Sun, Dec 11, 2005 page23

• Old punter called back to familiar game

  • AP
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  Darren Bennett was all but retired.

  He hadn't punted a gridiron football in months, and was perfectly content being a father in San Diego while his family planned a move back to his native Australia.

  A meeting was scheduled this week with his accountant to discuss filing retirement papers with the National Football League.

  Then the phone rang.

  Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice needed a punter to fill in for a week or two while Chris Kluwe recovers from a knee injury.

  Just like that, the soon-to-be 41-year-old was back in the game.

  "I was supposed to meet with my accountant on Tuesday," Bennett said. "Then they called and that's that. It's Murphy's Law, I guess."

  Bennett went to his second training camp with the Vikings this season, but was cut after an inconsistent preseason. The easygoing Aussie holds no grudges. He was only too happy to return to one of the two teams, along with the San Diego Chargers, he has played for in an 11-year career.

  "This is a performance-based business," Bennett said. "And when you don't perform, that's what happens. I knew before they knew that things were going wrong and my body wasn't doing the things I wanted it to do."

  In his first season away from professional sports in 25 years -- he played Australian rules football before coming to punt for the Chargers in 1995 -- Bennett said he was enjoying the extra time with his family.

  He was working with a software company in San Diego and getting ready to move back to Australia sometime next year, never once punting a football.

  "Do guys block someone after they retire?" Bennett asked. "No."

  Kluwe went down with a sprained knee in last weekend's victory over the Detroit Lions, causing kicker Paul Edinger to punt twice toward the end of a tight game. Tice isn't sure exactly how long Kluwe will be out, but was happy to have an experienced punter available.

  "Hopefully, [Kluwe] will be a one-week deal and we can get him going again next week," Tice said. "If not, I think we are in able hands with Darren.

  "I'm comfortable with him," the coach added. "He's kicked a lot of balls."

  With 828 punts and an NFL career average of 43.5 yards per punt, Bennett said it won't take long to get back into game shape.

  "Physically, not too long at all," he said. "Mentally, there's a few cobwebs, but hopefully they'll be shaken out by Sunday."

  Long snapper Cullen Loeffler said the old man hasn't missed a beat. The two remained close friends even after Bennett was cut, occasionally grabbing dinner or going hunting on an off day.

  "We know each other well," Loeffler said. "The only difference is he stands at 15 yards and Chris stands at 14."

  Even after winning five games in a row, the Vikings (7-5) have little margin for error in these last four weeks, starting with Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.

  With Dallas and Atlanta also at 7-5, and the Chicago Bears at 9-3 in the NFC North Division, the Vikings have to win at least three of their last four to have a shot at the playoffs.

  This could be a trap game for the Indianapolis Colts (12-0), who cannot afford to look ahead to the Chargers and Seahawks the next two weeks.

  The Colts need four victories for the first 16-0 season in NFL history. They are have clinched a playoff berth, and a victory here would clinch the AFC South and a first-round bye.

  But the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-3) are no pushover. Three months ago, they gave the Colts their toughest game of the season, losing by 10-3. Now they have won five straight, they are in good position for a wild-card berth and, as coach Tony Dungy of the Colts said, "They're as hot as anybody."

  Not as hot as the Colts, who have averaged more than 35 points a game over the last nine games. They are first in the league in scoring (30.5 points a game) and second in fewest points allowed (13.5).

  Last Sunday, while the Colts were dispatching the Titans, the Jaguars had trouble with the Browns. Because Byron Leftwich, the Jaguars' quarterback, is injured, David Garrard started for the fifth time in his four-year pro career.

  The Jaguars rallied and won, but coach Jack Del Rio suffered. As Garrard said, "He was a little fired up, but I've seen him worse. He didn't break anything."

  Now the pressure is on the Colts and their quest for a perfect season. They are not overconfident, quarterback Peyton Manning said, because "you don't have time to pat yourself on the back as a team."

  Chicago (9-3) at Pittsburgh (7-5)

  The Bears have won eight straight because their defense is carrying an unsure offense. Coach Lovie Smith's assessment: "That's what they're supposed to do."

  That defense stopped the Packers after the offense had gone 0 for 10 on third down. The once-mighty Steelers have lost their last three games, and Ben Roethlisberger keeps playing despite a broken right thumb.

  Tampa Bay (8-4) at Carolina (9-3)

  The Buccaneers needed Ronde Barber's three interceptions to get by the Saints. The Bucs are quietly having a good year, but coach Jon Gruden warned, "You're only going to be judged on winning Super Bowls."

  The Panthers stayed a game ahead of the Bucs in the NFC South by containing Michael Vick, helped by five sacks and two interceptions. DeShaun Foster rushed for 131 yards and caught three passes for 49 yards and has displaced the older and battered Stephen Davis as the Panthers' featured runner.

  Giants (8-4) at Philadelphia (5-7)

  The Giants, despite an erratic offense, beat the Cowboys because the defense collected four sacks and four turnovers. The Giants have won four games with late fourth-quarter rallies. The Eagles took a blowout loss to the Seahawks on Monday night.

  As coach Andy Reid of the Eagles said, "There's not a lot of good I can find out of this."

  Cleveland (4-8) at Cincinnati (9-3)

  The Bengals outlasted the Steelers and lead the AFC North by two games. Carson Palmer of the Bengals has 26 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. The Browns were beating the Jaguars until they gave up 17 straight points in the third quarter.

  St. Louis (5-7) at Minnesota (7-5)

  The Rams gained only 191 yards in losing to the Redskins and gave up 257 yards in rushing alone. After the Vikings beat the Lions, receiver Koren Robinson said of quarterback Brad Johnson: "He's throwing it on time and he's throwing it precise. He's like Greg Maddux."
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