Tribune pro football reporter Don Pierson takes a look around the NFL
UP AND COMING
Brian Griese, QB, Broncos. Despite shoulder injury that held him to 11 games, he led league in passing.
Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles. Spectacular as a second-year player, he can’t get much better without taking teammates to Super Bowl.
Daunte Culpepper, QB, Vikings. First-year starter was off charts. If he shows normal improvement, Vikings will bounce.
Derrick Mason, WR-KR, Titans. He gained 2,689 yards receiving and returning, more combined yardage than Edgerrin James or Marshall Faulk
Marcus Jones, DE, Buccaneers. Forgotten man in line with Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice
Peter Warrick, WR, Bengals. They are moving him to the slot to take advantage of his big-play ability
Warrick Dunn, RB, Buccaneers. He proved he could carry full load last year.
Eric Hicks, DE, Chiefs. Nobody ever heard of him and he registered 14 sacks.
Courtney Brown, DE, Browns. Already outstanding, he will become famous if he ever gets help.
FAT VETERAN
Ravens defensive tackle Tony Siragusa once ate 125 White Castle hamburgers in one sitting.
FADING AWAY
Jerry Rice, WR, Raiders. Lions wanted him to demonstrate how most Hall of Famers practice. Farewell tour extended.
Bruce Smith, DE, Redskins. He needs 17.5 sacks to pass Reggie White (198) for best all-time. Then White will come back.
TOP ROOKIES
Freddie Mitchell, WR, Eagles. Although it’s difficult for rookie wide receivers to blossom, Donovan McNabb is counting heavily on this one.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers. Head and shoulders above the other backs, he will get his share of handoffs. Voted top choice for rookie of year by peers. Bears’ WR David Terrell was second.
Gerard Warren, DT, Browns. He’s the guy who can give Courtney Brown help.
Kenyatta Walker, OT, Buccaneers. He must step up now and protect Brad Johnson’s back.
Andre Carter, DE, 49ers. Son of Jets’ coach Rubin Carter knows what to expect.
Damione Lewis, DT, Rams. There could be eight new defensive starters, none more important than this kid.
MILESTONES
Emmitt Smith, Cowboys
Needs 104 yards rushing to pass Barry Sanders (15,269) for second on all-time list. Needs 1,561 yards to pass Walter Payton (16,726) for first.
Shannon Sharpe, Ravens
Needs 44 catches and 188 yards to pass Ozzie Newsome (662 and 7,980) as the all-time leading tight end in catches and yards.
Desmond Howard, Lions
Needs one punt return touchdown to tie Eric Metcalf (9) for first all-time.
Michael Bates, Redskins
Needs one kick return touchdown to tie Ollie Matson, Gale Sayers, Travis Williams and Mel Gray (six) for first all-time.
Brett Favre, Packers
Needs to pass for 3,000 yards to become first in NFL history with 10 consecutive 3,000-yard seasons.
Edgerrin James, Colts
With a rushing title this season, he would join Jim Brown and Earl Campbell as the only players to lead the NFL in rushing in each of their first three seasons.
Rod Woodson, Ravens
Needs one interception return for a touchdown to break tie with Ken Houston (nine) for all-time best.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE
Darrell Green, CB, Redskins. No wonder Michael Jordan wants to come back. He sees the 41-year-old Green, still fast, still competing, still little, still healthy. Green says he will retire after this season.
NEW QUARTERBACKS
Dallas: Rookie Quincy Carter replaces retired Troy Aikman.
Buffalo: Rob Johnson wins out over popular Doug Flutie.
Baltimore: Elvis Grbac follows Super Bowl winner Trent Dilfer.
Cincinnati: Jon Kitna starts ahead of young Akili Smith.
Kansas City: Trent Green rejoins ex-Rams coach Dick Vermeil.
Seattle: Matt Hasselbeck obtained by Mike Holmgren, who drafted him in Green Bay.
Washington: Jeff George is unlikely pick of new coach Marty Schottenheimer.
Tampa Bay: Brad Johnson takes over for inconsistent Shaun King.
Carolina: Rookie Chris Weinke replaces Steve Beuerlein.
THE COACHING HOT SEAT
Dick Jauron, BEARS
Jauron’s seat is so hot you won’t see him sitting down all season. Too bad he can’t pick the players.
Bill Belichick, Patriots
He was supposed to improve this team after The Other Bill left.
Mike Riley, Chargers
One win a year does not a contract extension make.
Dave Campo, Cowboys
Jerry Jones lost 50 pounds. Maybe he’s planning to roam sidelines himself.
Dan Reeves, Falcons
One of these Monday mornings, he’s going to head for a golf course.
THE LONG RUN
The Halas-McCaskey Bears are the oldest franchise in sports owned by one family (1920). The community-owned Packers (1922) and the Mara family’s New York Giants (1925) are next.
OFF-SEASON MOVES
BEST
1. Kevin Carter, DE, obtained by Titans from Rams for first-round pick in 2001 draft. Lining up opposite Jevon Kearse, Carter should rebound from unhappy season and give coach Jeff Fisher the best pair of pass rushers in league.
2. Aeneas Williams, CB, obtained by Rams from Cardinals for second- and fourth-round picks in 2001 draft, could provide same impact on Ram defense that Marshall Faulk made on 1999 offense, according to coach Mike Martz.
3. Elvis Grbac, QB, signed by Ravens as free agent from Chiefs, is more accurate long and short than Trent Dilfer, but Grbac has pressure of repeating a Super Bowl win without injured running back Jamal Lewis.
4. Brad Johnson, QB, signed by Buccaneers as free agent from Redskins, is more accurate than Shaun King and is viewed as the final piece of the puzzle to advance this team to a Super Bowl.
5. Denard Walker, CB, signed by Broncos as free agent from Titans, will help coach Mike Shanahan improve 31st-ranked pass defense in effort to return to Super Bowl.
6. Charlie Garner, RB, signed by Raiders as free agent from 49ers, provides outstanding complement to Tyrone Wheatley after back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons.
WORST
1. Tony Banks, QB, signed by Cowboys as free agent from Ravens and was supposed to follow retired hero Troy Aikman. He was cut after two exhibition games.
2. Albert Connell, WR, signed by Saints as free agent from Redskins, has talent but was a me-first player who fought with coach in Washington. Don’t expect him to lead.
3. Antowain Smith, RB, signed by Patriots as free agent from Bills, reported out of shape, bad news for a team in desperate search of help at his position.
4. Keith Traylor, DT, signed by Bears as free agent from Broncos, who thought he was fat and lazy. One oversized defensive tackle, Ted Washington, would have been enough.
5. Jon Kitna, QB, signed by Bengals as free agent from Seahawks, where coach Mike Holmgren has great patience and doesn’t like to give up on quarterbacks.
SMART ROOKIES
For the third consecutive year, incoming NFL rookies voted Walter Payton “the greatest NFL player ever.” Payton received an overwhelming 102 votes. Jim Brown and Joe Montana tied for second with 11 apiece. Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders each got nine votes.
