While Kurt Warner stayed in a class by himself, a few old quarterbacks are letting the new wave know they are still around.
One glaring exception is Troy Aikman, whose five interceptions got his name added to the Dallas Cowboys’ record book in a category he has avoided over the years.
Aikman has thrown nine interceptions and only two touchdown passes this season, leaving Cowboys fans to call for Randall Cunningham to take over the 2-4 team before it is too late.
No, say owner Jerry Jones and coach Dave Campo in that order, leaving no doubt who remains boss as well as quarterback. Aikman’s teammates rallied to his support after Sunday’s 19-14 loss to the New York Giants.
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“I’ve seen him make too many plays and win too many games,” running back Emmitt Smith said. “I’ve still got confidence in him.”
But at 2-4, the Cowboys dropped 2 1/2 games behind the 5-2 Giants and Washington Redskins and 1 1/2 behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East Division. They already have lost three division games–to the Eagles, Arizona Cardinals and now the Giants.
All five of Aikman’s interceptions looked like they were either underthrown or the result of missed reads, unusual for a three-time Super Bowl winner known for accuracy.
“I try to go out and play within the framework of what I feel I can still do,” said Aikman, who turns 34 next month. “I don’t feel like some things are quite as effortless as what they once were. For someone who has been accustomed to playing at a very high level, that’s really frustrating.”
The Cowboys are 1-3 this season in games Aikman has started. Since 1996, the last time Dallas won a playoff game, Aikman is 21-24 in the regular season and 0-2 in the postseason. He hasn’t been to the Pro Bowl any of those years after going to six straight.
Elsewhere, old quarterbacks refused to fade away:
A cannon: The Oakland Raiders have won in Kansas City before, but rarely has quarterback Rich Gannon reminded the Chiefs of how good he can be. The Chiefs dumped Gannon in favor of Elvis Grbac two years ago and Gannon made them pay Sunday.
“Brilliant,” was how Raiders coach Jon Gruden labeled Gannon’s comeback from a 17-7 halftime deficit.
Time after time, Gannon improvised when plays broke down, completing 28 of 33 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Improvising is the one thing Gannon does so much better than Grbac.
The Raiders have come from behind in four of their five wins. Last year, all eight of their losses were by a touchdown or less, which is why they drafted place-kicker Sebastian Janikowski in the first round. Janikowski has been wildly inconsistent, making just eight of his 15 field goal attempts, but his 43-yarder beat the Chiefs.
Back in favor: To beat the rebuilding San Francisco 49ers might not seem like an accomplishment worth a parade, but Green Bay’s Brett Favre looked like the grand marshal again in carrying the Packers to a 31-28 win before Green Bay’s week off. Another defeat following losses to Detroit and the Bears might have sent the Packers packing.
Now, they are 3-4 and expect to be healthier than they have been all season when they return to play at Miami Oct. 29.
Seven starters and three key backups have missed games with injuries. Cornerbacks Mike McKenzie and Antuan Edwards joined halfback Dorsey Levens and tight end Tyrone Davis in returning to the lineup Sunday, and the only significant new injury was tight end Ryan Wetnight’s strained hamstring.
Vinny winning: The New York Jets continue to defy predictions. They rebounded from last week’s loss to Pittsburgh by pounding the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Mass., exposing the Patriots as pretenders.
The return of quarterback Vinny Testaverde from a pinched nerve in his shoulder that knocked him out of the Steelers’ game was key for the Jets.
Although his 15-for-23 passing effort for 139 yards and no touchdowns was less than modest, Testaverde’s presence alone seems to steady the Jets.
Testaverde took a cortisone shot on Monday and underwent acupuncture on Tuesday in an effort to rebound.
“If you have a tough quarterback, you have a tough team,” coach Al Groh said.
Ex-Bear Bowl: Buffalo’s Doug Flutie came off the bench to beat San Diego’s Jim Harbaugh in a battle of ex-Bears.
San Diego coach Mike Riley admitted he “blew” it by periodically substituting a third ex-Bear, Moses Moreno, for Harbaugh, only to watch Moreno fumble twice.
The toughness of Harbaugh, once questioned by ex-Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, has far outlasted his physical shortcomings. It is a toughness that young Ryan Leaf lacks.
Ram machine: The Rams became the first team in NFL history to match a 300-yard passer (Warner) and a 200-yard rusher (Marshall Faulk) in one game.
Their 45-29 win over Atlanta was “average,” nearly identical to their season scoring average of 43.7 and exactly matching their season defensive average of 29.
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They scored 37 points before Faulk, Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt had stepped into the end zone.
Ricky rambles: The Saints’ Ricky Williams enjoyed his fourth straight 100-yard game, gaining 144 in 38 carries.
Williams is making the decision by fired Mike Ditka and Bill Kuharich to trade for him look good. The key to his success is repetition. On 19 of his 38 carries against the Panthers Sunday, Williams gained 2 yards or less, but the Saints stuck with him.