WHO'S Hot WHO'S Not

WHO'S Hot

Marc Bulger

Rams QB attends presidential debate, then makes statement of his own: throwing for three late TDs to rally Rams to win. Bulger was coy about where he sat at the debate ("on the right side of the aisle ... that could mean the correct side"), but receiver Shaun McDonald was frank in giving Bulger the endorsement every pol wants: "He's just a leader."

Sirius

Satellite radio system that has football deities John Madden and Tom Brady pitching its NFL package lands Howard Stern, who'll bring his locker-room language out of the reach of the FCC.

Caretaker Quarterbacks

The Chargers' Drew Brees and the Giants' Kurt Warner were only expected to keep their pockets warm for young guns Philip Rivers and Eli Manning. Now they're a combined 7--3, Brees is coming off a two-TD day, and the kids are on the sidelines taking notes.

Daunte Culpepper

Feelin' blue about the Twins' getting bounced and the Gophers' losing to Michigan? Culpepper's five-touchdown day, including a bomb to win in OT, is the cure. Sprint even has a new cellphone "ring"--Culpepper's voice saying, "Pick up your phone, it's game time, baby."

Celebrity Justice

Jamal Lewis had his four-month jail term delayed until the off-season and ran for 116 yards; Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal had his 21-day stint delayed until the off-season and hit a game-winning homer; and Martha Stewart, who couldn't wait to get her five months started, took her first stroll in prison-issued slacks.

WHO'S Not

Saints

Nawlins sure is a neat place to visit (page 41)--especially if you're an NFL team. Saints are now 1--2 at home, fresh off a shouting match between DE Charles Grant and QB Aaron Brooks, and have lost two in a row to previously winless teams. Knowing that they handed the Bucs their first W, says center LeCharles Bentley, "is hurtful."

Rested Seahawks

After week off Seattle entered Sunday's game vs. Rams "refreshed and recharged" in words of QB Matt Hasselbeck. But up by 17 in the fourth, they collapsed, ruining a potential battle of unbeatens with the Pats this week. Seattle has never won after a bye under Mike Holmgren.

Texas

Newly shorn QB David Carr's comeback fell short against the Vikings. The Cowboys got whupped by the rival Giants, the Longhorns got blanked in the Cotton Bowl, and baseball's Rangers watched as ARod, the shortstop who couldn't carry them to the playoffs, led the Yankees into the AL Championship Series.

Dolphins

You kidding us? Jilted by their star tailback, buffeted by hurricanes, decimated by injuries and dogged by oddsmakers who have Dave Wannstedt at 2--1 to be fired, the NFL's only 0--5 team could have its league-high streak of 15 nonlosing seasons ended by early November.

Intelligence

Bill Parcells says his team does "dumb things," but for real density consider Panthers tackle Matt Willig, who late in game vs. Broncos picked up a penalty flag and threw it--drawing a 15-yard penalty that took Carolina out of field goal range, forcing it to punt. Denver ran out the clock in a 20--17 win. The Broncos' Kenoy Kennedy: "[Willig] will probably be on the waiver wire. That was a boneheaded play."

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