NFL

Broncos protecting Plummer

By ROGER MILLS
Published November 21, 2004

Maybe it's all the leg whips. Maybe it's the cut blocks. Or perhaps it's just a pretty good system. Whatever it is, the Broncos are proving that their offensive line knows what it's doing.

Through nine games, quarterback Jake Plummer has been sacked only seven times. Bucs quarterback Brian Griese was sacked seven times Sunday in Atlanta.

The Broncos will have to be perfect the rest of the way to tie Miami's record of seven sacks through 16 games, set in 1988. But they easily could break the team record of 22 set in 1971.

"You should never expect sacks," right tackle George Foster told the Denver Post. "They don't have to happen. They happen when you make mistakes. And mistakes can be avoided."

Some of it is the Broncos' commitment to running the ball even on third and long. The rest is Plummer's ability to get out of trouble and throw on the run.

"It's a matter of getting rid of the ball, and to get rid of it, you have to know where you can get rid of it, so I think that's the biggest factor," offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said. "Jake knows where everybody's at and if he gets in trouble, he knows where he can ditch the ball."

There is history. In 11 games last season, Plummer was sacked 14 times.

MOVE OVER RAY: The best linebacker in the NFL plays in the AFC North, but it may not be Baltimore's Ray Lewis. That distinction could go to Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher said no other linebacker is playing better than Farrior: "I will tell you what, I don't know of any. When you talk about a guy with his production; as a guy who can make impact tackles, who can run from sideline to sideline, who can go back in coverage, who sets the defense, and who doesn't come off the field."

Farrior leads the Steelers with 67 tackles, has forced four fumbles, recovered three, with three sacks and two interceptions.

SOUR SAUERBRUN: Trust Panthers kicker Todd Sauerbrun to say something outrageous then take a shot at Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica and his brother, Bill.

Sauerbrun, who will earn $900,000 this season, kicked a field goal last weekend while John Kasay recovered from a calf strain. He told the team he won't do it again unless the Panthers refund all fines deducted from his salary since the start of the season. Sauerbrun has been fined close to $40,000 for being a few pounds overweight.

"I would definitely like to do it, but we'd have to come to agreement about something because I've been fined a lot this year," he told the Charlotte Observer.

The Panthers flirted with the idea of bringing in Bill Gramatica. But Sauerbrun, who has exchanged heated words with Martin, said: "I don't want to get along with him. He's a stereotype kicker, just like the rest of his brothers are and that's all he'll ever be. There's no place for him here, I don't think."

ELI IS COMING: With two-time MVP Kurt Warner looking every bit his 33 years, the Giants opted to hand the controls over to rookie quarterback Eli Manning.

The much-anticipated passing of the play book comes at a time when the Giants (5-4) can ill-afford to fall another game behind the NFC East-leading Eagles (8-1).

"(Eli) has earned that right; now he has a chance to grow and learn and be the quarterback of the New York Giants," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He is the future of the New York Giants. It just starts now."

Manning, 23, will have his hands full with a Falcons defense that had seven sacks against the Bucs last weekend.

Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

[Last modified November 21, 2004, 00:16:21]