By BOB MATTHEWS
Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

It is difficult to picture former Dallas Cowboys superstar running back Emmitt Smith wearing an Arizona Cardinals uniform, but it is easy to understand why the front office is interested in signing him. The team needs a gate attraction, he's the NFL's all-time rusher and there are more Dallas Cowboys fans than Cardinals fans in Phoenix.

Smith has enjoyed much success against Arizona. Of course, so have many other running backs.

In 25 games against the Cardinals, Smith has averaged 91.4 yards rushing (534 carries for 2,286 yards) and scored 25 TDs. He also has 54 catches for 425 yards.

Marcel Shipp must be wondering why the Cardinals are interested in Smith. Shipp expects to be Arizona's heavy-duty running back this season. Here's how they fared in 2002:

SHIPP: 188 carries for 834 yards (4.4-yard average) and six TDs; 38 catches for 413 yards and 0 TD.

SMITH: 254 carries for 975 yards (3.8-yard average) and five TDs; 16 catches for 89 yards and 0 TD.

• Is quarterback Jake Plummer worth $40 million for seven seasons? Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan apparently believes so and he is the only person who counts.

Plummer mostly struggled in six formative NFL seasons with the generally lousy Arizona Cardinals (of course he was a contributing factor to their lack of success).

He was 30-52 as starting QB and completed 1,540 of 2,754 passes (.559) for 17,622 yards, with 90 TD passes and 114 interceptions. His passer rating was an unimpressive 69.0. He was sacked 215 times and had 247 carries for 1,183 yards and 10 TDs.

But don't be surprised if Plummer elevates his game significantly with better talent surrounding him in Denver. Shanahan is known for being QB savvy. He has a knack for choosing the right QB and squeezing the most out of him. He figures Plummer will be a major upgrade over Brian Griese.

Plummer can't match Griese's passing accuracy. But he'll probably be more durable, more elusive and a more fiery field leader. He also figures to be embraced by a head coach, teammates and fans who had lost faith in Griese.

It isn't difficult to envision Plummer as a Pro Bowl-type QB in the near future. Shanahan could be staking his Denver future on it.

• Give credit to Washington coach Steve Spurrier for making plenty of bold player moves in an attempt to reshape the 2003 Redskins in his image, but signing quarterback Rob Johnson was a stretch even for him. If Spurrier can turn Johnson into a successful NFL QB, it would prove to many critics that he is a football genius. Maybe that's why he's giving it a try.

• The latest line from the wizards of odds in Las Vegas still lists Philadelphia as the 5-to-1 favorite to win Super Bowl XXXVIII, followed by defending champion Tampa Bay at 6-to-1, Oakland 7-to-1 and Pittsburgh and St. Louis each 8-to-1.

• It is no wonder that New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said he does not intend to read pitcher David Wells' controversial new autobiography. After going public with criticism of Derek Jeter staying out late a few nights, how could Streinbrenner not scorch an undisciplined and frequent embarrassment to the organization that happens to be his pet player? Wells has compromised Steinbrenner's credibility and sooner or later The Boss figures to realize it.

• It shouldn't surprise anyone that Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos has given his front office the green light to trade with Cincinnati for Ken Griffey Jr. The team needs a gate attraction to help offset the damage the Angelos regime has done to what was baseball's model franchise.

Griffey is a moody, fading slugger who has seen better days and has a bloated contract ($79 million due for the next six years). Sort of like Albert Belle, the grumpy slugger who suffered a career-ending hip injury with the Orioles and will be collecting around $11 million not to play this season in the final year of a long-term contract.

• Suggestion to Japanese League umpires as they threaten to strike for the first time: no mass resignation ploys.

• NBA officials probably wouldn't mind seeing a team from the Eastern Conference win this season's championship for a change, but that isn't likely to happen. Entering this weekend, West teams had the NBA's five best records (Dallas, San Antonio, Sacramento, Portland and Minnesota were a combined 210-96, including 123-30 at home) and the West overall had a 191-141 advantage over the East in head-to-head play. The Golden State Warriors were 16-7 against the East but probably won't make the playoffs because it is their misfortune to play in the loaded West.

• Cheers to Karl Malone for calling out Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett to play for the United States in the 2004 Summer Olympics, but the only people with the clout to convince them to play could be the CEOs of the sneaker companies with whom they have endorsement contracts.

• Thumbs down to the suggestion that the 2005 Tour de France begin in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington. No wonder so many people around the world think Americans are arrogant. The Tour de France belongs to France. Would U.S. auto racing fans like to see the first 50 miles of the Daytona 500 in Paris or the first game of the World Series in Marseilles?

• Remember when big trades gave baseball ample media coverage in the offseason? Modern baseball has fewer trades and a lack of significant free-agent signings can make for a quiet winter. The NFL has taken advantage. Free agency hurts the NFL product on the field in terms of continuity but it generates plenty of player movement and media attention. Throw in the April college draft and sports fans are tuned in to the NFL throughout the year.

• One of the major drawbacks in rapid expansion by the NHL was a weakening of traditional rivalries. So cheers to Commissioner Gary Bettman for pushing for more division games and fewer games outside the conference starting next season.

• Remember when Tiger Woods began this year recovering from knee surgery and spotted Ernie Els a $1,810,000 to $0 lead on the PGA Tour money list? Some people were wondering if Tiger could catch him before this year ended. It took him all of three tournaments. Woods' victory in last week's Accenture Match Play Championship lifted him above Els ($2,031,000 to $1,840,000) and just behind No. 1 Mike Weir ($2,082,000). Els still has the lead in world earnings this year ($2,436,011 in six events).

• Considering that Switzerland has become the first European country to win in the 152-year history of the America's Cup, should yachting's most prestigious prize now be called Europe's Cup?

• A broken bone in his neck could end the amazing career of 56-year-old Laffit Pincay Jr., the all-time winningest jockey (9,531 victories). He was injured last Sunday in a spill at Santa Anita in California. It could be a blessing as he'd be able to walk away from his sport without having suffered a disabling injury.

• The unsung hero of one of the great sports feats of the 20th century died last week in suburban London. On May 6, 1954, Chris Brasher was the "rabbit" who set the half-mile pace for the first sub-4-minute mile (Roger Bannister applauded Brasher for setting up his historic 3:59.4).