Hot spot: over the middle is the danger zone, where prey and predator meet, where the tough are distinguished from the semi-tough. Receivers had better not enter without intense concentration, knowledge of where opponents are lurking��and a big dose of courage

The first thing wideout Laveranues Coles could think about after Cowboys strong safety Roy Williams blasted him in the first quarter of a Monday night clash last season was his hand. Redskins teammate Rod Gardner didn't quite understand that. "Forget your hand," Gardner said to Coles. "What about your head?"

It was a good question. Even though Coles had hurt his fingers a few plays before, Williams' hit--which came after Coles failed to catch up to a Mark Brunell pass and earned Williams a fine from the NFL---was the type of marble-rattler that makes going over the middle the most dangerous thing wide receivers do. And when they get hammered and don't catch the ball? "That magnifies it by 10," Coles says.

But Coles bounced up---just as he's supposed to. No matter how hard the hit, Coles never wants to let the defender know he has been hurt. He might go back to the huddle a little "cuckoo," as Coles puts it, and need someone to help him with his assignment on the next play, but toughness is the code. You take a quick inventory of body parts, and if they're all in place, get on your feet. "Even when you're not feeling too hot," Coles says, "you have to get up and go back to the huddle."

The NFL is loaded with quality wide receivers. It is not, however, stocked with hardy souls who will zip through a defense's midsection in search of wide-open spaces and big gains, all the while giving defensive backs and linebackers the opportunity to break them in half. Going over the middle gives a wideout street cred with other receivers, grudging respect from defenders and eternal gratitude from offensive coordinators. It also can produce concussions, separated shoulders and much worse--thanks to high-speed collisions with predatory defenders looking for opportunities to play windshield to a receiver's bug.

"I want them out of the game," says free-agent safety Cory Hall, barely disguising his delight at the thought of ripping through a receiver. "If he's a receiving threat and a guy who makes plays, I want to hurt him to get him out of the game."

Coles, who was traded from Washington back to the Jets in the offseason, already has established a reputation as someone willing to risk close contact with heavy hitters such as Hall and Williams. So have Torry Holt, Keyshawn Johnson, Chad Johnson, Hines Ward, Terrell Owens, Eric Moulds, Anquan Boldin, Brandon Stokley and Brian Finneran. There are others--but not many. "I'd say less than 30 percent of the receivers like to go over the middle," Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly says. Those brave souls understand that taking a slant or skinny post on the dead run in the territory between the linebackers and safeties can produce big plays and sometimes six points. Conversely, without a receiver willing to troll the middle limits, a team's play-calling is limited and defenses can concentrate on dominating the two-thirds of the field outside the hash marks.

"Most of the big gains come across the middle," the Bengals' Chad Johnson says. "The deep ball is the lowest-percentage pass in the NFL. When you go over the middle, you can pick up 20 to 30 yards, but it is a gamble.

"When you make those catches on third down, they're backbreakers for the defense--complete backbreakers. When it's third-and-10 or third-and-15 and you get that first down over the middle, you look at everybody's face on the defense, and you can tell their spirits are down."

Chad Johnson reports that he has not yet been blasted by a heat-seeking defender--even in college--though he did have a near miss two years ago against the Ravens, when strong safety Ed Reed had him lined up. "Somebody will get me eventually," Johnson says. Though luck will play a role in how soon that happens, he protects himself by reading defenses before the snap. Johnson works in spaces where big hitters have difficulty getting to him and gets to the turf quickly if an opponent does get a missile lock on him. "You have to know where everybody is before the catch," he says. "That's just knowing the game."

Players on both sides of the ball crave that knowledge. Receivers try to discern coverages while paying close attention to which defenders will try to intimidate them with big hits. "You know the guys who are going to go after you," Boldin says. "That's part of my job."

Moreover, it's important that coaches do their part to protect receivers. When they send wideouts on crossing patterns, they also like to send someone deep to occupy the safety and prevent him from stalking prey in the middle. Most coaches, anyway. Coles says he was more protected in his first stint in New York than he was with the Redskins last season. "There's no one to make the safety clear out," he says of the Washington offense. "(The safety is) looking at you the whole time. You almost feel it at the line of scrimmage."

Coaches also teach receivers to look for open spaces in zones and to stay under control rather than running blindly in those areas. And quarterbacks are coached to hit receivers from the numbers down, limiting the need to stretch for passes.

"We want the quarterbacks to slow them down with passes in zones," says Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel. "We don't want (receivers) running wild in areas, unless we have control of the safety. That's how you get guys blown up. You better have somebody going deep so the safety has to play him."

Quarterbacks must understand how important it is to keep their targets out of danger. Fassel remembers a wideout coming to him and begging Fassel to teach the team's starting passer how to protect his targets better or "he wouldn't be around too much longer."

"One of the keys is to be quick with your reads," Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson says. "You also have to deliver the ball accurately. The middle of the field is the danger zone, but a lot of big plays happen there."

Defenders, meanwhile, analyze which receivers will attack the middle without fear. Going into a game, a defense knows who's a threat to venture inside and who likely will work the fringes. If an offense is reluctant to run wideouts over the middle--preferring to make that only the tight end's domain--defenses can load up to protect the outside.

No team consistently uses man coverage--except with blitz packages--so cornerbacks and safeties commonly work together to protect the middle in zone schemes. Against crossing patterns, for example, corners try to smother receivers at the line and make their breaks less precise. But corners don't get to make the body-crunching special deliveries. "My job is to get my hands on them and disrupt them to give the safeties a chance to get up and make their reads," Kelly says. Of course, with the NFL's emphasis on eliminating contact beyond 5 yards on routes, the potential for disruption is smaller. But it still exists. Even the slightest bump or shove at the line by a corner can help set up a safety for the big splash. It might seem barbaric, but so much of a team's success depends on taking away a rival's nerve. Knocking a receiver out in the first quarter can establish a tone that directly influences the game's outcome. "Hitting is contagious," Broncos strong safety John Lynch says. "It can create a frenzy among the defenders."

Sometimes players go too far. Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison has been fined several times for delivering blows to receivers' heads, and Lynch and former teammate Kenoy Kennedy (now with Detroit) also have been hit in the wallet for overzealous behavior. Before them, safeties Chuck Cecil and Mark Carrier were prone to using their helmets as weapons against defenseless receivers. The most infamous incident of over-the-top violence was Jack Tatum's exhibition game shot on Darryl Stingley, which left the Patriots' receiver paralyzed.

Defenders still are delivering big shots to receivers, but their most vicious work is closely watched and regulated. That doesn't always sit well with players, who feel they are being singled out for doing their violent best in a violent game. They resent that their actions are being scrutinized and wonder whether some of the old-school, law-and-order defensive backs would thrive in today's climate.

"Things have changed during the years," Lynch says, somewhat angrily. "I've gotten into verbal disputes with some of the people in the league over what is legal. Some of the greatest players in the history of the league couldn't have played today under these rules."

Safeties aren't the only ones doling out the pain. Linebackers get their shots in coverage, too. Because they are closer to the line of scrimmage, they usually are defending against shorter, quicker passes. In those instances, the chances of an interception are small, so delivering the big hit becomes important--not to mention fun. "That's what a linebacker looks for," says the Packers' Hannibal Navies.

Linebackers may not get the same running start as safeties, but because they're carrying up to 60 pounds more than a defensive back, they'll administer maximum misery without the big run-up. Not many 'backers go low on big targets as defensive backs do. Nope, they try to inflict pain, even if it means knocking themselves a little silly. "Sometimes you hit somebody so hard that you ring your own bell," Navies says. "It might look good on TV, but it smarts."

Many wideouts won't venture into the linebackers' territory, but tight ends have no choice. It's part of the job. The good news is that tight ends typically are as big as, if not bigger than, anyone trying to hit them. The better news is that revenge is sweet--and quite available. Smack a tight end after he catches a pass and you'll encounter him on a running play soon. "You can come back and take it out on the whole defense," says the Packers' Bubba Franks. "You best believe we're going to hunt them down."

Wide receivers have their chances, too. "They are absolutely trying to hurt us," the Falcons' Finneran says of defensive backs. "There's no question in my mind." That's why pass catchers use the running game as a chance to even things up. Wideouts aren't usually known for their blocking, but the Steelers' Ward is. So is the 6-5, 210-pound Finneran, and he loves to mix it up on his own terms. "When we get a chance to take a shot at a safety or corner, we have to take it," he says.

All the talk about payback is nice, but these guys are pass catchers first. That means they must focus on the ball at all times, no matter how many vultures are circling. There is no way to replicate the high-speed hits in practice without risking serious injury.

During drills, Falcons defensive backs will yell at teammates who catch the ball over the middle "just to let them know that if we were on the opposing team, their head might be in the end zone," says Hall, a Falcon last year. But it's not the same. So, wideouts and tight ends work on keeping their concentration high to catch everything thrown near them. They know that the smallest distraction can be disastrous.

"If you're running a route over the middle, you're not looking to get hit," Franks says. "If you think about it, I promise you, you won't catch the ball."

But it's hard to avoid that kind of thinking, particularly if you have been pasted earlier in the game. Lynch and his hard-hitting pals realize that a big first quarter collision might not pay dividends until the fourth period. It's no problem. They can wait. "You want to make it intimidating, so that if you hit them three or four times during the game, maybe they don't want to come over the middle later on," Lynch says. That philosophy often works. But some receivers will keep running those slants and posts and crossing routes, no matter who is taking aim at them. At the end of the day, they gain some admiration.

"You have to respect a receiver if he takes a hit, gets up and comes back over the middle without flinching," Navies says. "You give them respect. Then, you try to hit them again.

"Harder."

Range of risk

Breaking down the field into nine quadrants, with a temperature gauge of danger for receivers:

Areas 1, 3, 7, 9: Cool. Swing passes still attract hungry linebackers, and corner routes lure angry safeties, but these zones are less dangerous than others.

Areas 4, 6: Warmer, Cornerbacks hang in these parts. Many are small and don't carry a hammer, but there still is the potential to get blown up.

Areas 2, 8: Hot. There aren't as many big hitters around, but those who operate here still can bring some noise.

Area 5: Honest, Keep your eyes open and beware of assassins-from both directions. Linebackers and safeties hunt here.--M.B.

A spin through the middle

Within the full-contact, high-risk world of football, the most dangerous game is played in the middle. War Room scouts take an inside look at players who thrive in that game and those who don't:

Most fearless

1. Hines Ward, Steelers. He is adept at running short routes over the middle between linebackers, catching the ball and turning upfield. He takes some big hits, but they don't seem to faze him.

2. Tony Holt, Rams. He is peerless at running the shallow crossing route in linebacker country and turning those catches into big gains. Because of that ability, he always is a threat to catch 100 passes.

3. Laveranues Coles, Jets. Coles is perhaps the most dangerous receiver in the middle. He will deliver a blow of his own, gaining the respect of safeties and linebackers.

4. Brandon Stokley, Colts. He is tough and sure-handed, and he runs routes in traffic at full speed.

Least courageous

1. Freddie Mitchell, Chiefs. Remember that fourth-and-26 catch for the Eagles in the playoffs two years ago? That was the exception to the rule. Mitchell is afraid to extend his hands in traffic, and he often peeks to see where safeties are when the ball is in the air.

2. Todd Pinkston, Eagles. Pinkston's tendency toward alligator arms is logical considering his delicate 6-3, 180-pound frame.

3. Travis Taylor, Vikings. Taylor dropped enough passes-a sign of watching defenders instead of the ball-to get shipped out of Baltimore.

Quarterbacks who protect their receivers

1. Peyton Manning, Colts, No quarterback is better at placing the ball where it belongs. Colts receivers know the ball will be on their upfield shoulder, giving them a chance to run before they get popped.

2. Tom Brady, Patriots. Most of his receivers are shorter than 6 feet, yet he's still able to hit them accurately and give them a chance to run without breaking stride.

3. Chad Pennington, Jets. His arm is not strong, but it is very accurate. He puts the ball in favorable spots for his receivers and gives them a chance to run with it.

Quarterbacks who don't

1. Kyle Boiler, Ravens. He makes poor decisions and struggles with accuracy over the middle. New mentor Rick Neuheisel should help him improve his mechanics.

2. Drew Bledsoe, Cowboys. He has lost his touch. He won't slide in the pocket to buy time to deliver a good pass over the middle.

3. Aaron Brooks, Saints. He must read coverages better to keep his receivers safe.

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