Scandalous: These Eight Men Are Out

SHAFT 2000

This is what happens when you ignore the writers and turn the vote over to the fans, players and coaches. You get a Pro Bowl minus a leading candidate for NFL most valuable player, the league’s No. 3 rusher of 2000, the league’s No. 3 rusher of all-time, the league’s top receiver and the probable NFL rookie of the year.

Pro Bowl rosters, such as they are, were announced Thursday. Aggrieved parties, the line forms here:

1. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia: Without McNabb, the Eagles would not be going to the playoffs and angling for their first division title since 1988. Without McNabb, the Eagles would be the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead, the Pro Bowl voters went with Jeff Garcia, who quarterbacks some team from San Francisco that used to be the 49ers.

2. Mike Anderson, Denver: He’s the third Bronco to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the last three years--which means, of course, it must be the offensive line. If so, why were no Bronco guards, tackles or centers named to the AFC starting lineup?

3. Emmitt Smith, Dallas: Became the third man in league history to rush for 15,000 yards, courtesy of 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Says he wants to play three or four years, which gives him more than enough time to pass Barry Sanders and Walter Payton on the all-time rushing list. But, he’s no Charlie Garner.

4. Ed McCaffrey, Denver: Interesting: McCaffrey has caught 88 passes, the most in the league, from two quarterbacks, Brian Griese and Gus Frerotte. Griese hasn’t played since Nov. 13 because of an injury, but he’s going to Hawaii and McCaffrey isn’t.

5. Brian Urlacher, Chicago: He leads the Bears with 142 tackles, he’s tied for the team lead with six sacks, he plays a fierce middle linebacker and he could be the next Mike Singletary. But he’s a rookie from New Mexico playing on a 4-10 team. One, two, three strikes, you’re out.

6. Curtis Martin, New York Jets: Has rushed for 1,105 yards, caught 57 passes, scored 10 touchdowns and does it all in Gotham. New York voters apparently still are recuperating from the Subway Series.

7. Joe Horn, New Orleans: His numbers--82 catches, 1,164 yards, seven touchdowns--are good if that’s Daunte Culpepper or Kurt Warner on the other end of the relay. But what if it’s Jeff Blake, followed by Aaron Brooks?

8. Shannon Sharpe, Baltimore: Along those same lines, has caught 58 passes as a tight end on the same team as Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer.

IT’S THE SCHEDULE, STUPID

What happened to the Rams, Colts and Redskins? How did the Eagles and Saints turn it around so quickly? Ever since the NFL decided to penalize success and reward mediocrity with its parity-based scheduling formula, the answers can be found in every team’s media guide:

SCHEDULED DOWNWARD:

St. Louis Rams

1999: Coming off 4-12 season, received fifth-place schedule. Went 13-3, won Super Bowl.

2000: Received first-place schedule. Now 9-5, in second place in NFC West, need to at least split road games at Tampa Bay and New Orleans to return to playoffs.

Indianapolis Colts

1999: Coming off 3-13 season, received fifth-place schedule. Went 13-3, lost to Tennessee in divisional playoffs.

2000: Received first-place schedule. Now 8-6, in third in AFC East, need to sweep last two games--at Miami, home to Minnesota--to have a shot at wild-card berth.

Washington Redskins

1999: Coming off 6-10 season, received fourth-place schedule. Went 10-6, won NFC East title.

2000: Received first-place schedule. Now 7-7, need to sweep last two games--at Pittsburgh, home to Arizona--and outside help to gain wild-card berth.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1999: Went 14-2, reached AFC championship game.

2000: Received first-place schedule. Now 7-7 after 3-7 start, eliminated from playoff contention.

Seattle Seahawks

1999: Went 9-7, won AFC West title.

2000: Received first-place schedule. Now 5-9, in fourth in AFC West.

Buffalo Bills

1999: Went 11-5, placed second in AFC East, earned wild-card berth.

2000: Received second-place schedule. Now 7-7, in fourth place in AFC East, eliminated from playoff contention.

SCHEDULED UPWARD:

Philadelphia Eagles

1999: Went 5-11, finished last in NFC East.

2000: Received fifth-place schedule. Now 10-5, in second place in NFC East, playoff berth clinched.

New Orleans Saints

1999: Went 3-13, finished last in NFC West.

2000: Received fifth-place schedule. Now 9-5, lead NFC West.

Oakland Raiders

1999: Went 8-8, finished fourth in AFC West.

2000: Received fourth-place schedule. Now 11-3, lead AFC West, playoff berth clinched.

Denver Broncos

1999: Coming off Super Bowl championship season, went 6-10 with first-place schedule, finished last in AFC West.

2000: Received fifth-place schedule. Now 10-4, in second place in AFC West, playoff berth clinched.

New York Giants

1999: Went 7-9, finished third in NFC East.

2000: Received third-place schedule. Now 10-4, lead NFC East.

New York Jets

1999: Went 8-8, finished fourth in AFC East.

2000: Received fourth-place schedule. Now 9-5, in second place in AFC East, can clinch playoff berth with split of last two games--at home against Detroit, at Baltimore.

WITH SOME, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE

Cleveland Browns

1999: Went 2-14, finished last in AFC Central.

2000: Received fifth-place schedule. Now 3-12, looking at another fifth-place schedule.

Cincinnati Bengals

1999: Went 4-12, finished fourth in AFC Central.

2000: Received fourth-place schedule, destined for another now at 3-11.

THE PETE CARROLL EFFECT

Take heart, USC football fans. The movement you seek is only a phone call to Bill Parcells away. . . .

New York Jets

Before Pete Carroll: Third place in the AFC East at 8-8 in 1993 under Bruce Coslet.

With Carroll: One season, 1994. One cannonball to 6-10 and last place.

After Carroll: After admitting the mistake that was Rich Kotite, hired Bill Parcells after 1996 season. Went 9-7 in 1997, 12-4 in 1998, 8-8 without Vinny Testaverde in 1999.

New England Patriots

Before Carroll: In 1996, coached by Parcells, won AFC East at 11-5 and played in franchise’s second Super Bowl.

With Carroll: Went from 10-6 and first place in 1997 to 9-7 and fourth place in 1998 to 8-8 and last place in 1999. Went 0-2 in the playoffs.

After Carroll: 4-10 under Bill Belichick. Obviously, the cupboard left behind by Carroll was less than full.