Football is a young man's sport, unless you're Marcus Allen or Marv Levy.
So while the NFL mostly honors younger guys by sending them to the Pro Bowl, it's time to honor those headed to the seniors league.Herewith, the first annual Geezer of the Year awards, based on the complicated Mills-Tasker-Levy system that awards points on age plus achievement plus age multiplied by year of birth.
Here goes:
Wide receiver: Jerry Rice doesn't play like he's 33. He is 33. Steve Tasker, 33, Buffalo, who's been so good at receiver the last half of the season that he's finally made it off special teams.
Tight end: Pete Metzelaars, 35, Carolina. Geezers, the Buffalo Bills and ex-Bills like Metzelaars seem to be a common denominator.
Tackle: Offensive line is an old man's position. Jackie Slater, 40, Rams, for surviving through 20 seasons before retiring; John Alt, 33, Kansas City, who's a steady survivor.
Guard: Guy McIntyre, 34, who's rejuvenated himself in Philadelphia; Bruce Matthews, 34, Houston, who deserves it even though (like Rice) he's still in top form.
Center: Any number of choices here. Kent Hull, 34, Buffalo over Bart Oates, 36, San Francisco and Ray Donaldson, 37, Dallas. Donaldson is hurt, and Oates made the Pro Bowl although he's been on the bench for half the season.
Quarterback: Thirty-five and under doesn't count. Warren Moon, 39, Minnesota is the last of the geezers.
Running back: Marcus Allen, 35, Kansas City. By acclamation. He thanks Al Davis for letting him rest a couple of years. Name another productive running back over 30. Ronnie Harmon, 31, San Diego. Honorable Mention: Earnest Byner, 33, Cleveland. No. Thurman Thomas isn't 30, just 29.
Forget punters and kickers. They're all over 30.
Kick and punt returner: Mel Gray, 34, Houston. He keeps going and going and going, although he's slowed a bit since he took the money and headed south. Tasker, even though he doesn't do it much.
Defensive end: Reggie White, Green Bay, who turned 34 on Tuesday. What surgery? Simon Fletcher, 33, Denver. The best player who never made the Pro Bowl and, besides John Elway, the last of the old Dan Reeves Super Bowl guys. Right with them: William Fuller, 33, Philadelphia and Sean Jones, Green Bay, shares a birthday with teammate Reggie but is a year younger.
Defensive tackle: No more Steve McMichael. Ray Childress, 33, Houston; Dan Saleaumua, Kansas City, having one of his best years at 31. His running mate, Joe Phillips, is 32 but . . .
Outside linebacker: This one's fun. Atlanta alone could supply both - Clay Matthews, 39, and Darryl Talley, 35. But you have to knock out one for Rickey Jackson, 37, San Francisco, who also plays defensive end.
Middle linebacker: No contest. Sam Mills, 36, Carolina.
Cornerback: Albert Lewis, 35, Oakland. Who plays cornerback at that age? Lewis and Darrell Green, 35, Washington. Tim McKyer, 32, Carolina, is a loose cannon, but he can still cover (usually).
Safety: Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith are gone. Eugene Daniel, 34, Indianapolis; Terry Hoage, 33, Arizona; Mike Zordich, 32, Philadelphia. Yes, it is a young man's game - Vencie Glenn, 31, New York Giants is probably the best geezer safety.
AND . . .
Coach of the Year: Marv Levy, 70, Buffalo. By acclamation.
MVP: Marcus Allen, 35, Kansas City.
Defensive Player: Sam Mills, 36, Carolina.
Offensive Player: Steve Tasker, 33, Buffalo
Rookie Geezer of the Year: Steve Tasker, 33, Buffalo
Executive of the Year: William Clay Ford, Detroit, son of Edsel Ford. Age unpublished.