1.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
–
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was a domed sports stadium located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was also the home of the Minnesota Strikers of the North American Soccer League in 1984, on January 18,2014, the Metrodome roof was deflated, signaling the beginning of demolition work. The Vikings played at the University of Minnesotas TCF Bank Stadium for the 2014 and 2015 NFL seasons, the stadium had a fiberglass fabric roof that was self-supported by air pressure and was the third major sports facility to have this feature. The Metrodome was similar in design to the former RCA Dome, the Metrodome was reputedly the inspiration for the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The stadium was the facility to have hosted a Super Bowl, World Series, MLB All-Star Game. The Metrodome was the ninth-oldest stadium in the NFL, locally, the Metrodome had several nicknames such as The Dome, The Thunderdome, and The Homer Dome. The Metrodome was torn down in sections while construction of U. S, by the early 1970s, the Minnesota Vikings were unhappy with Metropolitan Stadiums relatively small capacity for football. Before the AFL-NFL merger, the NFL had declared that stadiums with a capacity smaller than 50,000 were not adequate for their needs. The biggest stadium in the area was the University of Minnesotas Memorial Stadium, supporters of a dome also believed that the Minnesota Twins would benefit from a climate-controlled stadium to insulate the team from harsh Minnesota weather later in the season. The Met would have likely needed to be replaced in any event, broken railings and seats could be seen in the upper deck by the early 1970s, and by its final season they had become a distinct safety hazard. Construction success of other domed stadiums, particularly the Pontiac Silverdome near Detroit, Downtown Minneapolis was beginning a revitalization program, and the return of professional sports from suburban Bloomington was seen as a major success story. A professional team hadnt been based in downtown Minneapolis since the Minneapolis Lakers left for Los Angeles in 1960, uncovering the Dome by Amy Klobuchar describes the 10-year effort to build the venue. The stadium was named in memory of former mayor of Minneapolis, U. S. Senator, vice President, Hubert Humphrey, who died in 1978. The Metrodome itself cost $68 million to build—significantly under budget—totaling around $124 million with infrastructure and it was a somewhat utilitarian facility, though not quite as spartan as Metropolitan Stadium. One stadium official once said all the Metrodome was designed to do was get fans in, let em see a game. The Metrodome is the venue to have hosted a MLB All-Star Game, a Super Bowl, an NCAA Final Four. The 1985 MLB All-Star Game, several games of the 1987 and the 1991 World Series, Super Bowl XXVI in 1992, the NCAA Final Four was held at the Metrodome in 1992 and 2001. The Metrodome also served as one of the four venues for the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship in 1986,1989,1996,2000,2003,2006
2.
1998 Minnesota Vikings season
–
The 1998 Minnesota Vikings season was the 38th for the Minnesota Vikings and the 79th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings became only the team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season. That year, the Vikings, known for an offense, scored a then-NFL record 556 points. The team cruised to the NFC Central title and held home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the Vikings thus became the first team to win at least 15 games in the regular season and not win the Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Steelers became the second in 2004, the New England Patriots became the 3rd in 2007, the Green Bay Packers became the 4th in 2011, and the Carolina Panthers became the 5th in 2015. Said Pro Football Prospectus, he pairing of the strong armed Randall Cunningham and Randy Moss was perfect—they connected 69 times for 1,313 yards, the defense held its own, ranking sixth in points allowed. All that stood between the Vikings and a Super Bowl appearance, Pro Football Prospectus continued, were the upstart Atlanta Falcons, the Falcons stayed close while the Vikings offense sputtered. With two minutes left, Gary Anderson, who had missed no kicks all season, missed a 38-yarder that would have given the Vikings an insurmountable 10-point lead, the Falcons scored a game-tying touchdown and won in overtime. The next season, though they would return to the playoffs, the Vikings joined the Buffalo Bills first Super Bowl team, one of Don Coryells San Diego Chargers teams, the Cincinnati Bengals second Super Bowl team, and the Vikings first Super Bowl team. The NFL Network named the 1998 Minnesota Vikings as the 4th greatest team in NFL history to not win the Super Bowl, prior to the start of the 1998 season, the Vikings were sold to Red McCombs. The NFL had not been happy with the Vikings ownership arrangement of ten owners with none owning 30%, the ownership decided to sell the club. At first it appeared that Tom Clancy would become the new owner, however, his attempt to buy the team fell through. So in July 1998, the team was sold to McCombs who was from San Antonio,1998 was a year to remember for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings finished the season 15–1, their loss by three points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week nine. 12 of their 15 wins came by a margin of at least 10 points, according to Football Outsiders, The Vikings led the league with 52 plays of 25+ yards. They had 22 offensive plays of 40+ yards, no team had more than 16 plays of that length. In the playoffs, the Vikings rolled past the Arizona Cardinals 41–21, and came into the Metrodome heavily favored for their NFC title showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, shortly thereafter, the Falcons scored to cut the lead to 20–14. The Vikings were again leading 27–20 with two left in the 4th quarter and had a chance to potentially put the game out of reach with a field goal
3.
Dan Reeves
–
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football running back and head coach in the National Football League. He participated in a combined nine Super Bowls as player and coach, the second-most in league history behind Bill Belichicks ten. Reeves played in two Super Bowls, was an assistant coach in three more, and was coach in four, XXI, XXII, and XXIV with the Denver Broncos. Reeves is tied with Jeff Fisher for the NFL record of most regular-season losses as a coach, with 165. Born in Rome, Georgia, Reeves grew up in Americus and he attended Americus High School, where he practiced football, baseball and basketball. After he missed four games with a collarbone during his senior season. The interest from schools came later, when he won the MVP trophy at the Georgia High School football All-star game. He also was selected to the All-state basketball team in 1961, Reeves played college football at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback from 1962 through 1964. He became the quarterback during his sophomore year in 1962 and was named second-team All-conference after his junior and senior years. Reeves also became a good baseball prospect as a right fielder for the Gamecocks team. In 1977, he was inducted into the schools Athletic Hall of Fame, in 2006, he was inducted into the State of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. His rookie year was spent mostly on the kickoff and punt units, in 1966, Tom Landry looking for more speed at running back, shifted All-Pro safety Mel Renfro to offense. His performance helped the Cowboys take some of the load from fullback Don Perkins. He set a record with 16 touchdowns, had over 1,300 all-purpose yards, was sixth in the NFL in rushing, first in touchdowns. He was also voted to The Sporting News All-Pro team at the end of the year, in 1967, he posted back-to-back seasons with more than 600 rushing yards, ranking second on the team in rushing with 603 yards and third in receiving with 490 yards. In the week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons, he set a record after scoring 4 touchdowns. In the week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he scored touchdowns running, receiving, during the first half of his NFL career, he became a multi-talented running back and displayed the ability to consistently make big plays. He remained a starter until the week 4 of the 1968 season, the injury ended up hampering him for the remainder of his career and limiting his abilities
4.
Minneapolis
–
Minneapolis is the county seat of Hennepin County, and the larger of the Twin Cities, the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. As of 2015, Minneapolis is the largest city in the state of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Saint Paul anchor the second-largest economic center in the Midwest, after Chicago. Minneapolis lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Saint Paul. It was once the worlds flour milling capital and a hub for timber, the city and surrounding region is the primary business center between Chicago and Seattle, with Minneapolis proper containing Americas fifth-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies. As an integral link to the economy, Minneapolis is categorized as a global city. Noted for its music and performing arts scenes, Minneapolis is home to both the award-winning Guthrie Theater and the historic First Avenue nightclub. The name Minneapolis is attributed to Charles Hoag, the citys first schoolteacher, who combined mni, a Dakota Sioux word for water, and polis, Dakota Sioux had long been the regions sole residents when French explorers arrived around 1680. For a time relations were based on fur trading, gradually more European-American settlers arrived, competing for game and other resources with the Dakota. In the early 19th century, the United States acquired this territory from France, fort Snelling was built in 1819 by the United States Army, and it attracted traders, settlers and merchants, spurring growth in the area. The United States government pressed the Mdewakanton band of the Dakota to sell their land, the Minnesota Territorial Legislature authorized present-day Minneapolis as a town in 1856 on the Mississippis west bank. Minneapolis incorporated as a city in 1867, the rail service began between Minneapolis and Chicago. It later joined with the city of St. Anthony in 1872. Minneapolis developed around Saint Anthony Falls, the highest waterfall on the Mississippi River, forests in northern Minnesota were a valuable resource for the lumber industry, which operated seventeen sawmills on power from the waterfall. By 1871, the west river bank had twenty-three businesses, including mills, woolen mills, iron works, a railroad machine shop, and mills for cotton, paper, sashes. Due to the hazards of milling, six local sources of artificial limbs were competing in the prosthetics business by the 1890s. The farmers of the Great Plains grew grain that was shipped by rail to the citys thirty-four flour mills, a father of modern milling in America and founder of what became General Mills, Cadwallader C. Some ideas were developed by William Dixon Gray and some acquired through industrial espionage from the Hungarians by William de la Barre, pillsbury Company across the river were barely a step behind, hiring Washburn employees to immediately use the new methods. The hard red spring wheat that grows in Minnesota became valuable, not until later did consumers discover the value in the bran that Minneapolis
5.
Official (American football)
–
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. During professional and most college games, seven officials operate on the field. Beginning in 2015, Division I college football conferences are using eight game officials, College games outside the Division I level use six or seven officials. Arena football, high school football, and other levels of football have other officiating systems, High school football played under the National Federation of State High School Associations rules typically use five officials for varsity and 3,4, or 5 for non-varsity games. Because the referee is responsible for the supervision of the game. American football officials generally use the equipment, Whistle Used to signal a reminder to players that the ball is dead. Penalty marker or flag A bright-yellow-colored flag that is thrown on the field toward or at the spot of a foul, for fouls where the spot is unimportant, such as fouls which occur at the snap or during a dead ball, the flag is typically thrown vertically. The flag is wrapped around a weight, such as sand or beans, so that it can be thrown with some distance and accuracy and to ensure it remains in place, Officials typically carry a second flag in case there are multiple fouls on a play. Officials who run out of flags when they see multiple fouls on a play may drop their hat or a bag instead. Bean bag Used to mark various spots that are not fouls, for example, a bean bag is used to mark the spot of a fumble or the spot where a player caught a punt. It is typically colored white, blue, black, or orange, depending on the league, college conference, level of play. Unlike penalty flags, bean bags may be tossed to a parallel to the nearest yard line. Down indicator A specially designed wristband that is used to remind officials of the current down and it has an elastic loop attached to it that is wrapped around the fingers. Usually, officials put the loop around their index finger when it is first down, the finger when it is second down. Some officials, especially umpires, may use a second indicator to keep track of where the ball was placed between the hash marks before the play. This is important when the ball is re-spotted after a pass or a foul. Game data card and pencil Officials write down important administrative information, such as the winner of the coin toss, team timeouts. Game data cards can be paper or reusable plastic
6.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
–
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football. As of 2017, there are a total of 310 members of the Hall of Fame, groundbreaking for the building was held on August 11,1962. The original building contained just two rooms, and 19,000 square feet of interior space, in April 1970, ground was broken for the first of many expansions. This first expansion cost $620,000, and was completed in May 1971, the size was increased to 34,000 square feet by adding another room. The pro shop opened with this expansion and this was also an important milestone for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as yearly attendance passed the 200,000 mark for the first time. In November 1977, work began on another project, costing US$1,200,000. It was completed in November 1978, enlarging the shop and research library. The total size of the hall was now 50,500 square feet, the building remained largely unchanged until July 1993. The Hall then announced yet another expansion, costing US$9,200,000 and this expansion was completed in October 1995. The buildings size was increased to 82,307 square feet, the most notable addition was the GameDay Stadium, which shows an NFL Films production on a 20-foot by 42-foot Cinemascope screen. Through 2017, all inductees except one, played part of their professional career in the NFL. For CFL stars, there is a parallel Canadian Football Hall of Fame, only one player, the Chicago Bears have the most Hall of Famers among the leagues franchises with 32 enshrinees. Enshrinees are selected by a 46-person committee, largely made up of media members, each city that has a current NFL team sends one representative from the local media to the committee. A city with more than one franchise sends a representative for each franchise, there are also 13 at-large delegates, and one representative from the Pro Football Writers Association. Except for the PFWA representative, who is appointed to a term, all other appointments are open-ended and terminated only by death, incapacitation, retirement. To be eligible for the process, a player or coach must have been retired for at least five years. Any other contributor such as an owner or executive can be voted in at any time. Fans may nominate any player, coach or contributor by simply writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame via letter or email
7.
Morten Andersen
–
Morten Andersen, nicknamed The Great Dane, is a former National Football League kicker and All-American at Michigan State University. He officially retired on December 8,2008, after not playing all season, Andersen was announced as a member of the 2017 induction class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame at that years NFL Honors. He will be only the second exclusive placekicker inducted in the Hall of Fame, Andersen was born in Copenhagen and raised in the west Jutland town of Struer, Denmark. As a student, he was a gymnast and a long jumper and he visited the United States in 1977 as a Youth For Understanding exchange student. He first kicked an American football on a whim at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis and he was so impressive in his one season of high school football that he was given a scholarship to Michigan State University. Andersen, with his leg as his dominant kicking leg, starred at Michigan State, setting several records. He was named an All-American in 1981 and his success landed him the kicking job with the New Orleans Saints. On September 24,2011 he was inducted into the Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame, andersens NFL career got off to a rocky start. On his first NFL kickoff to start the strike-shortened 1982 season, Andersen twisted his ankle, despite the early setback, he soon emerged as one of the strongest and most reliable placekickers in the NFL. In his years with the Saints, he was named to six Pro Bowls, kicked 302 field goals, andersens proficiency with field goal kicking earned him the nickname Mr. Automatic. Following the 1994 season, he was released by the Saints for salary cap purposes, following his release by the Saints, Andersen signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He silenced those who felt him to be washed up and was again named a Pro Bowler during his time in Atlanta. In December 1995 against the Saints, he became the first player in NFL history to three field goals of over 50 yards in a single game. In Week 17 of the 1996 season, Andersen missed a 30-yard field goal that enabled the Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs. Two years later, he kicked a field goal in overtime in the 1998 NFC Championship Game to beat the Minnesota Vikings. There are a number of interesting coincidences between Andersen and former NFL placekicker Gary Anderson and their overall accuracy is also nearly identical, their career percentage being within.5 % of each other on both FGs and PATs. Also, Anderson missed a goal in the 1998 NFC Championship Game for the Minnesota Vikings before Andersen kicked his winning kick. Andersen went on to play with the New York Giants for the 2001 season, in the 2004 offseason, Andersen was beaten out for the kicking job by rookie Lawrence Tynes
8.
Cris Carter
–
Graduel Christopher Darin Cris Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He was a receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings. After starting for the Ohio State University Buckeyes, Carter was drafted by the Eagles in the round of the 1987 NFL supplemental draft. While in Philadelphia, head coach Buddy Ryan helped to coin one of ESPNs Chris Bermans famous quotes about Carter and he was let go by Ryan in 1989, however, due to off-the-field issues. Carter was signed by the Vikings and turned his life and career around, becoming a two-time first-team and one-time second-team All-Pro, when he left the Vikings after 2001, he held most of the team career receiving records. He briefly played for the Dolphins in 2002 before retiring, since retiring from the NFL, Carter has worked as an analyst on HBOs Inside the NFL, ESPNs Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown, and online at Yahoo Sports. He also works as an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Carter resides in Boca Raton, Florida. He is the brother of former NBA player and coach Butch Carter, after six years, and five finalist selections, Carter was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 2,2013. To date, he is the only player drafted in the Supplemental draft to eventually be elected into the Hall of Fame, Carter was born in Troy, Ohio. For elementary school he went to Heywood Elementary in Troy, Ohio and he spent his early childhood there before moving to Middletown, Ohio with his mother,3 brothers, and two sisters. They lived in a small four-bedroom apartment and he attended Middletown High School and starred in both football and basketball. According to Carter on ESPN Radios Mike & Mike, he dropped the name during 7th grade, Carter was heavily recruited out of high school for both basketball and football. He accepted the offer from Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce, Carter became a consensus All-America selection after his junior season, Ohio States first All American at wide receiver. Carter had intended to both football and basketball at Ohio State, but decided to focus on football after making an immediate impact his freshman year. That year he set a Rose Bowl record with nine receptions for 172 yards, Carter was known for great hands, running precise routes, and for acrobatic leaps. He had remarkable body control and footwork when making catches near the sidelines, at the Citrus Bowl at the end of the 1985 season, Carter caught a ball that quarterback Jim Karsatos was intending to throw away. Then he somehow levitated back in bounds to get both his feet in bounds, I swear to this day he actually levitated to get back in bounds. When I saw it on film, it just blew me away, prior to Carters senior season, he secretly signed with notorious sports agent Norby Walters
9.
Randall McDaniel
–
Randall Cornell McDaniel is a former offensive guard in the National Football League. He was joined by fellow Sun Devil Curley Culp on 8/3/2013 as the only Pro Football Hall of Fame members to be born in the state of Arizona and he recorded a PR of 50.04 seconds in the 400-meter dash. In the throwing events, he got top-throws of 16.76 meters in the put and 47.42 meters in the discus. He also benched 435, inclined 380, dead lifted 660, in addition, he was timed at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had a one step vertical leap of 37 inches at just 9% body fat. He began his pro career being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1988 NFL Draft, and played with them until 1999 and he played there for two years until retiring. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most versatile offensive linemen ever to play the game and he started in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls, tied with Champ Bailey and Will Shields for the most Pro Bowls played. He also started 202 consecutive games in his career, during his time with the Minnesota Vikings, he occasionally would play fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations. When he played for Tampa Bay, in 2000, he became the oldest player to score his first touchdown reception at 36 years,282 days, during the 2006 season, McDaniel was inducted into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor. McDaniel was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 2008, McDaniel was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on January 31,2009. McDaniels bust, sculpted by Scott Myers, was unveiled at the Enshrinement Ceremony on August 8,2009, a multi-use sports center was built in Randalls hometown of Avondale in 2010 and was named in his honor. After 13 years of volunteering in schools, McDaniel said that he had been working in schools since retirement
10.
Randy Moss
–
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver who played 14 seasons in the National Football League. Moss played college football for Marshall University, and twice earned All-America honors and he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft, where he played for seven years before a trade in 2005 brought him to the Oakland Raiders. On April 29,2007, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots for a draft pick. On October 6,2010, Moss returned to the Vikings in a trade from the Patriots, however, his second stint in Minnesota was short-lived, as he was waived by the team less than a month later, and claimed by the Tennessee Titans. After sitting out the 2011 season, Moss signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers for the 2012 season then opted to retire prior to the 2013 season. Moss was born and raised in Rand, West Virginia and he attended DuPont High School, one of two schools that later consolidated into Riverside High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track. Randy was also on the debate team. On the football field, Moss led the DuPont Panthers to back-to-back state championships in 1992 and 1993 and he was a star at wide receiver, but also played free safety, returned kickoffs and punts, and was the teams kicker and punter. In 1994, he was honored with the Kennedy Award as the West Virginia Football Player of the Year, parade magazine named him to their annual All-American high school football team in 1995 and in 2009 named him one of the 50 greatest high school football players of all time. At DuPont, he was a teammate of future Chicago Bears linebacker Bobbie Howard, in addition to playing football at DuPont, Moss was twice named West Virginia Player of the Year in basketball, where he was a teammate of future NBA player Jason Williams. This was the year he competed on the schools track team. He also played center field for the baseball team, Mosss dream was to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but he also considered going to Ohio State, where his half-brother, Eric, had played offensive tackle. Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz said Randy Moss was the best high school football player Ive ever seen, Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden said He was as good as Deion Sanders. Deions my measuring stick for athletic ability, and this kid was just a bigger Deion, after originally signing a letter of intent to play college football with Notre Dame in 1995, Moss took part in a racially charged fight at his high school that left one person hospitalized. On March 23,1995, Moss had backed a friend in a fight against a white student who had allegedly used racist comments towards Randys friend. Moss was initially charged with a felony for kicking the student, on August 1,1995, Moss pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to 30 days behind bars at the South Central Regional Jail in Charleston, West Virginia. He served 3 days in jail starting that night and would be required to serve the remaining 27 days within the following 18 months, Moss was expelled from DuPont and completed his education at Cabell Alternative School. Notre Dame subsequently denied his enrollment application, but this did not stop another high-profile college football program from giving him a chance, Notre Dame officials suggested he attend Florida State due to the reputation of its coach, Bobby Bowden, for handling troubled players
11.
Fox NFL
–
Fox NFL is the branding used for broadcasts of National Football League games produced by Fox Sports and televised on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Game coverage is usually preceded by the pre-game shows Fox NFL Kickoff, the latter two shows feature the same studio hosts and analysts for both programs, who also contribute to the former. In weeks when Fox airs a doubleheader, the late broadcast airs under the brand Americas Game of the Week. The network aired its inaugural NFL game telecast on August 12,1994, though Fox was growing rapidly as a network, and had established itself as a presence, it was still not considered a major competitor to the Big Three broadcast networks. To this end, Fox had bid aggressively for football broadcast rights almost from the start and it notably passed on the United States Football League, which had hoped to move to fall in 1986, the same time Fox was to debut, and was seeking a broadcast contract. Fox made an offer to the National Football League to acquire the Monday Night Football contract for the same amount ABC that had been paying to carry the package, about US$1.3 billion at the time. However, the NFL, in part because Fox had not established itself as a major network, Sunday afternoon timeslot in spring is filled by Fox NASCAR from NASCAR Cup Series. The NFC was considered the more desirable due to its presence in most of the largest U. S. markets, such as New York City, Chicago. Indeed, Fox was still a player in 1993, not yet considered on par with CBS, NBC and ABC. The network already had offbeat hits such as The Simpsons, Married, with Children and Beverly Hills,90210 on its schedule. The vast resources that Rupert Murdoch had allowed the network to grow quickly, primarily to the detriment of CBS, Fox was also able to procure Pat Summerall and John Madden to be its lead broadcast team, a capacity they had been serving for CBS. Terry Bradshaw, who was previously co-host of The NFL Today, was added to serve as the shows lead analyst. In the summer of 1994, SF Broadcasting purchased four stations from Burnham Broadcasting, in the NFC markets affected by the deals, Fox gained VHF affiliates in eight primary markets and three satellite markets, adding to the three that the network had before the deal. The new affiliates in St. Louis and Greensboro switched shortly before the Rams relocated from Los Angeles, besides giving the network leverage in attracting new affiliates, the rights gave Fox many new viewers and a platform for advertising its other shows. Foxs acquisition of the National Football Conference contract severely affected CBS, beyond losing a marquee sporting event and some of its key talent, CBS had hoped to replace the NFL with National Hockey League rights, but Fox then promptly outbid CBS for those as well. CBS began rebuilding itself after the network took the AFC television contract from NBC in 1998, Foxs acquisition of National Football League television rights was a watershed event not only for the network, but for the NFL as well. Not only was it the event that placed Fox on a par with the Big Three broadcast networks, but it also ushered in an era of growth for the NFL, Fox used the slogan Same Game, New Attitude to promote its new NFL package. The networks pre-game show, Fox NFL Sunday focused more on entertainment and it also used parabolic microphones to include the sounds of the stands and of the on-field action
12.
John Madden
–
John Earl Madden is a former American football coach and broadcaster for the National Football League. He won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the American Football Conference of the NFL, in 2006, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his coaching career. He is also known for the long-running Madden NFL video game series he has endorsed and fronted since 1988. Madden worked as a color analyst for all four networks, CBS, Fox, ABC. Madden has also several books and has served as a commercial pitchman for various products. He retired from broadcasting on April 16,2009 to spend time with his family. John Madden was born in Austin, Minnesota to Earl Russell Madden and his father, an auto mechanic, moved the Madden family to Daly City, California, a suburb of San Francisco, when he was young. He attended middle school at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and then Jefferson High School, Madden married Virginia Fields on December 26,1959. They live in Pleasanton, California, and have two sons, Joseph and Michael, Joe played football at Brown University and Mike attended Harvard University where he started as receiver on the football team. He won all-conference honors at offensive tackle, and was a catcher on Cal Polys baseball team, Madden recounted how he became involved with coaching, I got hurt in my rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles - a knee injury - and I couldnt play. While I was rehabbing, Norm Van Brocklin would be watching films, I ended up with a degree in teaching, and my love for football meshed with teaching. In 1960, he became an assistant coach at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, following the 1963 season, he was hired as a defensive assistant coach at San Diego State, where he served through 1966. During that final campaign, the Aztecs were ranked among the top colleges in the country. While at SDSU, Madden coached under Don Coryell, whom Madden credits as being an influence on his coaching, building on that success, Madden was hired by Al Davis as linebackers coach for the AFLs Oakland Raiders in 1967, putting him in the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He helped the team reach Super Bowl II that season, according to former Raiders coach Dennis Allen, John Madden was arguably the best Oakland Raiders coach in the history of the team. Maddens Raiders reached and lost five AFC Title games in seven years, despite a 12–1–1 mark in 1969, the team lost 17–7 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the final American Football League championship game. Three years later, what appeared to be a victory over the Steelers instead became a part of football lore when Franco Harris Immaculate Reception gave Pittsburgh a 13–7 win. Then, in 1974, after defeating the two-time, and defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins in dramatic fashion, in 1975 NFL season, the Raiders went 11–3 and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game by a score of 16–10
13.
Pat Summerall
–
George Allen Pat Summerall was an American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN. In addition to football, he announced major golf and tennis events. In total, he announced 16 Super Bowls on network television,26 Masters Tournaments and he also contributed to 10 Super Bowl broadcasts on CBS Radio as a pregame host or analyst. Summerall played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and then in the National Football League from 1952 through 1961 and he was drafted by the Detroit Lions and played with Bobby Layne. The best playing time in his career was with the New York Giants as a kicker, after retiring as a player, he joined CBS as a color commentator the next year. He worked with Tom Brookshier and then John Madden on NFL telecasts for CBS, although retired since 2002, he continued to announce games on occasion, especially those near his Texas home. He was named the National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1977 and that year, he also received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1999, at Columbia High School, Lake City, Florida, Summerall played football, tennis, baseball, and basketball. Although basketball was his favorite sport, he was recognized as an All-State selection in basketball and football and he was inducted into the FHSAA Hall of Fame and was later named to the FHSAAs All-Century Team. Summerall played college football from 1949 to 1951 at the University of Arkansas, where he played end, tight end. He graduated in 1953 majoring in Russian history, according to CBS News, Summerall spent ten years as a professional football player in the National Football League, primarily as a placekicker. The Detroit Lions drafted Summerall as a draft choice in the 1952 NFL Draft. Summerall played the pre-season with the Lions before breaking his arm and his best professional year statistically was 1959, when Summerall scored 90 points on 30-for-30 extra-point kicking and 20-for-29 field goal kicking. Summeralls most memorable moment may well have been at the very end of the December 14,1958 regular season finale between his Giants and the Cleveland Browns at Yankee Stadium. Going into the game, the Browns were in first place in the Eastern Conference, in that era, there was no overtime during regular season games, standings ties were broken by a playoff, and there were no wild-card teams. The Browns, on the hand, needed only a tie to clinch the Eastern championship. As time was running out, the Giants and Browns were tied, 10–10, the Giants got barely into Cleveland territory, then sent out Summerall to try for a tiebreaking 49-yard field goal. To add to the drama, there were swirling winds and snow, Summerall, a straight-ahead kicker, made the field goal with just two minutes to play, keeping the Giants alive for another week
14.
National Football League
–
The National Football League is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. The NFL is one of the four professional sports leagues in North America. The NFLs 17-week regular season runs from the week after Labor Day to the week after Christmas, with each team playing 16 games, the NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season, the merger was completed in 1970. Today, the NFL has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States. S. The NFLs executive officer is the commissioner, who has authority in governing the league. The team with the most NFL championships is the Green Bay Packers with thirteen, the current NFL champions are the New England Patriots, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in Super Bowl LI. Another meeting held on September 17,1920 resulted in the renaming of the league to the American Professional Football Association, the league hired Jim Thorpe as its first president, and consisted of 14 teams. Only two of these teams, the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Cardinals, remain, the first event occurred on September 26,1920 when the Rock Island Independents defeated the non-league St. Paul Ideals 48–0 at Douglas Park. On October 3,1920, the first full week of league play occurred, the following season resulted in the Chicago Staleys controversially winning the title over the Buffalo All-Americans. In 1922, the APFA changed its name to the National Football League, in 1932, the season ended with the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans tied for first in the league standings. This method had used since the leagues creation in 1920. The league quickly determined that a game between Chicago and Portsmouth was needed to decide the leagues champion. Playing with altered rules to accommodate the playing field, the Bears won the game 9–0. Fan interest in the de facto championship game led the NFL, beginning in 1933, the 1934 season also marked the first of 12 seasons in which African Americans were absent from the league. The de facto ban was rescinded in 1946, following public pressure, the NFL was always the foremost professional football league in the United States, it nevertheless faced a large number of rival professional leagues through the 1930s and 1940s. Rival leagues included at least three separate American Football Leagues and the All-America Football Conference, on top of regional leagues of varying caliber. Three NFL teams trace their histories to these leagues, including the Los Angeles Rams
15.
National Football Conference
–
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League, the highest professional level of American football in the United States. This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference, currently contain 16 teams each, a series of league expansions and division realignments have occurred since the merger, thus making the current total 16 clubs per each conference. Since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, the Dallas Cowboys lead the NFC with the most conference titles, the current NFC title holders are the Atlanta Falcons. Since 2002, the NFC has 16 teams that organized into four divisions each with four teams, East, North, South, two of these games are assigned on the basis of a particular teams final divisional standing from the previous season. The remaining 8 games are split between the roster of two other NFL divisions and this assignment shifts each year and will follow a standard cycle. Using the 2012 regular season schedule as an example, each team in the NFC West plays against every team in the AFC East and NFC North. In this way, non-divisional competition will be mostly among common opponents – the exception being the two games assigned based on the teams prior-season divisional standing, at the end of each season, the top six teams in the conference proceeds into the playoff. These teams consist of the four winners and the top two wild card teams. The NFC playoffs culminate in the NFC Championship Game with the receiving the George Halas Trophy. The NFC Champion then plays the AFC Champion in the Super Bowl, both the AFC and NFC were created after the NFL merged with the American Football League in 1970. When the AFL began play in 1960 with eight teams, the NFL consisted of 13 clubs, by 1969, the AFL had expanded to ten teams and NFL to 16 clubs. However, team owners could not agree to a plan on how to align the clubs in the NFC. When the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the league in 1976, they were placed in the NFC and AFC, respectively. The Seahawks returned to the NFC as a result of the 2002 realignment, the Carolina Panthers joined the NFC in 1995. Parity is generally greater among NFC teams than AFC teams, the only NFC team that has never made a Super Bowl appearance is the Detroit Lions. Since the 2002 realignment, the time that an NFC team made back-to-back Super Bowl appearances was the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and 2014. Since 1970, only two teams have relocated, in 1988, the St. Louis Cardinals moved to Phoenix, Arizona, while the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, and back to Los Angeles again in 2016. The original NFC logo, in use from 1970–2009, depicted a blue N with three stars across it, the three stars represented the three divisions that were used from 1970–2001
16.
NFC Championship Game
–
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff games of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the National Football Conference, the winner then advances to face the winner of the American Football Conference Championship Game in the Super Bowl. The game was established as part of the 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League, with the merged league realigning into two conferences. Since 1984, each winner of the NFC Championship Game has also received the George Halas Trophy, named after the founder and longtime owner of the NFLs Chicago Bears, George Halas. The first NFC Championship Game was played following the 1970 regular season after the merger between the NFL and the American Football League. The game is considered the successor to the original NFL Championship, every NFC team has played in an NFC Championship at least once. The Seattle Seahawks, who have members in both the AFC and the NFC, hold the distinction of appearing in both conference title games. Only the Detroit Lions have yet to win an NFC Championship Game, at the end of each regular season, a series of playoff games involving the top six teams in the NFC are conducted. In the current NFL playoff structure, this consists of the four division champions, the two teams remaining following the Wild Card round and the divisional round play in the NFC Championship game. Initially, the site of the game was determined on a rotating basis, since the 1975–76 season, the site of the NFC Championship has been based on playoff seeding based on the regular season won-loss record, with the highest surviving seed hosting the game. A wild card team can only host the game if both participants are wild cards, in case the fifth seed would host the sixth seed. Such an instance has never occurred in the NFL, the original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted NFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back. The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a base to more closely resemble the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Numbers in parentheses in the winning team column are NFC Championships won by that team, bold indicates team won Super Bowl that year. Numbers in parentheses in the city and stadium column is the amount of times that area and stadium has hosted a NFC Championship. ^ a, Overtime ^ b, The Seahawks were members of the NFC in 1976 and then members of the AFC from 1977–2001, including their only appearance in the AFC Championship Game, they hold a combined 3–1 record between both Conference Championship Games
17.
Road (sports)
–
A road game or away game is a sports game where the specified team is not the host and must travel to another venue. Most professional teams represent cities or towns and amateur sports teams often represent academic institutions, each team has a location where it practices during the season and where it hosts games. When a team is not the host, it must travel to games. Thus, when a team is not hosting a game, the team is described as the team, the visiting team, or the away team. The venue in which the game is played is described as the stadium or the road. The host team is said to be the home team, major sporting events, if not held at a neutral venue, are often over several legs at each teams home ground, so that neither team has an advantage over the other. Occasionally, the team may not have to travel very far at all to a road game. These matches often become local derbies, a few times a year, a road team may even be lucky enough to have the road game played at their own home stadium or arena. This is prevalent in college athletics where many schools will play in regional leagues or groundshare. The related term true road game has seen increasing use in U. S. college sports in the 21st century, while regular-season tournaments and other special events have been part of college sports from their creation, the 21st century has seen a proliferation of such events. These are typically held at sites, with some of them taking place outside the contiguous U. S. or even outside the country entirely. In turn, this has led to the use of true road game to refer to contests played at one home venue. In some association football leagues, particularly in Europe, the teams fans sit in their own section. Depending on the stadium, they will either sit in a designated section or be separated from the home fans by a cordon of police officers. However, in the leagues in England, supporters may be free to mix. When games are played at a site, for instance the FA Cup final in England which is always played at Wembley Stadium. This results in each team occupying one half of the stadium and this is different from other sports, particularly in North America, where very few fans travel to games played away from their home stadium. Home and away fans are not separated at these games
18.
Super Bowl
–
The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League. The game is the culmination to a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. Normally, Roman numerals are used to each game, rather than the year in which it is held. For example, Super Bowl I was played on January 15,1967, the single exception to this rule is Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7,2016, following the 2015 regular season. The next game, Super Bowl LII, scheduled for February 4,2018, the game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League. It was agreed that the two champion teams would play in the AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970. After the merger, each league was redesignated as a conference, currently, the National Football Conference leads the league with 26 wins to 25 wins for the American Football Conference. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl championship titles, with six, the New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl appearances, with nine. The day on which the Super Bowl is played, now considered by some as an unofficial American national holiday, is called Super Bowl Sunday and it is the second-largest day for U. S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day. In addition, the Super Bowl has frequently been the most-watched American television broadcast of the year, in 2015, Super Bowl XLIX became the most-watched American television program in history with an average audience of 114. The NFL restricts the use of its Super Bowl trademark, it is called the Big Game or other generic terms by non-sponsoring corporations. As a result, watching and discussing the broadcasts commercials has become a significant aspect of the event, for four decades after its 1920 inception, the NFL successfully fended off several rival leagues. However, in 1960, it encountered its most serious competitor when the American Football League was formed. The AFL vied heavily with the NFL for both players and fans, but by the middle of the decade the strain of competition led to merger talks between the two leagues. Prior to the 1966 season, the NFL and AFL reached an agreement that was to take effect for the 1970 season. As part of the merger, the champions of the two agreed to meet in a world championship game for professional American football until the merger was effected. A bowl game is a college football game. Exploiting the Rose Bowl Games popularity, post-season college football contests were created for Miami, New Orleans, and El Paso, Texas in 1935, by the time the first Super Bowl was played, the term bowl for any major American football game was well established
19.
History of the National Football League
–
The NFL was the first professional football league to successfully establish a nationwide presence, after several decades of failed attempts. Only two teams currently in the NFL, the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Cardinals, are founding members, the Green Bay Packers, founded 1919, is the oldest NFL franchise in continuous operation with the same name in the same location. League membership gradually stabilized throughout the 1920s and 1930s as the league adopted progressively more formal organization, the first official championship game was held in 1933. The NFL stopped signing black players in 1927 but reintegrated in 1946 following World War II, other changes followed after the war, the office of league President evolved into the more powerful Commissioner post, mirroring a similar move in Major League Baseball. By 1958, when that seasons NFL championship game known as The Greatest Game Ever Played. The rival American Football League was founded in 1960, the league continued to expand to its current size of 32 teams. By the late 1910s, the regional circuits had coalesced into more or less leagues of varying degrees of organization, one of the most prominent at the time was the Ohio League, which boasted the services of legendary Native American athlete Jim Thorpe, among other stars. After the Jeffersons played, and lost badly to, Thorpes Canton Bulldogs in a 1917 match, New Yorks teams, although they were forced to reduce their schedules, continued and picked up many of the stars that remained stateside. This had the effect of spreading out the talent across a geographic area. Over the course of 1919, as football had increased in parity, teams began reaching out. It was the latter formed the basis of what would eventually become the modern National Football League. The eleven founding teams initially struck an agreement over player poaching, Thorpe, while still playing for the Bulldogs, was elected president. Only four of the teams finished the 1920 schedule and the undefeated Akron Pros claimed the first championship. Membership of the league increased to 22 teams – including more of the New York teams – in 1921, but throughout the 1920s the membership was unstable and the league was not a major national sport. On June 24,1922, the organization, now headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, two charter members, the Chicago Cardinals and the Decatur Staleys, are still in existence. The Green Bay Packers franchise, founded in 1919, is the oldest team not to change locations, the New York Football Giants joined in 1925, followed by the Portsmouth Spartans in 1930, relocating to Detroit in 1934 to become the Lions. Although the original NFL teams representing Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit no longer exist, in league meetings prior to the 1933 season, three new teams, the Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds and the Eagles, were admitted to the NFL. Ten teams were then in the NFL and, at George Preston Marshalls urging, with Halas support, NFL was reorganized into an Eastern Division, in the Eastern Division were the Philadelphia Eagles, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Boston Redskins, and the Pittsburgh Pirates
20.
Placekicker
–
Placekicker, or simply kicker, is the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals and extra points. In many cases, the placekicker also serves as the kickoff specialist or punter as well. The kicker initially was not a specialized role, george Blanda, Frank Gifford and Paul Hornung are prominent examples of players who were stars at other positions as well as being known for their kicking abilities. When the one-platoon system was abolished in the 1940s, the era of players gave way to increased specialization. Ben Agajanian, who started his career in 1945, was the first confirmed place-kicking specialist in the NFL. Because of the difference in techniques needed, to avoid leg fatigue, the placekicker usually will only punt when the punter is injured, and vice versa. A professional team will occasionally even have a kickoff specialist who handles only the kickoffs and serves as a backup to the kicker who handles field goals and extra points. This is typically done to protect a premier point-scoring kicker from injury or if he, while accurate. Amateur teams often do not differentiate between placekickers and punters, have different players assume different placekicking duties, or have regular position players handle kicking duties, the last option is quite common on high school teams, when the best athletes are often the best kickers. Before the modern era of pro football, this was also the case for professional teams, placekickers and punters are often the lowest paid starters on professional teams, although proven placekickers sometimes earn over $1 million per year in salary. It is not uncommon for placekickers to be some of the smallest members of their team, however, The New York Times in 2011 wrote that NFL kickers had adopted year-round weight training and strict diets. Sebastian Janikowski that year was a 6-foot-2-inch and 250-pound kicker, kicker Rob Bironas, who was 6 feet and 205 pounds, noted, I might be bigger than some wide receivers and cornerbacks. The presence of foreign born-and-raised players in the highest levels of football has largely been limited to placekickers. Notably Tom Landry recruited several players from Latin America, such as Efren Herrera and Raphael Septien. These anecdotes increase the perception of the placekicker as an outsider, the top 25 players in NFL history in career scoring are all placekickers. Stephen Gostkowski, of the New England Patriots, is the NFLs highest paid kicker, in the NFL, placekickers, along with punters and quarterbacks, are among the only players allowed to wear single-digit uniform numbers, kickers can also wear numbers between 10 and 19. In college and high school football, kickers can wear any number, the two players in documented football history to have worn the uniform number 100, Chuck Kinder and Bill Bell, were both placekickers. Previously, most placekickers used a straight on style, which required the use of a shoe that is extremely rigid and has a flattened
21.
Field goal
–
A field goal is a means of scoring in American football and Canadian football. To score a goal the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick. The vast majority of goals, in both codes, are placed kicked. Drop kicked field goals were common in the days of Gridiron football but are almost never done in modern times. In most leagues, a field goal awards three points. A field goal may also be scored through a fair catch kick, since a field goal is worth only three points, as opposed to a touchdown, which is worth six points, it is usually only attempted in specific situations. The goal structure consists of a crossbar suspended 10 feet above the ground. In American football the goals are centered on each end line, in the first half, there is enough time remaining to execute only one more play. In the second half, there is time remaining to execute only one more play. The game is in overtime, and a FG is the quickest, easiest, even under ideal conditions, the best professional kickers historically had difficulty making kicks longer than 50 yards consistently. If a team not to attempt a field goal on their last down. A punt cannot score any points in American football unless the team touches the ball first and the kicking team recovers it. The longest field goal kick in NFL history is 64 yards, the previous record was 63, originally set by Tom Dempsey and then matched by Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski, and David Akers. High school, college and most professional football leagues offer only a three-point field goal, however, NFL Europe encouraged long field goals of 50 yards or more by making those worth four points instead of three, a rule since adopted by the Stars Football League. Similarly, the sport of football sought to repopularize the drop kick by making that worth four points, it failed. The overall field goal percentage during the 2010 NFL season was 82.3, in comparison, Jan Stenerud, one of only two pure kickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had a career field goal percentage of 66.8 from 1967 to 1985. The holder is usually the teams punter or backup quarterback, instead of the regular center, a team may have a dedicated long snapper trained especially to snap the ball on placekick attempts and punts. The holder usually lines up seven to eight yards behind the line of scrimmage, upon receiving the snap, the holder holds the ball against the ground vertically, with the stitches away from the kicker
22.
Conversion (gridiron football)
–
Attempts at a try or convert are scrimmage plays, with the ball initially placed at any point between the hash marks, at the option of the team making the attempt. The yard line that attempts are made from depends on the league, if the try or convert is scored by kicking the ball through the uprights, the team gets an additional one point for their touchdown, bringing their total for that score from six points to seven. If two points are needed or desired, a two-point conversion may be attempted by running or passing from scrimmage, a successful touchdown conversion brings the scores total to eight. Exceptions, including cases where the forces a turnover during a conversion attempt. One thing that sets the try apart from other plays in the NFL is that, apart from the actual points, ordinary statistics are not recorded on the try as they would be on a regular scrimmage play. For example, on December 4,2016, Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs made an interception on a try, however, because it occurred on a try, Berry did not get statistical credit for the 99 yards of return yardage. Nor would a player ever be credited with passing, rushing, the try/convert is among the oldest parts of the game of gridiron football and dates to its rugby roots. The related term conversion is used in both rugby union and rugby league to refer to extra points scored by kicking the ball through the posts after a try has been scored. By the start of the 20th century, touchdowns had become more important, by this time the point value for the after-touchdown kick had reduced to its current one-point value while the touchdown was now worth five. Although a successful kick is worth one point, missed or blocked attempts can decide the outcome of the game. On November 11,1979, the New York Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills 14-12 – the difference coming from two missed extra points by place kicker Toni Linhart. Linhart, who had been cut earlier in the 1979 season by the Baltimore Colts and was signed by the Jets to fill in for the injured Pat Leahy, never played another game in the NFL. In the 2016 AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots placekicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a point in the first quarter. The Patriots were forced to go for two when they scored a late in the fourth quarter. The two-point try was intercepted, putting the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 with a 20–18 victory, in American high school football, the play is over once the ball becomes dead or the defense takes possession. In many other levels of football, including the CFL, NFL, and American college football and this allows the defense to return the ball to the opponents end zone for two points and also allows for a one-point safety. Two states, Texas and Massachusetts, play high school football under NCAA rules, in American high school and college football, the line of scrimmage is the three-yard line. In Canadian football, the runs during a conversion attempt except during the last three minutes of each half
23.
Touchdown
–
A touchdown is a means of scoring in both American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, to score a touchdown, one team must take the football into the opposite end zone. The touchdown is scored the instant the ball crosses the plane of the line while in possession of a player whose team is trying to score in that end zone. The play is dead and the scores the moment the ball crosses the goal line in possession of a player. The slightest part of the ball being over the line is sufficient for a touchdown to score. However, only the ball counts, not a players helmet, foot, touching one of the pylons at either end of the goal line with the ball constitutes breaking the plane as well. Touchdowns are usually scored by the offense by running or passing the ball, however, the defense can also score a touchdown if they have recovered a fumble or made an interception and return it to the opposing end zone. Special teams can score a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return, in short, any play in which a player legally carries the ball across the goal line scores a touchdown, and the manner in which he gained possession is inconsequential. A touchdown is worth six points, the scoring team is also awarded the opportunity for an extra point or a two-point conversion. Afterwards, the team scored the touchdown kicks off to the opposing team. This rule was changed to the iteration in 1889. If the teammate could fair catch the ball, he could follow with a try for goal from the spot of the catch, the governing rule at the time read, A match shall be decided by a majority of touchdowns. A goal shall be equal to four touchdowns, but in the case of a tie, in 1881, the rules were modified so that a goal kicked from a touchdown took precedence over a goal kicked from the field in breaking ties. In 1882, four touchdowns were determined to take precedence over a goal kicked from the field, two safeties were equivalent to a touchdown. In 1883, points were introduced to football, and a touchdown counted as four points, a goal after a touchdown also counted as four points. In 1889, the provision requiring the ball to actually be touched to the ground was removed, a touchdown was now scored by possessing the ball beyond the goal line. In 1897, the touchdown scored five points, and the goal after touchdown added another point, in 1900, the definition of touchdown was changed to include situations where the ball becomes dead on or above the goal line. In 1912, the value of a touchdown was increased to six points, the end zone was also added
24.
Glossary of American football
–
The following terms are used in American football, both conventional and indoor. Some of these terms are also in use in Canadian football, for a list of unique to that code. 2-4-5 defense A type of formation with two linemen, four linebackers, and five defensive backs. More common among teams with 3-4 base defenses than the 3-3-5 and this maximizes versatility for the defense against three- and four-WR offensive sets. A safety will often cover the fourth receiver, and a linebacker will cover the end or halfback. The 2-4-5 is most often used against the offense, when substituting players may be difficult. 3–3–5 defense A variation of the formation with three linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs. 3–4 defense A defensive formation with three linemen and four linebackers, a professional derivative in the 1970s of the earlier Oklahoma or 50 defense, which had five linemen and two linebackers. The 3-4 outside linebackers resemble stand-up ends in the older defense and it is sometimes pronounced thirty-four defense. 4–3 defense A defensive formation with four linemen and three linebackers, first used by coaches Joe Kuharich and Tom Landry. It is sometimes pronounced forty-three defense,46 defense Usually pronounced forty-six defense, a formation of the 4-3 defense featuring several dramatic shifts of personnel. The remaining safety, which is the safety, stays in the backfield. It was invented by Buddy Ryan during his tenure as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and was popularized by the Bears during their Super Bowl XX championship season,50 defense or 5-2 defense A once popular college defense with five defensive linemen and two linebackers. Also known as the Oklahoma defense, it is very similar to the 3-4. In the 50 defense, the uses a nose tackle. It maximizes size along the line of scrimmage and is used in high school against teams that run the ball a lot. 53-man roster The most players a National Football League team can carry on its roster at the start of the regular season. To reach the deadline, teams can cut players, add players to their practice squad, 7-box or 7-2-2 defense A defensive formation with seven linemen, two linebackers, and two defensive backs
25.
1998 Denver Broncos season
–
The 1998 Denver Broncos season was the franchises 39th season in the National Football League, and the 49th overall. This season had a record of 14–2, second best in the NFL and they won their first thirteen games, the best start since the unbeaten 1972 Dolphins. In 2007, the 1998 Broncos were ranked as the 12th greatest Super Bowl champions on the NFL Networks documentary series Americas Game, the Broncos drafted Tennessee wide receiver Marcus Nash with the 30th overall pick and Michigan Quarterback Brian Griese in the 3rd round, 91st pick overall. Broncos become the team in the last 10 years to repeat as Super Bowl champions, along with the San Francisco 49ers. John Elway was voted Super Bowl MVP, the Broncos won their first 13 games of the season. There was much speculation that they might finish 19–0 and the Broncos were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, however, they were upset by the New York Giants in week 15 by a score of 20–16. They finished the regular season 14–2 after losing to the Dolphins in their first encounter with that team since 1985 and they finished first in the AFC West and won their divisional playoff game against the Miami Dolphins 38–3 for their first win over the Dolphins since 1968. They then won the AFC Championship over the Bill Parcells coached New York Jets 23–10 after coming back from a 10–0 deficit, the Broncos defeated the Falcons 34–19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. Elway was the Super Bowl MVP and Davis rushed for over 100 yards and it was Elways last game, and until the 2013 season, the last time Denver reached the Super Bowl. The Broncos had 3,808 yards passing, sixth in the league and they had 2,468 yards rushing, second in the league and 26 rushing touchdowns, first in the league. They had 6,276 total yards, third best and they gave up 3,983 passing yards, a low 28 out of 30 in the NFL, but were third in rushing yards given up with 1,287. They gave up 5,270 yards, 12th in the NFL and they scored 501 points, second in the league and gave up 309, eighth fewest in the league. The teams 14–2 record is currently their best 16-game record in franchise history, Elway threw for 2,806 yards for the season,22 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Davis rushed for 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns, rod Smith had 86 receptions for 1,222 yards and six touchdowns. Ed McCaffrey had 64 receptions for 1,053 yards, shannon Sharpe had 64 receptions for 768 yards. Jason Elam kicked 23 out of 27 field goals and 58 out of 58 extra points including a 63-yard field goal to tie Tom Dempsey with the longest field goal in NFL history at that time, the record has since been eclipsed by another Denver Bronco. Steve Atwater, Davis, Elway, Tony Jones, Mark Schlereth, McCaffrey, Tom Nalen, Bill Romanowski, and Sharpe made the Pro Bowl. com
26.
Super Bowl XXXIII
–
The Broncos defeated the Falcons by the score of 34–19, winning their second consecutive Super Bowl. The game was played on January 31,1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos entered the game with an AFC-best 14–2 regular season record. The Falcons, under former Denver head coach Dan Reeves, were making their first Super Bowl appearance after posting a 14–2 regular season record. Aided by quarterback John Elways 80-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rod Smith, at 38 years old, Elway became the oldest player, at the time, to be named Super Bowl MVP. In the final game of his career, he completed 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards with one touchdown and one interception, Elway retired on May 2,1999 before the following season. NFL owners then awarded Super Bowl XXXIII to the Miami area during their October 31,1996 meeting in New Orleans, other cities under consideration were Atlanta, Tampa, and Los Angeles. Owners initially planned on selecting only two hosts, but decided to name three after strong showings by the respective delegations, Miami, Atlanta, and Tampa were selected to host XXXIII, XXXIV, and XXXV, respectively. This was the time that the South Florida area hosted the game. This started a streak of 11 straight Super Bowls in which every game with the NFC as the team was played outdoors. Following the Broncos victory during Super Bowl XXXII the previous season, but Elway decided to stay with Denver and see if he could lead them to a second consecutive championship. But Davis rushing numbers did not reduce Elways passing production, the 38-year-old quarterback made the Pro Bowl for the 3rd year in a row and the 9th time in his career, throwing for 2,806 yards and 22 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions. A big reason for Elways passing success was that he had two Pro Bowl wide receivers and a Pro Bowl tight end to throw to. Wide receivers Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith provided the team with outstanding deep threats, the Broncos also had three Pro Bowlers anchoring their offensive line, center Tom Nalen, guard Mark Schlereth, and tackle Tony Jones. On special teams, running back Vaughn Hebron returned 46 kickoffs for 1,216 yards, the Broncos defense typically did not get as much attention as their offense, but it was still effective, giving up 308 points. Up front, the line was anchored by defensive tackles Maa Tanuvasa and Trevor Pryce, behind them, Pro Bowl linebacker Bill Romanowski recorded 55 tackles,7.5 sacks,3 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. The secondary was led by Pro Bowler Steve Atwater and Darrien Gordon, who led the team with 4 interceptions, which he returned for 125 yards, Gordon was also a great punt returner, returning 34 punts for 379 yards. The Falcons advanced to their first Super Bowl in franchise history, like the Broncos, they finished the 1998 regular season with a 14–2 record, including wins in each of their last nine games. But unlike the Broncos, Atlantas success in 1998 was very surprising to many because they had a 7–9 record in the previous season, in fact, the team recorded just four winning seasons in the last 20 years prior to 1998, and only two in the 1990s
27.
2016 NFL season
–
For the first time since the 2003 NFL season, neither of the previous seasons Super Bowl participants made the playoffs. The 2016 season was also the last season for the San Diego Chargers before their return to their city of Los Angeles for 2017. The 2016 NFL league year began on March 9,2016 at 4,00 p. m. ET, all 2015 players contracts expired and trading period for 2016 begin. A total of 496 players were eligible for some form of free agency at the beginning of the free agency period, in addition, a number of highly paid players were released after the start of the league year to allow their teams to regain space under the salary cap. On March 9, the Philadelphia Eagles traded cornerback Byron Maxwell, linebacker Kiko Alonso, on March 9, the Philadelphia Eagles traded running back DeMarco Murray along with a 2016 fourth-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round draft pick. On March 11, the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Mark Sanchez to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a conditional 2017 seventh-round draft pick. On March 15, the New England Patriots traded Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper and a 2016 second-round draft pick. On March 16, the Chicago Bears traded tight end Martellus Bennett along with a 2016 sixth-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round draft pick. On April 9, the Denver Broncos traded offensive tackle Ryan Clady, on August 16, the Tennessee Titans traded wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for G/T Dennis Kelly. On September 3, the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2017 first-round draft pick, on October 31, the New England Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a conditional 2017 third-round draft pick. The 2016 NFL Draft was held between April 28 − April 30,2016 in Chicago, by way of a trade with the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Rams held the first overall pick and selected QB Jared Goff. Oakland Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson announced he would retire from football at the end of the 2015 season on December 21,2015. He played eighteen seasons, starting with the Raiders for eight seasons and after spending seven with the Green Bay Packers, he returned to the Raiders for his final three seasons. He was the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2009 season and is tied with Rod Woodson, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch announced his retirement from professional football on February 7,2016. Lynch played nine seasons, four with the Buffalo Bills and the five with the Seahawks. Lynch was a five-time Pro Bowler, led the league in rushing touchdowns two seasons, co-led in total touchdowns one season, and won a title with the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen announced his retirement from football on February 18,2016. Allen played twelve seasons, his first four with the Kansas City Chiefs, then six with the Minnesota Vikings, a five-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro selection, Allen tallied 136 quarterback sacks during his career
28.
Super Bowl LI
–
Super Bowl LI was an American football game to determine the champion of the National Football League for the 2016 season. The Patriots 25-point comeback is the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, the game was played at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, February 5,2017. The Falcons entered the game completing a 11–5 regular season record. After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta scored 21 unanswered points before New England made a goal with two seconds left in the second period to make it a 21–3 halftime lead. The Falcons then increased their lead, 28–3, midway through the quarter with quarterback Matt Ryan completing his second touchdown pass. The Patriots then scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game, 28–28, New England won the overtime coin toss, took the ball, and drove 75 yards to win with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back James White. When the game ended, more than 30 team and individual Super Bowl records had been broken or matched. Whites 14 receptions and his 20 points scored were among these broken records, foxs broadcast of the game averaged around 111.3 million viewers, down from the previous Super Bowl. Average TV viewership for the show, headlined by Lady Gaga, was higher at 117.5 million. The NFL selected the sites for Super Bowl 50 and Super Bowl LI at the owners spring meetings in Boston on May 21,2013. On October 16,2012, the NFL announced that Reliant Stadium in Houston, Houston then competed against the runner-up for the site of Super Bowl 50, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The South Florida bid for either Super Bowl partially depended on whether the stadium underwent renovations, however, on May 3, the Florida Legislature refused to approve the funding plan to pay for the renovations, dealing a blow to South Floridas chances. The NFL ultimately selected Houston as the host city of Super Bowl LI and it was also the third time the Super Bowl has been played in Houston, with Super Bowl VIII in 1974 having been held at Rice Stadium. Subsequently, the NFL announced it would not alter plans to have the city host Super Bowl LI, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair donated $10,000 to Campaign for Houston, an organization that opposes the ordinance, which he later rescinded. McNair has a history of supporting conservative political causes. Corporate sponsorship and entertainment backlash against Super Bowl LI still exist, in 2016 New England tied an NFL record, earning 12+ wins for the seventh consecutive season. They scored 441 points while allowing the fewest in the league, Brady missed the first four games of the year on suspension due to a 2014 postseason incident known as Deflategate. Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett each started two games in Bradys place.2 passer rating ranked second in the NFL, the teams leading receiver was Julian Edelman, who caught 98 passes for 1,106 yards and added 135 more returning punts
29.
Dallas Cowboys
–
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League as a club of the leagues National Football Conference East division. The team is headquartered in Frisco, Texas, and plays its games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The stadium took its current name prior to the 2013 season, the Cowboys joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. The teams national following might best be represented by its NFL record of consecutive sell-outs, the Cowboys streak of 190 consecutive sold-out regular and post-season games began in 2002. This has also corresponded to eight NFC championships, most in the NFC, the Cowboys are the only NFL team to record 20 straight winning seasons, in which they only missed the playoffs twice, an NFL record that remains unchallenged. In 2015, the Dallas Cowboys became the first sports team to be valued at $4 billion, making it the most valuable team in the world. The Cowboys also generated $620 million in revenue in 2014, a record for a U. S. sports team. Prior to the formation of the Dallas Cowboys, there had not been an NFL team south of Washington, D. C. since the Dallas Texans folded in 1952. Oilman Clint Murchison Jr. had been trying to get an NFL expansion team in Dallas, Murchison had tried to purchase the Washington Redskins from Marshall in 1958. An agreement was struck, but as the deal was about to be finalized and this infuriated Murchison and he called off the deal. Marshall then opposed any franchise for Murchison in Dallas, since NFL expansion needed unanimous approval from team owners at that time, Marshalls position would prevent Murchison from joining the league. Marshall had an out with the Redskins band leader Barnee Breeskin. Breeskin had written the music to the Redskins fight song Hail to the Redskins, Breeskin owned the rights to the song and was aware of Murchisons plight to get an NFL franchise. Angry with Marshall, Breeskin approached Murchisons attorney to him the rights to the song before the expansion vote in 1959. Murchison purchased Hail to the Redskins for $2,500, before the vote to award franchises in 1959, Murchison revealed to Marshall that he owned the song and Marshall could not play it during games. After a few Marshall expletives, Murchison gave the rights to Hail to the Redskins to Marshall for his vote, the one against Murchison getting a franchise at that time. From 1970 through 1979, the Cowboys won 105 regular season games, in addition, they appeared in 5 and won two Super Bowls, at the end of the 1971 and 1977 regular seasons
30.
Hail Mary pass
–
A Hail Mary pass is a very long forward pass in American football, made in desperation with only a small chance of success. In the Hail Mary pass all receivers run straight toward the end zone, previous to this play, a last-second desperation pass had been called several names, most notably the Alley-Oop. The expression goes back at least to the 1930s, being used publicly in that decade by two members of Notre Dames Four Horsemen, Elmer Layden and Jim Crowley. For more than forty years, use of the term was confined to Notre Dame. Quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, another of the Horsemen, threw a pass over the middle to Paul Castner for the score. The ritual was repeated before a third and goal play, again at Tech’s six and this time Stuhldreher ran for a touchdown, which sealed the win for Notre Dame. After the game, Kizer exclaimed to Crowley, “Say, that Hail Mary is the best play we’ve got. ”Crowley related this story many times in public speeches beginning in the 1930s, Notre Dame head coach Elmer Layden afterwards called it a “Hail Mary” play. An early appearance of the term was in an Associated Press story about the upcoming 1941 Orange Bowl between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Georgetown Hoyas. The piece appeared in newspapers including the December 31,1940 Daytona Beach Morning Journal under the headline, Orange Bowl. As the article explained, A ‘hail Mary’ pass, in the talk of the Washington eleven, is one that is thrown with a prayer because the odds against completion are big. During an NBC broadcast in 1963, Staubach, then a Navy quarterback, described a play during his team’s victory over Michigan that year as a “Hail Mary play. ”He scrambled to escape a pass rush. Arguably the most memorable and replayed Hail Mary pass came on November 23,1984 in a game now known as Hail Flutie. Miamis defense was based on the assumption that Flutie couldnt throw the ball as far as the end zone, to commemorate the play, a statue of Flutie in his Hail Mary passing pose was unveiled outside Alumni Stadium at Boston College on November 7,2008. September 24,1994, Known as the Miracle at Michigan, November 9,2002, Known as the Bluegrass Miracle, LSU quarterback Marcus Randall threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devery Henderson in the game to defeat Kentucky 33–30. October 22,2011, Known as Rocket, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keith Nichol to beat Wisconsin 37–31. September 5,2015, Known as the Miracle at Memorial and this play snapped a string of 29 consecutive home opener victories for the Cornhuskers. This game was Mangums first organized game in nearly four years. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard touchdown pass, which was caught in the end zone by tight end Richard Rodgers to win the game 27–23
31.
Roger Staubach
–
Roger Thomas Staubach, nicknamed Captain America and Captain Comeback, is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended the U. S. Naval Academy where he won the 1963 Heisman Trophy, Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1969 and played with the club during all 11 seasons of his career. He led the team to the Super Bowl five times, four as the starting quarterback and he led the Cowboys to victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times during his 11-year NFL career and he is currently executive chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Staubach is of German descent and grew up in Silverton, roger was an only child and a Boy Scout as a youth. He attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, and graduated from a Catholic high school, after one year at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, Staubach entered the U. S. Naval Academy in 1961 and played quarterback for the Midshipmen. As a third-class midshipman in 1962, he got his first opportunity to play in the game of the season. He relieved starter Ron Klemick as the Minnesota defense, led by Bobby Bell, Staubach was 0–2 passing and was sacked twice for -24 yards. A week later, against Cornell, with the offense misfiring and he led Navy to six touchdowns, throwing for 99 yards and two touchdowns while running for 88 yards and another score as Navy won 41–0. He led the team to a 34–14 upset over Army, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another, on New Years Day, the Midshipmen lost the national championship to No.1 University of Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Earlier that season, Staubach led Navy to a 35–14 road victory in its rivalry with Notre Dame. Navy did not beat Notre Dame again until 2007,44 years later, in his three seasons at Navy, he completed 292 of 463 passes with 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, while gaining a school record 4,253 yards of total offense. Staubach is the last player from an academy to win the Heisman Trophy. As a senior in 1964, he injured his heel in the opening game victory over Penn State and missed the next four games. The Naval Academy retired Staubachs jersey number during his graduation ceremony after his senior season, in 1981 Staubach was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2007 Staubach was ranked No.9 on ESPNs Top 25 Players In College Football History list and his collegiate football career completed, Staubach closed out his Academy sports career as captain of the Academys 1965 baseball team. During his junior year at the Naval Academy, Staubachs color-blindness was detected, after graduating from the Naval Academy in June 1965, Staubach could have requested an assignment in the States, but he chose to volunteer for a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. He served as a Supply Corps officer for the Navy at the Chu Lai base/port until 1967 and he returned from Vietnam in September 1967, and spent the rest of his naval career in the United States
32.
Drew Pearson (American football)
–
Drew Pearson is a sportscaster and former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Tulsa, Pearson was born and raised in South River, New Jersey, and began his football career at South River High School as one of the wide receivers of Joe Theismann. As a junior, he succeeded Theismann as the starting quarterback and he also lettered in baseball and basketball, graduating in 1969. He accepted a scholarship from the University of Tulsa. He started four games at quarterback as a sophomore, the next year was converted into a wide receiver, registering 22 receptions for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns. As a senior, he led an offense with 33 receptions for 690 yards and 5 touchdowns. He finished his career with 55 receptions for 1,119 yards,8 touchdowns. Pearson received the Universitys Presidents Award as the teams best spirited, in 1985, he was inducted into the Tulsa Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1973, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He appeared in 16 games with 6 starts, making 22 receptions for 388 yards and 2 touchdowns, in 1974, Stowe asked to be traded and Pearson became the full-time starter opposite Golden Richards. He led the team with 62 receptions and 1,087 yards and he would keep leading the team in receiving until 1978, when Tony Hill took over the number one role at wide receiver. Pearson and Hill also became the first wide receiver tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1, in 1980, he surpassed Bob Hayes club mark in receptions and was selected by the Cowboys as their nominee for NFL Man of the Year. In 1983, he passed Hayes as the leader in receiving yards. In March 1984 he fell asleep while driving his Dodge Daytona, the accident ended his younger brother’s life and forced him to retire from the liver injury he suffered. Pearson helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl appearances and a victory in Super Bowl XII in 1978 and he also scored a touchdown in Super Bowl X. Pearson was known as Mr. All three of those plays were named among the Top 75 plays in NFL history by NFL Films in 1994, in addition in the 1980 playoff game at Atlanta, Pearsons clutch receptions helped win that game in a comeback by the Cowboys. Pearson was named one of the Top 20 Pro Football All-Time wide receivers, Pearson was named All-Pro three times All-NFC in 1975 and second Team All-NFC in 1978. In addition, Pearson was a Pro Bowler in 1974,1976 and 1977 and he led the National Football Conference in pass receptions in 1976 with 58
33.
Pass interference
–
In American and Canadian gridiron football, pass interference is a foul that occurs when a player interferes with an eligible receivers ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, pulling, or cutting in front of the receiver, covering the receivers face and it does not include catching or batting the ball before it reaches the receiver. Once a forward pass is in the air it is a loose ball, when a defensive player catches a forward pass it is an interception and his team gains possession of the ball. Some actions that are defined as pass interference may be overlooked if the defender is attempting to catch or bat the ball rather than focusing on the receiver, the intended receiver may find himself a defender if a defensive player has a better chance to catch a forward pass. If an offensive player commits pass interference against a player attempting to intercept a forward pass it is offensive pass interference. In the NFL, the rule is that there can be no pass interference at or behind the line of scrimmage. In Canadian football, pass rules are applied throughout the field of play. In the same situation in Canadian football, the defender can be called for pass interference if his contact is deemed illegal, offensive pass interference cannot be called behind the line of scrimmage in American football. In Canadian football, although the pass interference rule applies, offensive players are allowed to interfere with a defender attempting to intercept a screen pass. If the pass is deemed to be uncatchable, pass interference rules do not apply in American college football or the NFL and this rule does not apply in American high school football. In the NFL, the defender may make contact with receiver within the first five yards of the line of scrimmage. Anything after that is penalized as illegal contact, accidental, glancing contact is not penalized. In high school and college, the defender may make contact with the receiver as long as the receiver is in front of the defender and these provisions end when the pass is in the air. If the incident occurred on a special teams play, the rule does not apply under NFL rules. In the NFL and the Canadian Football League the penalty for pass interference is an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. If the foul occurs in the end zone, the ball will be placed at the one-yard line. In U. S. college football and amateur Canadian football, the penalty is to the spot of the foul, up to a maximum of 15 yards from the spot. In U. S. high school rules the penalty is 15 yards from the spot with the down replayed for both offensive and defensive pass interference
34.
Washington Redskins
–
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Redskins compete in the National Football League as a member of the National Football Conference East division. The Redskins have played more than 1,000 games since 1932, the Redskins have won five NFL Championships. The franchise has captured 14 NFL divisional titles and six NFL conference championships, the Redskins were the first team in the NFL with an official marching band, and also the first team to have a fight song, Hail to the Redskins. The team began play as the Boston Braves in 1932, based in Boston, before relocating to Washington, the Redskins won the 1937 and 1942 Championship games, as well as Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI. They also played in, and lost, the 1936,1940,1943 and they have made 24 postseason appearances, and have an overall postseason record of 23–18. All of the Redskins league titles were attained during two 10-year spans, from 1936 to 1945, the Redskins went to the NFL Championship six times, winning two of them. The second period lasted between 1982 and 1991 where the Redskins appeared in the seven times, captured four Conference titles. The Redskins have also experienced failure in their history, the most notable period of general failure was from 1946 to 1970, during which the Redskins posted only four winning seasons and did not have a single postseason appearance. During this period, the Redskins went without a winning season during the years 1956–1968. In 1961, the franchise posted their worst regular season record with a 1–12–1 showing, since 1992, the Redskins have only won the NFC East three times, made five postseason appearances, and had nine seasons with a winning record.85 billion. They also set the NFL record for attendance in 2007. The team name and logo have been the subject of controversy, with lawsuits being filed by Native American groups who consider the team name, polls conducted in the 2010s have shown a lack of major support among fans for a name change. The team originated as the Boston Braves, based in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1932, at the time the team played in Braves Field, home of the Boston Braves baseball team. The following year the club moved to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, to round out the change, Marshall hired William Lone Star Dietz, who was part Sioux, as the teams head coach. However, Boston wasnt much of a town at the time. The Redskins relocated to Washington, D. C. in 1937, in their early years in Washington, the Redskins shared Griffith Stadium with the Washington Senators baseball team. The Redskins played and won their first game in Washington, D. C. on September 16,1937, on December 5,1937, they earned their first division title in Washington against the Giants, 49–14, for the Eastern Championship
35.
Running back
–
A running back is an American and Canadian football position, a member of the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a play, to catch passes from out of the backfield. There are usually one or two running backs on the field for a play, depending on the offensive formation. A running back may be a halfback or a fullback, a running back will sometimes be called a feature back if he is the teams starting running back. The halfback or tailback position is responsible for carrying the ball on the majority of running plays, in the modern game, an effective halfback must have a blend of both quickness and agility as a runner, as well as sure hands and good vision up-field as a receiver. Quarterbacks depend on halfbacks as a safety valve receiver when primary targets downfield are covered or when they are under pressure, occasionally, halfbacks line up as additional wide receivers. As a trick play, running backs are used to pass the ball on a halfback option play or halfback pass. The difference between halfback and tailback is the position of the player in the offensive formation. In historical formations, the lined up approximately halfway between the line of scrimmage and the fullback. Because the halfback is usually the main ball carrier, modern offensive formations have positioned the halfback behind the fullback. As a result, some systems or playbooks will call for a tailback as opposed to a halfback, in most modern college and professional football schemes, fullbacks carry the ball infrequently, instead using their stronger physiques as primary lead blockers. On most running plays, the leads the halfback, attempting to block potential tacklers before they reach the ball carrier. When fullbacks are called upon to carry the ball, the situation calls for gaining a short amount of yardage. Fullbacks are technically running backs, but today the term running back is used in referring to the halfback or tailback. Although modern fullbacks are rarely used as carriers, in previous offensive schemes fullbacks would be the designated ball carriers. In high school football, where player sizes vary greatly, fullbacks are still used as ball carriers. In high school and college offenses, the triple option uses the fullback as a primary ball carrier. The fullback plays a role by establishing an inside running threat on every play
