Greene Guilty of Defensive Holding

Not many in the NFL play at a higher emotional level than Kevin Greene. But that intensity got the best of the veteran linebacker Sunday.

Greene, tied for second in the league in sacks and one of the best pass rushers in NFL history, attacked Panther assistant coach Kevin Steele on the sideline in the first half of the Carolina Panthers’ 28-25 loss to the Washington Redskins at Charlotte, N.C.

It was yet another ugly incident for the 2-12 Panthers.

Two weeks ago, starting running back Fred Lane was suspended by Coach Dom Capers for one game when he grabbed his crotch during a touchdown celebration against the New York Jets. Lane did not dress again Sunday.

The Panthers had just given up their third touchdown early in the second quarter and trailed, 21-3, against Washington when Capers and Steele began to address the defense on the bench.

When Steele, a slender marathon runner, waved an arm near Greene, the 6-foot-3, 247-pound outside linebacker suddenly jumped up, grabbed Steele’s jacket with two hands, starting yelling and pushed him backward about 10 feet. The two had to be separated by players and coaches.

“One of the reasons Kevin [Greene] is a good player is that he is an emotional guy,” Capers said. “But [he] knew he was wrong.”

It is unclear if Greene would be fined, suspended or both by Capers, who said he would take appropriate action today.

Capers was asked if he viewed the incident as an unprovoked attack on a coach.

“It’s something you can’t do. You can’t have that happen. You’ve got to keep your poise,” Capers said. “We talk about it all the time. It’s an emotional game and emotions run high. That’s the nature of the game, but you have to always come back and regain your poise. It was an exchange that should not happen.”

Greene was near tears over the incident when he talked to reporters briefly in the locker room.

“I lost my composure in the heat of the moment,” Greene said. “It’s an emotional game and I will apologize to the entire team tomorrow.”

Most of the players said the incident didn’t affect the team, saying it was like a family disagreement. Center Frank Garcia said he still considers Greene one of the team’s leaders.

“It was one of those things that happened and it was brushed off in 30 seconds,” said Dwight Stone, who played with Greene in Pittsburgh. “It wasn’t that bad. Nobody got any blood shown. It was love taps, that’s all.”

Greene and Steele, who coached at Nebraska in 1994 when the Cornhuskers won the national title, met after the game. Capers said both “are fine” with what happened.

“Football is an emotional, aggressive game,” Steele said. “Those guys are out there fighting, OK? Kevin is a good person. We’ve talked about it and worked it out. That’s it. That’s all I have to say about it.”

YOU ARE ALL GOING ON MY ‘NAUGHTY’ LIST

The 62,176 fans who showed up to see the Eagles lose to Arizona, 20-17, in overtime, continued one of the best Philadelphia sports traditions--booing Santa Claus.

First, Eagle fans showered ol’ St. Nick with derision during pregame introductions.

They really let him have it later, when Santa missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt during halftime ceremonies.

If anyone in Philadelphia asked Santa for a new football team next season, they can forget it now.

THESE GUYS MUST BE BETTER AT OTHER JOBS

Who are these officials that keep blowing calls week after week, and what do they do the other six days?

They are mostly teachers, middle managers and salesmen, a golf pro, a longshoreman, several cops and a retired firefighter, among others.

Just three of the 113 played pro football: Gary Lane, Dean Look and Ron Botchan. Look and Lane were quarterbacks, Botchan a linebacker.

Another, Byron Boston, is the father of David Boston, the Ohio State wide receiver who will be a first-round draft pick. The league says the senior Boston will not be assigned to any games in which his son is playing.

There’s also a Pointer brother, Aaron Pointer, brother of the singing Pointer sisters, who’s in his 12th season as a head linesman. He once officiated at a game when his sisters sang the national anthem.

Here is a list by general category:

Education--21, plus Jerry Seeman, the head of officiating, who was a teacher and school administrator before going to work for the NFL full-time. Includes six college professors.

Administration and management--16.

Sales--16, primarily insurance and real estate.

Finance--15, including two bank presidents.

CEO’s and independent businessmen--nine.

Sports administration or coaching--eight.

Civil servants--six.

Law enforcement and security--five.

“Consultants” or inspirational speakers--five. (If guys this bad can keep their job, it’s certainly an inspiration to the rest of us).

Lawyers--three.

Dentists--two.

Doctors--one, umpire Ed Phiffick, a podiatrist.

Engineers--one.

Longshoremen--one, umpire Hendi Ancich.

Computer scientists--one.

Retired firefighters--one, back judge Bill Leavy.

Physical therapists--one.

Golf pro--one, referee Ron Blum.

OUR SYMPATHIES TO THE FUAD REVEIZ FAN CLUB

Minnesota kicker Gary Anderson set an NFL record in the 38-28 victory over Baltimore with his 32nd consecutive field goal.

Anderson’s 24-yard field goal with 5:17 left in the first half broke the mark of 31 in a row set by Fuad Reveiz of the Vikings in 1994-95.

Anderson is 27 for 27 on field-goal attempts this season.

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The Playmakers

PASSING

*--*

Player, Team Att Cmp Yds TD CHRIS CHANDLER, Falcons 28 19 345 2 R. CUNNINGHAM, Vikings 55 32 345 2 DAN MARINO, Dolphins 57 30 321 1 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 42 26 290 2 KENT GRAHAM, Giants 33 21 265 2 S. BEUERLEIN, Panthers 25 16 264 1 TRENT GREEN, Redskins 42 23 257 2 JAKE PLUMMER, Cardinals 26 18 234 1 V. TESTAVERDE, Jets 29 17 232 1 STEVE McNAIR, Oilers 39 22 232 1 PEYTON MANNING, Colts 26 17 210 3 TROY AIKMAN, Cowboys 35 18 199 2

*--*

RUSHING

*--*

Player, Team No Yds TD ROBERT EDWARDS, Patriots 24 196 0 ADRIAN MURRELL, Cardinals 32 174 0 JAMAL ANDERSON, Falcons 27 148 0 TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos 28 147 1 DUCE STALEY, Eagles 30 141 1 BAM MORRIS, Chiefs 27 137 1

*--*

RECEIVING

*--*

Player, Team No Yds TD TERANCE MATHIS, Falcons 6 198 2 FLOYD TURNER, Ravens 10 147 1 ALBERT CONNELL, Redskins 8 116 1

*--*

--Compiled by Houston Mitchell