European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 01, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 38 the stars and stripes sports Friday september 1,1995 by Dave Goldberg a football write two years ago the Reggie White around America tour the first Pursuit of a High profile free agent ended in Green Bay. In each of his two season there White s stated goal of a super bowl ended in the second round of the playoffs. This year he May not get that far. As the expression goes things happened in Green Bay last year was an injury that probably ended the career of Sterling Sharpe the Sterling wide receiver the defection of Bryce Paup who complemented White As a pass rusher and the failure by the packers to lure any of the free agents such As Andre Rison who could have replace Sharpe. Thus the pfc Central is again wide open four of the five teams Minnesota at 10-6, and Detroit Chicago and Green Bay at 9-7 were mediocre enough to make the playoffs behind Dallas andean Francisco last year. And Tampa Bay might have been a contender this year if the bucs had t committed to second year Man Trent Dilfer at quarterback. But everyone has and Detroit Don t really know if they have quarterbacks and the Lions May not have an offensive line. Minnesota needs a running game and revamped its entire secondary and Warren Moon the latest quarterback Savior is 38 and coming off a troubled off season. 1. Chicago the bears sneaked into the playoffs at 9-7 last year beat Minnesota for the first time in three games last season theft were quickly dispatched by the 49ers.Chicago s problem the quarterback the bears want to play Erik Kramer in necessarily the most effective. That title goes to Steve Walsh who was 8-3 As a starter As opposed to 1-4 for Kramer who got the big Bucks to Bethe Savior. So Walsh got a one year Deal Worth $1.5 million. I not surprised said Kramer who s still contending for no.1. Both would be Walsh helped if they got help at receiver Curti Conway who s inconsistent As a deep threat but the Guy with the bigger Bucks is Rashaan Salaam the Heisman trophy Winner who s expected to take Over Lewis Tillman s Job As the no. 1 running Back. It did t help that Salaam held out for three weeks but he provides the breakaway Speed that Tillman does t. Chicago s real strength is defense or to put it More accurately coach Dave Wannstedt s defensive philosophy and coaching style. The bears gambled a Bitin the off season sending end Trace Armstrong to Miami and replacing him with John Thierry who did t show much last year As a no. 1 draft Choice. 2. Green Bay without Sharpe the packers Are seemingly the Only ones not writing off their chances. Sharpe seemed headed for the Hall of Fame before he was told to Stop playing because of a neck injury that could have left him paralysed. Robert Brooks becomes the no. 1 receiver for Brett Favre who was the is bears but just a file Chris Zorich and the Chicago defense have the bears sitting atop the pfc Central. Pfc s second Best quarterback behind Steve Young last m going to Call the same plays throw the same passes. It s up to these Guys the receivers to get open Favre says if they can get open then Noth ing s going to change at All for me. If they re not open i just Don to throw it if they re not open where s the of sense. " the packers Haven t had a 1,000-Yard running Back since Terdell Middleton in 1978, and Reggie Cobb dispatched to Jacksonville in the expansion draft was t the answer last year. So Edgar Bennett the All purpose fullback i being shifted to tailback in Hopes that hell be the answer. The offensive line is helped by the re turn of Aaron Taylor last year s no. 1, who missed the entire season with a knee injury. And the defense still has the two aging bookends White and Send Jones and gets Back a healthy Leroy Butler an All pro safety two years ago who was hampered last season by injury. 3. Minnesota Minnesota lost nose tackle Henry Thomas to Detroit and let three fourths of last year s starting secondary go meaning second year Man Dwayne Washington is the Star. John Randle re Mains the key to the pass Rush and Jour Neyman Jack Del Rio has become a play. Detroit has Barry Sanders Chris Spiel Man Herman Moore and Lomas Brown. Pfc Central preview How they la finish 1. Bears 9-7 2. Vikings 8-8 3. Lions 8-8 4. Packers 7-9 5. Bucs 5-11 new face Impact player alv1n Harper wide receiver Tampa Bay. Consistently among the leaders in Yards per catch while with the cowboys Harper s height 6-3 and Speed make the for Mer Tennessee Star a formidable and for giving target for Young quarterback Trent Dilfer. Harper however Hurt hts knee in pre season and the jury is still out on whether he can Excell without Michael Iriri divert ing defences on the other Side beyond them Are a Silver dome full of question Marks. One of those questions is quarterback Scott Mitchell trying to live up to the $8million Deal he signed after five Good games As Dan Marino s did t do much last year then got Hurt and Dav Krieg now moved on to Arizona led the Lions playoff drive. But the key tothe Lions could be John Teerlinck who came Over As Sanders the defensive line coach from the Vikings bringing Thomas with him. He May give the Vikings the pass Rush they be lacked working Rookie Luther Elliss in with the veterans Sanders of course is the offence. But other than Brown and Center Kevin Glover the offensive line is average that s one reason Sanders who rushed for 1,883yards in the regular season was held to minus-1 in the 16-12 playoff loss to Green Bay. 5. Tampa Bay alas poor bucs. They started 2-9, then von four straight games before losing the finale to Green Bay. That gave them their 12thstraight season of 10 losses or More a re Cord of futility unmatched in any professional sport. One of the keys to the winning Streak was Tex development of Craig Erickson along with Rookie running Back Derrict Rhett. But Sam Wych had already com mined to Dilfer As the quarterback meaning it s up to Dilfer to. Save Wyche s Job this year Tough for a quarterback who has thrown just 82 Rhett professional passes and has a career rat ing of 36.3, less than a third of the rating put up by Steve Young last season. Dilfer still has Rhett. But he probably will have to Start the season without Alvin Harper to who the bucs gave big Money. Harper the no. 2 receiver behind Michael Irvin in Dallas injured a knee in the opening exhibition and now must begin the season late without proving that he can play without Irvin and Troy Aikman. Tomorrow pfc West _
