European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse The nil today sunday september 29, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 21 will blows into . With 49ers new Orleans at Atlanta san Francisco at . Raiders 6 . A 9 . Cetta get on an amp seb Abc Ronnie Lott 49ers�?T parting shots a childish and by Chris Dufrense the los Angeles times. Al Segundo Calit. A two months alter the dress rehearsal. Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig will meet the san Francisco 49ers Lor keeps today at the Angeles coliseum. Just about everything has changed since an emotional but hollow exhibition opener on july 27. When the newest plan b los Angeles raiders were first matched against old teammates. The imagery Back then was More dramatic a just the thought of seeing the former 49er stars in different uniforms seemed strange a but the reunion failed to match the pregame punch. Lott made Only a Token appearance Craig was the third team tailback. There were More hugs than hits. The sequel figures to dominate the Box office. First there Are reputations at stake. The raiders and the 49ers, who won six super bowls Between them in the 1980s, Are struggling with 2-2 records. Two months later Craig is a starting tailback again a note he might wish to pass along to 49er management which left him exposed As a free agent after eight seasons. Lott after a slow Start is starting to Crank out the hits again at Strong safety just in time for Jerry Rice. This time the burners will be turned to Torch. Lott a Star for 10 seasons in san Francisco has a new Book out to Mark the occasion the last chapter recounting his bitter parting. It seems almost sacrilege but there have been whispers in the 49er locker room about Lott having been a disruptive Force last season. There have been whispers too none for the record from a few 49ers who Are unwilling to forgive Craig for his fourth Quarter Fumble in the National football conference title game which allowed the new York giants to drive the Field and kick the winning Field goal As time expired. Craig and Lott attempted to handle it All last week with their usual class but sometimes it was difficult. Saints have their reasons for impressive beginning by Ken Murray the Baltimore evening Sun six years after Jim Mora started chasing Joe Montana and the san Francisco 49ers, his new Orleans saints finally Are in position to overtake them in the pfc West. The saints Are one of four unbeaten teams in the nil and perhaps the leagues biggest Surprise a Quarter of the Way through the season. They take a two game division Lead into Atlanta today and some people Are beginning to believe they can make that Lead hold up. When new Orleans manhandled Minnesota 26-0 last sunday Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson called the saints the Best team he had faced this year. That a not insignificant when you consider the Vikings have played the 49ers without the injured Montana and the unbeaten Chicago bears. In their three other victories the saints beat Seattle 27-24 on a late fourth Down pass by Bobby Hebert Kansas City 17-10 in Kansas City and the rams 24-7. So far they have the Best defense in the league giving up a league Low 41 Points. But they re also showing a lot More offence than they did a year ago when John Fourcade and Steve Walsh Quarter backed them to a Limp 8-8 playoff bid. The reasons the saints have become a legitimate contender in the pfc this year a the return of Hebert from a contract dispute and one year holdout. Hebert has completed 57 percent of his passes for 739 Yards to take the heat off the running game. A the decision by Mora not to make an Issue of Craig a ironhead Quot Heyward a weight. Heyward a no. 1 draft pick in 1988, reported to Camp at 299 pounds last summer. But Mora has decided not to press the Issue any longer. After a quiet first two games. Heyward has rushed for 72 Yards and two ads in each of the last two. A the return of Frank Warren from a one year drug suspension to provide the defense with a run stopping end. Mora rotates six defensive linemen Warren Jim Wilks and Wayne Martin Are the starters and says this unit is the Best he has had in the Bayou City. A the line backing corps Long the strength of the de nil notes sense has kicked its performance level up another notch. Inside linebacker Sam Mills playing virtually every Down now after playing mostly against the run earlier in his career has never played better. And Pat Swilling has a Lawrence Taylor presence with his outside pass Rush. Rickey Jackson and Vaughan Johnson round out that group. The saints done to play san Francisco until nov. 10, by which time Montana May be Back. But by then it May already be too late for the rest of the pfc hot if you re looking for Surprise teams this season keep these in mind a Philadelphia eagles a after losing Randall Cunningham in the opener nobody gave the eagles a prayer in the pfc East. But they la take a 3-1 record into monday nights game at Washington with first place at stake. With Jim Mcmahon 64 percent passer for 923 Yards at quarterback the eagles Are More of a Ball control offence. Mcmahon says he Hasni to changed from his Days in Chicago except that a i m not fighting As much with the a Detroit Lions a everybody thought Wayne Fontes was on the Way out As coach after a 45-0 loss in Washington. But the Lions have won three in a Row with the return of Barry Sanders. Not coincidentally they appear to have abandoned the run and shoot offence. Sanders has rushed 62 times for 272 Yards a 4.4 average in the last two weeks. Asked if he was worried he might Wear out Sanders Fontes. A former assistant at Southern cat said a like John Mckay used to say about wearing out . Simpson a the Ball in t very a a new England patriots a until last week the Only team the patriots could beat was the Colts. Then they knocked off the Houston oilers in Foxboro and got everybody a attention. Dick Macpherson inherited a 1-15 team and at 2-2, he s already exceeded word cowboys offensive Taekle Nate Newton on running Back Emmitt Smith he can Stop on a Quot dime and give you 91/ cents Craig faced the Fumble question head on. A it just hardened me As an he said. Quot i know there Are players that arc taking shots and saving certain tilings. 1 let them worry about that. 1 know what i can do deep Down inside when it s time for the game to a Raig said the Tumble did not affect him As much As it did others. �?o1 got Over it a couple of Days after it happened Quot Raig said. Aon can t dwell on the negative. 1 mean that was a bad thing that happened to me. 1 can to go through the whole olt season worrying about that one play. Of re going to Tumble. That was t Tiv first Fumble and it s probably not going to be my last. I be been around King enough to know How to come Back from a play like Quot Lott who called the parting shots of his former teammates childish and said Quot in be played with this gentleman Craig for a Long time. If the 49er family is what they say it is whoever those players Are that Are making those comments Are truly not 49ers.�?� i Here will be emotions this weekend no doubt yet both players claim to be concentrating More tin their own jobs. Quot Lott said he did t have sept. 29 circled on his Calendar. Quot eve got december something or january something circled Quot he said. A that s the playoffs. That s what i m accustomed to. That s More a concern to me than whether or not the 29th of september is going to he a special Day or Lott said he does no to have time for emotions at 32, he s making the third position switch of his career having moved this time from free to Strong safety. Lott is Only now becoming comfortable with the switch. Craig 31, is trying to refine his game in a new offence. He s the raiders leading rusher with 189 Yards but is averaging Only three Yards a carry. He has been battered in a run controlled offence and has the scars to prove it. He has been bothered All season by a bruised left knee. Last sunday against the Falcons he suffered a bruised left shoulder. Abc with a a Bobby Hebert top and running Back Craig a Leeward below clicking saints Are Tough to Stop
