I understand what you mean about losing enthusiasm for the modern NFL. I still watch football a lot, but I often find myself watching older games as I just think the game was better in the 90s and earlier.
2002 was an interesting season for me. I was in the Army at the time and stationed in Georgia so I rarely go to watch my Browns, and of course that is the ONLY year they made the playoffs since 1999. I did get to watch the Atlanta game that got the Browns into the playoffs though, and of course the horrible Steelers game in the playoffs.
You are right, lots of good runningbacks then. Manning, solidly in his career was becoming a legend throwing to Marvin Harrison who had 143 receptions that year! That is a record.
It is funny, when I started this roster a long time back, I was excited to do it, but then lost it and moved to other things. Once I decided to go back to it, I have really enjoyed it and I think it plays very nicely.