For the best and worst of '94, the winners are…

Sporting News, The, Jan 2, 1995 by Bob Glauber

A look at the best, the worst and assorted things in between about NFL '94:

The out-from-nowhere award: Terance Mathis, WR, Falcons. From nowhere on the Jets' depth chart to a star in the Falcons' run-and-shoot, Mathis had more catches in one season with the Falcons than he had in four with the Jets.

The out-from-the-shadows award: Steve Young, QB, 49ers. Joe who?

Best comeback: Dan Marino, QB, Dolphins. He's still not fully healed from Achilles' surgery, but he sure played like the same old Marino.

The salary cap slam dunk award: Carmen Policy, 49ers president. He stared down the barrel of the salary cap, then fired back by dominating the system to collect such free-agent gems as Deion Sanders, Ken Norton, Rickey Jackson and Gary Plummer. Talk about buying your way to a Super Bowl.

The in-your-face play of the season -- maybe the decade: Jeff George back to pass, looking for Andre Rison near the end zone ... it's intercepted by Deion Sanders! On his way to the touchdown return, Deion drops in on the Falcons' sideline and lets his old team know how much they miss him.

The 15 minutes of fame award: Jason Garrett, QB, Cowboys. He came into our living rooms on Thanksgiving Day, beat the stuffing out of the Packers and then quietly slipped back into the clipboard routine.

The goodbye-we-hardly-knew-ye award: The Bills, whose Super Bowl reign of error lasted only four short years.

Coach-of-the-month honors: Can you remember a season where so many coaches did so well? We can't, so we'll simply break it down by month. September: Bobby Ross, Chargers. A 4-0 start after all those predictions of finishing last. October: Bill Belichick, Browns. By the end of the month, the Browns had turned the corner and become playoff contenders, and Belichick actually drew some compliments from grizzled Browns fans. November: co-winners Dave Wannstedt, Bears, and Bill Cowher, Steelers. Talk about winning with mirrors; Wannstedt has become an expert. Talk about winning with Neil O'Donnell; Cowher is similarly extraordinary. December: Bill Parcells, Patriots. He has developed an uncanny ability to win in December. Can another Super Bowl be far behind? January: OK, we're projecting. But George Seifert looks like a mighty appealing choice here.

Player of the ages award: Jerry Rice, WR, 49ers. It's about time the rest of creation woke up to the fact that he's the greatest receiver of all time -- and one of the top five players in NFL history.

Coaching rumor-mill-of-the-year award: Jimmy Johnson, who parlayed his assorted flirtations with potential NFL openings into a new three-year television deal.

Best offensive coordinator: Mike Shanahan, 49ers. He has done such a good job this year he'll be gone by next year. Shanahan is head-coaching material.

Best defensive coordinator: Dom Capers, Steelers. Pittsburgh has its best defense since the Steel Curtain days.

Human pinball award: Barry Sanders, RB, Lions. Opposing teams push so hard to tackle Sanders that the "tilt" button almost always goes off -- and so does Sanders, who invariably ricochets into the open field.

Most refreshing story: Fullback Brian Henesey, who begged for a shot at pro football and got it, albeit briefly, from Cardinals Coach Buddy Ryan.

Best free-agent signing: Deion Sanders. He became a tired act as a part-time player in Atlanta. But in what could be the closest he comes to playing an entire NFL season, Neon Deion has become the 49ers' missing piece.

Worst free-agent signing: Hey, Scott Mitchell, you may be out of the lineup with a broken hand, but we haven't forgotten that $5-million signing bonus -- or your 4-5 record as a starter.

Rookie revelation, offense, Part I: A no-brainer -- Marshall Faulk, RB, Colts. Now all the Colts need is a quarterback to match, and they'll be in the playoffs.

Rookie revelation, offense, Part II: Buccaneers running back Errict Rhett, a second-round steal who looks like a guaranteed 1,000-yard runner for the next 10 seasons.

Rookie revelation, defense, Part I: Tim Bowens, DT, Dolphins. He had all the makings of another Dolphins early-round reach -- until he showed he has the makings of one of the NFL's rising defensive stars. Not bad for a kid who had only seven collegiate starts and came into the draft a year early.

Rookie revelation, defense, Part II: Sixth-round gem Lee Woodall, OLB, 49ers. Last year, he was playing at Division II West Chester (Pa.) University. This year, he's starting for the likely Super Bowl champs.

Biggest surprise: The Chargers. A consensus pick for last in the AFC West, they finished first.

Biggest disappointment: J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!

Best game: December 1 -- Vikings 33, Bears 27 in overtime. Warren Moon, back to pass, sees Cris Carter in the open down the left sideline ... TOUCHDOWN! What a finish.

Worst game: September 18 -- Saints 9, Bucs 7. Jim Everett, back to pass, sees Michael Haynes open down the left sideline ... INCOMPLETE! What a bore.

Recurring nightmare storyline, Part I: Concussions. From Merril Hoge's retirement, to Troy Aikman's continued problems, to the weekly procession of head injuries, concussions have dominated the headlines.