(read, His insecurities)

IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Lewis Speaks To Rookies 2. NFL To Experiment With 'UmpireCams' 3. Marino Tribute Set 4. Bengals' Greats To Open New Stadium 5. Jets Waive Johnson Following Injury 6. Hentrich Captures NFL Golf Classic 7. This Week's Transactions +---------------- Lewis Speaks To Rookies ----------------+ BALTIMORE, MD - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, less than a month removed from a trial on murder charges, spoke to 254 rookies at the annual symposium in Carlsbad, CA, and encouraged them to be careful about who they hang out with. "I had problems saying 'no' to friends," Lewis told the rookies, according to an NFL spokesman who was in the room. "We have to pick and choose things we do," Lewis said. "We're being watched 24 hours a day. Be firm and stand on your own two feet. Understand that saying no to a lot of people is very important. Be firm when you say no." Lewis, who attended the symposium at the suggestion of Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, talked for 10 minutes before giving way to chairman of the NFL Management Council Harold Henderson. "His speech was definitely moving to everyone here," Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Thomas Jones said. "You hear a lot of different things about guys being in different situations, but when you hear it from a guy in that situation, it definitely hits home. "Of all the things here they did for us, that was the major thing. It was great for us." +--------- NFL To Experiment With 'UmpireCams' ---------+ NEW YORK - It looks like the NFL will have a television camera on the field - affixed to the cap of one of the officials. The camera, called "UmpireCam," was used recently by FOX in its coverage of NFL Europe's World Bowl. "I think it's going to work well," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during the telecast. "We're going to experiment with it during the preseason and if it works well, probably use it during the regular season." The NFL also is considering a plan to let its broadcasters put miniature cameras inside helmets and wire its players with microphones during exhibition games. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said earlier this month no decision has been made. +------------------- Marino Tribute Set -------------------+ MIAMI, FL - Former Dolphins and Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula, former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly will highlight the Miami Dolphins' public tribute to Dan Marino, which will be held on Wednesday, August 23, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Pro Player Stadium. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Dan Marino Foundation, which Marino formed in 1992 and helps support many South Florida charities. Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, drafted Marino in 1983 and served as his head coach through 1995. He was one of the most influential people in Marino's 17-year professional career. The Dolphins posted 116 regular season victories with Shula as head coach and Marino as the starting quarterback, and 122 wins overall, including playoffs. The 116 wins are the most of any head coach-quarterback combination in NFL history. Elway, Kelly and Marino all entered the NFL the same year, in 1983. The trio proved to be three of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history, with each having compiled at least 100 regular season victories as a starter. Elway (148) and Marino (147) are the two winningest starting quarterbacks in league annals, respectively. All three threw for at least 200 touchdowns in their careers, while Marino and Elway are two of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to reach the 300 mark. This celebration of Marino's 17-year Dolphins career also will feature a performance by Hootie & the Blowfish, as well as special guest appearances by many of Marino's other friends in athletics and entertainment. NFL Films will produce a special tribute video highlighting Marino's career which will be custom-made for the event. In addition, all fans will receive a special, one-of-a-kind commemorative Dan Marino poster that night, available only to those in attendance. A gala fireworks display will conclude the night's festivities. +----------- Bengals' Greats To Open New Stadium -----------+ CINCINNATI, OH - The pads will stay packed until the Aug. 19 preseason home opener against the Chicago Bears, but an array of past Bengals stars will gather two days before that to participate in the first football game on the field at Paul Brown Stadium. On Aug. 17, Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz will headline the roster for the Bengals Alumni Flag Football Game. The contest will be part of the festivities during the First Fans Sneak Preview, which offers Bengals season ticket holders the chance to see their seats and otherwise get familiar with the fan areas of the stadium. Bob Johnson and Isaac Curtis will serve as coaches for the flag football game. Louis Breeden will be the referee, and other ex-players scheduled to play include Jim Breech, Mike Martin, Tim McGee and Max Montoya. "This is an appropriate way to help honor our team history as we move into the new stadium," said Bengals president Mike Brown. "We wanted to give our former players the opportunity to be the first to play a game on the field. It should be fun for the fans, and it's another way to honor our season ticket holders for their loyal support." ---------- Jets Waive Johnson Following Injury ----------+ HEMPSTEAD, NY - The New York Jets today waived kick returner- running back Leon Johnson, who re-injured his right knee in a recent minicamp and had further surgery. Johnson sustained a torn ACL and MCL while returning a kickoff in the 1999 opener and missed the rest of the season. A fourth-round pick in 1997, Johnson made an instant impact as a rookie, returning a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown. He ranked third in the AFC in punt returns with a 12.1-yard average. Johnson was not as successful in 1998, ranking 13th in the AFC with a punt-return average of 7.0 yards, and missed the final two games of the season and the playoffs with a cracked rib. Johnson finished his Jets career with 90 carries for 345 yards and four touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 364 yards and two scores. He averaged 10.2 yards on punt returns and 24.0 yards in kick returns. +---------- Hentrich Captures NFL Golf Classic ----------+ CLIFTON, NJ - As is custom for the final round of the NFL Players Championship at the Cadillac NFL Golf Classic, the 12 players in the final round started fresh, with their scores from previous rounds wiped off the slate. But that didn't change the name at the top of the leaderboard. After carding low rounds of 69 and 74 on Thursday and Friday, Tennessee Titans punter Craig Hentrich again paced the field, shooting a three-over-par 75 to win the tournament. "I had a key birdie on 13, which was important because I was frustated not getting birdies," Hentrich told fans in a post- round chat session. "From there, I just tried to par my way in." Hentrich became just the third winner in the tournament's eight-year history. Hentrich's compadre on the Titans' special teams, placekicker Al Del Greco, failed to win a sixth title, finishing in third place, four strokes back with a seven-over- par 79. Now in its eighth year, the Cadillac NFL Golf Classic features 78 Senior Tour professionals and 56 of today's top NFL stars. The designated local charity of the Cadillac NFL Golf Classic is Tomorrows Children's Fund in Hackensack, a nonprofit organization developed by parents for children with cancer and serious blood disorders. NFL Charities, the official charity of the NFL Players Championship, receives the $160,000 NFL Players Championship purse that is distributed to the charities of choice for the top 26 finishers. *.*.*.*.* This Week's Transactions *.*.*.*.* Green Bay Packers -- Signed running back Rondell Mealey and defensive lineman Tim Beauchamp. Kansas City Chiefs -- Named Dick Curl pro personnel assistant. New England Patriots -- Claimed wide receiver Tony Hamler off waivers from the Miami Dolphins; signed free agent linebacker Chad Cascadden, who had been with the New York Jets, and running back Patrick Pass, their seventh-round pick in the draft. New Orleans Saints -- Signed cornerback Michael Hawthorne, their sixth-round draft pick, to a three-year contract. New York Jets -- Released running back Leon Johnson. San Diego Chargers -- Signed defensive end Jonathon Brown; agreed to terms with linebacker Deon Humphrey on a one-year contract. Seattle Seahawks -- Signed wide receiver James Williams and defensive tackle Tim Watson, their sixth-round draft choices.

NFL 97 is now NFL 2002 From Slate magazine: Why Is Randy Moss So Angry? Shrinking the heads of NFL wide receivers. By Bryan Curtis Posted Thursday, October 10, 2002, at 12:49 PM PT Moss: Doomed by his position or just a jerk? Randy Moss, the NFL's busiest provocateur, was charged last month with trying to bulldoze a traffic officer with his Lexus. This is no surprise. Moss is an NFL wide receiver, and NFL wide receivers, by and large, are jerks. Not dirty players, mind you, or murderous off-field thugs�just your basic, run-of-the-mill jerks. At no other position will you find such a Rolodex of malcontents. Who are these other goofballs? Stay tuned to this topic!

Hidden

playoff rankings for the NFL: NFC AFC 1. New Orleans 1. Miami 2. Green Bay 2. San Diego 3. San Francisco 3. Indianapolis 4. Philadelphia 4. Pittsburgh 5. Tampa Bay 5. Oakland 6. Arizona 6. Denver 7. NY Giants 7. Jacksonville 8. Dallas 8. New England 9. Carolina 9. Kansas City 10.Chicago 10.Buffalo 11.Atlanta 11.Baltimore 12.Washington 12.Cleveland 13.Seattle 13.Tennessee 14.Minnesota 14.NY Jets 15.Detroit 15.Houston 16.St. Louis 16.Cincinnati As of now.

NFL Playoff Rankings after Week 8: NFC AFC 1. Green Bay 1. San Diego 2. New Orleans 2. Miami 3. Philadelphia 3. Pittsburgh 4. San Francisco 4. Indianapolis 5. San Francisco 5. Denver 6. Arizona 6. Buffalo 7. Atlanta 7. Oakland 8. NY Giants 8. Kansas City 9. Washington 9. Cleveland 10. Dallas 10. Baltimore 11. Carolina 11. New England 12. Minnesota 12. Tennessee 13. Detroit 13. Jacksonville 14. Chicago 14. Houston 15. St. Louis 15. NY Jets 16. Seattle 16. Cincinnati

Dallas is slipping, from 8th to 10th. Houston is 14th but they're *favored to win this week* for the first time I believe.

Chatroom interview with NFL twins Tiki and Ronde Barber: Question: If the Bucs and Giants play each other, would either one of you hesitate to hit the other? Ronde Barber: Never, he's free rain on the football field. Tiki Barber: Of course, I would avoid hitting him because if he hits me, he would tackle me.

Denver, Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Baltimore are battling for the final wild card. The Rams must win the game against the Jets. Minnesota lost.