[Times photo illustration:
Toni L. Sandys]
In 2000, the Bucs once again were all defense and little offense. This year, Brad Johnson has been given the green light to move the team forward.
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Bucs
Perfect fit
The Bucs needed accuracy. The Bucs needed a hard worker. The Bucs needed a leader. In Brad Johnson, they got all that -- and more.
Deep-rooted respect
The laid-back residents of tiny Black Mountain, N.C., revere Brad Johnson, their hometown hero, as much for his off-field demeanor as his on-field success.
12 wins, 4 losses, loads of excitement
TAMPA -- The Bucs are favorites to win the Super Bowl, becoming the Phil Mickelson of the NFL.
NFC Central wishes Bucs a bad goodbye
The Vikings, Packers, Lions and Bears would like to see Tampa Bay leave for a new division without another Central title.
Gary Shelton
Those with talent to burn often fizzle
The legend traveled on the wind, the way most legends do.
[Times photo illustration:
Toni L. Sandys]
In 2000, the Rams once again were all offense and little defense. This year, ex-Buc Lovie Smith’s revamped squad is determined to put the brakes on the opposition.
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NFL
Battering Rams
With its offense in place, St. Louis fell in love with the idea of improving it's defense.
Marshall Faulk: a king without the trappings of royalty
The Rams running back is arguably the most unaffected superstar in the NFL.
Rules changes for the 2001 season
NFL team rankings preview
NFL Fun Facts
Dolphins
Rodgers almost a no-namer on strong Dolphins defense
While others get the headlines, linebacker Derrick Rodgers just keeps making tackles and leading with his maturity.
Jaguars
Jaguars have more questions than answers right now
Injuries and ailments could keep the team from achieving its past success.
Fantasy football
'An Ode to Fantasy Football 2001'
The players change. The rules might get tinkered with. The opponents come and go like a Randy Moss sprint. But the essence of Fantasy Football hasn't changed. It's about scoring points. It doesn't take a scientist to figure it out. Dr. Seuss could probably field a pretty good squad.
Radio/TV
Local TV coverage of Bucs a mixed bag
Considering the Bucs are Super Bowl contenders -- on paper at least -- now would be the logical time for Tampa Bay's network affiliates to step up coverage.
On the Net
Kicking back with the Gramaticas
The brothers' new Web site lets you in on their jobs and their charity work.
Week-by-week schedules: PDF file
*You will need the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe for viewing.
The photo illustrations were composed by Times photographer Toni L. Sandys. Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson posed for the cover in the Times’ studio in St. Petersburg. Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith (bottom right) and players (from left) Aeneas Williams, Leonard Little and London Fletcher posed for the back page on the Rams’ indoor practice field in St. Louis. The traffic light was loaned to Sandys by its owner, Pete Yauch, who is a consulting traffic engineer with TEI Engineers and Planners in Tampa. The four-way stop light was made by Eagle Signal Corp. around 1945.
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