Football Digest articles from February 2003

Football Digest archives from February 2003

One in a million. (Kickoff).
February 1, 2003... THE ATLANTA FALCONS FINALLY got it right. The franchise that historically has come up empty suddenly possesses an embarrassment of riches. We're talking, of course, about Michael Vick, the most dynamic player to hit the NFL in years. ...

More hometown heroes. (The Fans Speak Out).
February 1, 2003... Although I agree with most of your selections for your all-time teams ["Hometown Heroes," December 2002], I cannot accept Randy Moss over Sammy White at wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. While Moss is good, he will never be Sammy White....

More Johnny U. (The Fans Speak Out).
February 1, 2003... I greatly enjoyed your special article on Johnny Unitas ["`This Man Was Babe Ruth,'" December 2002]. I've idolized quarterbacks my whole life and live in Ottawa, Kan., the hometown of Steve Grogan. But Unitas was the best because of his...

The stat sheet: the Immaculate Reception.
February 1, 2003... 30 The number of years since the Pittsburgh Steelers' Franco Harris made the controversial last-minute, game-winning catch in their playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders say the play never should have counted, claiming...

History in the making? (Uncovering the Past).
February 1, 2003... WHEN MERCURY MORRIS APPEARED on the cover of the December 1972 issue of FOOTBALL DIGEST, the Miami Dolphins were in the midst of making history. The problem was, nobody knew it. Nobody inside or outside the Dolphins locker room seemed to have...

This fan never came back. (Behind the Scenes).
February 1, 2003... I SWORE OFF THE NFL IN NOVEMBER 1995, when Art Modell announced that he was moving his Browns to Baltimore. In the seven years since then, the league has ceased to exist for me as anything other than a bitter memory. In the aftermath of...

At the top of his game: we always knew the seventh-year Buffalo wide receiver was good--but not this good. (Interview: Eric Moulds).
February 1, 2003... THERE ARE FASTER WIDE receivers in the NFL than the Buffalo Bills' Eric Moulds There also are bigger receivers. And ones with better moves. But if you combine all of these attributes, you won't find a more complete package than...

Crunch time. (2002 Postseason Preview).
February 1, 2003... THE TAMPA, BAY BUCCANEERS were the NFL's hottest team heading into their Week 13 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, their pesky rivals in the NFC South. The Bucs had a league-best 9-2 record; a win would have put them in an outstanding...

The big three: thanks in part to realignment, the AFC West, AFC East, and NFC South have produced some of the best playoff races in years. (2002 Postseason Preview).
February 1, 2003... IN RECENT SEASONS, IT OFTEN was easy to spot the NFL's power divisions: the NFC Central and AFC East. But this year the league was realigned due to the inception of the Houston Texans--and everything got jumbled: Although realignment...

Larger than life: as you might expect, our All-Postseason Team is made up of clutch players who shined brightest on pro football's biggest stage. (2002 Postseason Preview).
February 1, 2003... QUESTION: DOES ONE HISTORIC, statement-making play define someone's entire career in the postseason? Answer: Not necessarily. Just ask Dwight Clark, John Elway, and Franco Harris, authors of "The Catch," "The Drive," and "The Immaculate...

Still the standard: on the 30th anniversary of Miami's perfect season in 1972, we revisit a feat that may never be duplicated. (2002 Postseason Preview).
February 1, 2003... EVERY TIME A TEAM GETS OFF to a 5-0 or. 6-0 start, the phone in Larry Csonka's house starts ringing. The same goes for Mary Fleming and Manny Fernandez and several other players from the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Every time a team even begins...

The heavyweights: as the playoffs near, all eyes are on Brett Favre and Jeff Garcia, two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the game. (2002 PostSeason Preview).
February 1, 2003... AND NOW FOR THE main event: Ladies and gentlemen, in the West corner, wearing gold and red, 32 years old and in his fourth year out of San Jose State, No. 5, Jeff Garcia. And in the North corner, wearing gold and green, 33 years old and in his...

Welcome to the big time: our list of the breakout players reflects a season that has been heavy on high-powered offense.
February 1, 2003... THE 2002 NFL SEASON WILL BE REMEMBERED for its explosive offense. Every Monday morning, the newspapers have been filled with boxscores from games of the 40-38 and 35-31 variety. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that our list of the...

Greg Lloyd: the former Pro Bowl linebacker has this to say about Pittsburgh's heartbreaking loss to Dallas in Super Bowl 30: "that was my one chance". (The Game I'll Never Forget).
February 1, 2003... WHEN YOU'VE JUST LOST A Super Bowl, there isn't anything anyone can say to you. After our Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl 30, people were like, "Hey, man, glad you made it an interesting game." You want to pause...

Enough is never enough: so you think there are too many bowl games? Our writer begs to differ. Bring on more, he says. (Commentary).
February 1, 2003... WE NEED MORE BOWL GAMES. You read that right We need more bowl games. Now you're expecting some type of sarcastic comment, a regurgitated bit of conventional sports-radio wisdom that says, "Twenty-eight bowl games is too many! Who...

NFL directory. (Names and Numbers).
February 1, 2003... NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE 280 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 (212) 450-2000 ARIZONA CARDINALS PO Box 888 Phoenix, AZ 85001 (602) 379-0101 Coach: Dave McGinnis Sun Devil Stadium 72,273 capacity, grass ATLANTA...

Team-by-team postseason standings. (Names and Numbers).
February 1, 2003... Team-by-Team Postseason Standings Team W L Pct. PF PA Baltimore Ravens 5 1 .833 125 53 Green Bay Packers 23 11 .676 814 618 Dallas Cowboys 32 21 .604...

Individual postseason records. (Names and Numbers).
February 1, 2003... Individual Postseason Records Games, player 27 D.D. Lewis, Dallas 26 Larry Cole, Dallas 25 Charlie Waters, Dallas Jerry Rice, San Francisco-Oakland Games, head coach 36 Tom Landry, Dallas ...

Quick quiz.
February 1, 2003... 1. Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Antwaan Randle El is making a name for himself this season as a receiver and a kick returner. What position did he play in college? 2. Bill Belichick's New England Patriots have played unevenly this season...