In 2003, who did ESPN The Magazine think were the next big athletes?

He showed up in Dallas last July, took Michael Irvin's No. 88 and promptly proclaimed he wasn't in town to be a third receiver. Sure, there was a little sniping behind Bryant's back, but then came a sick, one-handed snare in camp, a solid start (30 catches, 488 yards, 4 TDs through 12 games) and high praise from Emmitt Smith: "Best hands on the team." The rook's got a good arm, too, which he used to toss his helmet after a fumble earned him bench time. And he's got an ear that shuts tight at the word "patience." Maybe that's why Dallas-and fantasy geeks-love him so. Against Carolina in Week 6, facing a fourth-and-14 with 56 seconds left, Bryant hollered for the ball and then grabbed the game-winning TD. "The Cowboys always wanted to follow Michael Irvin into war," he says. "That's how they'll think of me." Big. Mouthy. Money.... [read full story]