Highlighted Year: Derrick Crawford, 1984

Wide Receiver, Memphis Showboats

Age: 23

1^st season in pro football

College: Memphis State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 185

Prelude:

Crawford caught 63 passes for 1117 yards (17.7 avg.) and five touchdowns and averaged 21.3 yards on 45 kickoff returns in college. The Showboats took him in the 1984 USFL territorial draft and he proved to be productive as both the team’s top pass receiver as well as a kick returner.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in all 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 61 [13]          

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 21 yds.) at Los Angeles 4/14, (for 86 yds.) at Tampa Bay 6/9, (for 52 yds.) vs. Birmingham 6/16

Yards – 703

Most yards, game – 86 (on 6 catches) at Tampa Bay 6/9

Average gain – 11.5

TDs – 12 [4]

Rushing

Attempts – 13

Yards – 27

Average gain – 2.1

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 47 [1]

Yards – 1237 [1]

Most yards, game – 152 (on 4 ret.) at Oakland 5/19

Average per return – 26.3 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with Clarence Verdin & Greg Taylor]

Longest return – 97 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 3

Yards – -1

Average per return – -0.3

TDs – 0

Longest return – 1 yard

Scoring

TDs – 13 [9, tied with four others]

Points – 78

Awards & Honors:

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

Showboats went 7-11 to finish fourth in the USFL Southern Division.  

Aftermath:

Crawford followed up in 1985 with 70 catches for 1057 yards (15.1 avg.) and 9 touchdowns. He was used less for returning kickoffs, averaging 23.9 yards on 11 returns, but had a touchdown among his eight punt returns. With the demise of the USFL, Crawford signed with the 49ers, who had selected him in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft, for 1986. He caught just five passes as a backup wide receiver and averaged 18.7 yards on 15 kickoff returns in his one year in San Francisco. Crawford later moved on to the CFL where he spent four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, catching 174 passes for 3026 yards and 27 TDs. His best seasons came in 1990, when he gained 1096 yards on 57 pass receptions that included 11 touchdowns and he received All-Western Division recognition and 1993, when he again caught 57 passes for 1007 yards and 10 TDs. Crawford’s career ended with a three-game stint with Birmingham in ’95. Overall in the USFL, Crawford had 131 catches for 1760 yards and 21 touchdowns and averaged 25.9 yards on 58 kickoff returns.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Lynn Chandnois, 1951

Tailback/Halfback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 26

2^nd season in pro football & with Steelers

College: Michigan State

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

Following two years of military service during World War II, Chandnois was an all-purpose star at Michigan State, rushing for 885 yards on 129 carries, intercepting 7 passes, and accumulating 1382 total yards as a senior in 1949, when he received some All-American recognition. Overall, he gained 3535 all-purpose yards, including 2103 rushing with a 6.6-yard average, and set school career records for interceptions (20) and interception return yards (410). Chandnois was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 1950 NFL draft (eighth overall). With speed and excellent running ability in the open field, he made his biggest mark as a rookie returning kickoffs as he averaged 29.3 yards on 12 returns. His numbers were more modest on offense, where he gained 216 yards on 71 rushing attempts (3.0 avg.) and caught 7 passes for 158 yards (22.6 avg.).

1951 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 108 [12]

Most attempts, game – 17 (for 60 yds.) vs. San Francisco 10/14

Yards – 332

Most yards, game – 76 yards (on 16 carries) at Green Bay 10/7

Yards per attempt – 3.1

TDs – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 28 [20, tied with Fred Cone, John Hoffman & Elbie Nickel]

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 89 yds.) at Washington 12/16

Yards – 440

Most yards, game – 104 (on 3 catches) vs. NY Giants 10/1

Yards per catch – 15.7 [13]

TDs – 4 [12, tied with four others]

100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing

Attempts – 43

Completions – 16

Yards – 256

Completion percentage – 37.2

Yards per attempt – 6.0

TD passes – 2 [19, tied with five others]

Most TD passes, game – 1 at Chi. Cards 10/28, vs. Green Bay 11/11

Interceptions – 4

Passer rating – 34.6

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 12 [15]

Yards – 390 [10]

Average per return – 32.5 [1]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 55 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 12 [18, tied with Buddy Young & Vitamin Smith]

Yards – 55

Average per return – 4.6 [19]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 20 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1217 [6]

Scoring

TDs – 6         

Points – 36

Steelers went 4-7-1 to finish fourth in the NFL American Conference.

Aftermath:

Chandnois again led the NFL by averaging 35.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns in 1952, two of which were touchdowns. He also rushed for 298 yards and caught 28 passes for 370 on his way to accumulating 1378 total yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl. His most productive season came in 1953, when he achieved career highs in rushing attempts (123), yards (470), and pass receptions (43), and averaged 29.0 yards on 21 kickoff returns, leading the league with 1593 all-purpose yards. Chandnois was again named to the Pro Bowl. He spent three more seasons with the Steelers, with declining numbers due to injuries, until 1956. Overall, he averaged 29.6 yards on 92 kickoff returns, still among the highest marks in NFL history. Chandnois also rushed for 1934 yards on 593 carries (3.3 avg.), caught 162 passes for 2012 yards (12.4 avg.), and averaged 4.7 yards on 66 punt returns. In all, Chandnois accumulated 6978 all-purpose yards and scored a total of 26 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Ron Brown, 1985

Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams

Age: 24

2^nd season in pro football & with Rams

College: Arizona State

Height: 5’11” Weight: 181

Prelude:

Brown was a track star who set an Arizona State record in the 100-meter dash while also playing football, where he was a defensive back for three seasons prior to switching to wide receiver in 1982. He caught 19 passes that year, but five of them were for touchdowns as he averaged 20.8 yards-per-catch. Chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft, Brown delayed his pro football career in order to participate in the 1984 Olympics where he won a gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay event. He joined the Rams, who acquired his rights, for the ’84 season and caught 23 passes for 478 yards (20.8 avg.) and four TDs.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in 13 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 14      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 87 yds.) vs. Green Bay 11/24

Yards – 215

Most yards, game – 87 (on 5 catches) vs. Green Bay 11/24

Average gain – 15.4

TDs – 3

Rushing

Attempts – 2

Yards – 13

Average gain – 6.5

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 28 [19, tied with Clyde Duncan & Carl Monroe]

Yards – 918 [8]

Most yards, game – 184 (on 2 ret.) vs. Green Bay 11/24 (2 TD)

Average per return – 32.8 [1]

TDs – 3 [1]

Longest return – 98 yards

Scoring

TDs – 6

Points – 36

Postseason: 2 G

Kickoff returns – 3

Kickoff return yds. – 63

Kickoff return avg. – 21.0

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 2

Pass receiving yards – 14

Average gain – 7.0

Pass receiving TDs – 0

(Statistics all accumulated in NFC Championship at Chicago)

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Rams went 11-5 to finish first in the NFC West. Won NFC Divisional playoff over Dallas Cowboys (20-0). Lost NFC Championship to Chicago Bears (21-0).  

Aftermath:

Brown spent the next four seasons on-and-off with the Rams, although he never again approached his 1985 kickoff return average. While having tremendous speed, Brown lacked reliability as a pass receiver and had problems with nagging injuries. He caught 25 passes for 396 yards (15.8 avg.) in 1986 and 26 for 521 yards (20.0 avg.) in ’87, totaling five TDs in what were his most productive pass receiving seasons. Facing protracted problems with negotiating a new contract with the Rams, Brown briefly retired in 1988 but, failing in an Olympic comeback, returned to the club during the season. He played for the Raiders in 1990, where he was shifted to cornerback, before returning to the Rams in ’91, his last year. Overall, as a kickoff returner he averaged 22.6 yards on 199 returns with four touchdowns. His pass receiving totals, all with the Rams, were 98 catches for 1791 yards (18.3 avg.) and 13 TDs. The 1985 season remained the only one in which he received All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Chet Mutryn, 1947

Halfback, Buffalo Bills

Age: 26

2^nd season in pro football & with Bisons/Bills

College: Xavier (OH)

Height: 5’9”   Weight: 180

Prelude:

Mutryn, who played basketball and baseball as well as football in college, was a two-time Little All-American. Proficient on defense and as a kicker in addition to starring at tailback, he set school records with 12 touchdowns and 96 points scored in 1942. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 20^th round of the ’43 NFL draft but, following service in the US Navy during World War II, he signed with the Cleveland Browns of the new AAFC in 1946. Mutryn was dealt to the Buffalo Bisons prior to the season where he was reunited with Clem Crowe, his coach at Xavier who was now an assistant with Buffalo. In his first AAFC season, Mutryn rushed for 289 yards, averaging 5.1 yards-per-carry, and caught seven passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. His role increased with the re-named Bills in 1947.

1947 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 140 [7]

Yards – 868 [4]

Yards per attempt – 6.2 [2]

TDs – 9 [2, tied with Mickey Colmer]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 10

Yards – 176

Yards per catch – 17.6

TDs – 2 [16, tied with fourteen others]

Interceptions

Interceptions – 1

Return yards – 11

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 21 [2, tied with Monk Gafford]

Yards – 691 [1]

Average per return – 32.9 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with five others]

Longest return – 87 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 13 [4, tied with Billy Hillenbrand]

Yards – 187 [4]

Average per return – 14.4

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1933 [2]

Kicking

PATs – 1 [11, tied with five others]

PAT attempts – 2 [11, tied with Chet Adams & Frankie Albert]

Scoring

PATs – 1

TDs – 12 [2]  

Points – 73 [3]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AAFC: League, NY Daily News

Bills went 8-4-2 to finish second in the AAFC Eastern Division.

Aftermath:

Mutryn followed up with strong all-around seasons in 1948 and ’49. He rushed for 823 yards and a league-leading 10 TDs in ’48 while catching 39 passes for 794 yards (20.4 avg.) and again led the AAFC by averaging 26.3 yards returning kickoffs. He topped the circuit with 2288 all-purpose yards and 96 points on his 16 touchdowns. Mutryn again led the league in all-purpose yards with 1330 in 1949, which included 696 rushing yards and 333 on pass receptions. With the demise of the AAFC, he joined the Baltimore Colts, who transferred to the NFL, and gained 1187 total yards, primarily with 355 rushing yards and 379 on 36 catches in 1950, after which he retired. Overall, Mutryn gained 3031 yards on 583 rushing attempts (5.2 avg.), 1850 on 121 pass receptions, averaged 26.1 yards on 73 kickoff returns, and 13.1 yards returning 41 punts. He accumulated 7320 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns. Of those totals, 2676 rushing yards on 475 attempts, 1471 yards on 85 pass receptions, a 27.7-yard kickoff return average and 14.1 punt return average resulting in 6133 total yards and 38 TDs came in the AAFC with Buffalo. He received first-team All-AAFC honors three times.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Tim Brown, 1988

Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Raiders

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Notre Dame

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

The versatile Brown was utilized primarily as a flanker in college and also as a runner from scrimmage and kick returner. He ended up as Notre Dame’s all-time pass receiving yardage leader (2493 on 137 catches), returned six kicks (three punts and three kickoffs) for touchdowns, and won the 1987 Heisman Trophy as well as receiving consensus All-American honors. Brown was chosen by the Raiders in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft (sixth overall) and had an impact both as a pass receiver and kick returner.

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 43      

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 95 yds.) vs. Kansas City 10/30

Yards – 725

Most yards, game – 114 (on 4 catches) at Seattle 11/28

Average gain – 16.9 [15]

TDs – 5

100-yard receiving games – 1

Rushing

Attempts – 14

Most attempts, game – 3 (for 17 yds.) at Denver 9/26, (for 13 yds.) vs. Miami 10/9, (for 17 yds.) vs. Atlanta 11/20

Yards – 50

Most yards, game – 17 yards (on 3 carries) at Denver 9/26, (on 3 carries) vs. Atlanta 11/20

Average gain – 3.6

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 41 [1, tied with Joe Cribbs]

Yards – 1098 [1]

Most yards, game – 178 (on 5 ret.) at Seattle 11/28

Average per return – 26.8 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with seven others]

Longest return – 97 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 49 [2]

Yards – 444 [3]

Most yards, game – 102 (on 7 ret.) at San Diego 11/6

Average per return – 9.1 [14]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 36 yards

All-Purpose yards – 2317 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 7

Points – 42

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: PFWA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Raiders went 7-9 to finish third in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Brown’s 1989 season ended with torn knee ligaments in the opening game and he was slow to come back, following up with a mediocre year in ’90. He began to return to form in 1991 and ’92, catching 36 and 49 passes, respectively, before breaking out with 80 receptions for 1180 yards and seven TDs in 1993. It was the first of seven straight seasons in which he had at least 80 catches and nine consecutive thousand-yard receiving totals, with highs of 104 receptions and 1408 yards in 1997. While lacking his former speed, Brown remained a dangerous runner after the catch. He stayed with the Raiders, who returned to Oakland in 1995, through the 2003 season, a total of 16 years, and caught 1070 passes for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns, all franchise records, as well as his 104 total TDs. He finished up with Tampa Bay in 2004, bringing his career totals to 1094 pass receptions, which ranked third in NFL history at the time, for a second-ranked 14,934 yards and 100 TDs. He added another 45 catches for 581 yards and three TDs in 12 postseason games. As a kick returner, he averaged 25.2 yards on 49 kickoff returns with one TD and 10.2 yards on 326 punt returns, scoring three touchdowns. In all, he compiled 19,682 all-purpose yards, the league’s fifth highest total at the time. Brown received consensus first-team All-NFL honors once, at least some first-team recognition after one other season, was first- or second-team All-AFC seven times, and was selected to nine Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Josh Cribbs, 2007

Wide Receiver/Kick Returner, Cleveland Browns

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Browns

College: Kent State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 192

Prelude:

Cribbs played quarterback in college and twice both rushed and passed for over a thousand yards in a season. He went undrafted in 2005 and signed as a free agent with the Browns. Converted to wide receiver, Cribbs primarily returned kickoffs as a rookie, averaging 24.3 yards on 45 returns and scoring one touchdown. He averaged 24.5 yards and scored another TD in ’06, also catching 10 passes on offense. What he lacked in exceptional speed he made up for in sound running instincts. Having returned just seven punts in his first two years, Cribbs added that responsibility in 2007.

2007 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 59 [4, tied with Chris Carr & Glenn Holt]

Yards – 1809 [1]

Most yards, game – 245 (on 7 ret.) at Baltimore 11/18

Average per return – 30.7 [1]

TDs – 2 [3, tied with Devin Hester]

Longest return – 100 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 30 [12, tied with Adam Jennings, Ryne Robinson & Jacoby Jones]

Yards – 405 [4]

Most yards, game – 135 (on 4 ret.) vs. San Francisco 12/30

Average per return – 13.5 [4]

TDs – 1 [2, tied with 12 others]

Longest return – 76 yards

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 3        

Yards – 37

Average gain – 12.3

TDs – 0

Rushing

Attempts – 9

Yards – 61

Average gain – 6.8

TDs – 0

All-purpose yards – 2312 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 3

Points – 18

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: Sporting News

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Browns went 10-6 to finish second in the AFC North.

Aftermath:

Cribbs followed up in 2008 by averaging 25.2 yards on 44 kickoff returns with one TD and 8.1 yards returning 28 punts, and also led the club in tackles on special teams. In ’09, he received first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl honors after averaging 27.5 yards on 56 kickoff returns, three of which he returned for touchdowns, and 11.9 yards on 38 punt returns that also included a TD. While used more at wide receiver, the results were less impressive, although he ran the ball 55 times for 381 yards (6.9 avg.) and a score. In 2010, for the first time in his career Cribbs failed to return a kick for a touchdown and had a down year overall but had a stronger season in 2011 that included a punt return TD as well as his best pass receiving season, with 41 catches for 518 yards (12.6 avg.) and four touchdowns. He averaged 27.4 yards on kickoff returns and 12.0 running back punts in 2012 and received Pro Bowl recognition but was released by the Browns in the offseason and signed with Oakland. The Raiders cut him during the 2013 preseason and he caught on with the New York Jets, but his season was cut short by a shoulder injury. He appeared in six games with the Colts in 2014. Overall, Cribbs returned 426 kickoffs for a 26.1-yard average and NFL career-high eight touchdowns (along with Leon Washington) and 222 punts for an average of 10.7 yards and three TDs. 387 of his kickoff returns, for a 25.9-yard average, and 195 punt returns, for an 11.0 average, came with the Browns, as did all of his touchdowns on returns. Cribbs also caught 110 passes for 1175 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 808 yards. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors once and was named to the Pro Bowl three times.    

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Jon Arnett, 1957

Halfback, Los Angeles Rams

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Southern California

Height: 5’11” Weight: 194

Prelude:

“Jaguar Jon” received All-American recognition from the AP, NEA, and Football Writers Assoc. of America in 1955 and was recipient of the Voit Trophy as top college football player on the Pacific Coast in 1954 and ’55. His senior year was limited to five games due to NCAA sanctions that were leveled against USC. Arnett was a natural choice for the Rams in the first round of the ’57 NFL draft (second overall). His speed, agility, and outstanding running instincts made him a fit both at halfback and as a kick returner.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 86
Most attempts, game - 20 (for 42 yds.) vs. Baltimore 12/15

Yards – 347

Most yards, game – 149 yards (on 17 carries) at Green Bay 11/17

Average gain – 4.0 [15]

TDs – 2
100-yard rushing games - 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 18
Most receptions, game - 4 (for 65 yds.) at San Francisco 10/6

Yards – 322

Most yards, game – 137 (on 4 catches) at Chi. Bears 10/20

Average gain – 17.9

TDs – 3

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 18 [5]

Yards – 504 [5]

Average per return – 28.0 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with Billy Wells]

Longest return – 98 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 14 [13, tied with Bert Zagers]

Yards – 85 [10]

Average per return – 6.1 [5]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 22 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1258 [3]

Scoring

TDs – 6 [9, tied with ten others]

Points – 36 [19, tied with ten others]

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Rams went 6-6 to finish fourth in the NFL Western Conference while leading league in total yards (4143), rushing yards (2142), and scoring (307 points).

Aftermath:

Arnett was chosen to the Pro Bowl following each of his first five seasons and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1958 when he had career highs in rushing yards (683), pass receiving yards (494, on 35 catches), yards from scrimmage (1177), and all-purpose yards (1731) and he led the league in punt return yards (223) and average (12.4). He was used more as a spot player over the years, lining up at both halfback and flanker while continuing to return kicks. In 1961 Arnett received second-team All-NFL honors from the NEA, UPI, and New York Daily News in a year in which he ran the ball 158 times, his highest total, for 609 yards, gained 1531 all-purpose yards, and returned a kickoff 105 yards. Injuries became a factor in 1962 and ’63, and he was traded to the Chicago Bears prior to the 1964 season, having gained 8076 all-purpose yards in seven years with the Rams (2892 rushing, 1911 receiving, 683 on punt returns, and 2590 returning kickoffs). Arnett led the Bears with 400 rushing yards in ’64 but the arrival of rookie HB Gale Sayers in 1965 relegated him to a backup role in his last two seasons. Overall, Arnett rushed for 3833 yards on 964 carries (4.0 avg.), caught 222 passes for 2290 yards, averaged 8.2 yards on 120 punt returns and 24.7 yards on 126 kickoff returns. He scored a total of 39 touchdowns and was named to five Pro Bowls. Arnett was chosen to the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Percentage, Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

[Updated 2/21/17]

Highlighted Year: Michael Bates, 1996

Wide Receiver/Kick Returner, Carolina Panthers

Age: 27 (Dec. 19)

4^th season in pro football, 1^st with Panthers

College: Arizona

Height: 5’10” Weight: 189

Prelude:

Bates was a track as well as football star in college and won a bronze medal in the 200-yard dash at the 1992 Olympic games. A sixth-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in ’92, he delayed his pro debut until 1993 as a result of his Olympic participation. Used as a blocking fullback in college, Bates was shifted to wide receiver by the Seahawks, but he rarely saw action on offense. In two seasons with Seattle, he returned 56 kickoffs for a 19.8-yard average while catching a total of six passes, one for a touchdown. He was also good on kick coverage, but three concussions suffered in 1993 raised concerns. Waived by the Seahawks, he spent 1995 with the Browns before being dealt to Carolina.

1996 Season Summary

Appeared in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 33 [17, tied with Tamarick Vanover]

Yards – 998 [12]

Most yards, game – 138 (on 4 ret.) at Philadelphia 10/27

Average per return – 30.2 [1]

TDs – 1 [2, tied with six others]

Longest return – 93 yards

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 2 G

Kickoff returns – 9

Kickoff return yds. – 214

Most yards, game – 155 (on 5 ret.) vs. Dallas, NFC Divisional playoff

Kickoff return avg. – 23.8

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Panthers went 12-4 to finish first in the NFC West in just their second season while leading the NFL in kickoff return average (26.2). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Dallas Cowboys (26-17). Lost NFC Championship to Green Bay Packers (30-13).

Aftermath:

The outstanding performance in 1996 marked the first of five straight seaons in which he was selected to the Pro Bowl. Bates again led the NFL in kickoff return average in 1997 (27.3), and in his five years in Carolina returned 233 kickoffs for a 25.7-yard average and five touchdowns. Left unsigned after the 2000 season, he moved on to Washington in ’01 where he averaged 23.5 yards on 49 returns and was cut. Returning to the Panthers for 2002, Bates suffered an injury during the preseason that put him on injured reserve for the year and, after stints with the Jets and Cowboys in 2003, his career came to an end. Overall, he averaged 24.4 yards on 373 kickoff returns, was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once, received at least some All-NFL or All-NFC consideration after four other seasons, and gained selection to the Pro Bowl five times, noted for both his kick returning and kick coverage. He was named to the 1990s All-Decade team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

--

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970