These are the picks for the 2003 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 only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
He was hurt back in week five, playing against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. Now after four weeks of rest and rehabilitation, running back Emmitt Smith is ready to return to action. He could be on the field as soon as this Sunday. The football world will watch closely what he role will be for Arizona.
Since Emmitt fractured his scapula, Marcel Shipp didn't just fill Emmitt's shoes. Marcel needed two sizes bigger. Shipp had back-to-back 100+ yards performances and the Cardinals won two games without the NFL career leading rusher. Some coaches believe starters don't lose their jobs if injured. For the sake of the Cards, head coach Dave McGinnis better not follow that belief.
'Zona doesn't have much more reason to play out the rest of the season as they're basically out of the playoff race already. But like New York Jets head coach Herman Edwards said, "You play to win the game! Hello?!?" If the back-up running back is producing better than the starter, then he gives the team a better chance of winning and he should be the starter.
If McGinnis does the right thing and leaves Shipp as the starter, then Emmitt has not choice but to be a role player and become Shipp's relief. How Smith takes it is the big question.
When the Cardinals first signed Smith and declared him the starter, Shipp, who did nothing to lose the starting position he had at the end of the 2002 season, quietly accepted the demotion. Smith says he will do the same thing.
Sounds like lip service. After he left Dallas, Smith let it all out, saying he wouldn't be a back-up to Troy Hambrick because he believed he was better. Emmitt went on to say that he was a diamond surrounded by trash. If he isn't restored to starting in Arizona, I'm sure he'll stew quietly over what he considers a slight of his ability and who he is.
"How can anyone bench the all-time leading rusher?" will pass through his mind constantly. He doesn't believe he should be treated this way. It's why he didn't stay with Dallas because Emmitt didn't want to play behind a RB who Smith believed wasn't as good he was. Smith turned down offers from other teams because he wanted a situation where he'd be the starter upon signing. The other teams interested in his services wouldn't give him that guarantee. He might be a good soldier on the outside, but his sour attitude will seep out and possibly effect the atmosphere of the locker room.
Smith thinks he could had performed as well as Shipp did because the offense became more run-oriented since Emmitt went down with his injury. The future Hall of Famer went on to say if the offensive line blocked as well for him as it did for Shipp and if the offense avoided turnovers, he'd be just as productive. Maybe he's right, but Emmitt should think about why the offense changed when he went down. Might the three-yard average have something to do with it? What about the 4,000-plus carries? Wouldn't a coach be concerned about how much a player has left after taking beatings for what is his 14th year?
Smith had expectations of gaining 1,000 to 1,200 yards this season. At the pace he set earlier this season, Emmitt wouldn't even achieve 500 yards with seven games remaining. NFL-style old age caught Smith maybe as soon as last year. We all have our pride. While it's valiant for Smith to want to keep on playing, staying on the field too long only makes a player look foolish as they wind down their career. Shipp should remain as the starter. Unless Smith proves to be better with the limited carries he gets, Emmitt now starts his Sunday afternoons on the sideline.
I jammed my thumb playing basketball a little over a week ago, but I typed hurt. Maybe that's why I gutted out a 8-6 week. It appears all byes are done for the season so there's more decisions to make.
St. Louis at Chicago - W
Happy with the win and satisfied by the 33 points scored, head coach Mike Martz was disappointed by the 121 total offensive yards by his St.Louis team. By his standards, his offense should have at least triple that output weekly. Out to prove his point, Martz has his Rams offense run it up on the Bears.
Houston at Buffalo - L
There's no rest for the Bills offensive line as they face another blitz-happy team. The Texans will come inside, outside, from the corners, and at the Buffalo sidelines as Houston tries to rattle the coaches too. The Bills will be better prepared to handle the blitz and hold off the Texans.
Baltimore at Miami - L
Brian Billick never had a quality quarterback in his tenure as head coach of the Ravens. First round draft pick Kyle Boller never lit it up. Previous starters, Tony Banks, Trent Dilfer, and Elvis Grbac, are mere footnotes in Baltimore history. Don't ask why, but I have a feeling Anthony Wright, starting in place of Boller, will have a noteworthy performance in a Ravens defeat of the Dolphins.
Washington at Carolina - W
Redskins head coach Steve Spurrier made the right call, letting offensive coordinator Hue Jackson call the plays for the offense. The question is will Spurrier regret making that call. Owner Daniel Snyder already interviewed Jackson for the head coaching position for 2004. John Fox is safe in 'Lina and his Panthers chew up the Redskins.
Jacksonville at Tennessee - L
Great signing by the Jaguars, picking up wide receiver Kevin Johnson off waivers after Cleveland released him on Tuesday. Johnson will draw attention away from wide out Jimmy Smith and provide quarterback Byron Leftwich with another option when he drops back. Johnson's effect won't be fully accounted for by the Titans and the new guy helps the Jaguars to the Upset of the Week.
Atlanta at New Orleans - W
Is anyone taking seriously the comments by television analyst Deion Sanders that he wants to coach the Falcons? Thank goodness this is the born-again mature Sanders talking instead of the young, loud Sanders. If the young version became Atlanta's head coach, the uniforms would be accented with chinchilla fur and several gold chains. Expect the Saints to undress the Falcons.
Arizona at Cleveland - W
The Browns will be fine without receiver Kevin Johnson. This team has plenty of depth at the position and won't lose a step. If you're not sure, then ask the Cardinals after this game. They won't be able to keep up with the Cleveland wide outs as the Browns run past 'Zona.
Kansas City at Cincinnati - L
That's right, give the top team in the AFC even more reason to play at their best. That's what Cincy receiver Chad Johnson did by making a guarantee that his Bengals will beat K.C. The Chiefs will have no mercy on Sunday.
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia - W
Turnovers are costly and no two were more costly than the two red zone fumbles by Giants running back Tiki Barber. To reduce the possibility of that happening again, a pouch is built into his jersey to safely tote the pigskin on every touch. Barber won't get very far with the ball as the Eagles bag the Giants.
N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis - L
The Jets spent training camp and nine games to get used to playing without their leading receiver from last year and in effect found a new go-to guy in Santana Moss. Indy quarterback Peyton Manning leans so heavily on wide out Marvin Harrison that playing without him this week will effect Manning. The Jets edge the Colts.
San Diego at Denver - W
Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan had problems preparing his team for the Chargers and quarterback Doug Flutie. Shanahan wanted his scout team QB to run around to simulate Flutie but the scout passer tired too quickly. The Broncos saw enough to be ready for Flutie and slow him and the Chargers down enough to pull out a win.
Detroit at Seattle - W
The Lions played kickball last week, not football. Offensively they mustered just four field goals, one in each quarter. Maybe this team should move to Australia if all they're gonna do is kick the ball between poles. The Seahawks serve up a lesson in football as they show the Lions how to play.
Minnesota at Oakland - L
The season is over for Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon as he was put on IR for the rest of 2003. He joins linebacker Bill Romanowski already on IR. And no, IR isn't short for Inglewood Retirees. Fueled by the desire to redeem themselves after the upset last week, the Vikings come out with a vengeance and pummel Oakland.
Green Bay at Tampa Bay - W
So it didn't work the first time. Big deal! Defensive end Simeon Rice won't stop. He made another guarantee that his Buccaneers will win, this time getting the better of G.B. After the Packers edge the Bucs, Simeon's teammates will drag him away from all microphones after the game and for the rest of the week.
Dallas at New England - W
Teams dressed in alternate jerseys or pants haven't faired very well since last year. But that won't stop the Patriots from debuting silver jerseys for the Sunday night game. With this knowledge, I know I should choose Dallas, but N.E. won last year when they wore throwback uniforms on Thanksgiving Day last year. I'll gamble with the Patriots this time.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco - Monday Night - W
In just under seven minutes, the Steelers scored 21 of their 28 points in the third quarter. Pittsburgh needed the outburst and should consider themselves pretty lucky because the defense let Arizona's offense travel at will. You know San Fran wide receiver Terrell Owens is salivating. He'll have a big game as the 49ers blast the Steelers.
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