Trying to make sense out of the arms race

Sporting News, The, March 7, 1994 by Chris Mortensen

Was I dreaming, or did I really hear that...

Dolphins free-agent quarterback Scott Mitchell visited the Vikings last week. That makes one wonder: What about Jim McMahon?

That's easy. If Jimmy Mac wants a home, he always can look for Cardinals Coach Buddy Ryan, who would love to bring in his old friend from the Bears and Eagles.

Yeah, but then that might leave Steve Beuerlein without a job in Phoenix. No, he always can look to the Redskins and his former Cowboys position coach, Norv Turner.

Then again, the Cowboys still need a solid backup for Troy Aikman. Well, the Rams' Jim Everett knows the Cowboys' offense, which now is being run by Ernie Zampese, the former Rams' coordinator who trained Turner in Los Angeles.

The Rams don't need anybody fancy, just efficient. That would describe Bernie Kosar. But then you have the Falcons' Chris Miller, who wants to play for a West Coast team on a grass field. Why not the Rams?

We need to find a home for Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, a great guy with two tough seasons behind him. He may want to consider an interesting backup position with the Raiders. Rypien's specialty is the deep pass -- the Raiders go deep all day. And the Raiders know that Jeff Hostetler is a rugged quarterback whose reckless style leaves him vulnerable to injury.

Erik Kramer is signed, sealed and delivered as the Bears' quarterback. So, no way are the Bears going to pay Harbaugh $3 million to be Kramer's backup.

Harbaugh is looking at Indianapolis, where Bill Tobin now runs the football operations. In a similar job with the Bears, Tobin made Harbaugh a first-round draft pick in 1987. Tobin still loves the guy.

That may explain why Tobin has been fielding offers for Jeff George. The Redskins have called, trying to dump wide receiver Desmond Howard, who needs a new home. They also are willing to deal their first-round pick (No. 3 overall).

The problem is Ted Marchibroda surely can't see the merits of losing George and gaining Harbaugh. There's no comparison in ability. But Marchibroda has no personnel power. It all belongs to Tobin.

In a nice twist, the Falcons also are interested in George. Remember, it was the Falcons who traded the first pick of the 1990 draft (who turned out to be George) for offensive lineman Chris Hinton, wide receiver Andre Rison and a future No. 1 (who turned out to be wide receiver Mike Pritchard).

New Falcons Coach June Jones won't abandon the run-and-shoot. In fact, he just hired his mentor, Mouse Davis, as the quarterbacks coach. And I distinctly recall that when Davis rated the best run-and-shoot quarterback prospects in 1990, his clear choice was Jeff George over Andre Ware. Davis, then an assistant with the Lions, thought George's quick release and sweet arm were naturals for the offense.

Speaking of Kramer and Ware, the Lions have some real problems. They have an interest in George and Oilers quarterback Warren Moon.

(Pssst, Moon would rather be with the Rams, I think.)

The Saints know they need somebody to pass the ball, although Wade Wilson still in an option. They are studying Mitchell and Bubby Brister. The Saints also brought in Green Bay restricted free agent Brett Favre, but he would cost a bundle -- say, $25 million to $30 million over five years, plus first- and third-round picks.

If the Packers lose Favre, they think left-handler Mark Brunell has some Steve Younglike qualities. But this is a playoff team and 1994 is hardly the time to plug in a second-year quarterback such as Brunell.

Wait. I think Packers Coach Mike Holmgren might be able to talk the 49ers into trading Steve Bono.