FLASHUPDATE PLAYOFF EDITION TEAM NOTES/Wednesday, 28 Jan. 2004 Compiled By FlashUpdate Editor Bob Harris ========================= CAROLINA PANTHERS In an article published Tuesday, Gaston Gazette reporter Steve Reed advised readers: "When you watch Stephen Davis carry the football on Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVIII, remember this one fact: 30 teams in the league, including the New England Patriots, had no interest in signing him as a free agent earlier this season. "That’s right, only two teams approached Davis, who is perhaps the free agent pickup of the year in the NFL in 2003, about a contract." "You know what that means, right? There’s 30 teams in this league kicking themselves in the butt right now," No. 2 halfback DeShaun Foster suggested this week. When Davis was released by the Washington Redskins after the 2002 season because he didn’t fit into then-head coach Steve Spurrier’s offense, the Panthers and Houston Texans were the only teams that bid on his services. And even then the Texans dragged their feet, refusing to make a firm offer to Davis. All Davis did for Carolina this season was run for 1,444 yards in the regular season, get named to the Pro Bowl and lead his team to the Super Bowl. Offensive coordinator Dan Henning can’t say enough about what Davis has meant to the offense. "We have a guy here who is -- I don’t know how many adjectives I can use on this guy," Henning said. "He’s stout, he’s quick, he runs downhill. Somebody has to miss a block for this guy to have a minus play. That is kind of the philosophy [head coach John Fox] believes in and we all believe in on how to run an offense." In case you weren't paying attention at the time, the 29-year old Davis signed a five-year contract worth $16.3 million with the Panthers last spring. And make no mistake about it: Fox, a former assistant with Washington's divisional rival New York Giants, never wavered in his belief it was the right move. "I knew he was the style of back we were looking for," Fox said. "I thought he was worth the investment. I was very pleased with the season he has had. ..." As far as health issues go, Davis resumed running with the first-team offense Monday -- his first workout since the team's win over Philadelphia -- and according to those on hand for the session, reportedly showed no signs of the nagging left thigh injury he aggravated against the Eagles. "He is definitely healthy," Fox said. "We rested him all last week and he is 'full tilt'. He looked just like he has looked all season." The coach went on to say: "Stephen will be full speed. He is about as full speed as I have seen him. He never gets all the [repetitions] in practice but he will get the majority of them." Fox said the Panthers, aided by a week off before the championship contest, should have a completely healthy roster for the Super Bowl matchup against the Patriots, who have won 14 in a row and seek their second crown in three years. "I'm feeling a lot better than I was a couple weeks ago," Davis said. "When you have an off week, you can get yourself prepared mentally and physically. It heals all kinds of nicks and bruises. It was very important. We needed it. ..." For the record, Fox didn't list anybody -- Davis included -- on this week's initial NFL injury report (which appears below). ... I'll go ahead and remind you that New England boasted the top scoring defense in the NFL this season and have allowed only 91 rushing yards in two playoff games. The Panthers have run for 150 yards a game in their run to their first Super Bowl. Stopping Davis will be critical. "That's the key for us, whether or not we can stop the running game," said New England linebacker Willie McGinest. New England defensive end Bobby Hamilton played against Davis in college and knows the test his team faces Sunday. "I know what type of hard back he is. He's hungry and he is out to prove a point," Hamilton said. "He turned the team around on offense and they built the team around him. We have to play sound or he will run right through us." Despite their run-first philosophy, it's worth noting that three of the Panthers' six playoff touchdowns have come from the passing attack and it would be unwise to dismiss Jake Delhomme and Carolina's receiving corps out of hand. After all, Delhomme boasts a 102.6 quarterback rating in the postseason thus far. He has completed 43 of 69 passes for 664 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. And in an article published Wednesday, Boston Herald staffer Dan Ventura suggested that one of his receivers, Steve Smith, is tired of the stories hinting he's too small to handle the physical style of play the Patriots defense relies on. In fact, Smith says he is ready to mix it up with Ty Law and Rodney Harrison with one stipulation -- they have to deal with him, too. "People keep focusing on them like they are the greatest ever," said Smith, who leads the Panthers in playoff receiving with 14 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns, including the 69-yard TD to defeat St Louis in double overtime. "I am not taking anything from them because they are great. But we are here, too. We did not just get lucky. ... Everyone talks about how physical they are, but I can be physical, too." Despite his rather diminutive size, Smith turned in a solid season, catching 54 passes for a team-high 872 yards. Smith's stats this season are all the more impressive considering Davis rushed for more than 1,400 yards. Smith insists he doesn't care about any stats other than the win column. "You try not to get frustrated," he said. "The game is long, but it is not long enough. When you're a team running the ball the way that we do, our horse is Stephen Davis. Sometimes he eats up the clock. You just need to be patient, wait your turn, and know that your time will come. ..." Even with Smith establishing himself as Delhomme's favorite target -- especially in clutch situations, fellow starter Muhsin Muhammad has come on strong down the stretch. In fact, Muhammad's efforts have been especially valuable in postseason play, especially the last two games in which he scored twice -- recovering a fumble in the end zone against the Rams on Jan. 10 and then by making a great move in the end zone to catch an underthrown pass for the first touchdown in the NFC championship. Of course, Muhammad is still better known as a blocker than receiver these days. And according to AP sports writer Jaime Aaron, even though labeling a receiver "a good blocker" could be considered akin to saying a blind date has "good personality," the 217-pound Muhammad -- who goes by the nickname "Moose," wears it proudly. "I'm the physical guy," he said Monday. "I'm not as much finesse, but the physical guy that is going to block and I do a lot of the dirty work." Nonetheless, Muhammad was the team's second-leading receiver this season, producing enough so that he and Smith were second only to St. Louis' Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce for the most catches by a tandem and were fourth in yards. And, thanks to his big years in George Seifert's West Coast offense and the fact he arrived in Carolina's second season, Muhammad is the franchise leader in catches and yards receiving. He's also second on the team's career touchdown list. "He is a Pro Bowl receiver," Delhomme said. "I think what he has done this year kind of really shows what this team's about. We've asked him to block like a tight end this year and he could care less as long as we're doing whatever it takes to win." "Every now and then I catch some balls down the field," Muhammad added. ... But Delhomme's favorite story about Muhammad has nothing to do with a pass. In the final home game of the regular season, the Panthers were leading Detroit 20-0 midway through the third quarter, then were up only six in the final minutes. Needing another first down to run out the clock, guess who Fox turned to for extra help protecting Delhomme? "We're playing some backups at the time and Muhsin's out of the game for about a quarter," Delhomme said. "Coach Fox looked at him and said, 'Hey, you mind going in and blocking this corner?' Muhsin had a jacket on and said, 'Not a problem.' "He just took it off and went right in the game. He had been sitting for a quarter. He didn't care." And by all accounts, that willingness has gone a long way with Fox. One last receiver-related item. ... According to Charlotte Observer staff writer Pat Yasinskas, because the team wanted him to focus on his duties in the regular offense, Smith has mostly just handled punt returns this season. But the Panthers might use him on kickoff returns in the Super Bowl. Rod Smart has done a decent job as the kickoff returner, but Smith is much more dangerous. Yasinskas added: "The Patriots will likely put cornerback Ty Law on Smith. If Law can handle Smith, the Panthers will need a big game [Muhammad], who is not a deep threat but can make yards after the catch. He also can be effective in the short and medium passing game." Other tidbits of interest this week. ... Muhammad on how his team looks at the Patriots: "We are underdogs out of respect. They’ve won 14 games straight and beat a lot of good football teams and won under adverse conditions. ..." In an article published Monday, Sports Illustrated insider Peter King warned readers not to assume Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will out coach Fox just by showing up. As explained by King: "Fox did not just fall off the coaching turnip truck. Fox established his reputation with the Giants, before taking the Panthers job, as a guy who could coach a pressure defense without premier talent across the board; in 2000 and 2001, his New York teams gave up just four points per game more than the mighty Ravens D. "He continued building with defense and the running game he believes in after getting hired in Charlotte in 2002. Look at what Fox has done from the time he took over the team George Seifert had so poorly managed in 2001." I agree whole-heartedly. ... And finally. ... According to the Winston-Salem Journal, the following exchange took place between Davis and an unidentified reporter during Tuesday's Media Day at Reliant Stadium. Reporter: "Who would you rather be tackled by, Clay Aiken or Celine Dion?" Davis: "Celine Dion." Reporter: "Are you afraid of Clay Aiken?" Davis: "No, I get tackled by dudes all day. ..." -- THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT: The Panthers report no injuries. -- DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT: QB: Jake Delhomme, Rodney Peete, Chris Weinke RB: Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster, Nick Goings, Rod Smart FB: Brad Hoover, Nick Goings WR: Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, Ricky Proehl, Kevin Dyson, Karl Hankton, Eugene Baker TE: Kris Mangum, Jermaine Wiggins, Marco Battaglia PK: John Kasay ========================= ========================= NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS In an article published Wednesday, Boston Herald columnist Howard Bryant reminded readers: "On Opening Day, there was not much awe when it came to the Patriots' offense. They didn't score a point, as is well known. It was also well known that the team's receiving corps was not so much better than its running backs." Bryant went on to note that as dangerous as the Patriots look now, it should be remembered that Troy Brown and David Patten were the starting wideouts in the regular season opener. David Givens, the new threat, was inactive for the first two games of the season and didn't win his starting job until Dec. 7 at home against Miami. Neither Dedric Ward nor J.J. Stokes were with the club and Brown missed four straight games with an injured leg during November. The individual parts are now recognized as well, even though no wideout caught 60 passes this year, posted a 100-yard receiving game or caught more than eight passes in a single contest. And as Bryant added: "Brown, Deion Branch, Givens and Bethel Johnson are not known to the world as Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss are, but those guys haven't played in a Super Bowl." "Do we get enough respect?" asked Branch. "Yes, we get it from us. We like the position we're in. You're not going to have everyone standing out on a team. It's OK with us." After Patten was lost for the season against Denver, Givens emerged as a serious threat. That Givens wasn't even part of the action the first two games is a memory now vindicated. "I don't think about the past," Givens said. "I'm happy I got the opportunity I have right now. And I wanted to make the most of it." I'll go ahead and remind you that Brown, with nine catches for 99 yards, and Givens, with 12 for 94, have clearly been the team's top receiving threats during the playoffs. In fact, while ten different Patriots have caught at least one pass in the last two weeks, none of the remaining eight have more than five catches. And heading into Sunday's game, I'm of the opinion Brown will further strengthen his reputation as Tom Brady's favorite target in the clutch. In an article published Tuesday, Associated Press sports writer Jimmy Golen noted that Brown thinks he knows why he's established himself as Brady's favorite receiver on third and fourth down. It's because of what he does on first and second. "I'm running every route like I'm expecting the football," Brown told Golen. "I think I've earned his respect by doing that." Brown has earned the respect of defenses as one of the most sure-handed receivers in the league. Although he had just 40 receptions this year -- his lowest total since he became a starter in 2000 -- he's still the guy Brady goes to when New England needs to make something happen. "Any time Tom's throwing to Troy, you can be pretty sure it's going to be a big play," offensive lineman Matt Light said. "It happens a lot." Brown's 40 catches might not seem like much, especially following a three-year period in which he had 281. But soon fourth-and-3 to help set up the winning field goal. "Of course," Brady said then, "in the biggest situations, I always find Troy." Brown followed that with a series of clutch catches in the AFC championship against Indianapolis, two on third down and a 16-yarder on fourth-and-8. Those catches, he said, are at least as satisfying as his 82-yard touchdown against Miami. "When it's fourth down, if you don't get it you're coming off the field. So it's a huge play," he said. "But no matter what your role is, you have to know it and play it well. I got hurt early in the season, and we had some guys step up and make some plays. When I came back, I took my role on and tried to do the best I could at it." The 198th pick in the 1993 draft, Brown was waived once and allowed to enter free agency three times before he settled into a role as a punt returner and backup receiver. It wasn't until Bill Belichick took over as head coach in 2000 that Brown finally got his chance to start. Brown had 83 receptions that year and 101 in 2001, when New England won its first Super Bowl and he made his only appearance in the Pro Bowl. "When these guys came in here, they gave me the opportunity I'd been waiting for," Brown said. "It was frustrating. I had people telling me all the time, 'Just stay patient.' It's hard to stay patient for six years." Once he broke through, Brown wasn't just making the big catch -- he was making virtually every catch. He scored five touchdowns and twice more on punt returns in the regular season, and kept it going through the playoffs. He had eight catches in the AFC title game against Pittsburgh and also made two big plays on special teams, returning a punt 55 yards for one TD and recovering a blocked field goal. In the Super Bowl, Brown led the Patriots with six catches for 89 yards. But, once again, one of them stood out. With the game tied, Brown caught a 23-yard pass and got out of bounds at the St. Louis 36 yard-line with 20 seconds left in the game. Two plays later, Adam Vinatieri kicked a 48-yard field goal that gave New England it's only Super Bowl championship. Brown caught 97 passes last year, but upon his return from the above-mentioned injury, Branch had surpassed him as Brady's most frequent target. "It's frustrating when you're hurt. Nobody wants to be sitting on the sidelines watching," he said. "Although the team is winning, and you're happy, it's not the same kind of feeling as when you are out there playing. "I was ecstatic about coming back," he said, and it showed. After he returned, he got up after his first catch and threw the ball in the air triumphantly. "I love playing the game, that's what I love to do," Brown said. "I didn't want to be sitting around, just watching for the rest of the season." In a semi-related item. ... According to Boston Herald staffer Gus Martins, if the Patriots want to raise their second title in three years, starting tight end Christian Fauria and his backup, Daniel Graham, have to turn their recent postseason drops that were almost certain touchdowns into scores if those same chances arise. "I think it's always important to seize the opportunity simply for the fact that it's the last game of the season and we're the only teams left standing and it's for all the marbles," Fauria said. "But it's not going to define anybody's life here when they leave football and if they allow that to define their life they are not living for much. If you look at the timeline of your life and if you look at this week, it's miniscule in terms of your future." Fauria had two dropped balls in the AFC Championship Game, one in the third quarter and one in the fourth. Both passes were well inside the red zone and should have been hauled in for scores. Graham dropped a pass in the divisional round against Tennessee near the 5-yard line that appeared to be a touchdown opportunity. The second-year player out of Colorado knows those chances can't be left on the table Sunday. "Drops are something I've had the last couple of games and I have to focus," Graham said. "This is a big game right here. I've been working all week. They've been throwing the ball to me and I've been taking extra passes." Graham hopes a good game and some clutch grabs will erase the memory of recent disappointments. "Well, you know it can," he said. "Having a good game and catching the balls here could make me feel a lot better after the season's over with, but I know I have to go out and focus and concentrate." He said if it turns out he's used solely in blocking situations, he's going to give it his best. "Our running game is going to be real important," he said. `It's going to open up our passing game. I know I'm going to have some good defensive ends I'm going to have to block this weekend. I'm going to have to go out and execute." Fauria predicts the tight ends will be critical on Sunday. "I would hope we are important," he said. "I would like to say that we've had a big impact for getting here and another impact for winning the game, but until we get close toward the end of the week I don't know. I do know we are always involved to one extent or the other, but to what extent, we'll have to see that day." Other tidbits of interest heading into Sunday's game. ... Asked about being compared to Pro Football Hall of Fame signal caller Joe Montana by Montana’s former 49ers coach, Bill Walsh, Brady said: "When a guy like Bill Walsh says something like that, you go, `Wow, really?’ But I know there's a long way to go." Agreed. But Brady still got my vote for NFL MVP this season. ... According to War Room analyst Gary Horton, as much as the Patriots would like to establish an early lead and force Carolina to abandon its running game, they will have to do much better in the red zone than they did in the AFC championship game. The Patriots only scored one touchdown on seven trips inside the 20 against the Colts and if Vinatieri has another busy day, the Panthers should stay within striking distance. Horton added: "[Offensive coordinator Charlie] Weis figures to continue to call pass plays off three-step drops that allow Brady to get rid of the ball quickly, effectively neutralizing Carolina's formidable pass rush. The Patriots also will run some play-action in the hope of catching strong safety Mike Minter blitzing, which would create some favorable matchups on the outside. Johnson is extremely dangerous in the vertical passing game, and Brady must find Johnson when he is working against single coverage." Given the Panthers tendency to over pursue at times, I'll also remind you that Johnson, Brown and Branch all have the ability to break long runs on reverses. ... Getting back to Vinatieri. ... The veteran place-kicker missed 10 field goals this season, but is 6-for-7 in the postseason, including 5-for-5 in the AFC Championship and a fourth quarter game-winner over the Titans a week earlier in arctic conditions. That said, two of his misses this season came at Houston's Reliant Stadium. His first miss there hit the upright and was his first ever missed field goal indoors. He also had a kick blocked in overtime before booting a game-winner. In the end, I tend to agree with linebacker Roman Phifer, who told Pro Football Weekly on Monday: "I always tell Adam he's got the best job in football. When we're still in meetings, he's hanging out in the hot tub, or having lunch. But Adam's stepped up big for us. He's the one with the pressure job. His job is to score points, and points are important in football. ..." As noted by the Sports XChange, Kevin Faulk has clearly been relegated to his former role as the third-down back. Faulk actually finished the season with 178 carries to Antowain Smith's 182, but in the postseason Smith has 38 runs to Faulk's eight. Faulk's 48 receptions during the season were second to Branch, but his four in the postseason tie him for fourth on the team. Smith has two postseason receptions. As for the Patriots' rushing attack, Panther tackles Kris Jenkins and Brentson Buckner are excellent run stuffers who will have the advantage of working against a New England interior line that has been decimated by injuries. Most observers believe their presence will make it difficult for Smith to pound the ball between the tackles. They'll definitely help keep blockers off Carolina's linebackers, who as Horton noted, have the range to prevent Smith and Faulk from turning the corner. But the Patriots must stay committed to the run. Consistently running the ball will help keep defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker and the rest of Carolina's aggressive defenders on their heels and set up play-action passes. Weis can help open up the running game with misdirection plays. ... In a semi-related item. ... Smith, who played his final two college seasons at the University of Houston -- where he rushed for 1,847 yards and 19 touchdowns in just 21 games, is happy to be playing at home. "To be at home is extra special for me and my friends and family," Smith said. "The ultimate dream for any athlete is to play for the championship in your hometown. Everybody's ecstatic for you and you just want to do well." But for the 31-year-old Smith, Houston was not always home. He grew up working in a factory near Millbrook, Alabama and played football in junior college at East Mississippi before landing in Houston in 1995. Smith has since moved to Houston, where he is serving as something of a host for his teammates during Super Bowl week. On Monday night, he had a simple solution for his curious teammates. "Everybody was asking me what there was to do in Houston, so I decided to have everybody over my house," Smith said. "I'm the host, I'm the tour guide, I'm everything right now. It's a frenzy, but I'd rather be doing this than being at home watching TV. I'm just trying to take every opportunity to enjoy it. ..." And a few final items. ... Other than linebacker Tedi Bruschi, the Patriots are in good shape injury-wise. Bruschi was listed as probable on Wednesday's initial injury report, as were Fauria and running back Patrick Pass. For those of you taking part in contests featuring IDPs, Boston Globe beat man Nick Cafardo reported early Wednesday that Bruschi envisions few scenarios that could keep him out of Sunday's game, but the former University of Arizona standout felt today's practice will be telling. "I'm gonna try and do some things," Bruschi said. "I sort of made a little progression on certain things [Monday] and [Tuesday], and [Wednesday] is a day where I feel like I could be able to do some things," said Bruschi, who started answering questions even before Tuesday's Media Day officially began. The specifics of the injury have not been revealed. "During the last two weeks I've gone up and down with my emotions," said Bruschi. "I can't believe I'm hurt. It's been really tough mentally for me for the last week and a half. As I talk to you about it, I've felt that every day I've gotten better. I've had the tendency of wanting to push myself and I'm trying to tell myself, 'Hold on, you still have a week left.' "I've just trusted [trainers] Jim Whalen and Joe Van Allen. They've done a great job." Bruschi cited team policy as the reason he couldn't detail specifics of the injury. He repeated numerous times he felt better, and when asked specifically whether he'd play Sunday, he said, "We'll see." But one teammate said that barring a setback in practice this week, "I would bet my house on the fact that he'll play Sunday. I don't think you're gonna keep him from that football field. We all know how important he is to our defense and our team and he's not gonna miss a chance to play in a Super Bowl." And finally. ... Rain from this past weekend forced the New England Patriots to move their practice to the Houston Texans' indoor facility adjacent to Reliant Stadium on Tuesday. The Patriots had practiced at the outdoor fields at Rice University on Monday. If there is rain on Thursday or Friday, the Panthers will also practice at the Texans' indoor field. No rain was forecast for today. -- THIS WEEK'S INITIAL INJURY REPORT: Probable: LB Tedy Bruschi (leg); TE Christian Fauria (leg); FB-RB Patrick Pass (ankle) -- DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 1300 PT: QB: Tom Brady, Damon Huard, Rohan Davey RB: Antowain Smith, Kevin Faulk, Mike Cloud FB: Larry Centers, Patrick Pass WR: Deion Branch, David Givens, Troy Brown, Bethel Johnson, Dedric Ward, J.J. Stokes TE: Christian Fauria, Daniel Graham, Fred Baxter PK: Adam Vinatieri ========================= Copyright© 2003 Fantasy Sports Publications, Inc.