Football Digest articles from June 2002

Football Digest archives from June 2002

Words to live by for NFL coaches: "you're fired". (Kickoff).
June 1, 2002... WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN that coaching in the NFL is a "What have you done for me lately?" business, but this is ridiculous. "What have you done for me lately... as in two minutes ago?" is more like it. Owners across the league see teams like...

Pats power. (The Fans Speak Out).
June 1, 2002... As the New England Patriots were introduced as a team before Super Bowl 36, any lingering doubts about their credibility vanished. These guys won the ultimate team prize by being just that. As professional athletes from all sports drive away...

Is Sharpe the best? (The Fans Speak Out).
June 1, 2002... Your article on Shannon Sharpe was excellent ["The Gift of Gab," March 2002]. I also liked the sidebar on Ozzie Newsome ["The Wizard Still Is Working His Magic"]. I saw that you mentioned other great tight ends in the article, such as Kellen...

The dream team. (The Fans Speak Out).
June 1, 2002... In your article "The Dream Team" in your March 2002 issue, I would be hard-pressed to argue with any of your selections--except one. Your "dream" secondary is unbelievable! You give honorable mentions to the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons...

Still getting ready. (Uncovering the Past).
June 1, 2002... ON THE COVER OF THIS YEAR'S draft preview issue, we ask, "Is the NFL ready for Julius Peppers?" In the same issue last year, we reversed that question and debated whether Michael Vick was ready for the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons certainly...

Franchise snapshot: New England patriots.
June 1, 2002... * Steve Grogan set the NFL record for quarterbacks when he rushed for 12 touchdowns during the 1976 season. * Linebacker Roman Phifer was named after quarterback Roman Gabriel. Phifer's middle name, Zubinski, was chosen out of the phone...

The stat sheet: no. 1 picks.
June 1, 2002... 0 The number of seasons Jay Berwanger played in the NFL. Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, was the first player ever drafted, by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1936. 22 The number of times a quarterback has been...

Street fighting man; the blood-and-guts warrior reflects on what it means to finally have received the call to the Hall. (Interview: Dan Hampton).
June 1, 2002... THE WORLD IS BUILT ON COLD, hard statistics. Want a raise? Bring in the numbers that prove you deserve one. Football is no different, as players are often judged by their statistics. But when it comes to what Dan Hampton brought to the...

Dead men walking; we know only this much about the newly hired NFL head coaches: time is not on their side.
June 1, 2002... JOB SECURITY AMONG NFL head coaches is more tenuous than ever. New head coaches are faced with the daunting task of taking a roster they had no hand in shaping and turning it into a winning combination almost overnight. In some cases, only a...

It's just a job; defensive end Julius Peppers is perhaps the most talented player in the Class of '02, but his first love always will be basketball. (2002 NFL Draft Preview).
June 1, 2002... WHEN DEFENSIVE END JULIUS Peppers is drafted within the first few picks of the 2002 NFL draft--maybe even as high as No. 1--his new employer should know one thing: It will be risking a seven-figure fortune on an athlete playing his...

Strength in numbers; David Carr is one of the few marquee names on this side of the ball, but there is still plenty of depth. (Offensive Analysis).
June 1, 2002... MOST SCOUTS AGREE THAT the strength of this draft is defense. Still, there are a lot of options for teams in need of offensive playmakers. Offensive tackle appears to be the strongest position, led by Miami's Bryant McKinnie, a super...

Line 'em up again; for the second straight year, many of the top players are linemen, including Tennessee's John Henderson. (Defensive Analysis).
June 1, 2002... JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, NFL TEAMS will love what they see on the defensive line. Several impact players at tackle and end are available, led by the superb Julius Peppers, who probably could play in the NBA, too. John Henderson and Albert...

On-the-job training; teams are homing in on players who can make an instant impact in the pros, such as Phillip Buchanon of Miami. (Team Needs).
June 1, 2002... IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GLAMOUR, you're not likely to find it in the 2002 draft. Most of the marquee players come from the defensive line and the defensive backfield, not the sexy positions like quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. ...

One year after: there is still much we don't know about Michael Vick, the no. 1 pick in the 2000 draft. (2002 NFL Draft Preview).
June 1, 2002... IN THE FINAL SIX QUARTERS OF the Atlanta Falcons' 2001 season, Michael Vick proved that not even he can single-handedly carry a team filled with glaring weaknesses. Not yet, anyway. Although Vick didn't lead the Falcons to a win in...

Marv Levy: the hall of fame coach says a miraculous victory over the Oilers in the playoffs in 1993 summed up the tenacity of his Bills. (The Game I'll Never Forget).
June 1, 2002... THE BUFFALO BILLS TEAMS I coached in the early 1990s were--and I know this term is probably overused--the most resilient bunch of individuals ever put together on an athletic field. And I think our playoff game against the Houston Oilers in...

2001 team-by-team individual statistics. (Names and Numbers).
June 1, 2002... 2001 Team-by-Team Individual Statistics ARIZONA CARDINALS Passing Player Atts. Comp. Yds. Pct. Yds./Att. TDs Jake Plummer 525 304 3,653 57.9 7.0 18 Passing Player ...

Quick quiz.
June 1, 2002... 1. True or false: Tom Brady became the youngest quarterback ever to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory when the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36. 2. How many times has Priest Holmes, the 2001 rushing...