-2 rushing leaders in the NFL. Williams has 394 yards for Miami and Holmes 386 for Kansas City.

Williams left Texas after winning the Heisman Trophy as a first-round pick of New Orleans. Holmes left to sign as a free agent with Baltimore. Holmes has a Super Bowl ring and last year became the first undrafted player to lead the league in rushing with a Chiefs-record 1,555 yards.

He ran for 180 yards last week in an overtime loss to New England.

"We couldn't tackle him for nothing," said Patriots defensive tackle Steve Martin. "There's only one other time I had a problem with a back like that, and he is out of the league ... Barry Sanders."

Titles, but no titles

In Green Bay, Mike Holmgren was a genius coach with a Super Bowl championship. In Seattle, Holmgren has even more titles -- he's coach, general manager and executive vice president of football operations. But his record is a mediocre 24-27 after an 0-3 start this season.

Dennis Erickson's record at the same point during his fourth season was 26-25. After the season he was fired in favor of Holmgren.

"The one thing I wasn't able to do -- but now I feel more comfortable about -- was to solidify the quarterback position," Holmgren said. "In the master plan, I wish it would have come a little sooner."

Quick slants

Marty Schottenheimer's teams have won five in a row -- his Chargers are 3-0 after his Redskins won their final two.

Who knew fireworks could be as dangerous as a referee's penalty flag? Miami kicker Olindo Mare had fireworks from pregame introductions a week ago land in his left eye. It required medical attention and he missed a 31-yard field goal. "It was kind of shocking," Mare said. The circus must go on.

The yellow flags of Texans: Houston leads the league with 35 penalties.

Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson, after his team slipped to 1-2 by losing consecutive games to the Cowboys and Browns: "We might be in deep trouble."

Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe on coordinator Kevin Gilbride: "I trust him, I believe in what he's saying, he's a very intelligent guy. If he tells me something I feel like I can take it to the bank."

San Diego was 12-7-2 against the Boston Patriots. Since they became the New England Patriots, the Chargers are 0-10 against them, the longest current losing streak in the NFL against an opponent.

The Chargers beat up on the hapless Bengals, expansion Texans and Cardinals to go 3-0. Their next four opponents have a combined 9-2 record.

Linebacker London Fletcher, of interest as a free agent to the Steelers before he signed with Buffalo, leads the Bills with 40 tackles after coming over from the Rams.

The 3-0 Broncos have reached the Super Bowl five of the seven previous times they won their first three regular-season games.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander, who had more than 1,300 yards in 12 starts last season, has 110 after three this time.