Dan Reeves

The Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves have been on both sides of the quest for the top quarterback in a draft.That's why it's almost fitting that at the quarter-pole, the Bears, Colts and Falcons have the best field position in the Peyton Manning derby with 0-4 records.The Bears tied the Pittsburgh Steelers for the worst record in 1969 at 1-13 and then lost the coin flip for Terry Bradshaw, who was quarterback for four Super Bowl winners in the 1970s for the Steelers.

1. Green Bay: Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.2. New England: Patriots started 2-2 last year under Bill Parcells.3. Denver: John Elway will enjoy drilling Dan Reeves' team.4. Tampa Bay: They like Malcolm Glazer down in Tampa.5. Dallas: No Jerry Jones coaching hype this week.6. Jacksonville: Can the Jaguars avoid the Raljon traffic jam?7. San Francisco: 49ers are feasting on an easy schedule.8. Pittsburgh: Jerome Bettis needs more than five first-half carries.9. Philadelphia: Eagles have reunion with Randall Cunningham.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Barry Switzer's folly turned out to be Dan Reeves' stroke of genius yesterday.Separated by just 90 miles, Switzer and Dan Reeves made risky decisions to go for it on fourth down at the two-minute warning in tie games in their own territory.In Philadelphia, Switzer's decision backfired when the Dallas Cowboys didn't make it at their own 29 and lost to the Eagles, 20-17.At Giants Stadium less than three hours later, Reeves' decision was a game-winner when the New York Giants went for it on fourth-and-one at the Giants' 41.Rodney Hampton made it with a 2-yard run and two plays later, Dave Brown threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Chris Calloway to give the Giants a 20-13 win over the Redskins.

Auto racingIndy Racing League -- Announced the resignation of commissioner Jerry Hauer. Named Jack Long, president of an Arizona motorsports marketing and management company, executive director. The new league will begin a series of races in 1996.BaseballBoston Red Sox -- Named Jim Rowe trainer. Announced that Rico Petrocelli has resigned as hitting and infield instructor with Double-A Trenton.California Angels -- Relieved director of international scouting Ray Potvient of his duties and assigned them to Bob Fontaine Jr., assistant VP for scouting and player personnel.

Division predictionThe Cowboys should win the division easily and the Redskins are likely to finish last again. The other three teams figure to be closely bunched, with the Giants fighting the Cardinals for the runner-up spot and the Eagles staying in the fight if Randall Cunningham can remain healthy. The Eagles-Giants opener Sunday could give a glimpse of which way those teams are heading.1. Dallas Cowboys1993 record: 12-4, first in division; beat Packers in divisional playoff, beat 49ers in NFC title game, beat Bills in Super Bowl.

No Randall Cunningham, Reggie White, Keith Byars or Rodney Hampton, Carl Banks, Pepper Johnson.Free agency and injuries have forced the names to change. The intensity, though, is the same.Giants-Eagles is still one of the very best shows in the NFL. They're both 4-1 with first place in the NFC East at stake on Sunday in the Meadowlands. The Eagles have defeated the Giants five in a row and nine out of the last 10.This is a game of opportunity. One will stay in first at least until the Cowboys zip by. And with so many big names missing, the opportunity is there for new faces to emerge.

Deep under the stack of sprawling bodies, a man squeezed a football and thought it was going to remain the property of the Dallas Cowboys. Dave Manders, to his everlasting regret, was soon to learn otherwise.Now, 22 years after the fact, he continues to insist the fumble that granted the Baltimore Colts a goal-line reprieve in Super Bowl V should have been ruled in the possession of the Cowboys.Manders has no reason to invent a story or perpetuate fabrication. This is what he has been saying since late that afternoon, Jan. 17, 1971, when the Colts, smiled on by fate, won their only Super Bowl as Jim O'Brien kicked a 32-yard field goal with time running out for a 16-13 victory.

NEW YORK -- The Dan Reeves era began with the new boss talking the talk yesterday. If his New York Giants don't walk the walk, at least they will be toeing the line.And that's more than you can say about his predecessor.Ray Handley left Reeves with an aging defense, an offense without an identity and a locker room that lost its respect for the coach. Reeves feels that the new year presents him with the makings of a championship team and the tools to rebuild one."What I saw in preparation for the Giants last year is that they're not that far away," Reeves said after agreeing to a five-year deal in excess of $4 million.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Dan Reeves became the New York Giants' head coach yesterday after a month of torment for the team that so recently ruled professional football.The announcement came at a news conference at Giants Stadium before an overflow crowd of reporters and television crews. It came four weeks after the Denver Broncos dismissed Reeves, four weeks after the Giants dismissed Ray Handley, three weeks after Tom Coughlin spurned the Giants to remain as head coach at Boston College and two weeks after Dave Wannstedt spurned them to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

MIAMI ---- It has all come around to him now. You could see it on Don Shula's face yesterday, feel it in his ease. Someone from out of town told him he seemed happier than usual Sunday. "You mean I smiled once? Twice?" Shula said, grinning, needling his stone-faced image. He waved at the roomful of local reporters."These guys, they know I'm just a happy-go-lucky guy. Friendly. Free-wheeling. Free spirit."On the day after Sunday, yes, Shula felt mighty fine. He wore his usual mesh shirt and green shorts, a pair of brown shoes so soft they might've been slippers.