Jeff Thomason

For a guy who wasn't drafted by the NFL out of Oregon and who later was cut by a Cincinnati Bengal team that was 3-13, Jeff Thomason considers himself fairly fortunate these days. After all, he will be playing Sunday in his second consecutive Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. Just three years ago, he was out of pro football and selling water purifiers in Boulder, Colo. "I didn't do very well at it either," Thomason said. "I was on commission, and I wasn't making much money."

Jeff Thomason, project manager for a New Jersey construction firm, is using his remaining vacation days for this year to go to the Super Bowl. It's a good deal. He gets an expenses-paid trip to Jacksonville, Fla., a great seat in Alltel Stadium and a chance to win big money. Thomason, though, is not just going to the Super Bowl. He's going to play in it.

Jeff Thomason, project manager for a New Jersey construction firm, is using his remaining vacation days for this year to go to the Super Bowl. It's a good deal. He gets an expenses-paid trip to Jacksonville, Fla., a great seat in Alltel Stadium and a chance to win big money. Thomason, though, is not just going to the Super Bowl. He's going to play in it.

For a guy who wasn't drafted by the NFL out of Oregon and who later was cut by a Cincinnati Bengal team that was 3-13, Jeff Thomason considers himself fairly fortunate these days. After all, he will be playing Sunday in his second consecutive Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. Just three years ago, he was out of pro football and selling water purifiers in Boulder, Colo. "I didn't do very well at it either," Thomason said. "I was on commission, and I wasn't making much money."

Green Bay Packer nose tackle Gilbert Brown, whose 345-pound frame is a formidable obstacle for running backs, was declared inactive for today's game against the Carolina Panthers. Brown will rest sore ankles. Joining Brown on the inactive list are wide receiver Derrick Mayes, tight end Jeff Thomason and offensive guard Joe Andruzzi. The game is key for the Packers because home-field advantage in the playoffs is undecided.

Before Oregon tight end Jeff Thomason graduated from Corona del Mar High School, he was recruited by Arizona and USC--as a swimmer. Thomason was ranked among the top 30 in the nation in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. "When I was young, I wanted to swim at UCLA, but they said they couldn't offer me a scholarship," Thomason said. So, Thomason will play football against UCLA, instead, on Saturday at Eugene, Ore.

Bill Musgrave threw three touchdown passes and became Oregon's all-time offense leader Saturday as the No. 22 Ducks routed Utah State, 52-7. Sean Burwell rushed for 129 yards in 20 carries, his third time over 100 yards this season. Musgrave completed 15 of 23 passes for 187 yards and increased his career offense total to 6,878 yards. He surpassed the previous school record of 6,841 set from 1983-86 by quarterback Chris Miller, now of the Atlanta Falcons.

Police say they have nabbed two boys who tried to hold up an Oakland convenience store with a BB gun. They demanded gum, Push Pops and cash. Authorities received a report of an armed robbery at an AM/PM mini-mart shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday. When officers arrived, they found the suspects still at the scene: an 8-year-old and his 10-year-old cousin.

* The line: Minnesota by 5. * Injury report: PACKERS--DOUBTFUL: S Scott McGarrahan (hamstring). PROBABLE: WR Corey Bradford (ankle); LB George Koonce (shoulder); RB Dorsey Levens (rib); DE Keith McKenzie (ankle); CB Mike McKenzie (hip); TE Jeff Thomason (knee); T Ross Verba (knee); LB Jude Waddy (neck). VIKINGS--OUT: CB Keith Thibodeaux (shoulder). DOUBTFUL: WR Cris Carter (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: S Orlando Thomas (hamstring). PROBABLE: QB Jeff George (ribs).

The Green Bay Packers will be without Pro Bowl tight end Mark Chmura and two defensive starters--right end Vonnie Holliday and cornerback Craig Newsome--for today's regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears. The Packers, who deactivated Chmura, tight end Tyrone Davis, Holliday and Newsome, have already clinched a playoff berth and will meet San Francisco in the wild-card round.

You spend 30 hours per week in the pool, training six days per week for that next meet. You swim countless laps as you struggle to lower that time by a fraction of a second. Back and forth--from one end of the pool to the other. Every day it's the same. You get out of school and get into the pool. So what do you do on your day off to relax? Well, if you're Chad Hundeby, you might go swimming. Hundeby, The Times' boys' swimmer of the year, is at home in the water.

Mike Richey's 33-yard field goal 46 seconds into the fourth quarter gave Arizona State a lead that held up in a 24-21 Pacific 10 victory over Oregon Saturday night. Arizona State, 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Pac-10, broke a three-game losing streak while handing Oregon (3-6, 1-5) its fourth loss in a row.