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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backup quarterback right now," Ragone said earlier this week. "I know there is a little more pressure, but Im not trying to make it bigger than it is. I think everybody was looking to see if I was going to throw up."

The Texans have prepared Ragone, giving him a number of repetitions in the event Carr is unable to play the entire game with the sprained throwing shoulder that has limited him for nearly three weeks. Regular backup Tony Banks is out for the season with a broken hand, moving Ragone one step closer to making his NFL debut.

If Ragone, 24, is forced to play this weekend at Jacksonville, he expects the normal first-game jitters, but nothing his stomach wont be able to tolerate.

"If I get my chance, I get my chance," Ragone said. "Im just going to go out and manage the game and not try and win it myself and let my teammates do it for me. You never want to wish anything bad on anybody. Right now I know my role, and thats to back up Dave."

Ragone has impressed the Texans with his work ethic. The lefthander has stayed more than 20 minutes after practice every day since joining the team to compensate for the lack of work.

Banks does not believe Ragone is a liability on the field, but he still has plenty to learn.

"Is any rookie ready?" Banks said. "I wouldnt say hes as ready as he could be or will be in years to come. He prepares well, understands what were doing and is real analytical. So he wants to know why were doing everything, and that will help him. Hes a real smart guy and works real hard. (But) its a totally different ballgame, getting snaps in practice from the game. I think if he gets the opportunity, hell take advantage of it. Hes not going to hurt us."

For what its worth, Carrs shoulder is in better shape than it was a week ago. But as Thompson asked this morning: "Is it healthy enough to allow him to execute the game plan for four quarters, rather than the scaled-down version he operated in the second half of the Atlanta game, when Houston had 21 running plays and threw the ball just five times?

And would the Texans

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