Tuesday, September 22, 1998

Tanuvasa passes test
against the Raiders

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

The Oakland Raiders had picked the side they wanted to run Napoleon Kaufman.

They told him to test Denver Broncos' right defensive end Maa Tanuvasa.

Bad idea.

Tanuvasa quickly asserted his presence in the unbeaten Super Bowl champions' 34-17 victory at Oakland Sunday.

He stopped Kaufman after a 3-yard gain on the Raiders' first play from scrimmage.

Tanuvasa held Kaufman to a 4-yard gain on Oakland's first play of its next series.

The third time they met in the first quarter, Tanuvasa stopped Kaufman cold for no gain.

"Any offense is looking for a weak link in the defense and I guess they wanted to test me because I didn't have much experience at end," said Tanuvasa, who had five solo tackles in one of his best games as a pro.

The Mililani High School/University of Hawaii product was switched to end last month after playing at right defensive tackle in 1996 and 1997.

Tanuvasa's last tackle, late in the third quarter, was a minus-7-yard sack of Oakland quarterback Jeff George. It was Tanuvasa's second sack of the season.

He tied for the Broncos' lead with 8.5 sacks last season.

Asked how it feels to make a sack in the NFL on national TV, Tanuvasa said, "I guess it feels like hitting a home run."

MURRELL BUSTS OUT: Arizona cardinals running back Adrian Murrell (Leilehua/W. Virginia) had his best game of the season with 145 yards on 22 carries and a 25-yard touchdown in his team's 17-3 victory over Philadelphia.

In three games, Murrell has 259 yards on 55 carries and two touchdowns.

"FU" GETS A CARRY: Chris Fuamatu-Maafala (St. Louis/Utah) had his first carry of the regular season for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the team's loss at Miami. It was a 2-yard gain.

Fuamatu-Maafala also has three catches for 26 yards.

ON AGAIN: Wide receiver Kaipo McGuire (St. Louis/Brigham Young) was re-signed to the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad.

He was dropped from the Colts' practice squad two weeks ago. He spent last season on that squad.

OFF AGAIN: Offensive lineman Siupele Malamala (Kalaheo/Washington) has had his contract terminated by the New York Jets. Malamala was projected in preseason to be a potential starter.

Malamala was both released and brought back by the Jets in 1997. He was the team's third-round pick in 1992.

Malamala's departure leaves Hawaii with 12 players on NFL rosters.