NFC

Let’s meet in Canton

When Dallas plays at Washington today, it will mark the 22nd time Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells and Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs have faced each other in the regular season.

According to STATS LLC, in the history of the NFL, only two coaching matchups have greater longevity: Chicago’s George Halas versus Green Bay’s Curly Lambeau, 48 times; and Lambeau versus Steve Owen of the New York Giants, 28 games.

From 1983 through ‘87, Gibbs’ teams were 6-4 against Parcells’ teams. But since 1988, Parcells has more than evened the score, winning nine of 11 against Gibbs.

In all, Parcells is 13-8 when facing Gibbs. Not many coaches have a winning record against the Redskins legend. The others are Bill Walsh, 4-1; Tom Coughlin, 3-2; and the late Tom Landry, 8-7.

Youth is served

Good things come to those who wait -- just ask the Bears and Saints.

Both teams are benefiting from outstanding play by a couple of late-round draft picks: defensive end Mark Anderson, selected in the fifth round by Chicago, and receiver Marques Colston, taken in the seventh by New Orleans. Anderson and Colston were named the league’s defensive and offensive rookies of the month for their play in October.

Anderson, the first Bears player to earn the defensive award since Brian Urlacher in 2000, had six of his seven sacks in four games last month. He forced a fumble in each of the last three games. Colston, a former tight end at Hofstra, led all rookies with 373 yards receiving in October and had three touchdown catches, third-most in the league.

From pen to penitentiary

A Wisconsin sports memorabilia dealer was sentenced last week to six months in jail and four months’ probation for selling forged Brett Favre autographs.

Michael “Whitey� Van Landen pleaded guilty in September to one count of theft by fraud after undercover agents bought framed prints that included high-quality photocopies of the Packers quarterback’s autograph.

Ruffled by Roy

Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall took exception last week to recent comments by Detroit receiver Roy Williams, who said Hall needed “help over the top� in covering deep routes.

“That’s a good little Chad Johnson-like comment,� Hall said, referring to the outspoken Bengals receiver.

“I play the game. I’m a Pro Bowler, [Williams is] not. I’m considered one of the best at what I do, he’s not. So all the other stuff we’ll see on Sunday.�

Seeing red

Bertrand Berry is not at all happy about Arizona’s unimpressive start. On a weekly radio show, the Cardinals defensive end questioned the maturity of some of his teammates and wondered whether the 1-7 team has what it takes to turn things around.

“This is not Friday night football in high school, where you’re just playing for your little girlfriend in the stands,� he said. “You’re actually getting paid to do this, so it’s your responsibility to go out there each and every day and do the job that you’re paid very well to do.

“When you don’t do it, you should not have your job anymore. It’s that simple.�

Cowboys have X, Y and

ZZZZZ receivers

Dallas receiver Terrell Owens confided to reporters last week that he has a tendency to fall asleep in team meetings, and that the problem has followed him throughout his career.

“I don’t know what it is,� he said after Thursday’s practice. “I’ve never been diagnosed with it. It’s nothing new for me to fall asleep in a meeting. It goes back to my rookie year in San Francisco.

“My receivers coach [George Stewart] knew I would fall asleep. He thought I was staying up late, and sometimes I did. When I did get to bed early, I would still get to meetings and fall asleep. It’s the same thing here.�

He said the situation bothers passing-game coordinator Todd Haley, who has had his problems with Owens.

“Todd’s a big stickler, and he kind of got offended,� Owens told reporters. “That’s one of his pet peeves, about not sleeping in a meeting.�

Coaches can be so demanding. They expect you to stay awake and actually listen to what they’re saying. The nerve!

*

-- Sam Farmer