Who's Hot Who's Not
Who's Hot
MOUNT CODY
Nose guard Terrence Cody single-handedly prevented Tennessee from upsetting No. 1 Alabama. And what a big hand it was. The 365-pounder got his paw on Daniel Lincoln's last-second field goal attempt to preserve a 12--10 win last Saturday. "I just closed my eyes and reached up with my left hand," he said.
CINCINNATI QUARTERBACKS
Footballs were flying in the Queen City. Filling in for injured Tony Pike, Zach Collaros of the No. 5 Bearcats completed 15 of 17 for 253 yards in a 41--10 win over Louisville last Saturday. The next day Carson Palmer torched the Bears for five TDs in the Bengals' 45--10 rout.
KAFKA'S METAMORPHOSIS
Against Indiana last Saturday, Northwestern went from first-quarter bums (down 28--3 in the second quarter) to second-half studs (29--28 winners). Leading the charge was QB Mike Kafka, who overcame his slow start to throw for 312 yards and two scores.
AVALANCHE
What goalie competition? Since unseating incumbent Peter Budaj in the preseason, Craig Anderson had played every minute in the crease for surprising Colorado (8-1-2) through Sunday. "If you make the odd mistake, he's there to back you up," said defenseman Kyle Quincey.
Who's Not
SAM BRADFORD
The reigning Heisman winner bypassed the 2009 draft for a shot at a national title with Oklahoma. But a shoulder injury limited the junior QB to three games (two of them losses), and last week he shut himself down—for the season. Bradford will have surgery and then get ready to enter next year's draft.
CLEVELAND QUARTERBACKS
In the Browns' 31--3 loss to the Packers, Derek Anderson was 12 of 29 for 99 yards—bringing his three-week total to a whopping 244 yards. But with Brady Quinn standing to cash in on $10.9 million in incentives if he takes too many snaps, the job is Anderson's.
PELINI-ESQUE FARCE
It was hardly la dolce vita for Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, whose Cornhuskers had eight turnovers—including four inside the Iowa State five-yard line—in a 9--7 loss, their first to the Cyclones in Lincoln since 1977. "It's pretty obvious you can't win a football game like that," fumed Pelini.
MAPLE LEAFS
Will these Leafs ever change? Toronto hadn't won a game through Sunday—and since Oct. 6 hadn't lost by fewer than two goals. "We've been substandard in all [areas of play]," G.M. Brian Burke said of a team that so far has looked unlikely to break its four-year playoff drought.
SI PLAYERS NFL POLL
WHO IS THE MOST DANGEROUS WIDE RECEIVER IN THE NFL?
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals 37%
Randy Moss, Patriots 15%
Andre Johnson, Texans 14%
Steve Smith, Panthers 10%
Terrell Owens, Bills 6%
FAST FACTS
Players could not vote for a teammate.... Fitzgerald was considered the No. 1 threat among defensive backs, drawing 29.3% of their votes; Johnson was their second choice at 22%.... In the overall balloting Fitzgerald's teammate Anquan Boldin tied for seventh at 2.4%.... Players were polled before Week 2, which may partly explain why Giants receiver Steve Smith, who was second in the league in catches (45) through Sunday after ranking 44th last season, did not receive a vote.
Based on a survey of 296 NFL players
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DAVE MARTIN/AP (CODY)
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ANDY LYONS/GETTY IMAGES (COLLAROS)
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GREG NELSON (PELINI)
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ED WOLFSTEIN/ICON SMI (ANDERSON)
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DAMIAN STROHMEYER (MOSS)
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AL TIELEMANS (FITZGERALD)
