The Sporting News articles from December 2004

The Sporting News archives from December 2004

To know list: 5 more applicants for Browns defensive coordinator.(Know It All)
December 6, 2004... [1] DECEMBER 2004 All times Eastern THU 2 Cavs at Nuggets--a.k.a. LeBron vs. Carmelo III (10:30 p.m., TNT). Sorry, 'Melo-King James has ascended to the throne of second-year superstardom while you're still the crown prince. FRI 3 ...

Shootin' it with the general.(Caught On The Fly)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Shootin' it with The General A website, live-shot.com, allows outdoor enthusiasts the chance to guide a remote-controlled rifle with their computer mouse so they can track and shoot deer and other wild game that are on a ranch in Texas....

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)
December 6, 2004... 1 Sports on TV. The NFL and sex, then the NBA and violence. Let's kill two birds with one stone: Put 'era in a ring, and see if the Cialis dude can wipe that smile off the Viagra guy's face. 2 Ricky Williams. He's enrolled at a holistic...

Treat your health with respect: even tough guys need to take care of themselves.(My Turn)
December 6, 2004... Let me tell you the difference between the NFL 15 years ago and the one today: It's a little word called respect. When did respect for the game and for your opponent get tossed aside to make room for showboating? The game is meant to...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
December 6, 2004... * Pistons fans might have started their brawl with Pacers players by throwing a beverage on Ron Arrest, but he should not have been lying on the scorer's table in the first place. He never should have charged into the stands. The melee that...

Providence guard is making his own noise.(Court Sense)
December 6, 2004... Dwight Brewington does not know how much of the applause he cannot hear. He knows what he does hear, not what he doesn't. But he can see the numbers on his stat line growing for the Providence Friars, the grades in his coursework climbing. "I...

Image is everything.(Exposure)(Illustration)
December 6, 2004... For as long as the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings reflect on their Division 3 state football championship, they'll never be cooler than they look in this shot, taken after the Milwaukee high school's 41-13 victory over Rice Lake at Camp Randall...

The third degree with ... Marko Jaric.(Know It All)(Interview)
December 6, 2004... He turns 26 this month, but the Clippers 'starting point guard has been playing professionally since 1996. Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the 6-7 Jaric played two seasons in Greece and four in Italy before joining the Clippers. Since arriving in...

Jimmie Johnson: Driver of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... It was a year like no other because of the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. It came down to the final race. First and third place were separated by 21 points heading into that race; it was anyone's championship to win. Although Kurt...

Jeremy Mayfield: Comeback Driver of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Jeremy Mayfield has had a tumultuous Cup career. He has talent. He has had opportunities. But it wasn't until he came under the direction of Ray Evernham that Mayfield, 35, was able to put the pieces together. Mayfield more than proved...

Rick Hendrick: Owner of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... There are few owners with the perseverance or accomplishments of Rick Hendrick. That's why it's no surprise Hendrick was chosen the top owner for 2004. In 25 years in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports has won five Cup titles, and it is the only...

No. 38: Pit Crew of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... When it comes to relying on the fastest over-the-wall crew, who would the garage most like to have pitting its car on Sunday? The No. 38 M&Ms pit crew. Nicknamed "Chocolate Thunder," the crew was instrumental in giving Robert Yates Racing's...

Jimmy Fennig: Crew Chief of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... For decades, Jimmy Fennig has built winning racecars and contended for titles, and this year he finally broke through with Kurt Busch and the No. 97 team. "It's awesome to be voted crew chief of the year," Fennig says. "Next to winning the...

Mark Martin: Dale Earnhardt Toughest Driver.(2004 NASCAR Award)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... When it comes to drivers with guts and determination, it would be difficult to match the resolve of Mark Martin, chosen by his peers as the Dale Earnhardt Toughest Driver. He finished 43rd in the season opener, battled through numerous...

Kasey Kahne: Rookie of the Year.(2004 NASCAR Award)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The only thing missing from Kasey Kahne's 2004 rookie resume was a victory. But don't feel sorry for him. Kahne, 24, has plenty of time to catch up. "Our ultimate goal this year was to win the rookie title, and we accomplished that," Kahne...

Front loaded: the success of the Colts' offense is reflected in the line, which has extraordinary responsibilities and often doesn't know what the play will be until right before the snap.(NFL)
December 6, 2004... Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is walking back and forth behind his line, yelling and waving his arms. He's under center, he's in the shotgun, he's reading the defense and changing the play until almost the second the ball is snapped. In...

Pace pushers: with Steve Nash at the controls, the Suns are off and running--but they're not the only team fast-breaking more this season.(NBA)
December 6, 2004... Strange transition. One day you're an unencumbered bachelor living in Dallas, playing with the team you joined when you were an apple-cheeked 24-year-old the team you helped lead from the tumult of 20 wins to the triumph of 60, and... well,...

A smiling sendoff: after Gene Keady growls--and grins--his way through his 25th and final season at Purdue, he'll leave knowing he got the most out of his program.(College Basketball)
December 6, 2004... Gene Keady is up at the board, his back to a small audience of subordinates, scribbling out a practice schedule in a script that might as well come with its own Rosetta Stone. As he writes, he asks questions. He does not ask as if he is testing...

Measuring the early returns: if you missed the shows Hakim Warrick and Nate Robinson staged in November, good news: the season lasts another four months.(College Basketball)
December 6, 2004... If there is one thing about this sport that does not work, it is the start of the season. Baseball has opening day. The NFL has its big kickoff weekend. By comparison, college basketball sneaks into its schedule. Even so, there was a lot to see...

Rashad McCants SG, North Carolina.(Player Of The Week)
December 6, 2004... The Tar Heels made a joke of the Maul Invitational bracket, beating BYU, Tennessee and Iowa by an average of 21 points. McCants averaged 20.7 points, made nine 3-pointers and shot 59.0 percent from the field. Still, McCants did not get the Maul...

Hill brings magic back to the NBA: tired of all the negativity surrounding pro basketball? Hard to blame you. Let's see if the no-quit tale of one good guy can spread a little NBA cheer.(NBA)
December 6, 2004... The day after the colossal mess into which his team landed in Detroit, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle paused to say something most in attendance tolerated impatiently. Indiana was preparing to face Orlando, and Carlisle said unproved, "It will be...

Piniella's talent--and time--are wasting away: there's no point in the Devil Rays employing Lou Piniella as manager if they won't put up the money to get him better players.(Baseball)
December 6, 2004... Bang a drum. Light a bonfire. Throw a parade. The Devil Rays' 2005 payroll roll is expected to exceed $30 million. Such an increase from $23 million should qualify as a breakthrough for a franchise that has fielded the game's lowest...

A.L. report.(Baseball)
December 6, 2004... Pitchers recovering from injuries could boost the YANKEES' and TIGERS' bullpens. Yankees RHP Steve Karsay, who missed the 2003 season because of shoulder surgery, had good control of his breaking ball after being activated in September, and his...

N.L. report.(Baseball)
December 6, 2004... If RHP Roger Clemens returns and LHP Andy Pettitte is deemed healthy, the ASTROS could trade RHP Wade Miller, though it might be difficult because he's coming off a rotator cuff injury. Miller was 45-25 from 2001 to 2003, but he's eligible for...

Patchwork secondary is proof of Pats' resilience: most teams would be uncomfortable if Randall Gay and Earthwind Moreland were their third corners, but they've started for the defending world champs.(NFL)
December 6, 2004... While many NFL teams are drowning in the river of tears that were cried over their injuries, the Patriots continue to make opponents sob over the ease with which they overcome missing players. It's an old story in New England because the...

AFC east.(National Football League)
December 6, 2004... BUFFALO BILLS DT Sam Adams has been virtually unblockable, using his size (6-3,340) to overpower blockers and remarkable quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield. His ability to occupy blockers allows the linebackers to got to the ball...

Dillon has found success with a New England state of mind.(NFL)
December 6, 2004... Here's the sum of everything controversial emanating from Corey Dillon this season: zero. The former Bengals malcontent has become a Patriots happy camper, news that may not match the splash of Peyton Manning's passing figures or Ben...

AFC north.(National Football League)(Adelaide Football Club )
December 6, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS CB Corey Fuller has become a valuable player in the team's nickel and dime coverages. Fuller has lost a step over the years, but he still has enough speed to match up with any No. 2 receiver and enough bulk and strength to...

Outside linebackers: top senior prospects.(Draft Watch)
December 6, 2004... 1 Derrick Johnson, 6-3, 231, Texas. Fast, athletic playmaker with instincts. Has a burst to the ball. Is disruptive and can be a difference-maker. Can hit. Misses some tackles and isn't as physical as some linebackers. 2 Kevin Burnett,...

AFC south.(National Football League)
December 6, 2004... HOUSTON TEXANS DaShon Polk has made his mark with the Texans on special teams, and he showed he also can hold up against the run on defense when he replaced lib Jay Foreman (neck) against the Titans. Polk is in his first season with the...

Week 13 matchup.(NFL)
December 6, 2004... Nalen (6-3, 286) is considered an undersized, athletic, tough player who's perfect for the Broncos' scheme because he can cut-block, get to the linebacker level and move well in pass protection. Williams (6-3,348) is much bigger than Nalen and...

TSNumber 8.6.(NFL)(National Football League )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The average number of pass attempts by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning for every touchdown he has thrown this season. Manning has 41 touchdown passes in 352 attempts. The only quarterbacks in NFL history who threw at least 35 touchdown passes...

AFC west.(National Football League)
December 6, 2004... DENVER BRONCOS Much has been made of Champ Bailey's great skills as a cover corner, but his tackling also is outstanding. Bailey is not a huge hitter, but he's terrific at reading plays, picking a path through the blockers and taking down...

NFC east.(National Football League)
December 6, 2004... DALLAS COWBOYS In his first start, QB Drew Henson struggled with presnap reads and missed at least one hot read on a blitz. He also held the ball too long a few times because he was tentative. Q8 Vinny Testaverde played well off the bench,...

Athletic tight ends are creating myriad problems for defenses.(NFL)
December 6, 2004... I always knew I'd miss Jay Novacek when he retired. Because of a degenerative back condition, he never played again after we won Super Bowl 30, and the Dallas offense never was the same. Novacek was an athletic tight end--a wide receiver in...

Michael Clayton: WR, Buccaneers.(Scouting Report)
December 6, 2004... STRENGTHS: Is a clutch playmaker. Has exceptional focus and the ability to make catches at full speed. Uses his long arms well to create separation and win jump balls. Knows how to use his big body (6-4, 197) to shield defenders. Has big, soft...

NFC north.(National Football League)
December 6, 2004... CHICAGO BEARS Newly signed QB Jeff George hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2001. The plan is to keep him off the field but determine if he can be a backup in 2005. George has been working out for the last year, throwing to friends...

NFC south.(National Football League)
December 6, 2004... ATLANTA FALCONS Coordinator Ed Donatell makes good use of rookie OLB Demorrio Williams, who likely will start next season if the team doesn't resign Matt Stewart. Williams plays alongside Keith Brooking, another fast linebacker, in nickel...

TSN scoreboard.(NFL)
December 6, 2004... POWER POLL (1) Patriots (2) Steelers (3) Eagles (4) Colts (5) Falcons (6) Chargers (7) Packers (8) Vikings (9) Broncos (10) Ravens FEARLESS FORECAST 1 p.m. ET: Minnesota at Chicago. With...

NFC west.(NFL)(national football league)
December 6, 2004... ARIZONA CARDINALS The team has problems at running back with Troy Hambrick out for the season (foot) and Emmitt Smith out at least a week (toe). The likely replacement, Josh Scobey, has great speed but doesn't avoid many tacklers and has...

Like L.T., Peppers has the ability to alter how his position is played.(NFL)(football player Julius Peppers)
December 6, 2004... Years from now, we might be talking about Carolina's Julius Peppers the way we talk about Lawrence Taylor today. Peppers has the ability to redefine the defensive end position, as L.T. did at outside linebacker. Peppers' phenomenal game...

Tip your cap to Busch--he deserves it: with huge potential and a heart to match, Busch will have a seat at the head table for years to come.(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
December 6, 2004... Gaye Busch sits patiently near the back of the conference room at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Her oldest son, Kurt, just won his first Nextel Cup championship, but the response by the crowd is tepid. After eloquently answering the softball...

The WIX Filters 2004 Lap Leader Award.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... For each event within the three racing divisions--NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series--WIX Filters will present the driver who leads the most laps of each race with the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award....

Racing rewind.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Can't remember exactly how Kurt Busch became champion? In How the Chase Was Won, you can follow his battle with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Relive the excitement through photos and race-by-race descriptions by ordering...

Lapping the field: the dominance of Martin Truex and Kyle Busch raises concerns about the balance of the series' competition.(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
December 6, 2004... There were a couple of haves who really had it and a lot of have-nots who didn't. In the end, the 2004 Busch Series gave us something to celebrate and something to ponder. Martin Truex, 24, driving for Chance 2 Racing, which is co-owned by...

Dodge is the bullet: experience, discipline and a dominant ride delivered a championship to veteran Bobby Hamilton.(NASCAR)
December 6, 2004... Bobby Hamilton found a comfort zone this season--and in the process became a champion. In his second season driving full time in the Craftsman Truck Series, Hamilton, 47, had a career year, earning acclaim with a 46-point triumph over...

Postseason whine gets worse with age: the BCS was set up to deliver a no. 1 vs. no. 2 matchup--everything else is gravy. Or in this case, as clear as gravy.(College Football)
December 6, 2004... Lee Corso is yapping so fast, his malapropisms are actually beginning to make sense. On the next channel, another analyst yells that it's time to blow up the BCS and start over. Click the remote again on this deliciously discombobulating...

TSN's 12.5: half the size, twice the sizzle.(College Football)(Illustration)
December 6, 2004... TSN's 12.5 Half the size, twice the sizzle TV (all times Rk. Team (last week) W-L Next up Eastern) 1. USC (1) 11-0 at UCLA, 12/4 ...

Heisman watch.(College Football)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... 1 QB Matt Leinart, USC. Only a meltdown against rival UCLA--have you seen the Bruins' defense?-can stop this Heisman train. Season stats: 2,748 passing yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs. 2 QB Jason White, Oklahoma, If not for Leinart's late push,...

QB Matt Leinart, Southern California.(Player Of The Week)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Leinart's performance in the Trojans' nationally televised 41-10 pounding of Notre Dame last week sure grabbed the attention of Heisman voters. The junior led the Trojans into the 40s against Notre Dame for the third consecutive year by...

3-and-out.(College Football)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... 1 Adrian Peterson gets my vote for the Heisman; he has separated himself from other running backs. But Matt Leinart might have sewn it up last week. How far has the Heisman fallen when you just have to beat up a bad Notre Dame secondary to win...

Play action.(Fantasy Source)
December 6, 2004... Waiver priority means little in leagues in which it's first come, first served. Quickly getting fantasy updates (from the Fantasy Source) is the key. However, owners with weekly waiver drafts need to put more thought into moves. That is...

Matchup heaven & hell.(Fantasy Source)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Favorable and unfavorable matchups for Week 13: HEAVEN Eagles QB Donovan McNabb vs. Packers. McNabb is having a career year, and the Packers' defense should be accommodating. Bills RB Willis McGahee vs. Dolphins. Since taking...

Auerbach's rules of engagement: hey, waiter, there's a basketball in my won-ton soup!
December 6, 2004... Every Tuesday morning, 11 o'clock sharp, Red Auerbach presides over a gathering of friends. No, wait. He doesn't preside. That sounds too grand. Here's what he does. He does Red. Somebody says something, next Red says, "You know the...

To know list: 7 boos for the lame pollsters who stole Cal's rosy dreams.(Know It All)
December 13, 2004... [1] MANNING VS. MARINO Forty-four scores and 20 years ago Dan Marino would retreat, bounce on the balls of his feet and unleash a laser show with his quick release. Peyton Manning is the passing master. Always in control and better...

Caught on the fly: NASCAR invaded Manhattan last week for its annual awards banquet, leading to many predictable fish-out-of water analogies. Which is apt for Kurt Busch, as too much water rusts his metal exoskeleton.(Know It All)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... He's got the sneer, but can he swivel his hips and eat fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches? The bad news: The fallout continues from the brawl at The Palace, with Oakland County prosecutors vowing to press criminal charges against...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)
December 13, 2004... 1 Coach firings. Impatient alums redefine "three and out." Man, with so many openings, the demand for college football experience is so high that strippers in Boulder are getting job interviews. 2 The NASCAR banquet. OK, Brian France went...

The recipe for a great QB: the perfect blend includes a variety of ingredients, not all of which can be measured in numbers.(My Turn)(quarterbacks)
December 13, 2004... Tell me what the prototypical NFL quarterback is. The SPORTING NEWS picked the 50 greatest quarterbacks of all time this fall, with John Unitas No. 1. In this issue, SPORTING NEWS names Tom Brady its Sportsman of the Year. It is amazing to...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
December 13, 2004... 'Move over, Houston Texans. The most unoriginal, boring team nickname in pro sports now belongs to the Washington Nationals.--Bill Zauzlarich, Farmington, Ill.' * Stan McNeal's comment about Detroit being "a city known for celebrating its...

TSN's College Football 2004 Awards.(Know It All)(The Sporting News)
December 13, 2004... PLAYER OF THE YEAR Not your average Smith This can't be real. Alex Smith is just too perfect. He graduated from college in two years and already is working on his master's degree in economics. He's a humble, blond-haired, blue-eyed...

Backstage pass to a backcourt battle: how do the best two pairs of guards prepare for one of the most intriguing games of the season? TSN's Kyle Veltrop and Mike DeCourcy got the answer--from the inside--as Illinois and Wake Forest got ready to meet.(College Basketball)(The Sporting News)
December 13, 2004... When they arrived in early July to work as counselors at the Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis, they'd already known for a month their college teams would meet. Wake Forest vs. Illinois. The Atlantic Coast Conference vs. the Big Ten. But...

More than a Chase: fans will remember 2004 for the new points system, but the journey--as much as the finish--made the season special.(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
December 13, 2004... You've got to love a season in which Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon all had the inside track to the championship--and that was just in a span of five minutes in the final race of the season. Also atop the leaderboard in 2004 were...

Right of way: Tom Brady navigates the fast lane on the sports highway by staying grounded in family values, heeding an insecurity that leaves him with an insatiable drive to succeed--and refusing to get caught up in his own celebrity.(Cover Story)
December 13, 2004... The David Letterman folks have courted Tom Brady for years. Why not? He's the quarterback of the winningest team in sports, and maybe just as important, he is glamorous and handsome. with the most photographed chin dimple in the NFL. So in...

Expectations come with the paycheck: who here wants to make millions bucks and get only three years to prove himself? Yeah, I though so.(College Football)
December 13, 2004... The longtime coach led his team to unprecedented heights. He won more games than any coach in school history, won bowl games and--at one point--was considered one of the top coaches in his profession before it all began to unravel. He was fired...

TSN's 12.5: half the size, twice the sizzle.(College Football)(Illustration)
December 13, 2004... TSSN's 12.5 Half the size, twice the sizzle TV (all times Rk. Team (last week) W-L Next up Eastern) 1. USC (1) 12-0 Oklahoma, Orange Bowl,...

I quit! This polling circus gets one fewer clown.(College Football)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... I'm done with this crazy business. Don't ask me to vote again, AP, because I'll laugh at you and your silly system of uninformed voters who don't take your poll seriously. How on earth could anyone have dropped California or jumped Texas to put...

J.J. Arrington, California.(Player Of The Week)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... Hurricane Ivan couldn't stop Arrington from running all over Southern Miss' field in a 26-16 win. Neither could the Golden Eagles. Arrington rushed for 261 yards, passing the 100-yard mark for a school-record 11th straight game. Southern Miss...

3-and-out.(College Football)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... 1 Florida's Urban renewal left egg on Notre Dame's face. Why fire Tyrone Willingham when you don't even have a Plan A, let alone a Plan B? The grim truth: N.D. is completely mismanaged. Affable A.D. Kevin White is merely a puppet on a...

Chargers have painted themselves into a corner with Brees: the angel on my shoulder reminds me the Chargers fell into a common NFL trap: trying to judge a quarterback prematurely.(NFL)(San Diego Chargers, Drew Brees)
December 13, 2004... Think of the Chargers as painters. Stroke one: lining up last season with perhaps the worst collection of receivers and the most ineffective offensive line in the NFL. Stroke two: benching Drew Brees last November. Stroke three:...

Flytrap ugly: keen communication and an aggressive new approach have fueled the Jets' defensive turnaround.(New York Jets)
December 13, 2004... After Jets quarterback Chad Pennington went down with a rotator cuff injury November 7, it was the adjective most used to describe Jets victories. But Jets defenders don't see it that way. If you want ugly, look at last year's Jets defense. ...

Inside linebackers: top senior prospects.(Draft Watch)
December 13, 2004... 1 Mike Goolsby, 6-4, 242, Notre Dame. Tough, instinctive linebacker who has produced. Doesn't have great speed or athleticism but has good size and a feel for the game. More solid than spectacular. Also can play outside, as he has in college....

AFC east.(NFL)(American Football Conference, football teams' evaluation)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... BUFFALO BILLS CB Nate Clements is one of the best cover men in the NFL. He has the size (6-0, 209) to match up with big receivers and excels in man-to-man situations because of his speed and ball skills. He is a physical tackler, but his...

Lerner needs to get out of the way before he demolishes the Browns.(NFL)(Randy Lerner, Cleveland Browns)
December 13, 2004... Why can't an NFL owner ever fire himself? Why can't he just announce one day at a press conference that he botched his responsibilities so badly that he absolutely must be replaced? Immediately. From this day forth, he's removing himself from...

AFC north.(NFL)(American Football ConferePittsburgh Steelersnce, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, )
December 13, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS Pro Bowl TE Todd Heap (ankle) returned last week after missing the previous nine games. Heap gives the club a needed deep threat and presence in the middle of the field. He also will be QB Kyle Boiler's go-to guy on third...

AFC south.(NFL)(American Football Conference, football teams' evaluation)
December 13, 2004... HOUSTON TEXANS Losing starting ILB Jay Foreman (ankle sprain) for the rest of the season is a big blow. Foreman is a good run stopper and is an on-field leader. The team must decide whether to replace Foreman with special teams standout...

Scouts' views: observations and opinions from two NFL pro scouts, one from each conference.(NFL)
December 13, 2004... The Patriots' Vince Wilfork is my defensive rookie of the year. He came in and has really made an impact inside on a Super Bowl-winning team. He's more of a run plugger, but he also gives you that strong inside push in passing situations. I've...

The cold truth.(Q&A: Ravens consultant Jim Fassel)(Interview)
December 13, 2004... After being fired by the Giants last year, Jim Fassel took a job as an offensive consultant with the Ravens. He has been working with quarterback Kyle Boller and will be on the sideline Sunday when the Ravens play the Giants in Baltimore. ...

AFC west.(NFL)(American Football Conference, football teams' evaluation)
December 13, 2004... DENVER BRONCOS WR Ashley Lelie has become a huge big-play threat. He has learned how to use his body-and push off without getting caught-on deep balls. That enables QB lake Plummer to take more chances downfield because he knows Lelie has...

Week 14 matchup.(NFL)(evaluation of performances of LaDainian Tomlinson, Derrick Brooks and Ronald Bartell )
December 13, 2004... LaDainian Tomlinson RB. Chargers vs. Derrick Brooks WLB, Buccaneeres Brooks is 31, but he still can chase down most ballcarriers and is an excellent tackler. And he is used to drawing tough assignments such as Tomlinson. That...

Shutdown corner: the term starts--and ends--with Deion.(NFL)(Deion Sanders)
December 13, 2004... Shutdown cornerback. It's a term I hear used all the time in the NFL, and it's starting to get on my nerves. Because there's no such thing. Not anymore, anyway. A shutdown cornerback is a guy teams won't throw at, period. When he lines up,...

NFC east.(National Football Conference, football teams' evaluation)
December 13, 2004... DALLAS COWBOYS SS Lynn Scott has taken Tony Dixon's starting spot, in part because Scott is a better tackler. Scott is not a great athlete but is an intelligent player who usually is where he's supposed to be. His tackling is one of the...

NFC north.(National Football Conference, football teams' evaluation)
December 13, 2004... CHICAGO BEARS It appears the team finally has found a serviceable replacement for injured QB Rex Grossman. Chad Hutchinson has ideal size (6-5, 237), athletic ability and arm strength. His mechanics have improved significantly in the past...

Kevin Williams DT, Vikings.(Scouting Report)(player at defensive tackle )(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... STRENGTHS: Has excellent athleticism and explosiveness. Is a one-gap penetrator who likes to beat opposing linemen off the ball. Presents a tough matchup in terms of quickness for some of the league's bigger, slower guards. Takes good angles to...

The Rams aren't taking it away.(St. Louis Rams' evaluation)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... Whenever they drop an interception in practice, Rams defenders must do pushups, frequently on the spot, to atone for their sin. Luckily, they don't have to do the same during games because Rams defenders have left at least a dozen interceptions...