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Sunday, October 13, 2002

Compiled by Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Like a cornerback dropping into prevent defense, Steve Spurrier is backpedaling from a comment he made several months ago.

When he was hired away from the University of Florida by the Redskins in January, Spurrier was asked how many hours he would work in the NFL.

"I saw an article on Jim Haslett coming in at 4:30 in the morning," Spurrier said. "It hasn't done him much good."

Haslett's New Orleans Saints had just finished a 7-9 season.

The 4-1 Saints play at Washington today, and Spurrier has been scurrying to explain.

"I'm sure he worked just as hard during the struggling times as he does now," the Redskins' coach said of Haslett. "All coaches spend many hours until we are prepared and feel comfortable with our team. I wasn't trying to knock him at all. ... I've got tremendous respect for him. He's arguably the best coach in the history of the Saints.

"Somehow or another that comment got twisted around. I was not trying to insult anybody for working hard. I was just trying to make a statement that no matter how many hours you put in, that it doesn't always work out."

Said Haslett, "Steve can work whatever time he wants. I really don't care. He can do his deal, and I'll do my deal."

Say what?

St. Louis Coach Mike Martz is grabbing at 32-year-old straws to try to keep his team's heads above water.

"You look at Cincinnati," said Martz after his Rams slipped to 0-5. "They started off 1-7 and made the playoffs."

The Bengals actually started out 1-6 in 1970. They won out to go 8-6 and made the playoffs under Hall of Fame Coach Paul Brown.

Martz may not know what he's saying these days as the team favored to win it all hasn't won any. After the Rams were spanked in San Francisco, 37-13, last week, he said, "I can honestly say the effort wasn't there."

One day later, he said, "I am pleased with the effort. If effort was a question, then you don't come back with drives in the second half, and continue to battle back, and try to get them out on defense. There's something to build on, and that's what you have to grab hold of."

That special feeling

Special teams coaches can go from geniuses to bums in the time it takes for a punt to be blocked.

Joe Avezzano, a former assistant at Pitt, has coached the Cowboys special teams since 1990, and he knows all about the fickleness of his position.

"You do want to crawl in a hole when something bad happens," Avezzano said. "Because there's no one else that will take the hit on that. On offense, you've got four or five coaches to share the blame. If there's a mistake in the kicking game, it's on you."

Quick slants

Now, the real test: After they play in Seattle today, the 49ers face a six-game stretch against teams with a combined 21-8 record.

As have the Steelers, the 2-3 Chicago Bears have lost as many games as they did all last season.

At the Roar and More apparel shop in Ford Field, 650 Joey Harrington jerseys were sold during the Lions game against the Saints two weeks ago. "That's phenomenal," Lions vice president Bill Keenist said.

Packers quarterback Brett Favre: "It just gets tougher to, every week, step on the field and be Brett Favre."

A-Train on the wane: Fullback Mike Alstott is a forgotten man in Jon Gruden's offense at Tampa Bay. He's had 16 carries and one reception in the past three games.

Coach Dave McGinnis, whose Cardinals are off to their best start (3-2) in 11 years: "We've got a short stack going right now. But I want a big-boy stack."

McGinnis hugged Bill Gramatica when he kicked a 50-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to give Arizona a 16-13 lead against Carolina. Then Gramatica kicked off -- out of bounds. "I wanted to kiss the kid and adopt him. And then, I wanted to divorce him and behead him."

McNabb sandwich: Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has been sacked 19 times, on pace for a bone-jarring 60.