By Bob Matthews
Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

As The Sports World Turns: The NFL's best player this season probably won't be selected the league's most valuable player.

Through 10 games, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison is on pace for 142 catches and 1,776 yards this season. The NFL records are 123 catches by Detroit's Herman Moore and 1,848 yards receiving by San Francisco's Jerry Rice, both in 1995.

Since The Associated Press began the MVP award in 1957, no wide receiver has won it. The MVPs by position: 26 quarterbacks, 14 running backs, two linebackers, one defensive end, one defensive tackle and one kicker.

If Harrison made more noise, he might get more attention, but that's not his style. Terrell Owens, Keyshawn Johnson and Randy Moss do the talking while he outplays them.

TRADE DEALINE: Sometimes we wish the NFL's trade deadline was late in the season, the way it is in baseball, basketball and hockey. How much would Philadelphia offer St. Louis for QB Marc Bulger, and how much happier might Dallas running back Emmitt Smith be if he was getting 25 carries every Sunday for another team?

OVERTIME WOES: So far this season, teams playing overtime are 9-18 the following week (San Diego had a bye after a Week 7 OT win over Oakland).

ALL OR NOTHING? Seattle's Shaun Alexander has only five 100-yard rushing performances in his 42-game NFL career, but they were for 266, 176, 142, 139 and 127 yards. So how come he hasn't had any 100- to 120-yard games?

TREND WATCHING: NFL winning trends through 10 weeks:

Home teams are 90-69-1.

Teams scoring first are 105-54-1.

Teams leading at halftime are 104-37-1.

Teams leading after three quarters are 115-27-1.

Teams with the most rushing yards are 110-47.

Teams with the most passing yards are 92-67-1.

Teams winning the turnover battle are 109-22-1.

Teams leading time of possession are 107-52-1.

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