OVER 30 OFFENSE
RUNNING BACK
Emmitt Smith, Cowboys, 33
Info: The NFL’s all-time leading rusher still has it (900 yards, 5 TDs this season).
RUNNING BACK
Larry Centers, Bills, 34
Info: Emmitt gets the rushes, but we like Larry (805 career catches) coming out of the backfield.
QUARTERBACK
Rich Gannon, Raiders, 36
Info: The Raiders’s savvy QB has set an NFL record with 10 300-yard passing games this season.
WIDE RECEIVER
Jerry Rice, Raiders, 40
Info: The NFL’s all-time leading reciever with 1,448 catches for 21,521 yards and
192 TDs.
You WISH he was 24.
TACKLE
James Williams, BEARS, 34
Info: The oldest Bear lineman hasn’t been on many winning teams, but he’s a most dependable tackle.
GUARD
Will Shields, Chiefs, 31
Info: When Priest Holmes scores in KC, he can thank Shields
first and foremost.
CENTER
Kevin Mawae, Jets, 31
Info: We’re allowed two “youngsters,” and the Jets anchor
is one of them.
GUARD
Ray Brown,
Lions, 39
Info: Combined, our line’s two Browns have 33 seasons of making others black and blue.
TACKLE
Lomas Brown, Bucs, 39
Info: It’s stunning he’s still playing after all these years.
TIGHT END
Shannon Sharpe, Broncos, 34
Info: He’s lost a step but he’s got great hands that just
happen to wear three Super Bowl rings.
WIDE RECEIVER
Tim Brown, Raiders, 36
Info: Yes, we know. Many Raiders, but Brown is as consistent as Rice is spectacular.
UNDER 25 DEFENSE
CORNERBACK
Andre Dyson,
Titans, 23
Info: Dyson has more than 100 solo tackles in two seasons.
LINEMAN
Courtney Brown, Browns, 24
Info: Drafted No. 1 by the Browns, he’s had 132 tackles in 32 games.
LINEMAN
Alex Brown, BEARS, 23
Info: One of the few bright spots for a once-feared Bears defense.
LINEMAN
Dwight Freeney, Colts, 24
Info: We know he’s another DE but we like his nine sacks and his love of the game.
LINEMAN
Julius Peppers, Panthers, 22
Info: His 12 sacks wowed everyone, but his suspension cut his season short.
CORNERBACK
Champ Bailey, Redskins, 24
Info: A veteran on this team, he has already played nearly four seasons (16 picks).
SAFETY
Tony Dixon, Cowboys, 23
Info: Not all the young Cowboys play offense (13 games, 24 tackles).
LINEBACKER
Napoleon Harris, Raiders, 23
Info: The Northwestern product has played in all 12 games, proving the Raiders do have some young guns.
LINEBACKER
Brian Urlacher, BEARS, 24
Info: Chicago’s adopted son dominated as a rookie. Just like Butkus.
Do you have his jersey yet?
LINEBACKER
Lavar Arrington, Redskins, 24
Info: Courtney Brown’s teammate at Penn State has begun to leave his mark on the league and it’s QBs.
SAFETY
Mike Brown, BEARS, 24
Info: Known for making the big play, the Nebraska product is no longer considered too small for this league.
