Kanell

The New York Giants have seen the future, and it looks a lot like second-year quarterback Danny Kanell.Kanell was no world-beater in his first NFL start this week, a 27-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, but he was good enough to put Dave Brown's job in jeopardy.Kanell made his debut as a starter in Tempe, Ariz., after Brown suffered a Week 6 chest injury against Dallas. Brown, who made 44 consecutive starts for the Giants, could miss four to six weeks to injury -- and a lot more time after that.

Gary Baxter has developed a way to handle shifting positions -- sometimes as many as three within the same quarter -- during Ravens games. He ignores the moves. "I just love the game so much, I try not to think twice about what position I'm playing," said Baxter, who started at safety but played cornerback and nickel back in the fourth quarter of the team's 26-6 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. "If I have any hesitation on my part, then I don't think I'll go out and play to the best of my abilities.

COLLEGE PARK -- One week before its "game of the century" against Notre Dame, Florida State came to Maryland last October with a No. 1 ranking and a "get it over with" attitude. jTC Apathy ran high among the Seminoles, with one exception: It was the biggest game of the year for Danny Kanell.It was Kanell's turn at second-team quarterback when Florida State came to Maryland last year, so he got the start when coach Bobby Bowden decided to rest Charlie Ward."Some of our guys were overlooking Maryland," Kanell said, "but I know I did all I could.

Denver Broncos quarterback Danny Kanell knew he would be hit, harassed and hurried by the Ravens' defense yesterday. And there was little he could do about it. Making his first start since the 2000 season when he was with the Atlanta Falcons, Kanell threw two interceptions, was sacked twice by linebacker Peter Boulware and earned a passer rating of 33.5 in the Broncos' 26-6 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Afterward, it was hard to tell if the tired look on Kanell's face stemmed from a flu bug that forced him to go to a Denver hospital on Friday for intravenous fluids, or from consistent pressure from a defense that ranked ninth in the NFL. "I think it was obvious what they were going to try to do to me," Kanell said.

COLLEGE PARK -- Next week, when the top-ranked Florida State Seminoles head to Notre Dame for their showdown with the No. 2 Fighting Irish, quarterback Danny Kanell will occupy his normal spot on the sidelines, flashing signals, holding on kicks and carrying the clipboard.There are worse fates in college football than Kanell's, considering that he backs up Charlie Ward, the favorite for this year's Heisman Trophy. Except that Kanell, who perhaps had the TC best day an FSU quarterback has had this season in the Seminoles' 49-20 win over Maryland, will likely slide back to third string, behind Ward and Jon Stark.

DENVER - The Denver Broncos' quarterback saga took a turn for the weird yesterday. Danny Kanell, the journeyman scheduled to start against the Ravens tomorrow, missed practice yesterday because of the flu. He is listed as probable, but coach Mike Shanahan said he's not sure if Kanell will be able to play. "This morning he was vomiting; he's got the flu right now," Shanahan said. "He's a little bit dehydrated. We gave him some IVs, and hopefully he'll be all right by game time." If Kanell can't play, the ball will be in the hands of Jarious Jackson, who was cut by the Broncos at the end of training camp.

Denver Broncos quarterback Danny Kanell knew he would be hit, harassed and hurried by the Ravens' defense yesterday. And there was little he could do about it. Making his first start since the 2000 season when he was with the Atlanta Falcons, Kanell threw two interceptions, was sacked twice by linebacker Peter Boulware and earned a passer rating of 33.5 in the Broncos' 26-6 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Afterward, it was hard to tell if the tired look on Kanell's face stemmed from a flu bug that forced him to go to a Denver hospital on Friday for intravenous fluids, or from consistent pressure from a defense that ranked ninth in the NFL. "I think it was obvious what they were going to try to do to me," Kanell said.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Fishes and loaves will have to wait until next week. It was enough for the Minnesota Vikings to spring an upset for the ages in the NFL playoffs yesterday.Winless in four previous playoff games under embattled coach Dennis Green, the Vikings scored 10 points in the final 90 seconds to shock the New York Giants, 23-22, in an NFC wild-card game at Giants Stadium.Eddie Murray's 24-yard field goal with 10 seconds left earned Minnesota (10-7) its first playoff win since 1988 and a second-round date next Saturday in San Francisco against the 49ers.

MIAMI -- The question has not been raised this week, as the countdown to tomorrow night's Federal Express Orange Bowl continues. But the answer apparently is clear: if Heisman Trophy quarterback Charlie Ward gets knocked out of the game by Nebraska, Florida State would turn to Danny Kanell.The 6-foot-4, 215-pound redshirt sophomore, who grew up in nearby Fort Lauderdale, is apparently the heir to one of the best college quarterbacks of his generation. And Kanell has the confidence if he gets the call against the Cornhuskers.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- They don't play overtime in major college football. And for that, Steve Spurrier and Florida can be thankful.Had there been any more ticks left on the Doak Campbell Stadium clock yesterday, Florida State may well have beaten the Gators instead of winding up in a 31-31 tie. As it was, Florida State had to overcome a 28-point fourth-quarter deficit just to finish even.In the most dramatic of the 37 games played between these two cross-state rivals, the teams, both coming in with 9-1 records, battled to a draw before the largest crowd ever to see a game here, 80,210.

THE RAVENS GOT a glimpse of the future, and they see it filled with nothing but doom -- for opposing quarterbacks. Peter Boulware and Terrell Suggs. Terrell Suggs and Peter Boulware. When the Ravens get a lead and need to keep constant pressure on the quarterback, they believe they have a deadly combination. "Oh, my, when those two finally get it together, when they start jelling, it's going to be scary," Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis said of Suggs and Boulware, both outside linebackers.

DENVER - The Denver Broncos' quarterback saga took a turn for the weird yesterday. Danny Kanell, the journeyman scheduled to start against the Ravens tomorrow, missed practice yesterday because of the flu. He is listed as probable, but coach Mike Shanahan said he's not sure if Kanell will be able to play. "This morning he was vomiting; he's got the flu right now," Shanahan said. "He's a little bit dehydrated. We gave him some IVs, and hopefully he'll be all right by game time." If Kanell can't play, the ball will be in the hands of Jarious Jackson, who was cut by the Broncos at the end of training camp.

Out of the NFL for two years, Denver Broncos quarterback Danny Kanell is sort of a mystery. The same could be said about the Ravens' defense these days. Once known for shutouts, the Ravens' wall on the goal line is showing some cracks. The Ravens have surrendered 126 points this season - which ranks 18th in the NFL and represents their most points allowed over a six-game start since 1997. In their defense, fluke plays have been converted into touchdowns and turnovers have paved short paths to the end zone.

CARLISLE, Pa. - With the incumbent starter nursing an ailing shoulder and the inexperienced backup nicked and ineffective, the Washington Redskins seem to be awfully calm about their quarterback situation, just three days before their second exhibition. That doesn't mean that coach Marty Schottenheimer isn't doing something about the matter. In fact, he brought in Danny Kanell (formerly a quarterback for the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons) for a morning workout yesterday to see what he can offer the Redskins, what with Jeff George on the shelf with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder and Todd Husak nursing a strained oblique muscle near his left rib cage.

ATLANTA -- Yesterday's game had produced pretty much the same negatives as the three previous games had for the Atlanta Falcons.Only this time, despite the injuries, penalties, missed field-goal attempts and turnovers, the defending NFC champions appeared in good shape to claim a victory. But a botched final regulation drive deep into Ravens territory was followed by a major blown defensive assignment in overtime.The result was another defeat, as the Falcons' 19-13 overtime loss left Atlanta 0-4 and searching for answers.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Fishes and loaves will have to wait until next week. It was enough for the Minnesota Vikings to spring an upset for the ages in the NFL playoffs yesterday.Winless in four previous playoff games under embattled coach Dennis Green, the Vikings scored 10 points in the final 90 seconds to shock the New York Giants, 23-22, in an NFC wild-card game at Giants Stadium.Eddie Murray's 24-yard field goal with 10 seconds left earned Minnesota (10-7) its first playoff win since 1988 and a second-round date next Saturday in San Francisco against the 49ers.

Out of the NFL for two years, Denver Broncos quarterback Danny Kanell is sort of a mystery. The same could be said about the Ravens' defense these days. Once known for shutouts, the Ravens' wall on the goal line is showing some cracks. The Ravens have surrendered 126 points this season - which ranks 18th in the NFL and represents their most points allowed over a six-game start since 1997. In their defense, fluke plays have been converted into touchdowns and turnovers have paved short paths to the end zone.

Even though the New York Yankees wouldn't say so, all signs pointed last night to the probability that they will claim Bo Jackson on waivers by today's 2 p.m. deadline, The New York Times and USA Today reported in this morning's editions."

Second-string quarterbacks have been forewarned. When the Buffalo Bills cut Billy Joe Hobert last week for failing to prepare properly for a game, they put the rest of the NFL's backups on alert.Hobert was the Bills' backup quarterback who played miserably in a 33-6 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 7 after starter Todd Collins was injured. Later, Hobert admitted he really hadn't studied the game plan the way he should have.His unprofessionalism was grounds for dismissal, and the Bills dismissed post haste.

The New York Giants have seen the future, and it looks a lot like second-year quarterback Danny Kanell.Kanell was no world-beater in his first NFL start this week, a 27-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, but he was good enough to put Dave Brown's job in jeopardy.Kanell made his debut as a starter in Tempe, Ariz., after Brown suffered a Week 6 chest injury against Dallas. Brown, who made 44 consecutive starts for the Giants, could miss four to six weeks to injury -- and a lot more time after that.