Chapter 502

Steve had practiced hard all week to regain his timing with his backs and receivers, but he knew he was still rusty and would be missing plays he had been accustomed to making easily. So he went into the game determined to minimize his mistakes and give his team a chance to win.

This season The Cowboys had drafted a middle linebacker, Leon Baker from Ohio State, in the first round. He was off to a fast start with four sacks in his first three games. He was also an excellent run stopper and had really stiffened Dallas’s defense.

The rookie had soon become known as a showboat. He celebrated his plays a little harder and longer than his opponents felt appropriate. He had also made a point of telling reporters Steve Hammer was too old to give him or his team any problems. He promised to sack Steve at least once during the game.

The kid quickly made good on his promise, as he dropped Steve for a loss in the first offensive series. Thereafter the Spartans began keeping t