Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will have company on the bench in his first NFL game. None of the six linebackers drafted in the first round will start Sunday. All are expected to contribute but none could be trusted yet with a start.
Washington’s LaVar Arrington (2) is playing behind fourth-year second-rounder Greg Jones.
The New York Jets’ John Abraham (13) is behind 10th-year third-rounder Mo Lewis.
San Francisco’s Julian Peterson (16) is behind third-year undrafted Jeff Posey.
Indianapolis’ Rob Morris (28) is behind ninth-year fourth-rounder Dwight Hollier.
Tennessee’s Keith Bulluck (30) is behind third-year fourth-rounder Greg Favors.
Urlacher (9) is behind second-year fourth-rounder Rosevelt Colvin.
The only two rookie linebackers listed in starting lineups are Green Bay’s Na’il Diggs, a fourth-rounder, and Carolina’s Lester Towns, a seventh-rounder.
“It’s an extremely tough position,” Packers General Manager Ron Wolf said. “In our system it’s awfully hard for the two inside guys. The outside guy is more of an athlete. That’s where Diggs has an advantage.”
Last Labor Day: The NFL has decided this will be the last season opener on Labor Day weekend. Football fans have turned the Super Bowl into an unofficial American holiday, but they prefer that football stay away from their final holiday of summer. With TV ratings down, the league has decided to push back the start of the season permanently. That means the Super Bowl eventually will fall in February if the league clings to its preferred and traditional two-week gap after the championship games.
Don’t lose: There are eight intradivision openers including Bears-Vikings. Last year there were seven. Only one of the seven losers, Washington, rebounded to win a division. Two years ago there were 10 intradivision openers. None of the 10 losers rebounded to win a division.
Labor of hate: Greetings, Oakland, from Al Davis and the Raiders. On the eve of a new season, the Raiders labeled a lawsuit settlement offer by Oakland and Alameda County “a sham.”
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“Shockingly, the Raiders have the lowest attendance in the NFL,” a press release stated. “The gap between our local revenue and that of other NFL teams is currently between $30 million and $80 million a year. … While other teams are prospering, the city and county have made this community a disaster area for pro sports in general, and have destroyed the marketplace for pro football specifically. … No one can pretend that it makes sense to prolong this nightmare.”
Bad news, Bears: Don’t let Bears cornerbacks Walt Harris and Thomas Smith know this fact: Vikings receiver Randy Moss leads the league with 28 receiving touchdowns over the last two seasons. Vikings receiver Cris Carter is second with 25.
The running game: Former Bears rushing leaders Rashaan Salaam and Raymont Harris are out of football. Former Bears draft picks Darnell Autry and Jim Finn are back.
After pursuing an acting career, Autry made the Philadelphia Eagles as a backup. The Bears’ fourth-round pick from Northwestern in 1997, Autry’s heart was in Hollywood. Cut after the Bears decided his indecision at the line of scrimmage was unacceptable, he caught on briefly with Philadelphia in 1998 before quitting. He re-signed this off-season.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said: “He got himself into acting and decided football wasn’t what he wanted. He caught our eye on performance alone. It was a long shot; I can’t say that it wasn’t. You can’t say how guys are going to come back from a sabbatical and perform.”
Eagles scout Mike McCartney, who was with the Bears in 1997, said there was “no question in my mind” that Autry made a mistake declaring for the draft early, after his junior year.
“He was rusty, but in the third preseason game he hit a hole and kept his legs churning, and ever since he has run with authority and hit the holes hard,” McCartney said. “When he left Chicago, his heart wasn’t in it.”
Finn, the final pick of the 1999 draft by the Bears, was signed as a free agent by Indianapolis in January and earned a starting spot with a solid preseason.
“It’s been kind of an interesting trip,” Finn said. “After being cut last year in Chicago and not knowing what was going to happen I’ve gone to being a starter on a team like Indianapolis. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s all paid off.”
Finn fumbled on his first carry in the Colts’ exhibition opener, but showed promise as a pass blocker and receiver, running for 63 yards and catching passes for another 63.
A real miracle: Tennessee Titans special-teams coach Alan Lowry, 49, narrowly avoided a heart attack Wednesday when doctors inserted a stent into an artery to clear blockage after he awoke at 3 a.m. with chest pains.
Lowry is the architect of the Titans’ “Music City Miracle” kickoff lateral that beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC playoffs.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said: “There was no damage to the heart. Donna [Lowry’s wife] called it the second Music City Miracle.” Lowry did not accompany the team to Buffalo for Sunday’s rematch.
Lowry refers to the play as “Home Run Throwback.” Bills coach Wade Phillips calls the play “Home Run Throw Forward.”
After Titans fullback Lorenzo Neal handed off the kickoff to tight end Frank Wycheck, Wycheck threw a cross-field pass to receiver Kevin Dyson, who ran for a touchdown with 16 seconds left to stun the Bills, who claimed Wycheck’s throw was illegally forward.
“I saw the film and I saw the picture. It was a forward lateral,” Phillips said. “But it’s just like a holding call or pass interference or anything else. If it’s not called then, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Bad moon Rison: Just as the NFL tries desperately to heal from its off-field image wounds, along comes Andre Rison, released by Kansas City, picked up by the Raiders and wanted in four states.
Prosecutors in Kansas City charged Rison with four felonies for writing $158,000 in bad checks to an Atlanta area jewelry store. Court records show he actually owes the jeweler, who won a civil judgment against Rison, for $287,900 in jewelry and about $43,000 in legal costs.
Rison also owes more than $34,000 in child support for a 2-year-old son. There’s a $200,000 civil judgment against Rison in a case brought by a neighbor in Leawood, Kan., who said he never repaid a loan. An additional claim of fraud in that case is set for trial next month.
A criminal charge of felony theft also is pending against Rison in Kansas. That involves recording equipment he rented and allegedly did not return. Police in River Falls, Wis., where the Chiefs train, cited Rison for allegedly giving them false information after a bar fight.
Rison disputed the perception that he brings trouble with him wherever he goes.
“It’s very unfair,” Rison said. “I’m a beautiful father, and I live a beautiful life. I’m not saying I’ve been a saint, and I’m not saying I’m perfect. But I am a Raider.”
For Derrick: Indianapolis linebacker Cornelius Bennett and his wife have purchased 220 tickets for Sunday’s Colts-Chiefs game for students from the late Derrick Thomas’ “Third-and-Long” Foundation, which promotes literacy among inner-city children across the country.
Bennett was an Alabama teammate of Thomas, who died after a January auto accident.
“He is constantly on my mind,” Bennett said.
“It’s going to be a tough day, but I hope what I am doing might help ease the pain.”
Welcome back: Dave Wannstedt, 1-11 lifetime against Mike Holmgren, returns as coach of the Miami Dolphins against Holmgren’s Seattle Seahawks.
“Brett Favre. Reggie White. Next question,” Wannstedt said. They won a Super Bowl, you know.”
A little early: The Cincinnati Bengals held the earliest “players only” meeting of the season.
Linebacker Takeo Spikes, tackle Willie Anderson and quarterback Akili Smith called the meeting Wednesday in response to the team’s lackluster performance in the exhibition finale. The three players said they were upset with the team’s lazy practices.
A wordsmith: Colts coach Jim Mora, whose team is picked to win big, has a future as an English teacher.
“In the NFL a team cannot have `expectations,'” Mora said. “You can’t expect winning. It has to be earned. You can have `aspirations,’ but those only come about when you take daily efforts in paying attention to details and practicing correctly.”
Don Pierson’s NFL rankings.
1. Rams. They earned it until further notice.
2. Titans. One yard short and determined to get there.
3. Colts. Manning-Harrison-James enter Round 2.
4. Buccaneers. Keyshawn brings keys to the end zone.
5. Jaguars. Health and toughness are the questions.
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6. Bills. They are rebuilding on the fly.
7. Redskins. An impressive roster tries to become a team.
8. Vikings. Daunte Culpepper is latest in quarterback derby.
9. Seahawks. They won AFC West but aren’t impressive.
10. Chiefs. Only winning team that failed to make playoffs.
11. Dolphins. Defense will have to keep Marino-less team afloat.
12. Ravens. Billick promises to give defense help.
13. Cowboys. If Aikman can score, Cowboys can win.
14. Lions. Everything depends on health of Charlie Batch.
15. Panthers. Passing offense was great; defense intriguing.
16. Raiders. Always impressive on paper, but always 8-8.
17. Packers. It’s up to Brett. It’s always up to Brett.
18. Giants. They believe they can challenge in NFC East.
19. Jets. A strong comeback by Testaverde is only chance.
20. Broncos. With Davis healthy, ready for big rebound.
21. BEARS. Lots of questions need to be answered.
22. Patriots. Belichick should tighten up defense.
23. Falcons. Jamal Anderson must come back strong.
24. Eagles. Donovan McNabb is ready to break out.
25. Chargers. What if Ryan Leaf helps out the defense?
26. Steelers. Kordell benched before season starts.
27. Bengals. Smith to Warrick could be a hot combination.
28. 49ers. Nobody wants to believe in Jeff Garcia.
29. Saints. Ricky Williams is ready for rookie year.
30. Cardinals. Injuries, holdouts, defections decimate team.
31. Browns. Still a year away from being a year away.