Rematch loosens tongues

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By DARRELL FRY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 26, 2001

The Ravens and Giants meet in their preseason finale Friday in what will be a rematch of last season's Super Bowl in Tampa, which Baltimore won 34-7. Guess who has started trash talking about the rematch?

"(The Super Bowl) could have easily been 50-0. Easy," Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe said. "I could see if they mounted some drives, had sustained drives, had some big plays down the field. They got nothing.

"We should have beat them worse than that."

Needless to say, the Giants weren't surprised to hear Sharpe's comments.

"No, because Shannon has no class when it comes to things like that. It's one thing to win and have class with it," defensive lineman Michael Strahan said. "It's another thing to win and have no class with it. So it doesn't surprise me at all."

Is there any doubt this is going to be more than just your garden variety preseason game?

DID YOU KNOW?: When the Bucs face Atlanta on Friday, the game will reunite Falcons backup quarterback Eric Zeier with his old team.

Well, that is, if Zeier hasn't been released by then. Word out of Atlanta is ex-Gator Doug Johnson might get the No. 3 spot behind Chris Chandler and rookie Michael Vick.

"Whatever decision is made here down the road," Zeier said, ". . .you can look in the mirror knowing you've done everything in your power to get to where you need to be."

DID YOU KNOW II?: Colts 38-year-old quarterback Mark Rypien, who hasn't played a regular-season game since December 1997, has been elevated to the No. 2 spot behind starter Peyton Manning, dropping Billy Joe Hobert to No. 3.

HEY, COACH, WANT A RIDE?: Some Falcons have started riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which has coach Dan Reeves worried.

"I don't agree with it," Reeves said, "but I can't tell them how to run their lives."

Reeves isn't just being a party pooper. He has had two friends killed in motorcycle accidents.

NEXT HE'LL INSULT THE COACH'S WIFE: Vikings tight end Shonn Bell might be a good receiver, but apparently he isn't very bright.

Bell got into a fist fight with starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper after the Vikings' preseason win over the Steelers two weeks ago. The two reportedly disagreed over Bell's responsibilities on a particular play.

The Vikings were poised to cut Bell after the incident, but Culpepper wouldn't have it.

SEEING RED: The Cardinals have been hoping to make a name for their offensive line. Finally, they just gave it one.

The line is called the Big Red Line, featuring left tackle L.J. Shelton (6 feet 6, 335 pounds), left guard Pete Kendall (6-5, 294), center Mike Gruttadauria (6-3, 284), right guard Leonard Davis (6-6, 370) and right tackle Anthony Clement (6-8, 350).

Now, if Cardinals can just get the players to block somebody.

WHEN'S THE BYE WEEK?: Jets receiver Kevin Swayne has a philosophy about improving in football. "The best formula for getting better is by playing football," he said.

He practices what he preaches. He started the year in February playing in the XFL, then went straight to the Arena League, then flew to New York the day after that season ended to work out for the Jets. They signed him and he has practiced with them ever since, participating in his third training camp this calendar year.

All told, he has been playing football for 34 straight weeks.

IS HE OR ISN'T HE?: Ask folks around the Saints and they'll tell you running back Ricky Williams is a changed man. More mature. More focus. More everything.

"I see a lot of difference in him," receiver Joe Horn said.

Asked if he was a changed man, Williams said: "Not really."

Go figure.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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