ESPN.com - What's hot, what's not<br>for 2001 NFL season

ESPN.com: Page 2

Wednesday, September 5, 2001
Updated: September 6, 2:46 PM ET
What's hot, what's not
for 2001 NFL season

By Dan Shanoff
Special to Page 2

Hurtling into Week 1 of a new NFL season, there might be no greater thrill for the football fan than to be prepared with the lowdown on the hottest storylines, names and trends. Certainly, you don't want to be caught spouting last year's conventional wisdom as you make this season's picks in the weekly office pool (for recreational purposes only, mind you).

Study the 2001 NFL season "What's Hot, What's Not" List below, then call your local sports radio station, climb aboard your favorite barstool, sidle into a debate among co-workers, or -- as always the tradition of the Page 2 "Hot List" -- impress your significant other, because they really want to know:

Page 2's Hot 'n' Not list for NFL season
Category	Hot	Not
XFL-to-NFL success story	Tommy Maddox	"He Hate Me"
Barstool debate	What to do about the refs	'00 Ravens defense versus '85 Bears
Front-office guru	Ex-TV guy	Ultra-rich guy
Reason to follow the season	Your fantasy league	Inherent drama
Rallying cry	"Who needs an offense?!"	"We get no respect."
"Whatever happened to ...?"	Jake Plummer	Rick Mirer
Reason to get cut	Not telegenic enough	Salary-cap considerations
Reason for a coach to start a cornerback	Because I want to show how powerful I am	Because he's a beloved vet
Cool nickname	Snoop (Marvin Minnis)	Booger (Anthony McFarland)
Dud	Ryan Leaf as a free agent	Ryan Leaf as a Buc
Team's season-crushing injury	Torn ACL to star RB	Concussion to star QB
Brewing-controversy backup QB	Mike McMahon	Joe Germaine
Jersey to be seen in	Donovan McNabb	Keyshawn Johnson
Access to team	"All-"	"No-"
Super Bowl teams	Expected	Surprises
QB's role	Ride the defense's work	Air it out
Raiders receiver who matters	Tim Brown	Jerry Rice
Position	Roving linebacker	All-purpose running back
Sexy pick to be champ	Philadelphia	Tennessee
Rookie named Michael	Bennett	Vick
MVP bandwagon	Brian Griese	Randy Moss
Two words about a notable coach	Jon Gruden: Babyfaced assassin	Dick Vermeil: Tarnished legacy
Complaint about a stadium	Unbearable turf	Snowballs
Oddity	29-year-old rookie starting QB	Super-sized quarterbacks
Fantasy-junkie sleeper	Aaron Brooks	Matt Hasselbeck
Novel way to use your first-round fantasy pick	Marvin Harrison	Fred Taylor
Complaint in Cleveland	"What will we do without Courtney Brown?"	"Why are we drafting for defense ... again?"
Aging signal-caller	Doug Flutie	Kent Graham
Mike Shanahan's biggest problem	How to manage PR of starting Anderson over less-talented Davis	Pulling yet another 1,000-yard RB out of thin air
Go-to esoteric Dennis Miller reference	Anything Shakespeare	Anything related to Mexico
Subject of QB scrutiny	Brad Johnson	Jon Kitna
Record fans want to see broken	TDs in a season	Payton's career rushing yards

Dan Shanoff is a regular contributor to Page 2.