February 28, 2016

2009: Patriots Trade Matt Cassel to Chiefs


On February 28, 2009 the New England Patriots traded QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Cassel, an unknown backup prior to 2008, had distinguished himself when he filled in for star QB Tom Brady, who was lost for the year with a knee injury in the season-opening contest. The trade reflected the interest that Cassel had drawn as a result but also New England Head Coach Bill Belichick’s confidence that Brady, whose injury had been further complicated by an infection following surgery, would be fully recovered and ready to resume his starting role.

Prior to 2008, Cassel had not started a game since his senior year in high school in 1999, serving as a reserve during college at USC behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart before being chosen by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. He threw a total of just 39 passes in three seasons, for 253 yards and two touchdowns. With a strong arm, intelligence, and good leadership qualities (refined by quality coaching), Cassel steadily improved over the course of the 2008 season as he threw for 3693 yards and 21 touchdowns while giving up just 11 interceptions. The Patriots, a year removed from a 16-0 regular season that fell short of ultimate perfection in the Super Bowl, barely missed the playoffs with an 11-5 tally. They initially used the franchise tag on Cassel before dealing him. Upon being traded to Kansas City, who had a new general manager in Scott Pioli, formerly in charge of player personnel with the Patriots, and a new head coach, Todd Haley, Cassel was immediately named the starter over QB Tyler Thigpen.

“It’s very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who everything the right way and flourish as a result,” said Belichick. “As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career.”

The Chiefs were coming off of two straight losing seasons under the previous head coach, Herman Edwards, including a miserable 2-14 record in 2008. The offense had been adjusted from one that was run-oriented to a spread that allowed Thigpen to operate exclusively out of the shotgun. While he showed talent, he also had limitations and the team won only one of the games he started.

Kansas City marginally improved to 4-12 with Cassel behind center in ’09. He took a pounding behind a mediocre line (he was sacked 42 times) and threw for 2924 yards with 16 TDs and 16 interceptions, resulting in a 69.9 passer rating. RB Jamaal Charles came on in the second half of the year to upgrade the ground game but it took the acquisition of WR Chris Chambers, who had been waived by the Chargers and appeared in the last nine games, to give Cassel a reliable target.

Things got much better for both Cassel and the Chiefs in 2010, albeit helped along by a weak schedule. Cassel showed better judgment and took fewer sacks while passing for 3116 yards and 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions, for a passer rating of 93.0. He was named to the Pro Bowl, as were Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1467 yards and caught 45 passes for 468 more yards, and WR Dwayne Bowe, with 72 receptions for 1162 yards and 15 TDs. Kansas City topped the AFC West with a 10-6 record and lost decisively to the Ravens in the Wild Card playoff round.

The Chiefs started off the 2011 season by being blown out in their first two games by a combined score of 89-10 and, while they finished with three wins in the last five games, they ended up back under .500 with a 7-9 record. The team had problems with injuries and Coach Haley was gone before season’s end. Cassel was on injured reserve after suffering a broken hand in the ninth game and he ended up passing for 1713 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Charles had gone down with an ACL injury in the second week and, while Bowe was still a capable receiver, his touchdowns dropped from 15 to five with the underperforming, patchwork offense.

Cassel’s hand injury required surgery but he was back in 2012. However, he was inconsistent and turnover-prone, provoking negative fan reaction, and, following a head injury, was consigned to the bench in favor of Brady Quinn. Playing in a total of nine games, Cassel threw for 1796 yards and six touchdowns while giving up 12 interceptions. The team dropped to 2-14 and, with wholesale changes occurring afterward, Cassel was released in the offseason.

Overall, in four seasons with the Chiefs, Cassel completed 854 of 1489 passes (57.4 %) for 9549 yards and 59 TDs with 44 interceptions for an overall rating of 77.5. He was sacked 109 times and the club went 19-28 in his starts, with one winning season out of the four. An effective game manager at his best, Cassel also displayed both class and toughness with an organization that was experiencing turmoil while he was there (for instance, there was a different offensive coordinator in each of Cassel’s four seasons). He moved on to the Minnesota Vikings, where he returned to a primarily backup role.

As to the other players involved in the trade with New England, Mike Vrabel, who turned 34 prior to the 2009 season, was expected to improve the pass rush from the outside linebacker position. While he was on the downside of his career and had lost a step, he also was a savvy player with excellent instincts. He provided the leadership that was expected, although he also continued to show signs of decline and his career ended after two seasons. The second-round draft pick that the Patriots received from the Chiefs was used to take safety Patrick Chung out of Oregon, who spent four years with the club, went to Philadelphia for a year in 2013, and returned to New England in ’14.

February 27, 2016

Highlighted Year: Ed Reed, 2003

Safety, Baltimore Ravens



Age: 25 (Sept. 11)
2nd season in pro football & with Ravens
College: Miami (FL)
Height: 5’11” Weight: 205

Prelude:
Reed was chosen by the Ravens in the first round (24th overall) of the 2002 NFL draft and was inserted into the starting lineup at strong safety. He made an impression with his skill as a tackler combined with his ballhawking ability. Reed had five interceptions as a rookie, which he returned for 167 yards. He quickly developed into a premier player at his position.

2003 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 7 [4, tied with Marcus Coleman & Patrick Surtain, 1st in AFC]
Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Cleveland 9/14
Int. return yards – 132 [8]
Most int. return yards, game – 55 (on 2 int.) vs. Cleveland 9/14
Int. TDs – 1 [7, tied with many others]
Sacks – 1
Fumble recoveries – 0
Forced fumbles – 1
Tackles – 59
Assists – 12

Punt Returns
Returns – 5  
Yards – 33
Average per return – 6.6
TDs – 0
Longest return – 19 yards

Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Tennessee)
Interceptions – 1
Interception return yards – 23
Int. return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: PFWA, Sporting News
2nd team All-NFL: AP
1st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl

Ravens went 10-6 to finish first in the AFC North. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Tennessee Titans (20-17).

Aftermath:
Reed followed up in 2004 with a season in which he led the league with 9 interceptions and a then- record 358 return yards, and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He had a lesser year in ‘05 as injuries limited him to 10 games but, shifted to free safety, came back strong in 2006 as he regained his status as one of the dominant defensive players in the NFL. After 11 seasons capped by a championship in 2012, Reed left the Ravens and signed with the Houston Texans for 2013 but was waived during the season and signed by the Jets in what was his final year. Reed was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection on five occasions, received at least second-team consideration after three other seasons, and was named to nine Pro Bowls, including seven straight from 2006-12. He led the league in interceptions twice more, with 9 in 2008 and 8 in 2010, and had a career total of 64 that he returned for a NFL-record 1590 yards and seven touchdowns. 61 of the interceptions were with the Ravens, making him the club’s career leader by far.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 24, 2016

Highlighted Year: Ray Brown, 1974

Safety, Atlanta Falcons


Age: 25
4th season in pro football & with Falcons
College: West Texas A & M
Height: 6’2”   Weight: 202

Prelude:
Brown was chosen by the Falcons in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft and started nine games at free safety as a rookie, intercepting three passes. He became part of a secondary that led the NFC in pass defense twice in three years (1971 and ’73) and finished a close second in ’72, the year Brown moved over to strong safety. In 1973 he picked off six passes and also returned 40 punts for a 9.0-yard average.

1974 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 8 [3, tied with Thom Darden & Jake Scott, 1st in NFC]
Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Chicago 10/13
Int. return yards – 164 [4]
Most int. return yards, game – 59 (on 1 int.) at NY Giants 10/6
Int. TDs – 1 [4, tied with many others]
Fumble recoveries – 0

Punt Returns
Returns – 9
Yards – 96
Average per return – 10.7
TDs – 0
Longest return – 23 yards

Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-NFC:  UPI

Falcons went 3-11 to finish fourth in the NFC West while leading the conference in fewest passing yards allowed (1572) – but also giving up the most rushing yards in the NFL (2564).

Aftermath:
Brown was shifted to free safety in 1975 and had another fine season while he intercepted four passes and returned one for a touchdown. He moved back to strong safety for the next two years and was dealt to New Orleans in 1978, where he continued to be a solid performer. Brown spent three years with the Saints before retiring in 1980. Overall, he appeared in 137 games over ten seasons and intercepted 38 passes, 31 of them with the Falcons, two of which were returned for TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 21, 2016

Highlighted Year: Rich Camarillo, 1989

Punter, Phoenix Cardinals



Age: 30 (Nov. 29)
9th season in pro football, 1st with Cardinals
College: Washington
Height: 5’11” Weight: 185

Prelude:
Following two years at Cerritos Junior College in California, Camarillo transferred to the Univ. of Washington and averaged 39.3 yards on 115 punts in 1979 and ’80. He joined the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1981 and spent seven seasons with them. Camarillo proved to be an excellent directional punter with good hang time. He received second-team All-NFL recognition from NEA in 1982 and was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice in ’83, when he was also chosen to the Pro Bowl. Camarillo was released by the Patriots following the 1988 season, having punted 468 times for a 42.6-yard average. He spent ’89 with the Rams where his average dropped to a career-low 39.5 yards over the course of nine games, after which he was again released. Camarillo signed with the Cardinals as a free agent for 1989.

1989 Season Summary
Appeared in 15 of 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting
Punts – 76 [10, tied with Hank Ilesic]
Most punts, game – 8 at Dallas 10/29, vs. Denver 12/16
Yards – 3298 [8]
Average – 43.4 [1]
Best average, game – 48.6 (on 7 punts) at LA Rams 11/19
Punts blocked – 0
Longest punt – 58 yards

Passing
Attempts – 1
Completions – 1
Yards – 0
TD passes – 0
Interceptions – 0

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-NFL: AP
2nd team All-NFC: UPI
Pro Bowl

Cardinals went 5-11 to finish fourth in the NFC East.

Aftermath:
Camarillo’s excellent 1989 season, in which he put 21 punts inside the 20 with only six touchbacks, was the first of five with the Cardinals, which were his best. He was a Pro Bowl selection after three consecutive seasons, when he was also a first-team All-NFC choice of Pro Football Weekly and UPI, and received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition in 1992. Camarillo had a career-high 45.3 average in ’91 and, moving on to the Houston Oilers in 1994, set a then-league record with 35 punts inside the 20 (along with Pittsburgh’s Mark Royals). He spent one more year with the Oilers in ’95, which effectively concluded his NFL career although he was active for one game with the Raiders in 1996 but added nothing to his punting statistics. Overall, over the course of 16 seasons, Camarillo averaged 42.7 yards on 1027 punts, with 346 punts for a 43.7-yard average coming with the Cards. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors twice, first- or second-team all-conference recognition after four other seasons, and was chosen to five Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 20, 2016

Highlighted Year: Raymond Chester, 1983

Tight End, Oakland Invaders



Age: 34
13th season in pro football, 1st in USFL & with Invaders
College: Morgan State
Height: 6’3”   Weight: 232

Prelude:
In the market for a tight end, the Raiders took Chester in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft (24th overall), impressed with the speed he brought to the position. He moved directly into the starting lineup and responded by catching 42 passes for 556 yards (13.2 avg.) and seven touchdowns, receiving Rookie of the Year honors from NEA and second-team All-AFC as well as Pro Bowl recognition. Chester went to the Pro Bowl after the 1971 and ’72 seasons, after which he also received first-team All-AFC honors, although his numbers were below those of his first year. But while his output was 62 catches over those two seasons, 15 of them went for touchdowns. He was dealt to the Baltimore Colts for DE Bubba Smith in 1973 and, over the course of five seasons with the Colts, caught 148 passes for 2122 yards and 11 TDs. Chester returned to the Raiders in 1978 and, in ’79, achieved NFL career highs in pass receptions (58) and yards (712) while earning a fourth Pro Bowl selection. His second stint with the Raiders came to an end in 1981, but after sitting out a year he signed with the Invaders of the new USFL for the Spring of ’83.

1983 Season Summary
Appeared in all 18 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 68 [4] 
Most receptions, game – 7 (for 101 yds.) at Michigan 3/19, (for 120 yds.) at Denver 3/28, (for 100 yds.) at Los Angeles 4/3
Yards – 951 [7]
Most yards, game – 120 (on 7 catches) at Denver 3/28
Average gain – 14.0 [17]
TDs – 5 [10, tied with eight others]
100-yard receiving games – 3

Scoring
TDs – 5
Points – 30

Postseason: 1 G (USFL Semifinal playoff at Michigan)
Pass receptions – 4
Pass receiving yards – 41
Average yards per reception – 10.3
Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly, Pro Football Weekly

Invaders went 9-9 to finish first in the USFL Pacific Division. Lost USFL Semifinal playoff to Michigan Panthers (37-21).

Aftermath:
Chester retired following his lone USFL season. For his 12-year NFL career, he caught 364 passes for 5013 yards (13.8 avg.) and 48 touchdowns and was chosen to four Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 18, 2016

Highlighted Year: Don Geyer, 1937

Halfback/Fullback, Cincinnati Bengals



Age: 23
1st season in pro football
College: Northwestern
Height: 5’10” Weight: 192

Prelude:
Geyer was a member of the Northwestern team that won the Big Ten title in 1936 and was selected to the East-West Shrine and College All-Star games. He joined the Bengals (no relation to the current NFL franchise, other than being the namesake), who entered the second major-league American Football League in its second season.

1937 Season Summary
Appeared in all 7 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Scoring
TDs – 4 [5, tied with Butch Beatty, Al Nichelini & Jerry Donnell]
Field Goals – 4 [1]
Extra Points – 5
Points – 41 [1]

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-AFL: League

Bengals went 2-3-2 to finish fourth in the AFL.

Aftermath:
Geyers’ pro football career was brief as the league folded following the 1937 season (although the Bengals continued on as an independent team in ‘38). He was an assistant coach at the Univ. of Cincinnati and later enlisted in the Navy during World War II.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 16, 2016

Highlighted Year: Bill Kellagher, 1947

Fullback/Defensive Back, Chicago Rockets



Age: 27
2nd season in pro football & with Rockets
College: Fordham
Height: 5’11” Weight: 205

Prelude:
Kellagher was a member of the Fordham team that appeared in the 1941 Cotton Bowl. Following service as a Marine during World War II, he joined the Rockets of the new AAFC in 1946. As a fullback on offense, he rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes.

1947 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 42
Yards – 243 [20]
Yards per attempt – 5.8
TDs – 0

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 3
Yards – 22
Yards per catch – 7.3
TDs – 0

Interceptions
Interceptions – 6 [1, tied with Tom Colella & Len Eshmont]
Return yards – 77 [7]
TDs – 0

Rockets went 1-13 to finish fourth in the AAFC Western Division.

Aftermath:
Kellagher played one more season for the Rockets, gaining 97 yards on 33 carries and scoring a TD, and had no interceptions on defense. He moved to the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1949 but was a late preseason cut and spent his final season with the Bethlehem Bulldogs of the minor league AFL, rushing for 158 yards. For his three years in the AAFC, Kellagher gained 518 yards on 124 rushing attempts (4.2 avg.) and caught five passes for 58 yards, scoring four touchdowns. His six interceptions in 1947 were also his AAFC career total.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 14, 2016

1961: Colts Obtain Joe Perry from 49ers


On February 14, 1961 the Baltimore Colts gave up an undisclosed draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers for 34-year-old FB Joe Perry, who had spent 13 seasons with the 49ers going back to the All-America Football Conference.

“I’m not at all disgruntled,” said Perry in reaction to the trade. “The Colts can rest assured that when I report I’ll be in tip-top condition and I’ll give them my very best because that’s how I play football.”

Perry was the NFL’s career rushing leader at the time with 7246 yards on 1451 carries, averaging just short of five yards per attempt. He had not come out of a major college football program, having gone into maritime service during World War II and thus playing service football and at Compton Junior College. He attracted the attention of the 49ers, then in the AAFC, and signed with them in 1948. An in-between runner at 6’0”, 200 pounds who lacked the power of a classic fullback or the outside finesse of a halfback, Perry nevertheless had great speed (hence his nickname “The Jet”). He shared the fullback job with Norm Standlee as a rookie, rushed for 562 yards, and topped the league in rushing touchdowns with 10. In ’49, he was the AAFC’s leading ground gainer with 783 yards while averaging 6.8 yards-per-carry.

The 49ers moved to the NFL in 1950 and Perry remained their top ball carrier, and he was also an effective receiver out of the backfield on screen passes. The addition of HB Hugh McElhenny in 1952, a potent outside threat, made Perry even more effective and he was a Pro Bowl selection for the first of three straight seasons. He also led the NFL in rushing with 1018 and 1049 yards in 1953 and ’54, becoming the first back in league history to have thousand-yard totals in consecutive seasons, and he was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice after each of those years and received MVP recognition from UPI in 1954.

The yardage totals were lower thereafter, although still solid and with high average gains, and Perry began to show some signs of wear, appearing in all 12 games only once more. He remained a key component of the offense until 1960, when he ran the ball just 36 times for 95 yards and a TD. San Francisco began jettisoning veteran talent in an effort to re-tool, ultimately including McElhenny and QB Y.A. Tittle, and the Colts were in the marketplace for a fullback.

Baltimore had won back-to-back NFL titles in 1958 and ’59, and in addition to the passing of QB Johnny Unitas and outside ball-carrying and receiving of flashy HB Lenny Moore, FB Alan Ameche provided the power running between the tackles. However, an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery had sidelined Ameche during the 1960 season and, with his future in doubt (he would in fact be forced to retire), the Colts were in need of a replacement. The Colts dropped their last four games, missing out on a potential third straight title and finishing at 6-6, and the lack of a dependable inside running game was a key component in the collapse.

While there was skepticism initially as to how much Perry could resolve the problem at his age and lesser size, he did make an immediate impact in the opening game of the 1961 season when he rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries as the Colts came from 14 points behind to defeat the Rams 27-24. It proved to be his highest yardage total of the season, but he did compile two more hundred-yard efforts and provided reliability as well as a renewed durability and enthusiasm. For the year, he totaled 675 yards on 168 carries for a 4.0 average and three touchdowns. He also caught 34 passes for 322 yards, an average of 9.5 yards per reception, and scored another TD. Baltimore was better on offense (rising from eleventh in rushing yards to third), but problems on defense allowed for only a modest improvement to 8-6 for the year.

Perry suffered a knee injury that required surgery during a 1962 preseason game but made a remarkable recovery to appear in 12 games for the Colts, running for 359 yards on 94 attempts (3.8 avg.) and pulling in 22 passes for 194 yards (8.8 avg.). While Perry reported to the Baltimore training camp for 1963, he was finally slowing down at age 36 and was released. He returned to the 49ers, where he was a backup in his final year (and was able to qualify for a player pension).   

Jim Brown surpassed Perry as the NFL’s career rushing leader in 1963, but Perry retired at number two with 8378 yards. Adding in his AAFC totals, he gained 9723 yards on 1929 carries (5.0 avg.) with 71 touchdowns, and compiled another 2021 yards on 260 pass receptions (7.8 avg.) and 12 more TDs. Perry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

February 13, 2016

Highlighted Year: Jimmy Conzelman, 1922

Back, Rock Island Independents/Milwaukee Badgers



Age: 24
3rd season in pro football, 2nd with Independents
College: Washington (MO)
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 175

Prelude:
Conzelman spent two years in the Navy during World War I and was a member of the Great Lakes Navy team that won the 1919 Rose Bowl. He returned to Washington Univ. in St. Louis, where he had started out prior to the war, for the 1919 season and joined his Great Lakes teammate George Halas with his newly-organized Decatur Staleys team in the fledgling NFL (then the APFA) for 1920. A natural leader, Conzelman became player-coach of the Rock Island Independents during the 1921 season and, while he stayed on in ’22, he joined the Milwaukee Badgers after Rock Island had played out its schedule, also serving as player/coach.

1922 Season Summary
Appeared in 7 games with Rock Island, 3 with Milwaukee
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing
TDs – 3 [1]

Scoring
Rushing TDs – 7 [1]
Receiving TDs – 0
Other TDs – 0
Total TDs – 7 [1, tied with Guy Chamberlin]
Field Goals – 2 [6, tied with four others]
Extra Points – 0
Points – 48 [2]

Independents went 4-2-1 to finish fifth in the NFL while leading the league in rushing TDs (19, tied with Canton) and ranking second in total TDs (22) and scoring (154 points).

Badgers went 2-4-3 to finish eleventh in the NFL.

Aftermath:
Conzelman spent another season with the Badgers in 1923, who finished in fourth place. He received first-team All-NFL honors from the Canton Daily News and was a second-team choice of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Conzelman was a player only in ’24 and became owner of his own franchise, the Detroit Panthers, in 1925. Conzelman sold the Panthers and became player/coach of the Providence Steam Roller in ’27, leading them to the NFL Championship in 1928. A knee injury curtailed his playing time and his playing career ended in 1929. As a player, he appeared in 104 games, scored 26 touchdowns, and kicked three field goals and four PATs for a total of 169 points. Conzelman coached at the minor league and college level until returning to the NFL as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1940. He left after three seasons to work for major league baseball’s St. Louis Browns, but returned to the Cards and led them to two Western Division titles and the 1947 NFL Championship. His NFL coaching record was 87-63-17 and his teams won two league titles. Conzelman was a multi-talented individual who at various times was an actor, author, songwriter, sportswriter, playwright, orator, and baseball player and executive. For his pro football exploits, most notably his coaching, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1964.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 11, 2016

Highlighted Year: Cliff Battles, 1932

Tailback/Defensive Back, Boston Braves


Age: 22
1st season in pro football
College: West Virginia Wesleyan
Height: 6’1”   Weight: 198

Prelude:
A multi-sport star in college who was also a Phi Beta Kappa student, Battles put up significant numbers playing football for a small school. In 1930, he rushed for 354 yards, totaled 469 all-purpose yards, and scored seven touchdowns in a game against Salem College, and in another contest had three scoring runs of over 80 yards. While the team didn’t do so well when taking on stronger competition, Battles drew interest from several NFL teams and signed with the first-year Braves.

1932 Season Summary
Appeared in 8 of 10 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 148 [1]
Yards – 576 [1]
Yards per attempt – 3.9 [5]
TDs – 3 [2, tied with five others]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 4
Yards – 60
Yards per catch – 15.0
TDs – 1 [10, tied with fourteen others]

Passing
Attempts – 20 [16, tied with Bob Campiglio & Hap Moran]
Completions – 2
Yards – 42
Completion percentage – 10.0
TD passes – 0
Interceptions – 2 [13, tied with eight others]

All-Purpose yards – 636 [1]

Scoring
TDs – 4 [5, tied with five others]   
Points – 24 [6, tied with four others]

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: Collyers Eye

Braves went 4-4-2 to finish fourth in the NFL.

Aftermath:
Battles ranked second in rushing to teammate FB Jim Musick with the re-named Redskins in 1933, gaining 737 yards that included 215 in a single game, making him the first NFL player to reach the 200-yard rushing threshold in a single contest. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for his efforts. Running with a long stride, Battles had excellent cutting ability as well as speed, and was adept at returning kicks. He received primarily second-team All-NFL honors in 1934 and ’35 but was a consensus first-team selection in 1936 as he rushed for 614 yards and the Redskins finished first in the Eastern Division, although he was injured early in the NFL Championship loss to Green Bay. The franchise was shifted to Washington for 1937 and Battles set a league rushing record with 874 yards. The Redskins won the NFL title but, when owner George Preston Marshall refused to give his star runner a raise, Battles retired. Overall, he rushed for 3511 yards on 839 carries (4.2 avg.), caught 38 passes for 546 yards (14.4 avg.), and scored a total of 31 touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors three times and at least some first-team or second-team recognition after three other seasons. Battles, who initially became an assistant coach at Columbia, was later head coach of the AAFC’s Brooklyn Dodgers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1968.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 9, 2016

Highlighted Year: Keith Bostic, 1987

Safety, Houston Oilers



Age: 26
5th season in pro football & with Oilers
College: Michigan
Height: 6’1”   Weight: 223

Prelude:
An All-Big Ten performer in college, Bostic was chosen by the Oilers in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft. He moved into the starting lineup at strong safety during his rookie season and accounted for two interceptions and three sacks. Bostic proved to be a steady player in his first four seasons, noted for his aggressive play and teaming well with FS Bo Eason. The two combined for 162 solo tackles in 1985, a season in which Bostic reached a career high with five sacks. Coming into the 1987 season, Bostic had started 60 games, intercepted six passes, and registered 12 sacks.

1987 Season Summary
Appeared in 12 of 15 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 6 [2, tied with four others, 1st in AFC]
Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. LA Rams 9/13
Int. return yards – -14
Most int. return yards, game – 7 (on 1 int.) at San Francisco 11/8
Int. TDs – 0
Sacks – 3
Most sacks, game – 1 vs. Atlanta 10/25, at Pittsburgh 11/15, vs. San Diego 12/6
Fumble recoveries – 1

Postseason: 2 G
Interceptions – 0
Fumble recoveries – 1
TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: NEA
2nd team All-NFL: AP
1st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl

Oilers went 9-6 in the strike-shortened season (three games were played with replacement players) to finish second in the AFC Central and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Seattle Seahawks (23-20). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Denver Broncos (34-10).

Aftermath:
Bostic spent one more season with the Oilers, and was a Pro Bowl alternate, before departing as a free agent in 1989. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts but was waived during the preseason and, after a brief tenure with the Browns in 1990, his career came to an end. Overall, he played in 96 games over seven seasons, as well as four postseason contests, and compiled 13 interceptions and 17 sacks, all with the Oilers.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

February 7, 2016

1993: AFC Wins First Overtime Pro Bowl


The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 7, 1993 was played before 50,007 fans at Aloha Stadium on a sunny day with intermittent clouds. It marked the 14th consecutive year that the game was played in Honolulu. Coaches were Don Shula of the Dolphins for the AFC and San Francisco’s George Seifert for the NFC.

The NFC took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in 14 plays. QB Steve Young of the 49ers scrambled for eight yards in a third-and-three situation and completed five passes, the longest to his San Francisco teammate, TE Brent Jones, for 17 yards. The advance finally stalled at the AFC 10 and Morten Andersen of the Saints kicked a 27-yard field goal.

The AFC punted following their first series but got the ball back four plays later when a Young pass was intercepted by Denver FS Steve Atwater at the AFC 29. Miami QB Dan Marino completed consecutive throws to WR Anthony Miller of the Chargers for 16 yards and Houston WR Haywood Jeffires for 11 to get the ball into NFC territory, but a holding penalty moved them back, and on third down Marino was sacked by Minnesota DE Chris Doleman for a 15-yard loss, resulting in a punt.

The AFC managed to get on the scoreboard when, on the first play of the second quarter, LB Junior Seau of the Chargers intercepted a Young pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. Kansas City’s Nick Lowery added the extra point to give the AFC a 7-3 lead. The NFC responded with a 10-play, 58-yard possession. An illegal blitz (an infraction specific to the Pro Bowl) on the AFC converted a third down and Dallas RB Emmitt Smith broke away for a 23-yard gain to the AFC 34. The NFC converted another third down before the drive came to an end at the AFC 20 and Andersen kicked a 37-yard field goal to narrow the score to 7-6.



QB Troy Aikman of the champion Cowboys (pictured at right) was behind center for the next NFC series and came out throwing, hitting on three straight passes to pick up 25 yards, two of them to his Dallas teammate, WR Michael Irvin. The nine-play drive covered 54 yards and ended with Aikman passing to Irvin once more for a nine-yard TD. Andersen converted and the NFC took a 13-7 lead.

The AFC went three-and-out and punted, and with 56 seconds remaining in the first half, Aikman again went to the air, connecting with Atlanta WR Andre Rison for 18 yards, RB Barry Sanders of the Lions for 19, and Rison again for 11 yards. But Aikman’s next two passes fell incomplete, with a Sanders run for no gain in between, and Andersen’s field goal try was blocked by DE Leslie O’Neal of the Chargers and returned by Miami LB Bryan Cox to the NFC 35.

Houston QB Warren Moon completed a pass to Jeffires and it appeared that time had run out in the half before the receiver got out of bounds. Players began to head to the locker room and technicians started to pull sets for the halftime show onto the field. But the officials ruled that there were still two seconds remaining and the field was cleared. On the final play of the half, Lowery booted a 42-yard field goal and the NFC margin was narrowed to 13-10 at halftime.

The AFC started the third quarter off with a short series and punted. On the NFC’s third play, Aikman threw to Dallas TE Jay Novacek for 26 yards, but after Sanders ran twice to gain another 14 yards, Aikman’s next pass was picked off by SS Henry Jones of the Bills, who returned it 32 yards to the NFC 42. With Pittsburgh RB Barry Foster (pictured at top) running effectively and his teammate with the Steelers, QB Neil O’Donnell, completing a pass, the AFC reached the 11 before settling for a 29-yard Lowery field goal to tie the score at 13-13.

Atlanta CB Deion Sanders returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards and the NFC started with good field position near midfield. QB Brett Favre of the Packers was in the game and misfired on his first three passes before connecting with San Francisco WR Jerry Rice for 48 yards to the AFC two. RB Ricky Watters of the 49ers lost two yards on first down and, while Rice picked up three yards on a short toss from Favre, the AFC defense held as Favre was stuffed for no gain on a quarterback sneak and, on fourth down, Watters dove for the end zone and came up short.

The AFC had possession as the game headed into the fourth quarter. O’Donnell completed passes to Houston WR Ernest Givins for six yards and WR Andre Reed of the Bills for nine, but the AFC had to punt. RB Johnny Bailey of the Cardinals returned the kick but fumbled when hit by Buffalo WR Steve Tasker, the AFC’s special teams representative, and punter Rohn Stark of the Colts recovered at the AFC 39. However, on the next play O’Donnell’s pass was intercepted by Phoenix SS Tim McDonald.

The NFC punted for the first (and only) time following a short series and a 20-yard return by Indianapolis WR Clarence Verdin had another 15 yards tacked on for unnecessary roughness. Starting at the NFC 37, the AFC netted a yard in three plays and Lowery missed a 54-yard field goal attempt.

Favre threw to WR Fred Barnett of the Eagles for 16 yards on first down and the NFC maintained possession when an apparent interception was nullified by a pass interference penalty. Favre was sacked by DE Howie Long of the Raiders on third down and that set up another big play for the AFC on special teams. A field goal try by Andersen was blocked by Tasker and CB Terry McDaniel of the Raiders recovered and ran 28 yards for a touchdown. Lowery converted and the AFC was back in front by 20-13 with eight minutes left in regulation.

Young was back at quarterback for the NFC and he threw to Irvin for 19 yards and ran for eight. Sanders ran for six yards and it was Young to Irvin again for 12 to the AFC 35, but a holding penalty backed the NFC up and the next two passes were incomplete before Young was intercepted by Buffalo CB Nate Odomes.

The AFC punted following the next series and the NFC took over at its 22 with less than three minutes remaining on the clock. Young threw to Rice for 16 yards but was sacked by DE Neil Smith of the Chiefs for a loss of eight. Two plays later, he passed to Brent Jones for 16 yards and a first down and, after another sack, connected with Rison for 18. Throws to Novacek and Rison got the ball to the AFC 20, but the next two passes were incomplete and Young was sacked by Cox on third down. Facing fourth down and with time running out, a scrambling Young completed a throw to RB Rodney Hampton of the Giants at the goal line for a 23-yard touchdown with ten seconds remaining in regulation. Andersen tied the score at 20-20 with the point after and, with the score tied at 20-20 at the end of four quarters, the game went into overtime.

The NFC won the toss and had the first possession in overtime, but Young fumbled when caught from behind by Kansas City LB Derrick Thomas while scrambling and Long recovered for the AFC at the NFC 28. Foster ran the ball four times to reach the NFC 16 before Lowery came on to kick the game-winning 33-yard field goal at 4:09 into OT. The AFC won the first overtime Pro Bowl game by a final score of 23-20.

The NFC far outgained the AFC (472 yards to 114) and also had big margins in first downs (30 to 9) and offensive plays (90 to 50). However, the NFC turned the ball over six times, to one suffered by the AFC, and the AFC had both an interception and blocked field goal returned for touchdowns.

Dan Marino completed just three of nine passes for 31 yards and Neil O’Donnell had the most completed passes for the AFC, with four, out of seven attempts for 23 yards with one intercepted. Barry Foster rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries to lead the team by far (runner-up was RB Harold Green of the Bengals with nine yards on four attempts). Haywood Jeffires led the receivers with three catches for 26 yards and Anthony Miller contributed 23 yards on his two receptions. Steve Tasker (pictured below) was named the game’s MVP as he accounted for four tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. Regularly recognized for his outstanding play on special teams, Tasker was appearing in his fourth of an eventual seven Pro Bowls.


For the NFC, Steve Young was successful on 18 of 32 throws for 196 yards and a TD, but gave up three interceptions and had the disastrous fumble in overtime. He also led the team in rushing with 34 yards on six carries. Troy Aikman was 10-of-15 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception and Brett Favre, making his first Pro Bowl appearance, completed four of eight passes for 74 yards with no TDs or pickoffs. Andre Rison had 8 catches for 80 yards and Jerry Rice gained 78 yards on his four receptions while Michael Irvin scored a TD among his 5 catches for 59 yards.

The game marked the first time that the Pro Bowl went into overtime and reduced the NFC’s lead in the series to 13-10 since going to the AFC vs. NFC format following the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.