European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 21, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday september 21, 1991 the stars and stripes b in raiders scheme Fernandez catches everything but Fame Page 29nfl �?T91 by Chris Dufresne the los Angeles times Al Segundo Calif. A in another time he was swerving Mervyn Fernandez one of the greatest receivers the Canadian football league will Ever know. He was a one Man highlight film the Toast of the Tundra. Sometimes it seems like another life. Since joining the los Angeles raiders in 1987 after five Star filled years with the British Columbia Lions Fernandez has become one of the a Fly a Best kept secrets. If he had a nickname now it might be Mervyn the dependable. Fernandez has led the team in receptions the last two seasons yet he blends dutifully into a Raider backdrop of superstars and subplots. Last sunday against the Indianapolis Colts As the raiders threatened to danish the Forward pass from their playbook with seven offensive linemen concepts Fernandez somehow squeezed in seven receptions for 90 Yards including a 16-Yard touchdown. When did he find the time Fernandez once dominated football conversations in Canadian provinces. In 1985, he caught 95 passes for 1,727 Yards and 15 touchdowns. Now he lurks happily in the shadows. A i done to really miss it a he said of the limelight. A without a doubt i was the big fish in the Little Pond in Canada. Down Here you be got basketball baseball football horse racing. On this team alone you be got three Heisman trophy winners you be got the Howie which does t leave much Ink for the Fernandezees. On another team in an another offence he might catch 80 passes per season instead of the 50 or so he hauls in each season for the raiders. A a that a not really what its All about a he said. A a in a getting paid and i m doing Well and i m contributing to the team and we re winning. That a the Bottom line. I did no to come Here 100 balls a season. Not that that would t be Nice. But 1 knew what kind of offence they had when i came Here. It Wasny to a publicity might be Nice but Fame also has its Price. Fernandez gets a front Row perspective each week when he and teammate Ronnie Lott share a plane ride to the san Francisco Bay area to visit their families. Fernandez attended san Jose state and still lives in the area. Lott for 10 years a superstar with the san Francisco 49ers, resides in Cupertino. A the can barely get on the plane a Fernandez said. A it s a Ronnie Lott this and a Ronnie Lott i get on the plane sit Down have me a soda get off the plane go to my car and go Home. No i done to miss Fernandez takes satisfaction in a solid Days work and a Job Well done. It s news when he drops a pass. He dropped one against the Colts and was so mad he slammed his helmet to the turf in anger. A you done to catch the Ball and you re not going to be around Long Quot he said. Fernandez 31, almost found out the hard Way when he arrived in 1987, his reputation already made. Fernandez had a rough first year when he dropped a few passes Early endured a players strike suffered a shoulder injury and finished with 14 catches. Excl Star Mervyn Fernandez quickly discovered he can a run with the big boys. A Lile the next Spring the raiders drafted receiver Tim Brown the Heisman trophy Winner from notre dance. In july they traded draft choices to the Chicago bears for Willie Gault. The raiders already had James Lofton Dokie Williams and Jessie Hester. It could make a Cal player nervous. Quot i knew they drafted Tim and brought Willie in a he said. A i just had to go out and play. If my talents weren to Good enough then they a get rid of me or do something else. But i guess i was Good enough to run with the big Fernandez has survived them All. Today he is still Good enough to keep Brown out of the starting lineup. Quot i think i have pretty Good hands and Good concentration Quot he said. �?�1 Pride myself on it because in a not one of the fastest Guys in the league. Hul i think run Good routes and catch no fun league Lightens up a bit new York a throwing a football into the stands after scoring a touchdown in the nil will continue to Cost Money but not Yards. The league thursday modified its penalties for end zone celebrations keeping the $1,000 Fine for tossing footballs into the seats but rescinding the 5-Yard penalty that had been included. High fives no longer Cost celebrants 5 Yards but end zone dances will continue to be penalized through the first three weeks of the season 12 penalties have been assessed following touchdowns a six for High fives three each for throwing balls into the stands and end zone dances. The yardage penalty was Crit seized after Denver quarterback John Elway scored and lipped the Hall to a fan in a wheelchair. A after seeing the fan reaction to these particular penalties it became apparent that a Kinder gentler approach was needed Quot commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. A these Are really crowd control issues that need not be flagged As part of the responsibilities of game officials. We will Deal with them in a different Quot this Rule was adopted by the clubs in 1984 to eliminate unsportsmanlike acts on the Field that provoke retaliation by opposing players Quot Tagliabue said. A this will continue to be enforced in an evenhanded and reasonable Way. A i have reviewed with director of officiating Jerry Seeman the procedures being followed by game officials for enforcing the Rule to ensure that penalties Are imposed for such conduct Only when the demonstrations on the Field or in the end zone Are excessive prolonged or Likely to provoke Jerry Rice of the san Franciso 49ers and Gary Clark of the redskins were called for violations when they High five some fans after touchdowns. The penalties Drew criticism of the nil As a fun no Home dome favors saints by Dave Goldberg a football writer Minnesota at new Orleans is a a scene of the Erimez game. The crime occurred after the 1987 season that saw the saints make the playoffs for the first time. The Vikings arrived at the super dome and promptly dispatched the a who Datsy 44-id in a game that Wasny to that close. These saints Are Good enough to be 3-Point favourites just about what the Home pome advantage will give you. Saints 17-13 Buffalo minus 8 at Tampa Bay scene of the crime Iii. The scene is Tampa stadium the crime the super bowl last january that the Bills still think they should have won Bills. 34-20 Dallas plus i at Phoenix t he pfc East a two a up and coming teams. Outscored by a cumulative 58-0 last week. Troy Aikman is. Tom Tupa. Cowboys. 20-16 raiders minus 2 at Atlanta a1 Davis and Jerry Glanville argue Over who gels to Wear Black. The Falcons win that one hut. Raiders. 17-7 Washington minus 4 at Cincinnati trap predictions Joe Gibbs a this is exactly the kind of matchup you would t want. You re 3-0 going in against a real Good football team that a 03.�?� Sam Wyche a a in be got 20 to 25 years left Belore 1 Start eating soda crackers for lunch and those 25 years Arentt going to be wasted worrying about whether some editorial is written saying that we re stupid because the Field goal went through the crossbar instead of outside the Gibbs is a Good coach because unlike Wyche he knows coach puck. The other reason is that he has a Good team. Redskins 24-17 Houston minus 11 at new England trap 111 is going to Foxboro of a monday night win. But Only if it snows. Oilers 34-3 jets plus ��?~/2 at Chicago i lie bears have won three games by a total of eight Points. Be ars. 2 1-1 7. Pittsburgh plus 3 at Philadelphia has Busby Brister called i i a Aikman or a scouting report on the eagles front four e Agee a 16-10 Cleveland plus i21/ Al giants. Bill belie Hiek comes Home at the wrong time a the giants and their ians Are angry. Thanks 24-6 a Rains plus 81/ at san Francisco the rams have won three of the last four at candlestick see angry team incentive above. 49ers, 34-14. Detroit pick Mem at Indianapolis does anyone realize the Lions could be 4-1 in two weeks Lions 14-6 Green Bay plus 8 at Miami of so Don Shu la had to Wail a week for no. 300. Dolphins 24-20 san Diego plus 81/�?T at Denver John is. John Fries. T he chargers have problem Broncos 24-13 Seattle i plus 71/ at Kansas City scene of the crime ii this is he game in win Eli Derrick Thomas missed sack no. N against Dave Krieg. Who threw i he game winning id pass on the Iasi Plav. Chiei s. In 7 last week 5-7-2 spi adj 7 Quot straight up season j n 22 -2 Spie Adt 2-1 in Sii Anglit up a
