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You can debate the impacts of rookies Anquan Boldin and Domanick Davis in 2003. Boldin, a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, and Davis, a running back for the Texans, are the front-runners for NFL Rookie of the Year. Boldin has a 1,000-yard season receiving, and Davis is closing in on one rushing.

But the rookie who has put the biggest stamp on this NFL season is Walt Anderson, one of two first-year referees. His crew has called a whopping 213 penalties and assessed 1,837 yards for those infractions. That's 79 more penalties and 699 more yards than the crew of veteran referee Gerry Austin.

How can two crews see the games so differently? They are watching the same players in the same buildings on the same day. Austin's crew assessed 43 penalties in September, 41 in October and 38 in November. Anderson's crew assessed 33 penalties in one September game alone between Carolina and Tampa Bay. Austin, by the way, is considered one of the best in the business, having refereed the 2001 Super Bowl.

COACHING HOT LIST: With the departure of Dan Reeves in Atlanta, the coach-hunting season is officially on. NFL "hot" lists likely will include former NFL head coaches Dennis Green and Tom Coughlin, college coaches Nick Saban (LSU) and Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) and NFL assistants Lovie Smith (defensive coordinator, Rams), Jim Mora Jr. (defensive coordinator, 49ers) and Brad Childress (offensive coordinator, Eagles).

STAT OF THE WEEK: The New England Patriots have not allowed a touchdown at home in four consecutive games. Not since Tennessee's Steve McNair powered in from a yard out on a quarterback sneak with 4:40 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Oct. 5 game have the Patriots allowed a TD at Gillette Stadium. That's a span of 244 minutes and 40 seconds. The Patriots have not allowed a point in their last two home games, shutting out Dallas and Miami. The Patriots are home Sunday against Jacksonville.

DOLPHINS: Quarterback Jay Fiedler (knee) and defensive tackle Tim Bowens (calf) are expected to start Monday night against Philadelphia, coach Dave Wannstedt said.

TITANS: Quarterback McNair will be a game-time decision Sunday against Buffalo as he recovers from an ankle injury. The swelling in McNair's injured left ankle continues to go down, but the NFL's top-rated passer has not practiced this week after tests revealed a sprain and a cracked bone spur in the ankle.

BUCS: Tampa Bay activated defensive tackle Cleveland Pinkney from the practice squad Saturday and released wide receiver Marvin "Snoop" Minnis.

Pinkney played in one game this season before he was released and signed to the practice squad Nov. 14

Minnis was with the Bucs for his second stint this season.

LIONS: Guard Eric Beverly was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.

2003-04 key dates

Dec. 27-28: Regular season ends (Bengals end with Cleveland at home.)

Jan. 3-4: Wild-card playoff weekend.

Jan. 10-11: Divisional playoffs.

Jan. 18: Conference championships.

Feb. 1: Super Bowl, Houston.

Feb. 8: Pro Bowl, Honolulu.

Feb. 18-24: Scouting combine, Indianapolis.

March 28-April 1: NFL annual meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.

April 24-25: Annual draft, New York.

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