STAR IN THE MAKING
Vikings cornerback Brian Williams
Desperate for help in the secondary, Minnesota signed free agent
Ken Irvin in the off-season and penciled him in at right corner.
But with Irvin slowed by a dislocated big toe, Williams, a 2002
fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina State, won the job
in training camp. Coach Mike Tice says the 5'11", 207-pound
Williams is the most instinctive defensive back on the team. In
the Vikings' season-opening upset of the Packers, his end-zone
interception and 77-yard return late in the first half set up a
Minnesota field goal. He followed up with five tackles and a sack
in a win over the Bears on Sunday. "And he's our best special
teams player," says Tice. "How many players play every defensive
snap and every special teams snap?"
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
How far has Rams quarterback Kurt Warner fallen? Here's a look at
the first eight starts of his career versus the last eight.
W-L COMP. % YARDS TDS INT. FUM. RATING
First 8 6-2 68.8 2,164 24 5 8 119.2
Last 8 0-8 64.9 2,125 5 14 15 71.0
MY TWO CENTS
1. Slowed by ankle and hamstring injuries, seven-time All-Pro
offensive lineman Larry Allen often misses practice and is
unreliable in games. Allen turns 32 in November, and with a
salary-cap number of $5.6 million in 2004, expect him to be a cap
casualty after this season.
2. If I were Colts owner Jim Irsay and my home opener against the
division-rival Titans didn't sell out in time to lift the local
TV blackout, this is what I'd be thinking: Los Angeles, here I
come. --P.K.
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