Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Falcons QB Chandler seldom finishes what he starts

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Dec. 7, 2001 | 8:33 a.m.

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

On this week's NFL weekly injury report, a list where Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler is a charter member, it should read: Chandler (sprained left ankle this time) is expected to start Sunday -- but not expected to finish.

The Falcons are the only NFL team that needs a bullpen. Greg Maddux frequently finishes more games in Atlanta than Chandler. This season, he's already left games early with a concussion and a rib injury, and missed another game entirely because of injury.

I wonder if Chandler advised Dan Reeves to draft first overall pick Michael Vick because his last name sounds like a medicine. OK, probably not, but one thing is certain -- until Vick is ready to take over the offense, Reeves needs "Crystal Chandelier" in the lineup. The Falcons are only 2-13 since 1999 in the 15 games when the 36-year-old signal caller has been injured during a game, or when he didn't play at all.

No wonder that it was only after three days of treatment on his most recent ankle sprain that the team announced Chandler would be healthy enough (read: breathing) to at least try to play this weekend.

Cal Ripken he's not. In fact, in his 13 previous seasons, covering stints with the Colts, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams, Oilers (now Titans) and Falcons, Chandler has never appeared in a full 16 games, and has never started more than 14.

Unless he can stay healthy, the Falcons' chances of making the postseason are in a world of hurt.

Mirage impressionist extraordinaire Danny Gans went 3-0 against the spread and is challenging for the lead in my celebrity selectors contest. Gans improved to 20-14-2 on the season, and is right on the heels of Monte Carlo magician Lance Burton (21-13-2) and KLAS Channel 8 meteorologist Kevin Janison (21-14-1).