Football Digest articles from January 2004

Football Digest archives from January 2004

The dynamic duo.(Kickoff)
January 1, 2004... WITH RANDY MOSS, THE ISSUES were in his head. With Jamal Lewis, they were of a more physical nature. So what do these two players have in common? They have left the past behind and have emerged as two of this season's best stories. Let's...

He's got game.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I read your article "Game-Breakers" in the December 2003 issue. I have to say I'm pleased with most of the outstanding athletes you chose, but you really missed by not highlighting Denver Broncos running back Clinton Portis. Portis is the next...

More changes.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... In response to your article on changes that need to be made in the NFL ["Change Is Good," December 2003], I have two more suggestions to add: Regarding your change No. 6, on reducing the number of playoff teams. I think the number of teams...

Unsung hero.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Great article on Ricky Proehl ["Joe Football," December 2003]. You're right--he does represent all the best qualifies of football. He may not be a superstar, but he plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. He's a fine example for...

Conrad's faulty memory.(The Fans Speak Out.)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... So, in Conrad Dobler's "Game I'll Never Forget" [October 2003], he remembers dominating Merlin Olsen and "knocking him into the kitchen." I guess that explains the Cardinals' 95 rushing yards on 27 carries, a paltry 3.5 average. Meanwhile, the...

A true tough guy.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I am writing in regards to an article in your November 2003 issue, "The Toughest of Them All." In this piece, you chronicled some the toughest defenders ever to play in the NFL. How could you leave out Deacon Jones, perhaps the toughest ever to...

Maurice's dilemma.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Maurice Clarett, the sophomore running back from Ohio State, is in an interesting situation. He is suspended from his college and now would like to enter the NFL. The problem is, the NFL requires players to have been out of high school for...

The problem with T.O.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... As a San Francisco 49ers fan since the 1960s, it's very clear to me that the team's wide receiver, Terrell Owens, has no class. He's no Randy Moss, and he sure as heck is no Jerry Rice. There is no "I" in football team. Football is still a team...

I still haven't forgotten, Eugene.(The Fans Speak Out)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... In response to the "heartwarming" story of Eugene Robinson's "Game I'll Never Forget" [November 2003], I'd like to let Eugene know about the game I'll never forget: Super Bowl 33. You'll never forget that one either, will you, Eugene? This was...

It took 15 moving vans to transport the Colts' equipment and records.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... It took 15 moving vans to transport the Colts' equipment and records when the franchise left Baltimore during the night of March 29, 1984, to relocate to Indianapolis.

The Colts got their first win ever by beating the Chicago Bears, 13-7, on September 27, 1953.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... The Colts got their first win ever by beating the Chicago Bears, 13-7, on September 27, 1953. Their first victory in Indianapolis carne on September 9, 1984, when they beat the Houston Oilers, 35-21.

Colts coach Tony Dungy became the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive coordinator in 1984 at age 29.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Colts coach Tony Dungy became the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive coordinator in 1984 at age 29. Ironically, he was a quarterback during his college days at Minnesota.

After coming to the Colts on Halloween in 1987.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... After coming to the Colts on Halloween in 1987 in one of the biggest trades in NFL history, Eric Dickerson amassed 1,011 yards in nine games.

Kicker Mike Vanderjagt, born in Oakville, Ontario, once led the Canadian Football League in punting average.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Kicker Mike Vanderjagt, born in Oakville, Ontario, once led the Canadian Football League in punting average. He also played for the Minnesota Pike of the Arena Football League.

Former kicker Dean Biasucci is the Colts' all-time leading scorer.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Former kicker Dean Biasucci is the Colts' all-time leading scorer, collecting 783 points from 1984 to '94.

The most lopsided victory in Colts history came on November 2, 1958.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... The most lopsided victory in Colts history came on November 2, 1958, when they throttled the Green Bay Packers, 560.

Marvin Harrison has the most receptions over the first four (311), five (413), six (522), seven (665), and eight seasons of a career by any player in NFL history (this is his eighth season).(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Marvin Harrison has the most receptions over the first four (311), five (413), six (522), seven (665), and eight seasons of a career by any player in NFL history (this is his eighth season). He holds a degree in retailing from Syracuse.

Edgerrin James had his streak of 47 consecutive games with a least one reception snapped in 2002 against the Houston Texans.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Edgerrin James had his streak of 47 consecutive games with a least one reception snapped in 2002 against the Houston Texans. It ranks as the fifth-longest such streak in club history.

Offensive line coach Howard Mudd.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Offensive line coach Howard Mudd has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Hillside (Mich.).

One of quarterback Peyton Manning's closest friends.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... One of quarterback Peyton Manning's closest friends is country singer Kenny Chesney, whose CD "No Shoes, No Shirt No Problems" has sold roughly three million copies.

The Colts won NFL championships in 1958, 1959, and 1970 (Super Bowl 5).(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... The Colts won NFL championships in 1958, 1959, and 1970 (Super Bowl 5). They beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl 5 despite committing seven turnovers. Starting quarterback Johnny Unitas completed just three of nine passes and had one...

The Baltimore Colts were granted a franchise on January 23, 1953.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... The Baltimore Colts were granted a franchise on January 23, 1953, after they were able to sell 15,000 season tickets in four weeks.

Art Donovan became the first Colts player.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Art Donovan became the first Colts player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1968.

Unitas reportedly once turned down a request from the Hall of Fame.(Franchise snapshot: Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
January 1, 2004... Unitas reportedly once turned down a request from the Hall of Fame for a of his famous black hi-tops sneakers because he said he had only one pair left and used them to do yard work.

The red streak.(Rising Star: Dante Hall)
January 1, 2004... DANTE HALL WINS GAMES FOR the Kansas City Chiefs without even playing his offensive position, wide receiver. He does it with the best kickoff and punt return skills in the NFL Hall used those skills to set an NFL record early this season...

False hope.(Uncovering the Past)
January 1, 2004... WHEN WE FEATURED KERRY Collins on the cover of our 1997 NFL preview issue, we had every reason to extol the virtues of the young quarterback and his team, the Carolina Panthers. Carolina was coming off of ah incredible 1996 season in which it...

Old school: San Francisco's Pro Bowl center describes what it takes to survive in the trenches.(Interview: Jeremy Newberry)
January 1, 2004... DESCRIBING JEREMY NEWBERRY as a throwback doesn't quite capture the essence of the San Francisco 49ers' rugged Pro Bowl center. It's more like blood and guts with attitude. In November 2002, Newberry broke a finger on his snapping hand...

Attitude adjustment: Bill Parcells, the master of the reclamation project, has Dallas playing at a whole new level of intensity.
January 1, 2004... GONE ARE THE DOMINOES games, the long stays on the injury list, and the undisciplined play. Bill Parcells' fingerprints are all over the Dallas Cowboys. He has taken former coach Dave Campo's talent and made it presentable. And what's most...

Paint it purple: after some tough times the past couple seasons, Randy Moss and the resurgent Vikings once again are the talk of the league.
January 1, 2004... GUS FREROTTE STOOD IN THE pocket for what seemed like an entire Sunday afternoon of NFL football. Finally, he threw a strike to Randy Moss in the back of the endzone for a Touchdown. Let's take a closer look at that play, one of many that...

Money in the bank: wide receiver Laveranues Coles raised a lot of eyebrows when he signed a $35 million free-agent contract with the Redskins in the offseason--but so far, he has earned every penny.
January 1, 2004... FEW PEOPLE CAN DISCUSS WASHington Redskins wide receiver Laveranues Coles without mentioning his fat contract. Owner Dan Snyder shocked the NFL in the offseason--not to mention Coles himself--when he offered the wideout a free-agent deal worth...

Hard to handle: the following five offenses are enough to give even the most accomplished defensive coordinators nightmares.
January 1, 2004... WHAT KEEPS DEFENSIVE coordinators up all night during the season? Just about everything--especially the prospect of facing a potent offense, of which there are quite a few in 2003. That's great for fans who like lots of points, as well as...

Coming at you: Carolina's relentless defense has been nothing short of spectacular this season.
January 1, 2004... YOU CAN SPELL "CAROLINA Panthers" without a "D," and too often that's been very apparent in the way the team has played. The Panthers' defense--or lack thereof--has been the main reason why they've had only one winning record and one...

The long road back: in one of the season's most inspirational stories, Raiders center Barret Robbins has emerge from his personal hell and is now trying to re-establish his Pro Bowl credentials.
January 1, 2004... BARRET ROBBINS PULLED OFF a sweat-soaked jersey, slipped out of his cleats, and began jabbering with Mo Collins and Frank Middleton, his teammates on the Oakland Raiders' offensive line. It was, in so many ways, a typical postgame scene in the...

The 1-2 punch: we rate the best duos in the NFL in a number of different categories.
January 1, 2004... ANYONE IN THE NFL will tell you that football is the ultimate team game. Unless 11 players are working together, be it on offense of defense or special teams, failure usually ensues. Yet within this mosaic of mayhem, there are...

Coy Bacon: with a playoff berth at stake against Roger Staubach and the Cowboys, the Redskins defensive end literally had victory in his grasp--but it slipped away.(The Game I'll Never Forget)
January 1, 2004... I PLAYED IN THE NFL FOR 14 YEARS (1968-81), with four different teams: the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Washington Redskins. I played until I was 39 years old and saw a lot of players and teams and coaching...

Remaining 2003 NFL schedule.(Names and Numbers)
January 1, 2004... Remaining 2003 NFL Schedule YOUR FINAL GAME TIME GUESS SCORE WEEK 11 Sunday, November 16 Arizona at Cleveland 1:00 p.m....

2003 NFL rosters.(Names and Numbers)
January 1, 2004... 2003 NFL Rosters ARIZONA CARDINALS No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. College 20 Anderson, Damien RB 5'10" 212 Northwestern 69 Atoe, Ryan DT 6'1" 316 Idaho 84...

Quick quiz.
January 1, 2004... 1. Mike Shanahan has been head coach of the Denver Broncos since 1995. With which team did he receive his first opportunity to be an NFL head coach? 2. Before becoming a coach, Steve Spurrier was a quarterback in the NFL from 1967 through...