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Show i - Page 36 THE HERALD,. Prove Utah, Football Section, Wednesday, August 26,1992 -- ... I WEST: i t (Continued from Page 35) also has built a young defense by drafting safety Steve Atwater and (last year) linebackers Mike Croel and Keith Traylor and defensive end Kenny Walker. There are still problems at cornerback, but any team that limits the Bills to Sea-haw- 12-- 10 sas City and lost a wild-car- d game 10-- 6 to the Chiefs as Todd the quarterback of the future, had a disastrous day. Marid no vich, troubles and all, is likely to beat out Jay Schrocdcr for the starting job (come back, Steve Beuerlein!) meaning built-i- n inconsistency on offense. That means the Raiders may turn to the run- Eric Dickerson is back on the West Coast from his exile in Indianapolis sounding like he's reformed (we've heard that one before.) "I just want to win," says Dickerson. Dickerson may play at times in the same backficld with Marcus man Allen, although second-yea- r Nick Bell and steady Steve Smith arc also there. The receivers are g still Tim types h, um has something going. The problems are on offense, compounded when Steve Sewell and Vance Johnson, two of most dependable receivers, were injured in training camp. Sewell will miss the season, Johnson three months. That leaves Jackson as the only one of the Three Amigos still extant Ricky Nattiel has been trad- Kelly Stouffer and Dan McGwire, two questionable No. picks, are fighting for the quarterback job. John L. Williams is a prototype fullback, but other than a 1 n Derek Russell will start and Michael Young remains the third-dow- n possession guy. Reeves also must hope that Gaston Green, rejuvenated last season after his trade from the Rams, reseason, that peats his 1.000-yar- d few good young defenders like tackle Cortez Kenney and safety Robert Blackmon, there's not much material there. - up-slo- Sam-mi- It should be that kind (10-6- ); 2, Denver (10-6- ); 3, Los Angeles ); 4. San Diego ): 5, Seattle ). (9-7- (5-11- (4-12- Kansas City star ends his holdout KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) By DAVE GOLDBERG AP Football Writer -R- Remember the name Roman Fortin when you consider the NFC Central race. Roman Fortin. An obscure offensive lineman who moved from Detroit to Atlanta under Plan B. "I sure wish we had him now." says Lomas Brown, Detroit's Pro Bowl tackle as he contemplates an offensive line decimated by the injury that left Mike Utley paralyzed and the death of Eric Andolsek in a . freak accident. Last year was a fairy tale for the Lions, who hadn't had a winning season since 1983, the last time they made the playoffs. Despite the loss of quarterback Rodney Peete at midseason; despite the loss of Pro Bowl nose tackle Jerry Ball and passrushing linebacker Mike Cofer. they won the division title at 12-- 4 and got all the way to the NFC title game. They were fueled in part by the "thumbs up" gesture Utley gave as he was being wheeled from the field after his paralyzing injury on Nov. 17. It won't be easy to repeat The. Chicago Bears, who finished a game behind at 11-- 5 are always there and the opening day game in Chicago between the Bears and Lions will have more implications than most openers. But as usual, the Central is a division without depth. Minnesota (Dennis Green), Tampa Bay (Sam Wyche) and Green Bay (Mike Holmgren) all have new coaches and are in a rebuilding mode. So it starts with Detroit, which has gone from being one of the NFL's most faceless teams to one coach of its most recognizable Wayne Fontes was coach of the year last season. But the most recognizable Lion is the electric Barry Sanders, who can turn nothing into a touchdown, TD run for as he did with a the final TD in a 38-- 6 playoff win over Dallas after he had been held to 16 yards in 12 carries. It was a play in which he disappeared into a pile at the line of scrimmage, then suddenly emerged from the other side and burst for the end zone. But the injury to Utley and the death of Andolsek leave the Lions with almost no offensive line depth. Brown, the left tackle, is one of the best in the game, but the rest of the unit will be patchwork and could consist of other people's 47-ya- rd rejects, although the Lions like Shawn Bouwens, a second-yea- r free agent from Nebraska Wesley-an. Herman n Second-year-ma- Moore is a comer at wide receiver as the Lions continue to switch But away from the Peete to they need the remain healthy and the offensive line can hardly guarantee that. The return of Cofer and young defensive linemen like rookie Roboft-injur- ed ert Porcher and Marc Spindler bring hope of a pass (See BEARS, Page 37) third-year-m- an unning back Christian Okbye, the 1989 NFL rushing champion, ended his holdout and signed a series of three one-yecontracts, the Kansas said Chiefs City Monday. Okoye's signing leaves wide receiver Stephone Paige as the only unsigned player. No details were announced. fulld Okoye, a back in his sixth year, rushed for 1,480 yards in 1989, 805 in 1990 and 1,031 last year. tr Art S! ar De-Ber- g. bull-elepha- nt o, of year. Prediction:!, Kansas City mid-'80- All-Pr- So the Seahawks reached to the past, enticed running back Rueben Mayes out of retirement and (very questionably) gave up a second-roun- d pick for defensive tackle Keith Millard, who has missed the last two seasons with knee problems after being defensive player of the year in 1989. Millard, naturally, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during training camp, although he says he'll play. game-breakin- Brown. Mcrvyn Fernandez and Willie Gault. although only Brown second-yea- r man Greg Lewis is on the of his career. e comes on as a runner and that Ronnie Lott, obtained through Smith, obtained from Miami Plan B, was the leader of the defor Bobby Humphrey, stops dropfense last season and could be ping the ball. again. Howie Long is also around, Kansas City's big hope is quarts a look, but erback Dave Krieg, signed from providing Scott and Anthere's also Davis Seattle under Plan B. Smith, two young guys to thony With Christian Okoye, Barry rush the passer. Word and Harvey Williams runWill anything ever go right in led the ball defense a and by San ning Diego? Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas Ross came in as coach Bobby be will creating turnovers. Krieg with expectations high, then lost offense running a much lower-ris- k to a knee injury in the first Friesz than he did with the Seahawks. exhibition. Bobby Beathard traded Coach Marty Schottenheimer for Stan Humphries but he's probhopes that will lead to consistency, not the answer if Washingably something Krieg has lacked. ton hadn't dealt Humphries, it "All a Kansas City quarterback have cut him. has to do is hand off to Christian might Too bad, because San Diego and get out of the way," says might have made noise this year Krieg's predecessor, Steve with its last place schedule, The major problem on defense running backs Marion may be the secondary, once the Butts and Rod (No. 82) Bernstine, g wide receiver strong point. One former free safety Deron Cherry, retired Anthony Miller and a quite solid and another, cornerback Albert defense. Pearoi Lions vavoree in NFC Central race ks 10-ye- ar off-fiel- points in a title game in Rich Stadi- Second-year-ma- er 9-- Mari-novic- t Flores coached a Super Bowl-winnwith the Raiders but Al Davis got the credit. Now he may get the blame for Seattle's lack of talent. Knox, who kept the treadmill just on a on the plus-sid- e of .500. knew when to get out. coming off a major knee injury. On defense, it's receivers as usual, there's no real' deep threat. The Raiders, slipped from 4 to 7 last year, then went to Kanis Lewis, ed to Tampa. t SIM! 260-poun- defense-stretchin- 101 11 IE vnnn 'II Urtl.lill 24 HR. EMERGENCY SERVICE!! SMART SAVINGS f Get Up To DOOR LOCKS RAILINGS INTERIOR - EXTERIOR DOORS & REPLACEMENT PRE-HUN- G WEISER LOCK 06 DOORS LOW PRICED DELIVERED AND AKDC00L C0LT0RT! 96 CMITOMTI k3 EFFICIENCY! 1 Wtfi such tMh vfficMncy. w PULSE toomce ttw ultimate in hignrli-cwn- t LENNOX products' UtMirrw mrranty BUILT TO LAST.. 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