With Northwestern rekindling his memory with unexpected success, it looks like forgotten man Darnell Autry has a chance to resurface with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Unless the Eagles make a trade by Tuesday’s deadline, Autry will be first in line to replace injured Duce Staley as the starting running back for the Eagles. With Staley out with an ankle injury, Autry, Brian Mitchell and Stanley Pritchett combined for only 36 yards rushing in 13 carries in Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Washington Redskins.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb ran for 43 yards and may have to rekindle memories of Randall Cunningham, who led the Eagles in rushing the last four years of the Buddy Ryan reign of 1986-90.
Staley, who opened the season with a 200-yard day against Dallas, is to be examined Tuesday. If tests are negative, coach Andy Reid said, Staley’s foot will be placed in a cast and he could return this season. If he needs surgery, Staley will be lost for the year.
“We won’t put our future in jeopardy by trading high picks for an average player,” Reid said. “We’re not leaning in that direction, but we’ll keep our ears open.”
Autry led Northwestern to its surprise Rose Bowl berth after the 1995 season and entered the 1997 draft. The Bears picked him in the fourth round and released him in 1998. He signed with the Eagles, but retired during that season to pursue an acting career. He returned to them last off-season.
The Bears, who visit the Eagles on Oct. 22, will get a good idea of the market value of another forgotten man, Curtis Enis.
Trace of old: Trace Armstrong turned 35 last week and celebrated with a career-best 3 1/2 sacks against the Buffalo Bills. Armstrong is a big reason the Miami Dolphins are leading the AFC East with a 5-1 record.
With 10 sacks, Armstrong leads the NFL and is on pace to break the single-season record of 22 set by the New York Jets’ Mark Gastineau in 1984. “At this point in my career,” Armstrong said, “I savor every one.”
Armstrong, a Bears No. 1 draft choice in 1989, has 92 sacks, sixth among active players, and shows no sign of slowing down. He needs just two more sacks to match his season best of 12, set in 1996. He also leads Miami with 12 quarterback hurries and five forced fumbles.
“One, he keeps himself in great shape,” Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said. “Two, he studies film and the playbook as hard as anybody on our team. And three, we’re using him in situations where we’re able to maximize his strengths.”
Armstrong has been a pass-rush specialist since 1998 for the Dolphins. He plays about one-third of the time and was on the field for only 20 plays against the Bills. “I play with a great bunch of guys,” Armstrong said. “I’ve never had more fun playing than I’ve had the last couple of years.”
Armstrong is Exhibit A of why the Bears have fallen on hard times.
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He was traded to the Dolphins for second- and third-round picks, which the Bears used to draft punter Todd Sauerbrun and guard Evan Pilgrim. The Bears needed to trade him, they said, because they didn’t want to pay three No. 1 draft choices at defensive end–Armstrong, Alonzo Spellman and John Thierry–salaries of $1 million each.
Sauerbrun, Pilgrim, Spellman and Thierry are gone along with Armstrong.
Kicker to boot: At least the Bears didn’t draft placekicker Sebastian Janikowski. The 17th pick in last April’s draft by the Oakland Raiders, Janikowski missed two more field goals in Sunday’s overtime win over San Francisco.
The first kicker taken in the first round since 1979, Janikowski has missed five of 11 field-goal attempts–from 41, 50, 49, 41 and 35 yards. The longest of his six field goals has been 37 yards.
“He’s a great kicker,” Oakland coach Jon Gruden said. “I’m not going to waver on that. I know it hasn’t worked out the first five ballgames from a percentage standpoint. But I see great talent and I see a guy who is going to be a great addition to our team. It just may take a little bit longer than maybe we expected.”
Boos everywhere: The Bears who are getting booed can take solace in the plight of Denver running back Terrell Davis, a two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl running back who is struggling through an injury-plagued season after missing all of 1999 with knee surgery.
Davis was unable to play against San Diego in his hometown Sunday because of foot and ankle injuries and was harassed during the Broncos’ loss to the New England Patriots at Mile High Stadium last week.
“To question my toughness, now you’re sort of questioning my character,” Davis said.
Fans who apparently have forgotten his 2,000-yard season in 1998 are accusing him of loafing.
“It was pretty bad,” fullback Howard Griffith said of comments he overheard during and after the New England game. “They basically were saying he’s not tough enough and needs to learn how to play through pain. To be a fan and say some of the things that were coming out of their mouths, it’s ridiculous.”
Davis sprained his ankle and foot in the season opener against St. Louis, missed the next two games, then failed to finish the next two. He has only 99 yards rushing in 24 carries.
“You’d be amazed at what you hear,” Davis said. “Even if you don’t listen for it, you’ll find it. They’ll find you.”
Denver receiver Rod Smith said: “The only people who question his toughness don’t play. So who’s tougher, them or him? He’s not hurt; he’s injured. If he’s hurt, he’s going to play. He’s done that for years. But the guy’s injured. He needs time to heal.”
Holmgren homesick: You think Seattle coach Mike Holmgren doesn’t miss Brett Favre? After benching quarterback Jon Kitna in favor of Brock Huard on Sunday, Holmgren said: “Brock got in that game against Miami and didn’t have much of a chance. He really didn’t distinguish himself, but no one did in that game. … I’m not making the change because all of a sudden Brock is throwing lights-out in practice or anything. It’s something that I feel we need to try to give us a little spark here offensively.”
Huard threw for 172 yards but couldn’t get the Seahawks into the end zone in their 26-3 loss to Carolina.
A pattern: Saints rookie defensive end Darren Howard got his fourth sack of the season against the Bears on Sunday. Philadelphia’s Corey Simon, with five, is the only rookie with more sacks, and he has played one extra game.
The Saints got Howard in the second round, the same round the Bears have searched in vain for pass rushers such as Russell Davis, Pat Riley, Carl Simpson and Chris Zorich.
Defensively speaking: The Baltimore Ravens have won back-to-back games on field goals only. After two straight shutouts, their defense allowed only one touchdown to Jacksonville on Sunday night.
The Ravens were the first team since the 1985 Bears to record two straight shutouts. Yet Ravens coach Brian Billick thinks the ’85 Bears, who were ranked 20th in passing yardage, would have trouble winning these days.
“A team that is so totally reliant on defense in today’s game would have a tough time winning the Super Bowl,” he said. “The game has changed so much.
“You need to be more explosive if you think you’re going to win the Super Bowl. Where we sit right now, No. 1 in rushing defense, No. 2 in rushing yardage, No. 1 in turnovers, traditionally says there’s a championship profile. But unless we get the explosives back I don’t know if that is a legitimate (championship) profile. In my opinion, you have to have that to be Super Bowl champion.”
Defense and running isn’t enough for Billick, who said: “That’s a scary way to play for me. One or two little errors and all of a sudden, they’ve got the upper hand and now where are you?”
Around the league: Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin, who benched quarterback Mark Brunell in Sunday night’s loss to Baltimore, said Monday he’s sticking with Brunell as his starter. . . . Washington receiver Irving Fryar will miss at least two weeks with a bruised nerve in his shoulder. Redskins guard Tre Johnson has been declared out for the season and will need knee surgery.