Conference 7.286::sports_90

    When the Colts were in Baltimore they had a playoff game at home where
    a plane wrecked into the staduim after the game was over. Who were they
    playing?

    	
    	Me tinks dat was against da RAIDERS.  Colts lost in OT 37-31.
    
    						  glen j.

    It was the Jets.  It was symbolic of them going 8-0 and losing their
    last 8 to miss out on a playoff berth.
    
    Hope this hurts.
    
    Mark.

    Nah, it was Pittsburgh. I'm almost positve. The Dolts lost that one
    too.

    .3 was a joke.
    
    Mark.

    Pittsburgh - 1976.  The Raiders double OT win was a couple of years
    later, and I'll look it up tonight.
    
    John

       Colts are close to signing Stanley Morgan. How come all these
    ex-Pats seem to be landing in the AFC East?!!
                                           Denny

    The Raiders OT win over the Colts was in 1977 and I believe that was
    the last playoff game played in Baltimore.
    
    John

    What's the word with Dickerson?  Is he retired?  Welcome to the NFL,
    Jeff George.

    Dickerson said yesterday that if the Colts are expecting him in camp
    next week, "they'll be very disappointed."
    

And if he shows up, the rest of us will be disappointed.d

TTom

    The Author of .5 is a joke.

    All-time stupid trade : The Colts landing Jeff George .....

Jeff George said that he hopes Trudeau and Chandler can forget any hurt
feelings they have over his selection and subsequent $15M, 6 year deal.

I'm sure they'll only think about it every pay check, practice and game.

TTom

Dumb yes Doc but dumber than Golden State's trade of Parish and the third
pick for the Celts' first?

    Morgan is in camp now, still looks good he'll report in at 174lbs and
    excellent shape he still has that speed and great quickness, most of all
    he has a great attitude going in.  mike " a morgan fan after football "                

       Irsay says that if Eric isn't in camp on time he'll send him the 
    'letter of death'. What it does is give him 5 days to show up, if he
    doesn't he sits for the season. No exceptions to this one. They will
    also be owed $1 million because his contract says if he doesn't show
    for camp, he must pay back the team that much from his signing bonus.
                                          Denny

    Hey Doc, why was taking Jeff George "stoopid"?
    
    Lemme guess, they should have drafted Major "groundball" Harris 
    instead, right? You remember him, he's the guy Dog Flutie beat out for
    the starting job in the Canadian football league.
    
    JoJ

    re .14
    
    Midnight, you seem to have a_aversion to quarterbacks who cain
    actually pass the football.  Now why IS that?!  
    
    One never knows whether a college QB will make it in the pros
    (except in the cases of Namath and Big John), so who knows about
    home boy Jeff.  But I *do* know that he's one a the most talented
    young buck studs I've ever seen.  If he cain only rid himself of
    those twinkle toes, I predict that home boy Jeff will emerge as
    a premier NFLQB.  
    
    MrT

       Kind of reminds most of us of a young Tony Eason, right T?
                                           Denny

    >right T?
    
    No, wrong Denny.
    
    Eason piled up big numbers as the beneficiary of White's pro set
    offense.  Eason has brick for feet and has touch that makes his
    passes resemble flying bricks.  What's worse, the guy's so stoopid
    that he's a brick haid.
    
    Home boy Jeff, by way of stark contrast, has one a the sweetest 
    quickest releases seen since Joe, and is deadly accurate.  Only
    question about Home boy Jeff is cain he deal with the pass rush
    pressure.
    
    MrT

    Totally agree wif ya, T....on all points.
    
    JoJ

       Big10 Qbs are useless once they turn pro. If we use T's 'winning the
    whole thing is all that counts' measure, they're pathetic. As are U of
    Miami Qbs.
                                           Denny

>    ... If we use T's 'winning the
>    whole thing is all that counts' measure, they're pathetic. As are U of
>    Miami Qbs.

Huh? As in Kosar winning it all? As in Walsh winning it all?

TTom

       I'm talking about when Big10 and U of M quarterbacks turn pro. This
    turns them into instant nothings.
                                         Denny

    >If we use T's 'winning the whole thing is all that counts' measure,
    >they're pathetic.
    
    This is one pathetic statement.  My measure should be applied, by
    trained experts who know what they're doing not by amatuers at home,
    ONLY TO EVALUATION OF TEAM-WIDE PERFORMANCE SUCH AS COACHES OK ?!
    
    >Big10 Qbs are useless once they turn pro
    
    This is *another* pathetic statement.  Everett's "useless."  HoF Lenny
    Dawson's "useless."  HoF Bob Greise's "useless," and on and on and on...
    
    Hey, Denny.  What it is, blood, you got no "use" for all-time greatness?! 
    
    Big10 Tom

       What's Everett won? Did he even win a Rose Bowl? But you do seem to
    know that Griese and Dawson are the ONLY Big10 Qbs to ever win the
    Super Bowl.
                                            Denny

    >won?... even win?... ever to win...
    
    What's this pathetic "win win win" drivel, Denny?
    
    Read my lips: "Know new taxes.  No pseudoconservative NeoConMen
    Banana Republicans.  But most of all, never EVER apply team-wide
    measure to highly technical analysis of individual performances.
    
    Hey everybody!  Denny here is falsely claiming that Jim Everett
    is "useless" as a_NFLQB !!
    
    Big10 MrT

    
    B J Dickey... what a name... what a QB...  what a tradition...
    only at the UofM... Wimperines(tm) sip(tm)!

    Bull SchlepBreaker, what a geek that guy was.  He was so BAD.  We
    Big10 men always sorta regarded him as the Dean Smif' of College
    Football.  Mogambo talent, slavish idolatry, egomaniacal, but 
    basically a high class Loser.
    
    This guy would singlehandedly rape Ohio of all that talent and
    let it rot on his 55 blue chipper deep bench just to hold back the
    Buckeyes and certain other squads.
    
    But it's morning in the Big10 now: "coach" Bill Fritter is gone,
    the "great" Bull SchlepBreaker is gone, even "coach" Lou Hitsome
    is about to go...   And we won the contest for Penn State!
    
    Now, if they'd just pull outta that insane Rose Bowl contract we'd
    be back.  Hope springs eternal...
    
    Big10 Tom

    Individual performance in football is so dependent on one's surrounding
    cast and the game strategy used that I don't think you can blame the
    Rams failure to make the Super Bowl, for example, on Jim Everett; nor
    can you draw the conclusion that Jim Everett is a lousy quarterback
    based on the fact that the Rams haven't made the Super Bowl since he's
    been there.
    
    John

    What John said!!!!
    
    
    
    Nelly
    
    
    (An avid Jim Everett fan)

    I ain't no NFL expert but from what I saw last year Everett was the
    best NFLQB.  The man is simply awesome.  Everett-to-Ellard, don't
    even bother trying to stop this combo.  
    
    Montana is certainly ensconsed in the HoF, and rightfully so.  But
    the team he plays with is SO much better than the Rams.  Barring injury
    it's hard to see Everett not winning at least one Bowl.
    
    He's the QB of the 90s.  His toughest comp for Best 90s NFLQB will 
    almost certainly be Home Boy Jeff.  So, you got two Big10 QBs at the
    pinnacle over the next several years.  On your way into Foxboro you
    might notice a fellow pushing a grocery cart full of worthless 
    belongings wearing fingerless gloves and a threadbare Digital softball
    jacket mumbling to himself about "nothings" and "worthless."  
    
    That would be Denny.  Shame on him.
    
    MrT                                

>      <<< Note 299.34 by 34905::SHAUGHNESSY "Big10: By Invitation Only" >>>
>
>    I ain't no NFL expert ...

You heard it here first.

TTom

    
    Dickerson is at it again.  He has missed the start of training camp
    because he wants to renegotiate his $1.6 million contract.  I have
    a question:
    
    Scenario:
    
    	Player has a 3 year contract and is in the last year of that
    	contract.  Player decides he wants more money and doesn't report
    	to camp.  Team decides to let him sit out the entire year because
    	they don't believe in renegotiating contracts.  
    
    Question:
    
    	Has the players 3 year contract expired?
    
    /pjb
    
    

    I don't think the contract has expired.  I believe, to use your
    example, it would have called for three years of *service* and not just
    three years of elapsed time.
    
    Just a guess ...
    
    Bob Hunt

    Unbelievable!  Eric the Headcase Extraordinaire says that he wants to
    be traded!  He blames the (lack of) offensive line protection, saying
    that it's inevitable that a major injury will occur if he continues
    playing for the Colts.  And all the while, he's pointing fingers at
    teammates and creating hard feelings.  Football does not need all-stars
    like this person......
    
    Hawk

    Eric should call up Majkowski from the Packers and ask him what the 
    demand is for over priced football players. I would love to see Eric
    sit for a year with out pay, might set a trend.


Chuck

    Dickerson has been trying to get out of Indy since the end of last
    season.  He has already said that he would be willing to retire rather
    than take the punishment of playing for the Colts.

AIMHI::STEVENSON "WAFL Commisioner"                  17 lines  31-JUL-1990 10:23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Speaking of egotistical slugs getting banned from their sport, any word
    from anyone yet today on the Eric Bickerson/Bob Irsay bluffing match?
    
    Never thought I'd be able to say this, but I'm pulling for Irsay big
    time in this one.   
    
    Wouldn't today be the deadline day for him to report or go the way of
    John Riggins in 81?
    
    Here's praying that Irsay wins.  Pro football will be the richer for
    it.  As will the Colts.   
    
    
    Rick
    
    
    

    Dickerson needs to slapped. I've got a question for anyone with
    any legal knowledge. Cant the Colts sue Dick(head)erson for breach of
    contract? Its a valid contract and it remains in force until the 
    expiration date of the contract or by mutual agreement of the parties.
    Isnt this the way it works? I say the NFL should step in and have
    someone big and ugly pay a little visit to Dick's house and maybe
    put a little thrasin' on his whiney butt. 
    
    		JMHO, Rich
    

    Rich, it seems that, in this day and age, the "all-star" players have
    the upper hand, contract or no contract.  Unfortunately, Dickerson will
    get his baby way, one way or another, regardless of how hard Irsay
    works at putting him in his rightful place.  I bet that won't be a Colt
    long.....
    
    Hawk

    Here's some food for thought:  A football player signs an NFL contract. 
    The team he signs with can send him to any other football team in the
    country at a whim.  A player asks to be traded and the fans dump on
    him.  Is this fair?

    Mac,
    
    Unlesss the player has a no-trade clause, yep, the team can trade
    him to anyone they want to.  It's part of the contract and the game.
    Breaking a contract happens far to much in big sports.  
    
    He has the right to ask for a trade, but if his wishes aren't granted,
    he has two options, IMO, play or quit. ANd if he quits, he shouldn't
    be paid, but should remain property of the team.
    
    JD

    I think it is prefectly fair.  Why should it be any different from
    normal everyday business ?  If you are in a company that has told you
    to transfer you either transfer or quit.  The NFL is like a company
    with teams acting as "Area" or "regional Mgr.". they have authority
    over the team but must operate under the NFL guidelines (or corporate
    policy).
    
    If you agree to a contract then you are saying that you feel you are
    worth that dollar amount for that period of time under the specified
    conditions.  This holding out, renogotiation is bull, we need a salary
    cap as in a normal company.
   

    re .46:  To take your analogy about everyday business a bit farther. 
    If the normal joe decides that he would rather live and work in
    Colorado Springs instead of Maynard, MA, he has the right to apply for
    and accept  a job out there.  A professional athlete rarely has that
    option.

    To take that even further, Mac, as DEC employees, we do not have
    guaranteed contracts specifying what we'll be getting a year or 2 down
    the road, including agreeing on future raises ahead of time......
    
    In reality, the above does not apply in this argument any more than
    what you raised in .47.

    re .47
    
    But the normal Joe hasn't signed a contract to work four years in
    Maynard.  Now we're starting to get into apples and oranges. 
    Regardless, I'm sure the overwhelming majority are rooting against
    Dick(erson).
    
    	--dan'l

I've also heard that if Erik doesn't report and play (for the Colts or
someone else) that Irsay will sue him for the $1,000,000 signing bonus
Erik was paid.  Contract says that if he doesn't report he has to return
the cash....  Hope he goes broke.

	Ed^2

    re .50:  This coming from a Bronco fan whose beloved QB told Irsay to
    take a hike before he even played a down?  The fan of a QB who threw a
    hissy fit and threatened to play baseball rather than play for the
    colts?  Nah, that must be another Ed^2.

    Eric is now changing his tune. He says he is sorry for putting down his
    team mates and that he wouldn't mind play for Indy again. I think now
    has a new agent trying to work out a deal for him. The Colts shouldn't
    offer him a new deal, he signed a contract now he should live up to it.
    He'll be back and so won't Majkowski for Green Bay.

chuck

re:51


Yup, it is the one and only Ed^2 that made those dastardly statements in .50.

But your comparisons are way off base.  1st, Elway hadn't signed ANY contract
with Irsay....he made his choice and stuck with it.  He had the option to
ask to be traded or to play baseball.  John NEVER had any agreement with the
Colts.

Now the same can not be said for poor little erik dickerson, can it.  He took
a cool million dollars as a signing bonus, and who know what in the way of
a salary per year over the life of his contract.  THEN he decides not to 
report, which is a violation of the CONTRACT that he signed.  Yeah, I hope
Irsay suddenly becomes a million dollars richer and erik poorer.  Either that
or let the dude report and honor HIS contract.

To bring John into this is a red herring....

	Ed^2

   Eric and John Boy are slightly different cases:

   Eric agreed to go to the Colts, went to the Colts, and signed
   contracts with the Colts. He also cost them a lot of players and draft
   choices.

   Elway did none of the above. He said he wouldn't play for Irsay, and
   was planning to go into baseball if football required him to play for
   Irsay. He had no contractual obligations whatsoever,  and was only
   exercising his rights as a U.S. citizen, and god-fearing, right
   thinking, truth loving example of excellence, sobriety, and straight
   talking, quick drawing, talent laden, break dancin', rhythm and blues
   singing all a_merican boy.

   Mike JN
Say AMEN!!
   		AAAAAA M E N !!!

>   Eric and John Boy are slightly different cases:

 This is a correct statement and they are only different by one having
 a contract the other not.....

 Both are spoiled, pampered, egotistical crybabies so there are a lot of
 simularities....

 mike

    elway  may throw more  INTS  than  TDS THIS YR
    
    
    DINZ
    

    While Dickerson may be something of a head case, he *is* RIGHT. 
    
    Thanks to the blunderings of Irsay, the Dolts will have a rookie QB is
    is possibly overrated, minus their best OL, and WR.
    
    Guess who is going to have to shoulder the burden of the offense ?
    
    Guess who is in for one hell of a beating this year ?
    
    You guys can whine all you want about Eric, but don't slam the guy
    because he is without a death wish. It's obvious that few people in
    this note have ever been blasted by a DL, even in a practice.
    
    And I think about the career of the greatest runner I ever saw (besides
    Earl Campbell) - O.J. Simpson. 
    
    You guys loved him, he never complained.
    
    How many Super Bowls did he go to ?
    
    Enough said.
    
    Dr M

Doc,

I don't buy it. Dickerson has never demonstrated any desire. He comes in,
runs his mouth, backs it up and then loses his perspective about himself
and his job.

Dickerson may play in a Super Bowl. Ralph Sampson played in an NBA
finals. Anything can happen. 

And about that few_people_dont_know_squat, if Eric don't like it, quit.
Or change he can change his style. You never heard Franco Harris
complain about the contact, he just ran away from it. And he won 4 Super
Bowl rings.

TTom

>    Thanks to the blunderings of Irsay, the Dolts will have a rookie QB is
>    is possibly overrated, minus their best OL, and WR.
>    
>    Guess who is going to have to shoulder the burden of the offense ?
>    
>    Guess who is in for one hell of a beating this year ?
    
    But he's being paid much much more than the other running backs on the
    team who will have to endure the same punishment.  It's Dickerson's
    holier-than-thou attitude that gets my goat.
    
    His attitude and tactics are bothering us, Dr M, not his reasons for
    being such a puss.
    
    There! Now "Enough said," right?
    
    	--dan'l

    Doc,

        The problem with Eric is he does this ever couple of years he did
    it 3 time in LA and now in Indy. If he doesn't want to play football
    fine, pack the bags and go home. If he wants a new contract every year
    fine, sign a contract every year for more money if he can get it good
    for him. But he signs long term contracts and then he wants more. He
    wants his cake and eat it to. 

    Poor Eric he has to play for team without much talent. He should have
    seen that when he signed the big contract 3 years ago. There QB situation
    wasn't any better then. Now this junk about about him having to carry 
    the load for the team, theres at least one backup RB on every team in the
    NFL who wishs they could carry the load for a team. Ask Albert Bentley if
    he wants to carry the load for the Colts. Does Eric want to play football
    or just cash the checks? If he wants to 2 million a year (he gets 1.7 mil
    now) he has to put in some time on football field. They can't afford to
    pay big big bucks so he just runs 15 times a game with great blocking and
    nobody hits him. He had a good team and great blocking when he was with
    the Rams and he wore out his weclome there too, so what does the lil'brat
    want?

    In my mind the he is a selfish(TM) punk. I thought I was going to hack
    when I read the interview he did with Sports Illustrated late last year.
    Make him sit. Nobody in NFL is willing to pay him 2 mil a year now,
    hes 29 or 30 years old already.

Chuck

    Eric was not trying to renogiate his contract.  He was not trying to
    get a raise.  He demanded to be traded to a team that had a shot at
    winning the Super Bowl.  The Colts didn't honor his demand.  He'll
    probably be in camp by the end of the week.

Eric started all this bru-ha-ha about getting killed behind a weak offensive line
before the Dolts made the trade that sold the farm for Jeff George. It hasn't
been a recent thing. He started his tirade immediately after last season ended.

Metz

    Mac,

       He wanted to be trade so he could renogiate a new contract. His
       demand to be trade was issued after Indy told his agent there was no
       way they were going to renogiate (right at the end of last year).

    Chuck

    OMO (only my opinion)
    
    
   Eric Dickerson could have been one of the top 5 GREATEST running
   backs to EVER play the game (high school, college, pro) but his 
   atitude is pretty much lousy, or should I say the way he goes about
   things.  Karl Malone and a few other pro players ask for contract
   renego's every year.  The way I see it is...Imagine yourselves in
   his shoes.  Your the main offensive threat and suddenly your team
   gives up the farm to get a highly rated college QB and lucrative
   contracts are given to running backs who couldnt come close to 
   your ability, players who the last time they suited up to play a
   game was the senior bowl and they are making more than you.  I 
   think in a kind of foolish way...Eric Dickerson is looking out for
   himself.  Pro sports are a business period, I will be upset if he
   doesnt play but MORE POWER TO HIM if he gets what he wants!!!!

    
    
    FYI -
    
    Eric Dickerson reported to training camp yesterday 6-Aug-1990 and
    failed the team physical.

    Yeah, I heard that.  Anyone know why he failed?  
    
    I read somewhere that they would test him right away, so that he
    couldn't get into camp then claim injury and thus get his salary
    for the year while sitting out.  This was in the Sunday Globe,
    if I remember right.
    
    Lee

      I think some of you are right to a point when it comes to Dickerson
    carrying the load for the offense, but again, you need to think who is
    really under the gun here.  It has to be the new QB!!!  All the
    defensive rushers are going to be gunning for him.  If you remember any
    of the other "top" rookie qb starters,  most of them ended up with
    terrible rookie seasons do to the mental and physical preasures that
    were set upon them.
    
      Elway is a prime example.  He had a terrible OL plus he had a hard
    time adapting to the NFL, which obviuosly has better Defensive players
    than the college teams he played against.  Vinnie in Tampa is still
    trying to get his $h!t together.  Everrett took a couple of years as
    well as the "great" one himself, Montana.
    
      We will see how Jeffry performs Saturday against the Broncos.  
    
    
       Tim
    
      P.s.  Dickerson is a crybaby though!!!

    George didn't look too bad against Denver when he had time to throw,
    but when the Broncos blitzed he had some real problems.  He threw
    2 picks and fumbled twice, but he does have a nice touch on his
    passes.  One player who stood out in my mind was Ken Clark.  He
    rushed 8 times for 45 yards and showed some good cutting ability.
    
    Joe

    Update on Dickerson:
    
    He's going through his own rehab in Houston, and is due to meet with
    the team physician this week for re-testing.  The Houston doctor claims
    that he may be sidelined 3-4 weeks.
    
    re -.1:  George was, in all honesty, pretty stinko against the Broncs. 
    Howsomever, he looked mucho better when he got the start against the
    Seahawks on Friday.  Also helped Jessie Hester demonstrate that maybe
    he has hands as well as speed, with 4 catches for a bunch of yards.  
    
    Since most of the info appearing in this note seems to come from far
    away sources, I'll try to keep regular updates from the hometown in
    here.  
    
    rick
    

    In today's paper:
    
    The Dolts are in discussions with Atlanta regarding a trade for Eric
    the Ingrate.  No terms have been released, but up to now the irsaydolts
    have been demanding at least a 1st rounder.  To consider, the
    glanvilles have a couple of disgruntled offensive linemen, including
    Chris Hinton, that could be mentioned as well.
    
    Just in case anybody cares........
    
    
    rick
    

Supposedly, Eric will not be starting the NFL on time this year. He has a
hamstring injury that caused him to flunk his physical. The Colts don't
expect him for a while. 

TTom

    I've heard rumors that Atlanta wants to dump Fralic as he has "lost a
    step or two" over the years.  I bet he could go to indy in a package
    deal and become an all-pro again.
    
    	--dan'l

    RE.75:
    
    To compound matters, the hamstring was injured in the off-season, &
    isn't the same on injured last season.  Since it is a non-football
    injury, they can't order him to report until his rehab is done and his
    doctor clears him.  He was supposed to show up today to be retested,
    but declined.  Very convenient, eh.....
    
    On the other hand, he can be placed on the non-football injury list and
    would have to miss 6 weeks of regular season, without pay.  Not that he
    NEEDS the money, though.
    
    rick

   I know Irsay like a book.

   The Dolts will trade Eric Dickerson and Three First Round Draft Choices
   for the rights to Deion Sanders.

   Mike JN

    Yep...so he can quit and go play baseball.
    
    
    rick
    

       Dickerson refused to take another physical and has been placed on a
    suspended list. He'll be out 6 games with no pay, (about $600,000).
                                       Denny

    Latest news:
    
    Eric the Ingrate is now trying to talk to the Irsay's and is also
    trying to get Tagliabue to reverse the decision.  He claims he wasn't
    told the penalty of not taking the physical.
    
    Colts are bringing Mark Herrman in as #3 QB, picking him up off the
    waiver wire from the Rams.  
    
    rick

    Eric the Ingrate was also dumped by his new agent Lee Steinberg(sp).

    Looks like it only took Lee about 3 weeks to find out Eric is nothing
    but trouble.

Chuck

    Could somebody list the team roster, it would be helpful if you could
    also list Stanley Morgans' jersey number. I know #88 was his pre-season
    number but 86 is what he wants to wear during regular season. I think
    some Pruit ( Dolphins ) guy had it last year. 
                              thanks   
                                       mike

    Pruitt ws a holdout, but signed last week, so he still has 88.  Thus,
    Stanley Morgan is wearing 86.
    
    Roster coming up soon.....
    
    rick

    Thanks Rick, I think you have the numbers reversed though. Whats the
    status on George for the Pats game ?
    
    mike
    

    I want to make a public apology.  Jeff George is going to be a star in
    the NFL and it looks like Indy made a good move in going after him.  I
    still don't think he's worth all that money, but boy does he have an
    accurate cannon for an arm.
    
    I think he will be the hottest QB in the NFL in a few years.
    
    	--dan'l