The Bears can’t all agree on whether Warren Moon’s left knee strain remains serious enough to affect what the Minnesota quarterback can do in Sunday’s playoff game.
“I know he’s going to be pretty jittery back there and wanting to get rid of the ball quick,” cornerback Donnell Woolford said Thursday. “He can’t scramble and get back and throw deep. He may have to look for his receivers on shorter routes.
“If Chris (Zorich) and Alonzo (Spellman) can go for his knees, they’ll probably do it. Not to hurt him or anything like that.”
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Zorich sees Moon’s situation differently. He doesn’t think Minnesota is hiding the extent of Moon’s injury.
“I’m not so sure about him going to shorter passing routes,” Zorich said. “I don’t think Minnesota would send him out there if he couldn’t do certain things.”
Two-way street: As much as everyone dwells on the dominance of the Vikings’ passing attack, Zorich stresses that Minnesota’s running game shouldn’t be ignored.
“We have to keep them from running,” he said.
In Minnesota’s 42-14 romp Sept. 18 in Chicago, the Vikes ran for 212 yards and passed for 252. They rushed for 100 yards in their Dec. 1 victory.
Coach No. 3: Dave Wannstedt finished third in the AP balloting for Coach of the Year.
New England’s Bill Parcells finished first, followed by Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher. Parcells got 29 votes; Cowher 25 and Wannstedt 22.
The 49ers’ George Seifert was fourth with 14 votes, the Browns’ Bill Belichick had 4, the Cowboys’ Barry Switzer 3 and the Giants’ Dan Reeves 1.
“It’s a nice honor,” said Wannstedt.
Bortz a question: It may be a gametime decision for Wannstedt on the availability of veteran left guard Mark Bortz. In any event, Todd Perry will start.
“We will take Mark on the trip with us, then decide between him and Todd Burger to see who is active,” said Wannstedt. Bortz has missed four games with a strained knee.
Strange trip: If it seems strange to be sitting home watching the Bears play Sunday on the road, it’s because eight of their last 10 playoff games have been in Soldier Field and one at a neutral site (Super Bowl XX in New Orleans). Their only other away game in the bunch was Jan. 13, 1991, against the New York Giants. The Bears lost 31-3.
Pull the plug: If the Vikings go ahead by more than seven points Sunday, the party’s probably over. The Bears have never rallied to win a playoff game when they trailed by more than a touchdown.