These are the picks for the 2002 season. The bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is used only to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
A little trade history: Herschel Walker to Minnesota courtesy of Dallas. Using the assortment of draft picks, the Cowboys built a team that won three Super Bowls. Marshall Faulk was sent packing by Indianapolis to St. Louis. For only a second round pick, the Rams got the multi-talented running back that fit into the offense, helped the team win a Super Bowl, and was a league MVP.
The other teams in the trade got the short end of the stick. The Vikings got a couple of 1,000 seasons out of Walker, but he wasn't the solution they hoped Walker would be. As far as Indy, who did they select with that 1999 second round pick?
Initially, when New Orleans traded Ricky Williams, a two-time 1,000-yard back, to Miami, the question arose if this trade would be one-sided like the examples above. First impressions looked like the Dolphins looked to get the better of the trade. They acquired the workhorse ball carrier the to be the focal point of the offense.
Who would had thought that the Saints would jettison the player originally considered their franchise player? They traded away their whole draft in 1999 to move up in the first round in hopes of drafting him. When Williams fell in their lap, the next thing you know, the Heisman Trophy winner appeared on the cover of a national magazine wearing a wedding dress with his head coach as the groom.
It was a turbulent first year, as Williams played through an injury-plagued rookie year. He flashed potential, with the highlight a Sunday night game against Jacksonville. But for all the hype and the price paid, Williams didn't fulfill expectations.
The following season, Williams and the Saints came on strong. Ricky averaged 100 yards a game after 10 games. But his season was cut short by another injury. He witnessed the team's first playoff win from the sideline.
Eyebrows were raised when N'Orleans drafted running back Duce McAllister in the first round of the 2001 draft. Williams didn't take it well, but coaches told him not to worry. His starting position wasn't in jeopardy. McAllister was just the best player on the board at the time and he was a talent the organization didn't want to pass up. McAllister would be the change-of-pace/third down guy.
Secretly, the coaching staff hoped adding McAllister would put a burr under Williams' saddle, motivating Ricky to be a better player. It worked, as Williams didn't miss a game and finished with career highs with over 1,700 total yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, the team didn't do as well as the running back did, as the Saints fell to 7-9. But in that season, coaches saw that McAllister was a potential big-play weapon and were enamored with his speed and hands. The "What if" seed was planted.
The McAllister plan wasn't rock solid. Duce's college career was fragmented from various little injuries. It was a gamble to make McAllister the primary ball carrier, but ultimately they committed to clearing the path for McAllister. All they had to find was a taker for Williams.
Miami stepped up to the plate and made a generous offer that landed Rick-rock. Miami handed over a few draft picks, including a first rounder. After five games, the Dolphins are atop the AFC East, thanks to Ricky's 5XX rushing yards, good enough for second in the AFC.
McAllister is doing alright for himself as well. He has shown his big play ability a handful of times already, most recently a 53-yard touchdown run in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh. Durability? Currently not a issue, thanks to an additional 12 pounds from off-season workouts. Thanks to McAllister, thee Saints are tied for the lead in the newly formed NFC South with a 4-1 record. If Duce avoids the injury bug like he dances around tacklers, then his numbers will be exceed Williams' last season with the Saints.
Granted, everything depends upon Williams and McAllister remaining healthy for the full season. For now, both the Dolphins and Saints got what they wanted. It didn't always work out that way.
Atlanta at N.Y. Giants - L
No matter how many, "How did he do that?" plays Falcons quarterback Michael Vick produces, the more pressing question he needs to answer is "Can he stay healthy?". Vick jerseys are top sellers in Hot-lanta, followed by Vick bandages. The Giants have this game wrapped up.
Baltimore at Indianapolis - W
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is listed as doubtful on the injury list. For arguably the best linebacker in the game, doubtful means doubtful any of the medical staff or coaches will be able to keep him from playing. But you can't be hobbled trying to defend against the polished Peyton. Manning finds the weaknesses in B-more's defense in leading the Colts to a W.
Buffalo at Houston - W
A pair of first picks overall meet for the first time. Houston's David Carr could spend hours listening Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe and his stories of past experiences in the league. The conversations lead to Carr developing insomnia because nightmares constantly wake him up. Bledsoe shouldn't had told him about being sacked 100 times over two seasons. The Bills knock the Texans out.
Carolina at Dallas - L
Thud! That's the sound of 'Lina falling back to earth. It was fun being at 3-0, but Carolina lost two straight by a combined six points. Close isn't good enough. Sensing their collective back inching towards a corner, the Panthers fight back and floor the Cowpokes.
Detroit at Minnesota - L
In one of his post-traffic incident interviews, troubled Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss said he's tried to turn his life around. You know, do a 360. That would explain his performance in his first game back. Not only was he distracted, Moss was dizzy. Failing to realize he needs only 180 degrees to turn things around, Moss and the Vikes keep turning in circles while the Lions pass them by.
Green Bay at New England - W
Well before the season started, the coaching staff and the players repeated: The Super Bowl season was behind them and out of mind. They are proving it on the field, looking more like the team that finished 5-11 two years ago recently than the team that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. The forward-thinking Packers smack the Pats.
Jacksonville at Tennessee - L
It's bad enough to be criticized non-stop by the media, but when your owner tells the press that his team looked like it was out-coached, then you feel the heat. Titans head coach Jeff Fisher officially was put in the coaching hot seat. He doesn't say it, but Fisher feels the temperature rising and it shows. He was caught wringing a quart of sweat out of his moustache. Already well adjusted to high temperatures, the Jaguars remain cool and douse Tennessee.
New Orleans at Washington - W
Madd props go out to Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey for his winning performance last Sunday. He showed why Washington drafted him in the first round. It took him a little while to warm up, but once he did, it was curtains for the opponents. Makes you wonder how Ramsey will do with N'Orleans defenders draped on his back. The Saints close down the Fun-n-Gun.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati - L
Experts claim Cincy developed the original blueprints on how to beat Pittsburgh, an offensive attack that Steelers' opponents have copied. Let's see Cincinnati prove it. Pittburgh's Tommy Maddox will still be in search of his first NFL win after the Bengals stick it to the Steelers in the Upset of the Week.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay - W
What does it say about an offense when a linebacker leads the team in touchdowns? Any TB fan responds with a, "Who cares as long as the team keeps winning!" Good point. Whether or not Derrick Brooks crosses the goal line again, the Buccaneers handle the Browns.
Kansas City at San Diego - W
The tables were turned on SD. A week after knocking off an undefeated team, the Chargers get blemished in a humbling defeat. Their 250-pound cheerleader isn't happy about the loss. Linebacker Junior Seau jumps back into the lineup and he gets the Chargers back on the winning track.
Oakland at St. Louis - L
Film sessions in the 'Lou weren't very productive. The offense spent hours watching and adoring the Oakland offense do their thang as they reminisced about when they were that productive. The Raiders catch Rams napping.
Miami at Denver - L
It doesn't appear to be much separating these two teams. Denver does have an edge because their run defense is second in the league and the secondary gets their hands on a lot of passes. The Broncos defend their home turf and send the Dolphins away empty-handed.
San Francisco at Seattle - Monday Night - W
I finally got a good look at the Seahawks new uniforms. The shimmering metallic look belongs in a "Night at the Roxbury" skit of Saturday Night Live lore. No playing around as the 49ers bust a move all over Seattle.
Home | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Wild Card | Divisionals | Conference Championship | Super Bowl