Sunday, December 02, 2001
Week 12 NFL picks
Sayers' best move was off the field - for Brian Piccolo
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The NFL event of the weekend might be the debut of a remake of the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song, at 7 tonight on ABC (Channel 9).
The original is one of the best sports films made because it's not about sports. It traces the deep friendship of two Chicago Bears running backs, Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo. Sayers, an African-American, and Piccolo, who was white, were the team's first set of mixed-race road roommates in the mid-1960s.
Sayers, whose career was cut short because of serious knee injuries, was the youngest former player, 34, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when inducted in 1977.
Piccolo's life, as the movies detail, was cut short by cancer. He died in June 1970 at age 26, leaving behind a wife and three daughters.
With Piccolo's help, Sayers returned from his first major surgery to lead the NFL in rushing in 1969, and he was honored by the Professional Football Writers of America with its George S. Halas Most Courageous Player Award.
At the banquet, held in New York, Sayers delivered a speech - less than three weeks before Piccolo's death - that ranks with Lou Gehrig's Yankee Stadium farewell among the most memorable of modern sports:
“He has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and his opponent - cancer. He has the mental attitude that spells out the word courage 24 hours a day. You flatter me by giving me this award. But I tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who should receive this award. It's mine tonight. It's Brian Piccolo's tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees to pray, please ask God to love him, too.”
This week's games:
CARDINALS (4-6) at RAIDERS (8-2): Arizona has no ground game, so Oakland can concentrate on stopping confident quarterback Jake Plummer and favorite receiver David Boston (66 receptions for 1,065 yards). RAIDERS 27-17.
PANTHERS (1-10) at SAINTS (5-5): Even without left tackle Willie Roaf, New Orleans will run effectively with Ricky Williams. Williams and Joe Horn both closing in on 1,000 yards, one rushing and the other receiving. SAINTS 24-12.
COWBOYS (2-8) at REDSKINS (5-5): Dallas' streak of eight consecutive victories over Washington should end today. Cowboys will start Quincy Carter at quarterback, but that won't make much difference. REDSKINS 28-13.
BRONCOS (6-5) at DOLPHINS (7-3): Miami looks for fifth win in a row against the Broncos overall, and the Dolphins have never lost to Denver in five games at Miami. Brian Griese goes back to his hometown leading AFC with 19 touchdown passes. DOLPHINS 26-20.
LIONS (0-10) at BEARS (8-2): Detroit actually has a chance in this one with fourth-ranked pass offense going against last-ranked pass defense. Bigger difference will be Bears rush offense running over Detroit's defense. BEARS 24-13.
COLTS (4-6) at RAVENS (7-4): Ravens are throwing 37.5 times a game. Good thing. Starting RB Moe Williams has 88 rushing attempts in six-year NFL career. Baltimore's Elvis Grbac and Indianapolis' Peyton Manning have combined for 30 interceptions. RAVENS 16-14.
VIKINGS (4-6) at STEELERS (8-2): Game matches two NFL coaches with the longest tenures. Minnesota's Dennis Green is 100-66. Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher is 99-66. Both were hired in 1992. STEELERS 26-16.
PATRIOTS (6-5) at JETS (7-3): The best game of the week. Pats QB Tom Brady is 6-3 as a starter and has two of the league's top-six-rated games of the season. Jets' Curtis Martin needs 17 yards for 1,000 rushing, and their ground game should make the difference. JETS 24-21.
RAMS (8-2) at FALCONS (6-4): St. Louis is better on the road, 5-0, compared to 3-2 at home. Atlanta wants to control the ball on the ground, and the first-quarter winner is likely to win the game. RAMS 31-20.
CHARGERS (5-6) at SEAHAWKS (5-5): Series is tied at 22, and in those 44 games, Seattle has outscored San Diego 915-912. Game features two of the best young running backs, San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (869 rushing yards, nine touchdowns) and Seattle's Shaun Alexander (894, 10). SEAHAWKS 23-21.
TITANS (4-6) at BROWNS (6-4): Another AFC Central balance-of-power game. The Browns are on the way up, the Titans down. Even when they were bad, the Browns had not allowed Titans QB Steve McNair to throw a touchdown pass (five interceptions). BROWNS 20-16.
BILLS (1-9) at 49ERS (8-2): San Francisco is 5-0 when trailing at halftime. Buffalo's streak of five consecutive Sunday night victories should end. 49ERS 31-21.
PACKERS (7-3) at JAGUARS (3-7): A reason for success in Green Bay is health, compared to 2000. This is the weekend a lot of streaks fall. Jacksonville comes in having won four in a row at home on Monday night. PACKERS 24-18.
LAST WEEK: 8-6. OVERALL: 96-62.
Bengals Stories
St. Ignatius rolls past Bombers in title game
Wildcats blow out Bombers in final
St. X errors costly
SULLIVAN: Dream dies hard for Bombers
SULLIVAN: State setup a long drive from fair
Dixie Heights 61, Newport Central Catholic 32
Doerger 2-0 in return
Kings 49, Indian Hill 40
No. 1 CovCath survives Brossart
Redskins romp over Firebirds
Roger Bacon routs North College Hill
Loveland 55, Badin 46
Girls basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball roundup
Turpin girls 11th in national poll
Bearcats bound for Motor City Bowl
Guidugli follows UK but keeps focus on his team
UC pours it on... and on and on
UC notebook
Musketeers put on a road show
XU notebook
The unknown stuntman
BCS shakeup
Indiana 26, Kentucky 15
College basketball roundup
Miami gets spark from freshman against Wright State
Role reversal for Xavier, UC
Small college hoops roundup
Area athletes make college choices known
Buckeyes oust UC in volleyball
Spanish Glitter wires Turfway field
Cyclones rally for shootout win
Mighty Ducks blank Admirals 1-0
NBA roundup
NHL roundup
Sports Desk: Power Rankings
Coming up this week
Reds Q&A with John Fay
Reds should share
Baseball insider
Mets sign seven-time Japanese All-Star pitcher
• Return to Bengals front page...
Week 12 NFL picks
