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S P E C I A L I S S U E 2003 DRAFT REVIEW ■ ■ ■ CHARLES LARRY KYLE TEAM REPORTS & GRADES PLAYER RATINGS DRAFT LISTS IMPACT ON FANTASY FOOTBALL ROGERS JOHNSON BOLLER GAl VOL. XVIII, NO. 1 l MAY 2003 URGENT NEWS — DELIVER IMMEDIATELY l THE NEW KEVIN CincinnatiCincinnati kidkid WILLIAMS CincinnatiCincinnatiCincinnati kidkidkid Do the Vikes have BENGALS TAKE ANOTHER another contract SWING AT A FIRST-ROUND headache coming? JAMES D. SMITH QUARTERBACK IN THE TRENCHES Dewayne Robertson leads first-round run on D-linemen BRUCE L. SCHWARTZMAN WRONG SPORT? Houston gambles that Drew Henson will choose football EZRA SHAW / GETTY IMAGES WILLIS McGAHEE Buffalo makes him a surprise first-round pick SPORTS PICTURE NETWORK $4.99 U.S. / $5.99 Can. 19> PLUS FREE-AGENCY UPDATE 2003 NFL SCHEDULE ARENA NFL EUROPE 0374470 01161 NFL DRAFT PHOTOS BY BRUCE L. SCHWARTZMAN l SPORTPICS (BOLLER) 2 PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY ■ http://www.profootballweekly.com MAY 2003 ALSO: In this week’s Then CREATORS & FOUNDERS Arthur Arkush, Robert Drazkowski and now and Joel Buchsbaum Prep Publisher/Editor Hub Arkush Volume XVIII Editor-in-chief Keith Schleiden No. 1 football Art director Bob Peters analyst Managing editor Mike Holbrook 22 Tom Lemming recalls Executive editors Dan Arkush Neil Warner his impressions of this Associate editors Trent Modglin year’s first-round draft Andy Hanacek picks as they were Ken Bikoff Jeff Reynolds leaving high school. Nolan Nawrocki Eric Edholm Mike Wilkening DEPARTMENTS Assistant art director Jody Burr The Way We Hear It..........................Pg. 3 Production assistant Brian Hertel Fantasy football coverage: COVER STORY An early look at the rookies ..Pg. 21 Free-agency update ......................Pg. 25 NEW MEDIA DRAFT OVERVIEW ............................5 Publisher Sue Nemitz 2003 team-by-team schedules......Pg. 28 Web site coordinator Kevin McCauley TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS ..............6 2003 week-by-week schedules ....Pg. 29 Eric Edholm column: Arena Football; NFL Europe ..........Pg. 30 Business manager Christine Klimusko BENGALS DESERVE PRAISE; Audibles ..........................................Pg. 33 Network support tech. Jeff Howes DREW HENSON PICK COULD PAY OFF ..8 Transactions ....................................Pg. 34 Circulation manager Ron Stringer Mike Holbrook column: The Slant ..........................................Pg. 35 Asst. circulation manager Patrick Cameron SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS Distribution manager Rodney Jackson MISSING AT THIS YEAR’S DRAFT........11 COLUMNISTS Subscription manager Kristine Carlsson Ask the Experts: Ken Bikoff; Jerry Magee ................Pg. 26 WHICH TEAM HAD THE MOST Ron Borges; Don Pierson ..............Pg. 27 ADVERTISING SALES INTRIGUING DRAFT?........................15 VP, Marketing Phil Hornthal FINAL PLAYER PRINTOUT ..............16 NEXT ISSUE Sales manager Bob Sherman Free-agency update … Offseason progress DRAFT LIST BY POSITION ............19 reports for each NFL team … Fantasy football coverage … PFW goes to press with its next COLUMNISTS issue on June 1. DRAFT ROUND-BY-ROUND DRAFT LIST 2003 ....20 Ron Borges, Jim Campbell, Bob Carroll, BRUCE L. SCHWARTZMAN Glenn Dickey, Barry Jackson, Jerry Magee, Don Pierson, Reggie Rivers, Bill Wallace TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THE STORIES OR COLUMNS IN THIS ISSUE, E-MAIL PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY AT [email protected] AFC REPORTERS Baltimore Ravens Jaymes Powell Buffalo Bills Chuck Pollock HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US: Cincinnati Bengals Marty Williams Cleveland Browns Tony Grossi Denver Broncos Adam Schefter Houston Texans Joseph Duarte Indianapolis Colts Tom James Buchsbaum’s spirit guides us through another draft Jacksonville Jaguars Vito Stellino Kansas City Chiefs Rick Dean HUB ARKUSH PUBLISHER/EDITOR Miami Dolphins Alex Marvez New England Patriots Glen Farley New York Jets Ken Berger rafting without Joel was like the ballpark one of the most volatile first rounds in histo- better NFL pass rusher, nor can we really Oakland Raiders Michael Wagaman without beer, jocks without straps and ry. Had Joel not been whispering in our ears, say whether Kyle Boller or Rex Grossman Pittsburgh Steelers Jim Wexell DKansas without Todo. It’s been a little we could have been in trouble. will become the better quarterback. And if San Diego Chargers Kevin Acee more than four months now since my friend, As we pondered our final first-round we hadn’t had Joel through the years, none Tennessee Titans Paul Kuharsky PEN Joel Buchsbaum, died, and much of the sad- mock, Carson Palmer, Charles Rogers and of us would even be trying to guess. The one NFC REPORTERS ness has dulled. Most of the time I spend Andre Johnson appeared to be slam-dunks thing we do know is that Haynes and Gross- Arizona Cardinals Darren Urban thinking about Joel these days is filled with for the Bengals, Lions and Texans, respec- man cost the Bears one No. 1 pick, the Atlanta Falcons Matt Winkeljohn quick smiles and fond memories of the man tively. But figuring out what the Jets would fourth in this year’s draft, while Suggs and Carolina Panthers Scott Fowler who I believe is most responsible for making do with the fourth pick — after making the Boller cost the Ravens two No. 1’s — the Chicago Bears Bob LeGere the NFL college draft the huge event it has first big move of this draft — was a chal- 10th pick this year and their first pick next Dallas Cowboys Mickey Spagnola Detroit Lions Curt Sylvester become. But closure is a must for every sig- lenge. Conventional wisdom suggested that year — and their No. 2 pick this year as Green Bay Packers Bob McGinn nificant moment in our lives, and I knew this Herman Edwards, a former defensive back well. Let’s make the players suit up for a Minnesota Vikings Kent Youngblood first draft without him would be bittersweet who recently lost one of the top kick return- year or two before we pretend to know New Orleans Saints Brian Allee-Walsh at best, filled with moments of regret, and ers in the game, Chad Morton, via free which club was smarter. New York Giants Paul Schwartz the most difficult I’ve ever tried to navigate. agency, would tab double threat Terence Joel went on to tell me that we should just Philadelphia Eagles Dave Weinberg Nobody knew the draft like Joel, who had Newman. It made great sense until I heard respect the bold moves up the ladder by the St. Louis Rams Steve Korte San Francisco 49ers Kevin Lynch been our rudder for the last 25 years. that unmistakable voice with the Brooklyn Jets, Saints and Ravens, just as we should Seattle Seahawks Mike Sando Somehow, though, now that it’s over, I twang somewhere in the back of my mind admire the calculated moves downward by Tampa Bay Buccaneers Roger Mills know Joel was with us and will be forever. telling me that the Jets didn’t have to go all the Bears and Cardinals until we know how Washington Redskins John Keim Maneuvering through the 2003 draft, I felt the way up to the No. 4 spot to get a shut- they’ve all panned out. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS for sure there was an angel on my shoulder. down cover corner with both Newman and He accurately pointed out that the Ravens Mike Carlson, Art Edelstein, Our guys here at Pro Football Weekly, partic- Marcus Trufant available. No, they moved up were as much or more responsible for the Rick Matsumoto, Gary Bond ularly Jeff Reynolds and Nolan Nawrocki, to get the best defensive tackle on the board Vikings’ seeming buffoonery in the first STATISTICIANS did an incredible job of picking up the ball and fill their greatest need. Had Newman round, and that the Cardinals deserved a Rick Arkush, Steve Soucie PUBLISHER’S Joel was forced to leave on the ground — gone to the Jets at No. 4, the entire top 10 scolding for being so unprepared when their with his work for this year just two-thirds would have been different. By taking Robert- turns finally came up at No. 17 and No. 18. Pro Football Weekly (ISSN: 0032-9053, USPS Pub. completed. PFW’s scouting reports and pre- son, everything fell into place. Calvin Pace may eventually be a fine defen- #000-509) is published by PFW Acquisition LLC, 302 Saunders Road, Suite 100, Riverwoods, IL 60015, draft projections were as good as ever. But Late in the first round, I heard the heavens sive end, but the Cardinals still overpaid for weekly September through January, once a month when it comes down to working the phones rumble. It was Joel whispering in my ear him. Joel wasn’t the least bit shy in claiming March through June, biweekly in February and July, again. The phone lines and chat rooms from that, in terms of value, the Patriots, Ravens, and three times in August, for a total of 32 issues and knowing what’s up once the bullets start annually. The subscription price is $99.95 for 32 flying, we needed a little help from above to Chicago to Baltimore were burning up with Vikings and Texans had very good week- issues. Periodicals postage is paid at Deerfield, IL, keep ourselves ahead of the game. fans screaming about the brilliant Ravens ends, while Arizona and New Orleans might and additional offices. In the final PFW mock draft that was post- trading up and outfoxing the Bears, who — and I stress might — have done better. ‘‘Canada Post International Publications Mail Product traded down, with both clubs ending up with Finally, Joel said he was looking forward (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 1356097’’ ed on our website the Friday night before the draft kicked off, we correctly projected the a pass rusher and a quarterback. But there to the two or three days a year when he POSTMASTER: Send address change to: first five picks and 13 of the first 14, match- was Joel reminding me, “You don’t even try might actually get some rest before going to Pro Football Weekly ing seven of the first nine picks with the cor- to analyze a draft for two or three years, and work on the class of 2004.