Football Digest articles from February 2005

Football Digest archives from February 2005

A QB bonanza.(Kickoff)
February 1, 2005... WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, 2004 may be remembered as The Year of the Young Quarterback. Seemingly everywhere you turn, a signalcaller is coming of age. Here's a look: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers Roethlisberger, our cover...

Flying high.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... As a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, I think this might be their year. I must admit I was skeptical when the Eagles signed wide receiver Terrell Owens in the offseason. There was no doubt he was talented, but I thought he might upset...

Confused by K.C.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I don't understand why the "Kansas City Chiefs did nothing to improve their defense in the offseason. It was clear that defense was what was preventing the Chiefs from competing for a Super Bowl title, yet they did nothing. Now that's coming...

This and that.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I really liked your interview with Eagles running back Brian Westbrook ["Stepping Up," December 2004]. With players like Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens on offense, Westbrook gets overshadowed. But he is a definite sparkplug for the Birds. If...

Tennessee's new Eddie George.(Rising star: Chris Brown)
February 1, 2005... WIHEN CHRIS BROWN WAS A running back at Colorado, one scout, after watching Brown's upright style carry him into the endzone six times against Nebraska, made an apt comparison. "He runs like Eddie George," the scout reported. That was...

The cardiac cats: the Jaguars, guided by Byron Leftwich, are winning converts--and games--with their no holds-barred style of play.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2005... JAGUARS OWNER WAYNE WEAVER, coach Jack Del Rio, and the rest of the people responsible for turning around pro football in Jacksonville claim it is merely a coincidence that the franchise is on the rise one year after its fellow 1995...

A look back at a legend: we reflect on the career of Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle.
February 1, 2005... WHEN ALLIE SHERMAN TOOK over as head coach of the New York Giants for the 1961 NFL season, there were only two things he requested: a speedy receiver and a backup quarterback for Charlie Conerly. The Giants took care of their first...

Waiting for the call: Bob Hayes headlines our list of players who have been overlooked unfairly by the Hall of Fame.
February 1, 2005... BLAST 500 HOME RUNS COLLECT 3,000 hits, or pitch your way to 300 wins and you're virtually assured of a trip to Cooperstown. Unfortunately, the route to Canton isn't nearly as direct. There aren't any real benchmarks that guarantee enshrinement...

The running back factory: Denver keeps churning great rushers out like they're coming off of an assembly line.
February 1, 2005... SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKY Mountains, maybe out near Aspen or down in the Colorado Springs area, the Denver Broncos must have a secret factory. Maybe even the CIA doesn't know about it. Certainly, the rest of the NFL hasn't been able to uncover its...

Passing glances.(Photo Essay)
February 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steve McNair * Tennessee Titans [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brett Favre * Green Bay Packers [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jake Plummer * Denver Broncos [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tom Brady * New England...

Look at me now: in his second NFL season, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs just keeps getting better and better.
February 1, 2005... EVERY TIME THE ARIZONA Cardinals see a highlight film of Terrell Suggs sacking a quarterback--something he's done a lot in his first two seasons--they must kick themselves. The Cardinals passed over him in the 2003 NFL draft, unimpressed with...

Size doesn't always matter: we take a look at some of the small players in the league who have a way of playing big, such as Atlanta's Warrick Dunn.
February 1, 2005... SMALL IS RELATIVE IN THE NFL. When we call a player "undersized" for his position, he still might be close to 300 pounds. Or he might be a sturdy (for other walks of life) 6'1", 200 pounds. But for an NFL quarterback, in this case Jeff...

Back with a vengeance: Willis McGahee has recovered from his devastating knee injury and is ready to take NFL by storm.
February 1, 2005... "THE KID IS BACK HE HAS HAD TO overcome a lot with a major knee injury and all. But he has worked hard and the hard work has paid off. The kid is back." That is how Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, described Willis...

Where's the magic? Jake Delhomme and the Panthers are merely the latest to lose it the year after reaching the Super Bowl.
February 1, 2005... IS THERE A FORMULA FOR GETting to the Super Bowl? Perhaps, with several key variations. There definitely is, however, a trend for the teams that get to the NFL's title game and then lose. Those clubs might as well forget about the next...

Joey Browner: in 1986, the hard-hitting Vikings defensive back had the opportunity to play against two of his brothers.(The Game I'll Never Forget)
February 1, 2005... MY MOM DIDN'T FOLLOW sports, but she knew they were valuable. She thought football was very brutal. She saw me and my five brothers trying to tackle each other and hurting other in the house and tearing furniture up and that type of thing while...

2004 NFL rosters.(Names and Numbers)
February 1, 2005... 2004 NFL Rosters ARIZONA CARDINALS No. Name Position Height Weight 30 Ayanbadejo, Obafemi FB 6'2" 235 92 Berry, Bert DE 6'3" 250 81...

NFL directory.(Names and Numbers)
February 1, 2005... NATIONAL FOOTBALL 280 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 (212) 450-2000 ARIZONA CARDINALS PO BOX 888 Phoenix, AZ 85001 (602) 379-0101 Coach: Dennis Green Sun Devil Stadium 72,273 capacity, grass ATLANTA...

Quick quiz.
February 1, 2005... 1. True or false: New York Giants quarterback Kurt Warner played his college ball at the University of Iowa. 2. If the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2004, it will be their first NFL title since which year? 3. Which one of...