The mascot for this NFL season is Darren Bennett, 30, an Australian who in his first year as the San Diego Chargers’ punter leads the league with a 45.2-yard average. He proves that nobody is too old or too inexperienced to excel in a sport that must not be as difficult as some people make it look.
With that in mind, here are some of the memorable developments of the season:
The Warren Moon forever young award: Moon turned 39 and is celebrating with the second-best season of his distinguished NFL career. His 31 touchdown passes for the Vikings are the most ever for a quarterback as old as he is.
Moon inspired Vince Evans, 40, to start for the Raiders. He must have encouraged Art Monk to return at 38 and catch passes for the Eagles. He spurred the Chiefs’ Marcus Allen, 35, to his best season since 1985.
Jackie Slater, 41, became the first player to suit up 20 years for the same team when he appeared in a game for the Rams. He was carried off the field and quietly placed on injured reserve. It was football’s answer to Cal Ripken.
What do you mean, rookie? Curtis Martin, Patriots, arrived in the third round and is outrunning everybody except Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders.
The Panthers’ Kerry Collins is 7-5 as a rookie starting quarterback with an expansion team. Think about that for a minute.
The Vikings’ Orlando Thomas is leading the league with nine interceptions.
Jets defensive end Hugh Douglas has 10 sacks.
Steelers quarterback/receiver/punter/running back Kordell “Slash” Stewart answers salary-cap problems.
Remember these names: Mark Chmura, tight end, Packers, went to the Pro Bowl after the injury retirement of Sterling Sharpe and the late arrival of Keith Jackson. Chmura has been around four years, struggling with injury and waiting his turn for playing time.
“It helps that the quarterback is your best friend,” Packers coach Mike Holmgren said of Chmura’s pal, Brett Favre.
Chmura is one of 21 first-time Pro Bowl players who are either new faces on the block or finally getting their just due.
49er cornerback Eric Davis played in the shadow of Deion Sanders last year. Not now.
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Steeler receiver Yancey Thigpen. Leads the AFC in receiving yards. Talk about new names.
Eagles linebacker William Thomas leads all linebackers with seven interceptions.
Comeback of year: Marv Levy, 70, Bills coach, back on the sidelines 20 days after prostate cancer surgery.
Who were those guys anyway? Joe Montana? You say the Chiefs miss Joe?
Sterling Sharpe? The Packers are better off without him.
Free-agent hits: Bryce Paup, Bills, is leading the league in sacks with 17 1/2.
Ricky Watters, Eagles, is carrying his new team, as he preferred to riding on the 49ers’ bandwagon.
Misses: Andre Rison, Browns, fell off the face of the earth, like his team. Just think, the Packers actually thought he would be better than Robert Brooks.
David Meggett, Patriots, hurt the Giants by his absence more than he helped the Patriots.
Backfires: The Saints decided not to chase Morten Andersen, 35, whom former Saints general manager Jim Finks called the best placekicker he had ever seen. Andersen signed with the Falcons and beat the Saints twice, once in overtime and again with kicks from 25, 51, 55 and 55 yards.
The Browns traded Eric Metcalf to the Falcons to make room for Rison. Metcalf has caught 99 passes, exposing the Browns’ inability to coach him for six wasted years.
The best players: Some are just better than others:
Brett Favre, 36 touchdown passes, 26.
Jerry Rice, 33, may not have peaked yet.
Barry Sanders is still the scariest.
Smith. Emmitt, Bruce, Neil. Good football name.
Reggie White. The Force stays with him.
Great seasons awards: Herman Moore, Lions, figured out the secret code to stealing the ball from Barry Sanders, turning Lions into No. 1 offense.
Scott Mitchell, Lions, pulls the trigger.
Ken Norton Jr., 49ers, is the middle man for the No. 1 defense.
Jim Harbaugh, Colts, leads all passers in efficiency rating.
Cris Carter, Vikings; Michael Irvin, Cowboys; Isaac Bruce, Rams; Brett Perriman, Lions, who join Moore and Rice with 100 catches.
Dan Marino, Dolphins, would trade all those records for a few victories. Well, maybe some of them.
Unsung: Levon Kirkland, Steelers inside linebacker. If you think Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene are tough, catch this guy in the playoffs.
Merton Hanks, 49ers safety. An uncanny knack for making big plays.
Chris Warren, Seahawks, four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in a row, zero national name recognition.
Dermontti Dawson, Steelers center. Who needs star tight ends and running backs?
Terry Allen, Redskins. Best season, 1,217 yards for only $450,000. Is anybody tougher?
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Poster boy: It was a fine season, as the NFL continued to take money from defensive players for hits that game officials failed to flag. The idea is to protect quarterbacks, who still got hurt at an alarming rate. Flag football looms.
Chris Miller, Rams quarterback, suffered his fifth concussion in 15 months. Or was that 14 months? Or was it three concussions and two knockouts? Or were those just blackouts?
Gee, he can’t remember.