Mark Carrier is having a Pro Bowl season, but folks in Honolulu shouldn`t be setting aside any leis for him.
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That`s because participants in the season-ending all-star game are chosen by the players, who usually vote for rookies only after exceptional seasons. Detroit running back Barry Sanders was named to the NFC team last year as a rookie. Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas was the lone AFC rookie.
Carrier leads the NFL with eight interceptions in his first year, and has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. What are his chances?
”Ha-ha, slim and none,” Carrier said. ”That`s how I look at it. I`m a rookie. I haven`t paid my dues yet. I don`t worry. I`m pushing for Shaun
(Gayle) to go because he`s having a great year. If I don`t go, the only person that will be upset is Marie Carrier (his mother) back in California.” Carrier`s coach figures partisan balloting will keep his safety on the mainland come February.
”That`s probably true,” Mike Ditka said. ”There`s a lot of politics voted into the Pro Bowl by the players. `Vote for my buddy, I`ll vote for your buddy` and all that stuff.
”Mark Carrier is playing as good a free safety as anybody in the league right now, including the guys who are the honchos,” Ditka continued, referring to the big-name players such as 49er safety Ronnie Lott. ”Whether he makes it or not, that`s not the bowl you want to go to anyway.”
Good grades: With three interceptions and nine tackles, Carrier graded out the highest on the defense after Sunday`s 10-9 loss at Washington. Donnell Woolford was second with seven tackles, two pass deflections and one interception. David Tate, who replaced Vestee Jackson (bruised knee, strained groin) at cornerback was third with 10 tackles and one pass defended.
”I thought Tate played a tremendous ballgame,” said defensive coordinator Vince Tobin said. ”He played most of the game at cornerback and played quite well. He made some good tackles.”
Tactful Bears: Although the offense failed to score a touchdown Sunday, the defense wasn`t pointing any fingers despite producing five turnovers.
”You can`t get caught up as the defensive coach or as a defensive player with what the other side of the ball is doing,” Tobin said. ”If we shut them out, we would`ve won the game.”