European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 1, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Doily Magazine pro football Kickoff by William n. Wallace new York times Ere comes the pro football season a Little Early this year a lot wealthier a Little differ ent and somewhat indifferent to mayhem. The National football league s 59th season will have its earliest Start in history Over the labor Day weekend and will continue until the super bowl Jan. 21 at Miami. This Span covers 21 weeks three More than last year and the television networks expect every fan s attention to be riveted to the outcome of 233 games. That is More games than last year by 30, and More than any previous year. According to the television ratings which go up and up the Public has asked for More nil football  the fans shall have More. A recent poll again ratified pro football As the nation s no. 1 Spectator sport. Left secure by last year s favourable contract with the players association the nil management subtracted two games from its six game preseason schedule and added those two to the regular season card of 14. So 14 became 16. Pleased by its original wild card playoff system the nil has doubled the wild card qualifying positions to four which Means 10 rather that eight of the 28 teams will Advance to the postseason playoffs. The nil Structure remains the same two conferences american and National of 14 teams each. Each conference is divided into three divisions East Central and West. The six division winners go into the playoffs. So do the next four teams two from each Confer ence with the Best Overall records behind the Divi Sion champions. Those four wild card clubs will occupy a new playoff Date this year the Day before Christmas for two first round elimination games. The victors will meet the division champions the Fol lowing weekend. After that will come the usual two con Ference championship contests among four survivors on Jan. 7 and the super bowl two sundays later. Individual and team records established Over past seasons of 14, 12 or fewer games will have no Honor or Protection As in a Grandfather clause. For example Tony Dorsett of the cowboys expects to exceed in 16 games . Simpson s 1973 Mark of 2,003 Yards gained Rushing in 14 games. Following the signing of a five year agreement with the players association the league signed four year Tele vision contracts with the three major networks starting with this season. The fees for the rights Corne to $656 million the largest sum in the history of television and one that will Guaran tee each team $5.4 million a year. For the first time television Money will exceed by $1 to $2 million depending upon the City the individual team income from Gate receipts. The result is that even the least provident of teams will have a pretax profit of at least $1 million. The effect is that to now owns pro football for better or for worse. Last season the nil commissioner Pete Rozelle publicly deplored violence in football and imposed fines and two game suspensions. His actions did not decrease the body Contact however. Seeking More stimulation for the television fan the nil will present rules changes to favor offence. Pass blockers have More use of the arms to defend their quarterbacks and pass catchers can be hit Only once by de fenders while on their routes. The nil expects More completed passes but it has made no rules changes to prevent injuries. It did increase the number of officials from six to seven As a reply to television replays which on occasion prejudiced the on Field judgments. A result of permissive mayhem in the nil is found in the person of Darryl Stingley the new eng land wide receiver whose neck was broken during an exhibition game in Oakland aug. 12. Jack Saturn s collision with the unprotected Stingley who had missed an overthrown pass was Legal under of rules. 1 As the season begins Stingley remains paralysed in a California Hospital his chances of again standing erect believed to be slim. A Brief rundown on the teams american conference Eastern division the acc s Eastern division is the league s strongest because it has three Bona fide super bowl contenders in the Baltimore Colts the Miami dolphins and the new England patriots. Against opponents other than one an other last season these three won 22 of 30 games. The patriots believe their time has come at last be cause of a solid squad whose qualities include depth Speed and youth. Versatile Andy Johnson absent last season with injuries will be a key performer at halfback and the club obtained Harold Jackson from the rams to replace Stingley. Jackson and Stingley ranked in the top 10 of nil receivers. There is concern about Russ Francis the pro bowl tight end injured twice this summer. Although Francis does not catch Many passes in the run oriented attack his presence As an open Field threat intimidates defences. But the bread and butter plays will be inside smashes by Sam Cunningham the underrated fullback and Short swing passes to Johnson. Devastating linebackers led by Steve Nelson make the established 3-4 defense perform and it led the league last year with 57 quarterback sacks or four a game. The kicking teams Are Superb because of the returns of Mike Haynes Stanley Morgan and Ray Clayborn. Ron Lee will be the yardstick by which the Colts Are measured. This 230-Pound halfback has been designated to make up the 1,779 Yards gained running and receiving last year by Lydell Mitchell the determined holdout traded to san Diego. The Colts also have a replacement at tight end for Ray Chester now in Oakland in Mack Alston but they expect a 6-foot-7-Inch Rookie Reese Mccall to take Over. Bert Jones the talented Bossy quarterback has five outstanding wide receivers. Jones suffered a shoulder injury last weekend and it is not known How Long he will be sidelined. On defense the Colts fal Short of new England. They depended on the front four the sack pack to camouflage the secondary. The retirements of Tom Macleod and newly acquired Willie Lanier thinned out the linebackers while the defensive backs comparably Small and slow perform miracles. David Lee who has been around since 1966, and 36 year old Toni Linhart from Austria Are the kickers again. The kick returner Howard Stevens 5 feet 5 inches and 160 pounds will get help from Marshall Johnson. The Colts dolphins and patriots could end up in a tie for first especially if Miami can repair its wounded defense. The dolphins Are a Little thinner than the others and an injury or two among the seasoned offensive linemen would be devastating although Larry Little Bob Kuchen Berg and Jim Langer remain so Tough. Bob Griese who at 32 was rated the league s no. 1 passer last season was expected to return Complete with wipers for his eyeglasses. Griese suffered torn Liga ments in his left knee the last game of the exhibition Tony Dorsett Hopes for 2, her Yard season. Friday september 1, 1978 up Pete Rozelle season and his leg will be in a cast for at least three weeks. When and if he gets Back into action Griese will be sur rounded by Able receivers and runners such As Nat Moore Duriel and Leroy Harris Del Williams Benny alone and Norm Bulaich. For the third summer in a Row Don Shula is reconstructing his defensive line damaged by injuries to . Dune and Bob Baumhower. There Are five seasoned line backers led by Bob Matheson and a seasoned secondary whose Leader is Tim Foley the Strong safety. Garo Yepremian and Mike Michel Are the kickers and two youngsters Terry Anderson and Jimmy Cefalo the returners. The second race within this division will be for fourth place Between the new York jets and the Buffalo Bills. Far behind the others the jets Are in the second year of another rebuilding Campaign and the Bills Are begin Ning one under the new coach Chuck Knox. The jets won lost record has been 3-11 for the last three seasons and if that is to improve the same Young players must make the running game go. It was third poorest in the nil averaging Only 115 Yards a game. Clark Gaines is the most prominent of an Earnest but mediocre set of running backs and it is time for Richard Todd to emerge As a top flight passer. The jets traded Richard Caster the wide receiver to Houston preferring Derrick Gaffney a risky eighth round draft Choice. Coach Walt Michaels is experimenting with a flexible defense a 3-4 or 4-3 depending on where John Hennessy. A second year linebacker end lines up. Joe Klecko a second year tackle is the Only Strong pass rusher. The prospects in Buffalo Are improving especially on defense where the goal is to yield fewer than 22 Points a game for the first time since 1975. Dee Hardison the second draft Choice has replaced Mike Kadish the defensive tackle deemed the most valuable performer by his teammates. Kadish has not returned because of a con tract squabble. Terry Miller another touted Rookie May soon succeed . Simpson traded to the 49ers, but Roland Hooks has held the halfback position in the exhibitions. Joe Delamielleur the All pro guard will miss the first two games because of a sore knee. Frank Lewis obtained from the Steeles is the Long sought wide receiver to complement the out standing Bob Chandler on the opposite flank. Hard working Joe Ferguson who missed no offensive plays last season when 11 of 14 games were lost returns at quarterback. Central division after six straight seasons in the playoffs the Pitts Burgh Steeles Are beginning to show Wear and tear on defense. The Houston oilers thus contend they have their Best shot at the division title they have never won. The bengals of Cincinnati seem to be treading water while the Cleveland Browns have begun another new regime under coach Sam Rutigliano. Bum Phillips now in his fourth season As coach says the oilers Are a playoff team from top to  the turn in Confidence came last year when Houston for the first time beat the others in the division at least once. Much depends upon the capability of Dan Pastorini the emotional quarterback who recently signed a six year contract to Start and finish 16 games. Injuries have always handicapped him. Other Talent is there in Quantity. Tim Wilson and Rob Carpenter the running backs Are backed up by Earl Campbell and Anthony Davis Heisman trophy winners. Ken Burrough Eddie Foster and Billy Johnson Are the wide receivers and Mike Barber the tight end for an of sense stressing the pass. The significant names on the 3-4 defensive unit Are Curley gulp and Elvin Bethea old timers up front Ted Washington and Robert Brazile at linebacker and Zeke Moore and Willie Alexander at cornerback. The front four of the Pittsburgh defense the Iron cur Tain no longer will be so familiar because newcomers such As Willie Fry and Tom Beasley probably will re continued on Page 14 the stars and stripes Page 13