Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Articles Archive

Enclosed in this archive is every bit of the action and updates that occurred in December 2003 within the world of fantasy football. You may want to read these articles for research on players in the coming year, or just check to see if we were way off base with our reporting. Whatever the reason, it's all here for your enjoyment.

Fantasy Football Challenge - December 2003 Fantasy Football Articles

Fantasy Football Challenge - December 2003 Article Archives

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for a starting quarterback in the NFL -- according to DiPaola, "even if the question involves something as mundane as the quality of the paper on which it is written. Dont ask. Hes not talking."

Such incredible focus was intended to help lead the Steelers back to the playoffs. Instead, Maddox was victimized by his own inconsistency, an offensive line that couldnt protect him, the lack of the expected receiving threat at tight end, the NFLs 30th-ranked running game and slumps by his wide receivers that have left Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El a collective 821 yards behind their output last season.

Still, the Steelers have remained interested in the face of repeated defeats while Maddox and the offense have slowly improved over the second half of the season. Other than the 6-0 loss to the New York Jets in a snowstorm last week, Maddox has thrown a touchdown pass in every game since Oct. 26 and only three interceptions in the past eight games.

Meanwhile, he continues to get pounded by the pass rush -- 36 sacks in 15 games -- while remaining virtually injury-free. He hasnt missed a game since suffering a spinal concussion Nov. 17, 2002.

"Im 32 going on 25," said Maddox, who was out of the NFL from 1995 until the Steelers signed him in 2001. "I didnt take all the shots early in my career. I feel like Im still learning. I feel like Im still at the young point of my quarterbacking career. I feel like I have a lot of years left and a lot of things to learn about managing a game."

Considering his production and durability, Maddox would be the most cost-efficient quarterback in the league, if the team had won more games. He has three years left on his contract that will pay him a total of $2.5 million in that time. Most NFL quarterbacks earn more than that in one season.

Maddox, whose base pay is only $750,000 next season, talked about his contract last June during mini-camp, and he wasnt happy about it.

"Id be lying if I said its not disappointing," Maddox said at the time. "Its a hard situation,

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