PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Falcons’ Rison Receives a Challenge

Atlanta wide receiver Andre Rison irritated the Rams by guaranteeing, then delivering, a victory over them three weeks ago. But heading into Sunday’s rematch at Anaheim Stadium, it’s Ram free safety Anthony Newman firing the first shot.

“Yeah, he had a big game on us but he didn’t come over the middle,” Newman said in a TV interview Monday night. “I challenge Andre to come over the middle.”

Rison ran short sideline patterns in the first meeting, a 31-13 Falcon victory, catching 12 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Afterward, Rison hinted that the Rams had put a bounty on him and accused cornerback Steve Israel of taking a cheap shot at him, an accusation Israel denied.

Rison has a news conference scheduled with L.A. reporters this morning.

*

Falcon Coach June Jones told Atlanta writers that the Rams’ 16-0 victory over the Chiefs, who had beaten the Falcons two weeks ago, gave his team a wake-up call.

“The best thing that could happen to our team was the Rams beating Kansas City,” Jones said. “This will force use to focus for Sunday. This got our attention.”

*

Wide receiver Flipper Anderson leads the league in yards per reception with a 35.1 average. . . . The Falcons are tied with Kansas City for the league lead in take-aways with 14. They have 10 interceptions, including four by D.J. Johnson, who intercepted two of Ram quarterback Chris Miller’s passes in the teams’ first meeting.