Oilers Draw Cool Memphis Reception

The former Houston Oilers played their first home game at Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday night. Few people noticed.

Except for the lack of a roof overhead, the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium looked a lot like the Astrodome of last year, with empty seats outnumbering the 22,811 who watched as the New Orleans Saints beat the Oilers, 21-12, in an NFL exhibition.

The Saints, with new Coach Mike Ditka and former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler, had more support than the Oilers.

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Chicago quarterback Rick Mirer struggled for the second consecutive game, completing only six of 10 passes for 81 yards, but Jeff Jaeger kicked a 42-yard field goal with 6:09 remaining in overtime to give the Bears a 20-17 exhibition victory over the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills’ Todd Collins completed 10 of 19 passes for 150 yards and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Quinn Early. Billy Joe Hobert completed eight of 16 for 91 yards. . . . Alvin Harper stunned his former team with a 60-yard touchdown reception and James Thrash scored on a 91-yard kickoff return to lead the Washington Redskins to a 20-8 exhibition victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa, Fla. Harper, released by the Buccaneers in a cost-saving move last month, kicked the ball into the stands after his touchdown.

Kordell Stewart sliced up the Kansas City secondary in a 28-14 Pittsburgh victory at Kansas City. Stewart and Mike Tomczak picked on backup right cornerback Mark McMillan. James Hasty, the starter in that position, is holding out. One bright spot for the Chiefs was new quarterback Elvis Grbac, who completed five of six passes for 43 yards in a 77-yard touchdown drive. . . . Aaron Glenn got the Bill Parcells era started with a weaving 97-yard interception return for a touchdown, and the New York Jets rolled to a 31-17 victory over Philadelphia at East Rutherford, N.J.

Jim Fassel won his NFL coaching debut as Brad Daluiso’s fourth field goal, a 29-yarder with 1:57 left, gave the New York Giants a 21-20 exhibition victory at Baltimore. The Giants’ Dave Brown completed 11 of 17 passes for 119 yards. Ike Hilliard, the Giants’ top draft choice, had four catches for 70 yards. . . . Brad Johnson threw touchdown passes of 24 yards to Cris Carter and 43 yards to Chris Walsh to lead the Vikings to a 24-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams at Minneapolis. Johnson completed 11 of 14 passes for 182 yards in 1 1/2 quarters. The game marked the debut of Dick Vermeil as the Rams’ coach. . . . Gary Brown, who sat out last year, ran seven yards for a first-quarter touchdown and free-agent rookie Latario Rachal returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter and the San Diego Chargers defeated San Francisco, 20-13, at San Diego. The Chargers’ Kevin Gilbride and the 49ers’ Steve Mariucci made their NFL head coaching debuts.

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 34-6, and also have agreed on terms with their two top draft picks. Cornerback Shawn Springs, the third player chosen in the draft, has signed, according to his agent, and offensive tackle Walter Jones, the sixth overall pick, has agreed to terms, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported. Springs, from Ohio State, agreed to a seven-year contract worth $20 million, including a $6 million signing bonus, and Jones, a 300-pounder from Florida State, reportedly agreed to a six-year deal worth $12 million that includes a $4-million signing bonus.

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Both quarterback Jeff George and Coach Joe Bugel make their debuts for the Oakland Raiders tonight in an NFL exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys at Irving, Texas.

The Raiders and Cowboys have been hammering each other in Dallas’ Austin training camp.

Dallas lost a scrimmage, 12-,6 to Oakland Thursday night and also lost three cornerbacks. Kevin Smith sprained an ankle, Artis Houston hurt a thigh, and Kenny Wheaton separated a shoulder.

During practice earlier in the week against Oakland, Wendell Davis tore a knee ligament and underwent surgery. He could be out for two months.

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The Cincinnati Bengals got some good news regarding offensive tackle Willie Anderson. The knee he injured in practice Thursday is severely bruised, but there is no structural damage. He may miss only one more exhibition game.