Three of the NFL's biggest names are heading home.
Emmitt Smith is going back to Dallas to play the Cowboys, Steve Mariucci is returning to San Francisco to face the 49ers and Tony Dungy is headed for Tampa Bay to coach against the Buccaneers.
None of the departures were pleasant -- Smith was cut, Mariucci and Dungy were fired -- so none of the principals are eager to rehash about the old days, even the loquacious Mariucci.
"To be quite frank, I don't even enjoy talking about [his firing]," Mariucci said, "and if I start thinking about it, I try to change the channel and get it to the here and now."
If he decided to put the remote control down, he might see a chance to kick his old team while it's down. The 49ers fired Mariucci after they lost to the Bucs in the playoffs last January, clearing the way for him to join the Detroit Lions. But now, the 49ers appear a long way from the postseason: They're 1-3 and have lost three in a row.
Smith is likely surprised to find his old team doing quite well without him. The Cowboys, who went 5-11 for the third consecutive season last year, are 2-1 and rank first in total offense with 388.7 yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 1-3 and Smith has run for fewer yards (193) than the Cowboys ran for against the Jets last Sunday (202).
The most important game of the three, without question, is Colts-Buccaneers. Indianapolis is 4-0 and just finished trashing the New Orleans Saints 55-21.
It will be the sternest test for the Bucs, who have faced offenses ranked 28th (Philadelphia Eagles), 26th (Carolina Panthers) and 31st (Falcons). Further, they're up against the coach who might know that defense better than anyone. It brings to mind last season's Super Bowl, when the Bucs faced the Oakland Raiders, whose offense was designed by Bucs coach Jon Gruden. Aided by Gruden's insider knowledge, Tampa Bay intercepted five passes and won in a romp.
It is more than just a homecoming game for Dungy, too. His Colts are derided as a "soft" team that can't win big games. They can address that matter Monday night.
"For me, this will be a chance for us to demonstrate whether we're a championship-level team or not," Dungy said.
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