This is not your father’s NFL. A made-for-TV gala NFL opening night in New York City on Thursday was enjoyed by all except the Giants, who lost to the 49ers. Nevertheless, the Giants were the perfect hosts for a celebration that closed Times Square for concerts and reflection on Sept. 11 as the NFL wrapped itself in patriotism and pop culture.
When rock musician Jon Bon Jovi visited a Giants practice by helicopter last week to promote the festivities, Giants owner Wellington Mara, who has watched practices since 1925, wondered aloud, “Did the coach approve all this?”
Jim Fassel surely did. Giants players sang songs and shot promotional material for Thursday night’s “world’s largest tailgate party,” featuring music by Eve, Alicia Keys, ‘N Sync’s Joey Fatone and Enrique Iglesias. Bon Jovi also played at halftime.
The NFL wants to boost its 18- to 25-year-old audience and it couldn’t take a chance on a mostly dull 16-13 game capturing the imagination. The game was decided when Jose Cortez, a former roofer, outkicked Matt Bryant, a former pawnbroker. That’s not the kind of video-game excitement today’s youths appreciate.
More entertainment is expected with the weekend’s remaining 15 games, which stress what’s new, young and different.
As first-year Vikings coach Mike Tice, who played as recently as 1995, said: “Only losers dwell on last year. People who are positive people move forward and look into the future to what is upcoming.”
New coaches: Washington’s Steve Spurrier is bound to make enemies among his peers, but don’t count first opponent Dave McGinnis of Arizona among them yet.
“As soon as Steve got the job, even before I knew who we were going to open up with, I started looking at Florida film,” McGinnis said. “He knows how to dial ’em up with the scheme he has, and we’re going to have to dial up some different things ourselves. I love opening up there. It’s fun. If you don’t like those types of challenges, you’re in the wrong business.”
Did you realize the Bears’ Dick Jauron is dean of NFC North coaches, ahead of Green Bay’s Mike Sherman, Detroit’s Marty Mornhinweg and Tice?
Which new coach will make the biggest difference? Four are favored Sunday: Spurrier, Tampa Bay’s Jon Gruden, Oakland’s Bill Callahan and Indianapolis’ Tony Dungy. The other four are underdogs–Tice, San Diego’s Marty Schottenheimer, Carolina’s John Fox and Houston’s Dom Capers.
Different places: Green Bay receiver Terry Glenn, Miami running back Ricky Williams and Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman head the list of transfers carrying the biggest loads. They joined teams with plausible Super Bowl hopes. Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe couldn’t make that big a difference to a 3-13 team, could he?
Bledsoe opens against the Jets and linebacker Mo Lewis, who knocked Bledsoe from the Patriots’ lineup last year with a hit that tore a blood vessel in Bledsoe’s chest, giving Tom Brady his chance. That was then; this is now.
Who will play better this year–Bledsoe or Brady?
New quarterbacks: Bledsoe is one of eight new quarterbacks, including San Diego’s Drew Brees, Atlanta’s Michael Vick, Baltimore’s Chris Redman, Cincinnati’s Gus Frerotte, Washington’s Shane Matthews, Houston’s David Carr and Carolina’s Rodney Peete. Peete, 36, beat out Chris Weinke, proof that not everything about the NFL is new and young.
“I actually have some football cards of him,” said Ravens linebacker Ed Hartwell, who faces Peete on Sunday.
Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister remembered Peete from “when I was a little kid growing up. I didn’t know he was still out there playing.”
Bust-out players: Neither rookies nor free agents, Minnesota running back Michael Bennett, Vick and New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister are three second-year players getting unleashed for the first time. The Bears face them the first three weeks.
The Vikings are talking about 1,500 yards for Bennett, who got 682 as a rookie and probably is the fastest back in the league. Vick could give him a good chase. The Saints don’t miss Ricky Williams.
“Deuce can do more than Ricky can,” said Tampa defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who faces McAllister on Sunday. “Ricky has small hands. Ricky is just a one-dimensional guy. He’s a power runner. Deuce can do power running, outside speed and catch the ball out in the flat. He can do some special things.”
Agreed Saints receiver Joe Horn: “Word is going to get out about Deuce. The film is going to get out.”
Lying in the weeds: The hangover remains from last year, when the Patriots shocked everyone. Miami is an eight-point favorite against the 2-14 Lions, but Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt warns: “They probably have the best defensive front four we will face all year long. These guys have got a lot of outstanding talent.”
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Rookie radar
Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, the most ballyhooed rookie of the preseason, caught only three passes for 44 yards in the Giants’ season opener Thursday but made San Francisco pay attention.
Other rookies trying to turn preseason raves into regular-season reality:
1. Pittsburgh receiver Antwaan Randle El’s debut is Monday night against New England, a fitting start for a kid who loves the spotlight. If any rookie makes a bigger difference, maybe it will be former Thornton High School teammate Napoleon Harris, the Raiders’ new middle linebacker.
2. Dallas receiver Antonio Bryant. “He makes Lynn Swann-type catches,” Tony Dorsett said. “When the ball is in the air, it is his.” Emmitt Smith calls Bryant “a young Michael Irvin–he always wants the ball.”
3. New England’s Daniel Graham or Seattle’s Jerramy Stevens. Shockey isn’t the only rookie tight end phenom. He isn’t even the only rookie tight end with the first name Jeremy.
4. Houston’s David Carr or Detroit’s Joey Harrington. At least one new quarterback will open eyes.
5. Dallas safety Roy Williams and center Andre Gurode. Bryant isn’t the only rookie putting stars back in the Cowboys’ eyes.
