European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 c the stars and stripes tuesday november 5,1991sunday in the a Flincy wins at last by Joe Kay Cincinnati a Boomer Esia up no a left shoulder  time he threw More than 20 Yards downfield the Ball would float and wobble. Ugly. But Esiason Wasny to about to stand on the sideline again sunday and watch the Cincinnati bengals stay win less. He ended a week of speculation by going out to take the first snap on a freezing afternoon then turned in a Gritty performance that inspired the bengals out of their nightmarish Start. Esiason lobbed a pair of touchdown passes and directed an effective Ball control offence that put the bengals in position for a 23-21 Victory Over the Cleveland Browns. The bengals 1-8 clinched win no. 1 when the Browns failed to get Points out of three late game drives. But it was Esiason a play that put them in position to defend a fourth Quarter Lead. A believe me it Wasny to the prettiest thing in the world but it got the Job done a Esiason said. A this is a Gladiator Type profession and you need a Rock hard Lough Guy who a going to pull you through a coach Sam Wyche said. Esiason touched it out sunday even though he probably should have been keeping warm on the sideline. He slightly separated his passing shoulder two weeks ago in Buffalo and had to sit put a 35-3 loss last sunday in the Astrodome. The team lacked intensity without him and he recognized it. A it was probably the most frustrating Day of my professional career a he said. Another loss on sunday to the Browns would have Given the bengals an 0-9 record a a new worst Start in club history a and further eroded the teams Confidence. Esiason was determined that  happen. After a few Days of tentative throwing Esiason told Wyche he could Start. Given the Choice Between Esiason and struggling backup Erik Wilhelm or Cincinnati defensive Back David Fulcher and his fellow bengals celebrate their first Victory of the season sunday. Rookie Don Hollas Wyche took the Gamble. A hard hit on Esiason a shoulder could have aggravated the injury and Cost him a few More games turning 0-8 into 0-and-double digits. A we got him out there and he gutted it out a Wyche said. A i told the offensive line not to allow them to get to  the Browns did no to. Esiason Wasny to sacked and took Only a couple of hits the entire game due in part to the Good Protection and in part to a game plan that emphasized the run and the Quick Short pass. A we knew we had to give him Protection a offensive tackle Anthony Munoz said. A we  let him get  the Browns  Stop the conservative attack. Harold Green ran for 135 Yards and Esiason completed 18 of 30 throws for 185 Yards with one interception. On Cincinnati a first Possession of the second half Esiason dropped to pass and faked a throw Over the Middle to tight end Rodney Holman. Safety Vince Newsome went for the fake leaving Eddie Brown uncovered Down the left sideline. Esiason lobbed another floating pass about 40 Yards in the air for a 34-Yard touchdown play. He also completed a mid Range pass to Brown that turned into a 32-Yard gain and set up Jim breeches 38-Yard Field goal for the final 23-21 margin Early in the fourth  realignment could Aid old rivalries by Mike Rabun u i sports writer the new York giants and new York jets play in the same stadium but they done to go there at the same time very often. In fact since the Al Nel merger they have played each other during the regular season Only six times. The los Angeles rams and los Angeles raiders share the same Urban sprawl but in the last decade they have met on just four occasions. Dallas and Houston occupy the same state but next sunday they will stage a Texas showdown for Only the seventh time. All of which seems to be something of a waste and that s becoming a common thought these Days around the nil. A i done to know if realignment is automatic a Jim Finks said the other Day. Quot but 1 would think More and More people Are thinking it makes sense. Finks is president and general manager of the new Orleans saints and he is also chairman of the a Fly a Competition committee. And if he is right about realignment being a Likely happening in the next year or so we Are in for a Knockdown drag out Brawl. The nil is going to admit two new teams to its fraternity next year and a Good Many owners feel that would be the proper time to tidy up the six divisions so Atlanta does t have to go to san Francisco and los Angeles every year and Dallas does no to have to travel to Washington Philadelphia and new York. But wait a minute. What if Dallas likes going to Washington after All those two teams have had a fascinating rivalry  years. And what if Atlanta likes going to los Angeles and what if Houston does no to want to give up its hate hate relationship with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and As silly As it sounds what if Tampa Bay likes playing in Wisconsin every season it should come As no Surprise that the possibility of realignment will invoke great passions. When the nil and Al merged selfish interests prompted fierce debate. The teams became so frustrated they finally agreed to put the various realignment plans in a hat and one was drawn. And that a Why Cleveland goes to Houston every year and new Orleans goes to san Francisco. There Are two apparent reasons now for realignment. 1. Some teams have to travel a Long Way to play division foes a Dallas Miami Phoenix Tampa Bay Houston and Atlanta being some of the examples. 2. Creation of More regional rivalries a desire expressed by television that word again. Those eager to preserve the current alignment however say savings in travel costs would be minimal. Once the plane is rented the Only difference Between Kansas City flying to Denver As opposed to Seattle would be fuel costs. And some owners say that difference pales in comparison with the Cost of hiring one practice squad player. And when it comes to regional games it has been argued such games could be part of the non division schedule. What a wrong they argue for the jets and giants to play once a year. The jets would still have seven other games to spread around the league As the nil chooses. The same with Miami Tampa Bay the rams raid ers and whoever. When the planners and schemers get together however it would not be shocking to see an alignment proposal along geographical lines. What if the new franchises were awarded to St. Louis and Birmingham the five team divisions might look like this pfc East Washington by giants by jets new England and Buffalo. Pfc Central a Minnesota Green Bay Chicago Indianapolis and St. Louis. Pc est Phoenix Dallas Houston Kansas City and Denver acc East Atlanta Miami Tampa Bay Birmingham and new Orleans. ? Cincinnati Cleveland Pittsburgh Philadelphia and Detroit. I dec West to Seattle san Francisco la rams la raiders and san Diego