Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Kicker gives one coach leg up while another gets the boot

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Dec. 8, 2000 | 10:18 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

What a difference a yard makes.

After watching Philadelphia score the game's only touchdown to give the Eagles a one-point lead over his Tennessee Titans, coach Jeff Fisher had to remain confident.

His team still had time to position itself for a game-winning field goal attempt, and his veteran kicker, Al Del Greco, usually delivers.

He's not perfect, but he hasn't lasted 17 years in the NFL by accident. His overtime field goal in the second game of the year won the game against Kansas City. He made a kick with four seconds left to lift Tennessee over Pittsburgh 9-7 seven weeks later.

He missed a game-winning opportunity against Baltimore, but in most cases, this guy is chalk.

Meanwhile, 126 miles away in the nation's capital, the hometown Redskins were struggling against the rival New York Giants. Washington trailed through the game, but had closed to within two points in the waning minutes. As with the Titans, the Redskins had one more possession, and with it one more chance to give their team a chance at a game-winning field goal.

One problem: Their kicker. He's old. Very old, for a football player, anyway. About eight years older than the team's owner. He's the same age as LaVar Arrington and Champ Bailey -- combined.

At 44, asking Eddie Murray to kick long game-winners is asking a bit much. He can still be effective, and had made six-of-eight field goals since becoming the fourth Redskins placekicker of the season. But he certainly doesn't have the leg strength he had as a rookie in 1980.

Back in Philly, Del Greco, already 4 of 4 on the day from three-point land, lines up a 50-yarder on the game's final play and drills it. Jeff Fisher smiles and Tennessee improves to 10-3. Del Greco goes on to be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and Fisher basks in his security as head coach.

In Washington, Murray is given a similar opportunity, but from a yard closer. His kick is straight and true ... and short. Norv Turner grimaces, and the Redskins, whose payroll is the biggest in the football, fall to 7-6 and nearly out of playoff contention.

On Monday, Fisher prepares his team for another run at the Super Bowl. Turner, meanwhile, is given his walking papers.

Never mind that Brett Conway, Kris Heppner and Michael Husted all failed before Murray, and that Scott Bentley, Doug Pelfrey, Jeff Hall and Chris Jacke were among players given a chance to win the job. Where's Mark Moseley when you need him?

And this is by no means a defense of Turner -- he should have been canned years ago. But it's this simple: If Murray's kick catches a little wind and skips over the goal post, Turner is still on the sidelines today.

Meanwhile, Washington owner Daniel Snyder is left kicking himself.

Last week

A second consecutive 3-2 mark included easy wins by Jacksonville and San Francisco, easy losses by Buffalo and Dallas and a one-point cover by Philadelphia. The season mark stands at 29-38-3.

My top five

MINNESOTA +3 1/2 at St. Louis -- The Rams tried to lay 8 points last weekend against Carolina, which is extremely difficult when you only score 3. The Rams get back on track offensively, but the Vikings win the shootout. Minnesota 40, St. Louis 34.

JACKSONVILLE -15 1/2 vs. Arizona -- Credit Tom Coughlin for getting his team to finish strong even after a 3-7 start took it out of postseason contention. Credit Arizona with showing up, and not much else. Jacksonville 30, Arizona 10.

DETROIT +3 1/2 at Green Bay -- The Lions are in the middle of a three-game road trip, and Lambeau Field in December isn't a pretty place to play, especially with a jumbled secondary. But Gary Moeller's club is in the playoff hunt because it has come up big on the road this season, winning at Tampa Bay, at New Orleans and at the Meadowlands against the Giants. The better team wins. Detroit 20, Green Bay 16.

NEW ENGLAND +2 at Chicago -- It's not exactly revenge for that 36-point drubbing in Super Bowl XX, but New England should be able to quietly sneak past this hibernating Bears club. New England 13, Chicago 10.

DENVER -10 vs, Seattle -- Mike Anderson has won AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks -- the first player to do so since the awards began in 1984. Terrell Davis can stay on the sidelines and eat soup with his mom. Denver is clicking on all cylinders without him. Denver 35, Seattle 7.