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Tuesday, September 3, 2002
Updated: September 4, 4:48 PM ET
What's hot, not for NFL 2002

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By Dan Shanoff
Page 2 columnist

Whether it's bantering with your office-mates about the weekly pool, swapping the skinny with your friends at the sports bar or trying to impress that hottie on your first date, spouting last season's conventional wisdom about the new NFL season is going to make you as popular as Chris Weinke.

So check out the "What's Hot, What's Not" List below for the 4-1-1 on the names, trends and fads that are at the forefront of Kickoff Weekend. We promise: That first-date hottie really wants to know:

What's Hot, What's Not for NFL 2002
Category	Hot	Not
"He Hate Me"	Chris Weinke	Rod Smart
Barstool debate	Who is this season's surprise team?	Can the Patriots repeat?
Conventional wisdom	Systems win championships	Players win championships
Position	Whatever LaVar Arrington is playing	Quarterback
Rallying cry	"We're just gonna pitch it and catch it"	"We get no respect"
Whatever happened to ...	Daunte Culpepper	Jake Plummer
Reason to make roster	"Hard Knocks" watchers get to like you	Guaranteed money
Reason for a coach to start a QB	Played for me in college	Enamored with ex-baseball career
Jersey to be seen in	David Carr	Tim Couch
Dud	Jamal Anderson	Ricky Watters
Brewing-controversy backup QB	Chris Chandler	Doug Flutie
Rookie bandwagon	Antwaan Randle-El	Roy Williams
Comeback	Rodney Peete	Fred Taylor
Who?	Kelly Holcomb	Mike McMahon
Super Bowl teams	Expect the unexpected	So what that you win your division?
QB's role	Spiritual leader	Ride the defense
Sexy pick to be champ	Pittsburgh	New England
Overhyped Giant	Jeremy Shockey	Jesse Palmer
MVP bandwagon	Donovan McNabb	Shane Matthews
Complaint about a stadium	Number of restrooms	Sightlines of neighboring city
Fantasy-junkie sleeper WR	Johnnie Morton	Jimmy Smith
Novel way to use your first-round fantasy pick	Michael Vick	Priest Holmes
Mike Shanahan's biggest problem	Brian Griese, underperformer	The RB situation
Record fans want to see broken	Career rushing-yards total	TDs in a season
Day to start season	Thursday night	Sunday afternoon
TV analysis	"Boom! Thwack!"	Esoteric cultural references
Bon Jovi	NFL anthem-maker	Big-hair VH-1 staple
Mr. Extension	Michael Strahan	Tom Brady
Power division	AFC East	AFC North
Line on Bledsoe	Mr. Hugs 'n Kisses	Chemistry-wrecker
Coaching nickname	Shiny Pants (Steve Spurrier)	Chucky (Jon Gruden)
Latest misconception	Ricky Williams = savior	Mike Holmgren = genius

Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. His "What's Hot, What's Not" trend-spotting list appears Thursdays. Got inside scoop on an up-and-coming trend? Want to declare something passé? Send this glimpse of your hipness to hotnotlist@yahoo.com.

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