Quick Kicks

Rice is so nice

Jerry Rice broke NFL records for career receptions and receiving yards in a season Sunday in a 28-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Rice had 12 catches for 153 yards, giving him 942 receptions for his career and 1,848 yards this season.

He moved ahead of former Washington Redskins great Art Monk, who came out of retirement last month to play with the Philadelphia Eagles. Monk had one catch in Sunday’s loss at Chicago, giving him 940 for his career.

Rice broke the yardage mark of 1,746 set by Houston’s Charlie Hennigan in 1961. Hennigan set the mark in 14 games in the AFL and Rice got his in 16 games.

Hennigan’s record fell on a 57-yard reception in the second quarter that carried to the Atlanta 8 and set up a San Francisco touchdown.

Good job Mike

It was hardly a fitting way for the Browns to end their glorious history in Cleveland, but former Central Valley and Idaho kicker Mike Hollis had a job to do.

With Jim Brown watching from the sideline - and the ghost of Paul Brown hovering over the stadium? - Hollis attempted a 39-yard field goal that struck the right upright and bounced away while the Cleveland sideline celebrated. But several defenders had jumped across the line before the snap, giving Hollis another chance 5 yards closer.

“I knew they had jumped offsides and I basically kind of pulled my head a little and slowed down,” Hollis said. “I wish it had gone in and I had just eliminated all this stuff, but it happened and I was just fortunate enough to get another shot at it.”

His next kick, straight down the middle, may be the last memory Cleveland fans have of their beloved team.

1,000-yard duos and trio

Four teams had at least two wide receivers combine for 1,000 yards in pass receptions. They are:

- Atlanta Falcons, Eric Metcalf (1,189), Terance Mathis (1,039) and Bert Emanuel (1,039).

1995 - Detroit Lions, Herman Moore (1,686) and Brett Perriman (1,488).

1995 - Minnesota Vikings, Cris Carter (1,371) and Jake Reed (1,167).

1995 - Chicago Bears, Jeff Graham (1,301) and Curtis Conway (1,037).

Monday night matchup

Buddy Ryan brought the Arizona Cardinals instant recognition, more fans and their first Monday night game since 1988.

Owner Bill Bidwill also had winning seasons and playoff appearances in mind when he hired Ryan nearly two years ago, and he’s still waiting.

In fact, the Cardinals (4-11) will finish with a worse record than the 7-9 mark that got coach Joe Bugel fired after the 1993 season.

And, win or lose against Dallas tonight (KXLY, Channel 4, 6 p.m.), Ryan will have his worst season. Even his first Philadelphia team was 5-10-1.

In the unpredictable politics of coaching, though, Ryan may be more secure in his job than Barry Switzer of the Cowboys. Despite an 11-4 record, Switzer has been under since losing to Philadelphia two weeks after a costly controversial decision.

, DataTimes