The Fans Speak Out

The retirement of Steve Young definitely is a big loss for the San Francisco 49ers--but it's a bigger loss for the NFL as a whole. Not only was he the most consistent passer the game has ever seen, but he also was one of the most exciting. I'll truly miss watching him elude defenders with his scrambling. No quarterback ever ran better than Young did. But above and beyond everything, he had real class. Win or lose, he was willing to address the media, and he always talked eloquently about the performance of his team.

Scott Jones Via e-mail

The invisible man

I think you should do a feature story on Philadelphia Eagles running back Duce Staley. He's one of the better running backs in the league, but since he plays on a team that isn't all that great, he gets ignored. I'd take Staley over almost any back in the game. He's tough, and he's rushed for 1,000 yards for two straight seasons. Maybe when the Eagles start going to the playoffs, you'll realize how good Staley is. Until then, I'll still be watching him.'

Neil Cloud Newport News, Va.

It's about time

Nice "Interview" on St. Louis Rams defensive end Kevin Carter [October 2000]. Here's a guy who has been one of the game's best pass-rushers for the past couple of seasons, yet you never hear much about him. Not only has he been overshadowed by other defenders around the league, but he also has been overshadowed by some of the players on St. Louis' offense. It's good to see that he is starting to get some of the attention he deserves. Keep up the good work, FOOTBALL DIGEST, and I hope to see more articles like that one in the future.

Chris Dyer Kingston, N.Y.

Don't discount Emmitt

I must say that I disagree with your "Kickoff" on Michael Irvin ["A Warrior Departs," October 2000]. While there is no doubt that Irvin was a key part of Dallas' championship teams, Emmitt Smith was the player who was truly indispensable. His consistent running set the tempo for the Cowboys, wearing out opposing defenses and setting up the big plays for Irvin, not to mention keeping Dallas' defense off the field. Your "Kickoff" was, however, an interesting take on the whole situation. The beauty of those Cowboys teams is that they can be debated endlessly, as you pointed out.

Macy Ellis Galveston, Texas

Miffed in Minnesota

As a longtime fan of the Vikings, I'm saddened to see what has happened to them. A couple of years ago, it seemed like they were poised to be a Super Bowl-caliber team for many seasons to come. But it seems like everything has unraveled. They still have some weapons on offense, but they definitely aren't close to the team that went 15-1 in 1998. I've been waiting a long, long time for the Vikings to win a Super Bowl, and just when it looked like they could do it, their opportunity slipped away.

Matthew Carter Via e-mail

Out of hibernation?

Thanks for your cover story on the Chicago Bears ["Braced for a Breakout," October 2000]. It's been a long time since Bears fans have had anything to cheer about. Obviously, Chicago still has some work to do before it is ready to compete for a Super Bowl, but as you said, there is reason for hope. Players like wide receiver Marcus Robinson, quarterback Cade McNown, and linebacker Brian Urlacher form a solid nucleus for the future. Could you please print the records of all the Bears coaches?

Donald Griffin Downers Grove, III.

The Bears' Coaching History

George Halas                   1920-29       84-31-19
Ralph Jones                    1930-32       24-10-7
George Halas                   1933-42       88-24-4
Hunk Anderson-Luke Johnsos(*)  1942-45       24-12-2
George Halas                   1946-55       76-43-2
Paddy Driscoll                 1956-57       14-10-1
George Halas                   1958-67       76-53-6
Jim Dooley                     1968-71       20-36
Abe Gibron                     1972-74       11-30-1
Jack Pardee                    1975-77       20-23
Neil Armstrong                 1978-81       30-35
Mike Ditka                     1982-92       112-68
Dave Wannstedt                 1993-98       41-57
Dick Jauron                    1999-present  6-10(**)

(*)Co-coaches (**)Includes only 1999 session

Sinking Dolphins

After reading your 2000 NFL preview issue [September 2000], I wanted to commend you for being the first magazine/sports reporter/TV broadcaster to finally come to its senses and predict accurately where the Miami Dolphins will finish: not in the upper echelon of the NFL. It was getting so old seeing and hearing about how great these Miami teams were supposed to be, while every year since 1985 they flamed out in December or the early rounds of the playoffs.

Despite the respect I have for Dan Marino, the teams he played on were extremely overrated. The final straw was how the hiring of the Dolphins' "savior," Jimmy Johnson, was supposed to make them a championship dynasty. Spare me, please. Johnson had so much more talent on the Dallas Cowboys than he ever had in Miami. But the so-called experts jumped on the Jimmy Johnson bandwagon and predicted Miami glory for years to come.