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NFL HOT PLAYERS

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2004 Update: Ricky Williams Retires. Does This Mean He's Gay?

Every week we'll pick an NFL player who stood out on the field ... and who stands out with his helmet off.  

For other HOT players, check out the Locker Room.

Week 17 Doug Flutie, quarterback, Buffalo Bills The NFL uses a complicated system to rate passers and the highest possible rating is 158.3. Flutie was perfect using this method in Saturday's 42-23 blowout of Seattle. He was 20 for 25 for 366 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. For the season, the Bills were 4-1 when Flutie started, 4-7 under Rob Johnson. Why Flutie didn't start more games is a total mystery. He remains one of the most exciting players in the game, as he reminded us this week.

Week 16 Terrell Owens, wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers One of the oldest records in the NFL was broken on Sunday: Most catches in a game. Owens caught 20 passes against Chicago, breaking the mark of 18 set by Tom Fears of the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 3, 1950. Owens, a 6-3, 217-pounder, has been an electrifying receiver all season for a 49er team that barely resembles the outfit that won five Super Bowls. And after he scores a touchdown he does a dance that only can be described as gay.

Week 15 Jamie Duncan, linebacker, Tampa Bay Bucs We seldom featured defense here so we thought Duncan deserved the nod after the Bucs' gritty 16-13 win at Miami. The 6-foot, 240-pounder had an interception return for a score and forced a fumble that set up the winning field goal. A great effort on a wt day where Tampa's offense was reduced to three field goals.

Week 14 Mike Anderson, running back, Denver Broncos At the start of the season Anderson was buried deep on the bench behind Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary. But when both went out with major injuries Anderson has stepped up in a big way. But never bigger than Sunday against the Saints. Anderson--6' 230 pounds--rushed for a rookie record 251 yards and had four touchdowns as Denver whipped New Orleans, 38-23.

Week 13 Jerry Fontenot, center, New Orleans Saints Offensive lineman are unsung, but we had to honor Fontenot, who anchors the Saints offensive line, which may be the league's best. With Ricky Williams out and using inexperienced running backs the Saints still managed to rush for 146 yards against the Rams. ``Our offensive line is the best offensive line in football," coach Jim Haslett said. "I could get 100 yards behind those guys. They're tough, they're all physical. They're nasty and they like to play the game." And Fontenot, all 6'3'' and 300 pounds of him is among the best.

Week 12 Daunte Culpepper, quarterback, Minnesota Vikings Culpepper weighs 260 pounds, amazing for a quarterback, and he moves well. Having not played last year he is effectively a rookie. And we all know rookies don't win the NFL. But Culpepper is defying that tradition as he has led the Vikes to a 9-2 record. Sunday against the Panthers, Culpepper threw for 357 yards and three TDs.

Week 11 Brian Griese, quarterback, Denver Broncos Griese was heroic in Denver's pulsating 27-24 win over Oakland. He separated his right shoulder in the first period and played through the pain. He completed 25 of 37 passes for 262 yards and led the Broncos on the game-winning drive. A friend of ours is in deep lust with Griese, e-mailing us after the game: ``Oh man, oh man, I want to have sex with Brian Griese. Maybe if I bought him a bunch of drinks, he'd do it.'' Maybe if you bring flowers.

Week 10 Ed McCaffrey, wide receiver, Denver Broncos We don't know anybody who thinks McCaffrey is anything less than a stud. He crosses all the various ``types.'' He's 6-5, 215, with a carved, hard body, a great smile and wonderful talent. On Sunday he caught six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner, as Denver beat the Jets, 30-23.

Week 9 Jeff Ogden, special teams, Miami Dolphins Special teams players often go unnoticed, but Ogden came up big Sunday against Green Bay. With Miami holding a 21-17 lead, Ogden took a punt, made a couple of nice moves and outraced the field for an 81-yard punt return as the Dolphins won. Ogden was undrafted and wound up being traded to the 'Fins this year by Dallas.

Week 8 Corey Dillon, running back, Cincinnati Bengals Dillon was amazing on Sunday, rushing for an NFL-record 278 yards  as the Bengals won their first game, beating Denver, 31-21. Dillon had six runs longer than 30 yards and scored on runs of 65 and 41 yards. It was also one of the best celebration scenes we've seen this year after Dillon set the record. He fell to the ground on the sidelines, face down on all fours, overcome by his feat. A teammate then poured a bucket of Gatorade on him; several others came over and pounded his back; a couple poured cups of water on him; one threw a towel on him, and finally, QB Scott Mitchell dumped another bucket of Gatorade on him. We're sure Dillon didn't mind.

Week 7 Ricky Williams, running back, New Orleans Saints How can you not like a guy who wears a wedding dress on the cover of a national magazine? Or one, who in an interview, thanked all his fans, straight and gay? But this year, how can you not like a guy who has four consecutive 100-yard games, including a 38-carry, 144-yard, two-touchdown effort on Sunday as the Saints beat the Panthers, 24-6? And how can you not like his great smile and those dreadlocks?

Week 6 Jeff Garcia, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers When Steve Young retired in the offseason, it looked like the 49ers were headed for trouble.  And, they are.  But, it's not the offense's fault, believe it or not.  This week, against cross-bay rival Oakland, Young's replacement, Jeff Garcia, had a career day. Garcia's numbers on the day were brilliant.  28-41 for 336 yards, 4 touchdowns, and not a single interception.  He also had four rushes for 16 yards.  That was all in the midst of being sacked, tackled, piled on, and slammed to the ground seemingly every play.  And, in overtime, Garcia again marched his team quickly downfield for the winning field goal . . . which was blocked.  Alas, his team didn't win, but he surely got plenty of attention at the Round Up in the Castro Sunday night.  With his lispy voice and mannerisms, he certainly has us questioning a thing or two.

Week 5 Randy Moss, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings It had been a quiet year for Moss.  After two amazing seasons to open his NFL career, it had seemed the Vikings offense was ignoring him this season, as he was averaging just over 65 yards per game and had only one touchdown over his first three games. This week that all changed.  Moss caught for 168 yards against the Detroit Lions, the fourth most in a game in his career.  He also had three touchdowns, the third time he has done that in his short career, leading his Vikings over the Lions, 31-24, and building a two game lead in the NFC Central.

Week 4 Tony Gonzalez, tight end, Kansas City Chiefs He's 6-5, handsome, well-spoken and a football stud. Gonzalez caught 10 passes for 127 yards and one TD as the Chiefs went in to Mile High and shocked the Broncos, 23-22. Gonzalez was do effective that Denver would up double-covering him, which allowed Derrick Alexander to beat his man on the game-winning score. Gonzalez got a measure of revenge against Denver linebacker Bill Romanowskii, who Gonzalez has accused of cheap shots. According to Gonzalez, AP reports, Romo said, `` 'What's up? You don't want to have a drink with me?'" Gonzalez said:. "I told him, 'As soon as you apologize to me for hitting me in my face five times, then I'll go have a drink with you. Until then, I'm not doing it.' "

Week 3 Elvis Grbac, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs People Magazine lost its collective mind or was bribed when it named Grbac the sexiest athlete two years ago. No offense, but we could think of a thousand sexier jocks. No matter. Grbac had perhaps his best game as a Chief on Sunday throwing for five TDs, the first Chief to do that in more than 30 years.

Week 2: Jason Hanson, kicker, Detroit Lions Kickers are much maligned as not being ``real'' players. But Jason Hanson of the Lions was easily their MVP in Detroit's upset over Washington, 15-10. Hanson's five field goals accounted for all of Lions' scoring, including an awesome boot from 54 yards out. The 5-11, 182-pound Hanson from Washington State is also darn cute.

Week 1: Duce Staley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles have become one of the trendy picks to go to the playoffs this season.  Hell, Cyd even picked them in the NFC Championship game.  And this is why.  The Eagles went into Dallas on Sunday and beat up on the Cowboys, 41-14.  Staley led the way, posting 201 yards on the ground, 61 yards in the air, and scoring one touchdown.  It was the fifth-most yards gained on the ground by any running back on opening day in league history.