Glitzy Metcalf Sequel Comes To Kingdome -- Son Of Ex-NFL Star Faces Hawks

Walking into the Kingdome today will be like venturing into a multi-plex theatre on a good weekend.

Great plots abound. And because this is sports rather than the movies, no one knows how everything will end when the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks play.

On Screen 1 is Cleveland's Todd Philcox, a "who's he?" of NFL quarterbacks. Browns Coach Bill Belichick released Bernie Kosar Monday, and today will provide the first clue whether Philcox is in over his head.

On Screen 2 is the depleted Seahawk defense, which has suffered nine injuries in the past five games.

On Screen 3 is Eric Metcalf, the all-purpose blur for Cleveland, and the star of perhaps the day's most intriguing plot. This show could be called "The Son Also Rises" because Metcalf is from Seattle and his father is Terry Metcalf, the ex-Franklin High School star who had a nine-year pro career with St. Louis, Toronto (Canadian Football League) and Washington. Terry went to two Pro Bowls as an all-purpose back and returner for the Cardinals in the mid-1970s. He set the NFL combined-yardage record with 2,462 in 1975 for St. Louis, and it stood for 10 years until Lionel James of San Diego broke it.

Eric, a fifth-year pro, dramatically displayed the same genes three weeks ago when he burned Pittsburgh for punt-return touchdowns of 75 and 91 yards. It was one of his biggest games since last season, when he accounted for all four touchdowns in a 28-16 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders.

Metcalf caught three touchdown passes from Philcox that day and ran for another. It was Philcox's only career start, and he threw two of the touchdowns despite a broken thumb.

Metcalf is buying 65 tickets for friends and relatives for this game. As productive as he has been, he says he wishes the Browns would use him even more. He is Cleveland's leading receiver (32 catches), No. 2 rusher (238 yards), No. 2 kickoff returner and the No. 1 punt returner in the NFL with a 16.6-yard average.

Eric often gets called Terry and never objects. After all, the son has used the words "idol" and "hero" to describe his father.

The feeling - as well as the flash and dash on the field - are mutual.

"When I see films of Eric, it's like looking in the mirror," Terry has said.

Terry was only 16 and a student at Seattle's Franklin High School when Eric was born.

Terry attended Everett Community College, then went on to Long Beach State and the pros.

Eric lived in Seattle with his mother, Christina Jefferson, until after his freshman year at O'Dea. He said one reason he went to live with his father in Washington, D.C., was because O'Dea refused to let him play varsity football as a freshman.

However, Terry said there were other reasons - "personal stuff" - in the decision.

Eric arrived in suburban Washington, D.C. when Terry's life was starting to sink into a miasma of cocaine and alcohol abuse after a spinal injury ended his football career.

"I had tunnel vision," Terry said. "I never planned for life after football."

Eric said he wasn't fully aware of his father's problems at the time. The transfer from Seattle set about making a name for himself at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Va., and became a blue-chip recruit.

Texas won the recruiting battle over Notre Dame and Miami, and Eric was a two-sport star as a Longhorn. He finished as a Heisman candidate after setting the Southwest Conference all-purpose mark with 5,705 career yards. He also was a two-time NCAA long-jump champion (best career leap, 27 feet, 8 3/4 inches).

Cleveland made him the 13th player taken in the 1989 draft.

While Eric was succeeding in the 1980s, his father often was floundering. A marriage ended, and Terry has said there were financial problems.

Terry said his life turned into "drugs and alcohol, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Thanks to God, I didn't lose my life. He gave me a second chance."

At least twice, he checked into treatment centers and said he spent two years at one in Edmonds after moving back to the Seattle area.

Terry is doing well these days. He is teaching kindergarten and middle-school physical education at Seattle's Zion Christian School. He also helps coach a football team for junior-high age kids in the Rainier Valley.

Father and son see a lot of each other in the offseason because Eric's home is in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood.

Terry is looking forward to watching Eric today.

"Because of my other life, I didn't really see him like I should have seen him or supported him the way I should have," Terry said. "Now, with my feet getting planted on the ground and doing what I am supposed to do, I can be there for him emotionally and support-wise, and I think that means a lot for him."

Eric is proud of his father's recovery.

Eric said his father is proof the mighty can fall and that people have "tough times." However, "as long as you're able to bounce back, everything is OK," he said.

Eric said the only post-football career advice his father has supplied is "make sure you have an alternate route once football is over."

Eric is involved in a new production company in Houston that has some singers and rappers who are breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, one of the best acts around is Eric Metcalf with a football. The Kingdome will be his stage today in a homecoming performance.