MVP Profile: Mike Singletary, 1985

Linebacker, Chicago Bears

Age:  27 (Oct. 9)

5^th season in pro football & with Bears

College: Baylor

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 228

Prelude:

Singletary was taken by the Bears in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft and moved into the starting middle linebacker position during his rookie year. While there initially was concern about his lack of ideal size, by his third season in 1983 he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first of 10 straight years and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1984. Initially taken out of games in passing situations, he became adept at pass coverage as well as defense against the run. Singletary’s ability to dominate the middle of the field was a key component in defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan’s stifling 46 defense.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 3

Most sacks, game – 3 vs. New England 9/15

Interceptions – 1

Int. yards – 23

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 3

Fumble recovery TDs – 0

Postseason: 3 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: AP

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

1^st team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Bears went 15-1 to finish first in the NFC Central with the NFL’s best record while leading the league in fewest yards allowed overall (4135), fewest rushing yards (1319), fewest points (198), and most passes intercepted (34). Won NFC Divisional playoff over New York Giants (21-0), NFC Championship over Los Angeles Rams (24-0), and Super Bowl over New England Patriots (46-10).

Aftermath:

Singletary continued to star in the middle of Chicago’s defense, which ranked at the top of the league for the third straight year in 1986, playing for another seven seasons and going to the Pro Bowl after each while also continuing to be a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in five of the next six years (a total of seven times overall). He was also again named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 1988. Singletary appeared in 172 regular season games and 12 more in the postseason on his way to induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1998.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

Rookie of the Year: Patrick Willis, 2007

Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers

Age: 22

College: Mississippi

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 242

Prelude:

Willis capped an outstanding college career by winning the 2006 Butkus Award as college football’s best linebacker and starred in the Senior Bowl, where he was coached by the 49ers’ staff. San Francisco in turn chose him in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft (11^th overall) with the hope that he would be able to compete for a starting job in a rebuilding defense. With his great speed and range, combined with the tutelage of assistant coach Mike Singletary, he became a starting inside linebacker and an immediate star at the position.

2007 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 4

Most sacks, game – 2 vs. Tampa Bay 12/23

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 2

Tackles – 137

Assists – 37

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

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

Pro Bowl

49ers went 5-11 to finish third in the NFC West.

Aftermath:

Willis was credited with another 141 tackles (109 solo, 32 assists) in 2008 and was again selected to the Pro Bowl. From 2009 through 2012 he was a consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl selection each year, even though injuries caused him to miss three games in 2011. By that point, he was a key component of a solid defensive unit and, while his tackles dropped, Willis was more of a factor in pass coverage. Overall, through his first six seasons he had intercepted 7 passes, recorded 17.5 sacks, forced 14 fumbles, and been in on 819 tackles.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

1985: Big Plays Propel Stars to Semifinal Playoff Win Over Stallions

On July 7, 1985 the Baltimore Stars traveled to Birmingham to take on the Stallions in a United States Football League Semifinal playoff game before a crowd of 23,250 in attendance at Legion Field.

The Stars, coached by Jim Mora, were the defending USFL Champions and had gone a combined 31-5 over the course of the league’s first two regular seasons, advancing to the league title game after each, while based in Philadelphia. With the pending move to a Fall schedule, the franchise was forced to relocate and had difficulty with the adjustment. The team’s practice facilities remained in Philadelphia while games were played before small crowds at the University of Maryland’s Byrd Stadium. The Stars started off at 1-3-1 and were just 4-5-1 before winning six of their last eight contests to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference at 10-7-1, qualifying for a playoff berth. They edged the New Jersey Generals in the Quarterfinal round to reach the Semifinal playoff.

As they had been in their first two seasons, the Stars were a ball-control team on offense directed by efficient QB Chuck Fusina and featuring RB Kelvin Bryant. The defense remained tough and opportunistic.

Birmingham, coached by Rollie Dotsch, was a well-balanced team that ranked second defensively and third in offensive production. QB Cliff Stoudt passed for 3358 yards and 34 touchdowns, RB Joe Cribbs ran for 1047 yards, and WR Jim Smith had 87 pass receptions for 1322 yards and 20 TDs. All-League FS Chuck Clanton intercepted 16 passes. Moreover, the Stallions had beaten Baltimore in both of their meetings during the regular season and were looking to make it a clean sweep - especially after being denied advancement to the USFL Championship game by the Stars the previous year.

Baltimore struck quickly, scoring on the game’s third play when CB Jonathan Sutton returned an intercepted pass for a 36-yard touchdown. The Stars followed up by scoring again on their first offensive possession on a 30-yard TD pass from Chuck Fusina to WR Victor Harrison. Birmingham was in a 14-0 hole after a quarter of play.

The Stars added to their lead in spectacular fashion in the second quarter when Fusina connected with Kelvin Bryant on a USFL playoff-record 70-yard touchdown pass play.

There was no further scoring in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter the Stars came through with another big play. At their own 24 yard line, Bryant broke through the middle of the line, got past the linebackers and sped 76 yards for a TD.

Down by an insurmountable 28-0, the Stallions finally got on the board when WR Joey Jones caught a pass from Cliff Stoudt for a 14-yard touchdown. Joe Cribbs added a one-yard TD in the final minute of play that only made the result appear less lopsided. The Stars advanced by a score of 28-14.

While playing catch-up virtually the entire game, the Stallions led in total yards (370 to 366) and first downs (21 to 14). However, the Stars came through with big plays while Birmingham averaged only 2.4 yards per rushing play (19 for 46 yards) and turned the ball over twice, once leading directly to a score, while Baltimore suffered one.

Kelvin Bryant had a total of 217 yards from scrimmage as he rushed for 116 yards on 13 carries and gained 101 yards on four pass receptions. Chuck Fusina didn’t go to the air often but completed 10 of 16 passes for 210 yards and two TDs with none intercepted.

For the Stallions, WR Jim Smith caught 10 passes for 110 yards as Cliff Stoudt went to the air 50 times and completed 29 for 327 yards and a TD with the one big interception. Stoudt was also the club’s leading rusher with 30 yards on 7 carries while Joe Cribbs was held to 13 yards on 9 attempts.

“I have a lot of respect for Birmingham’s defense,” said Jim Mora afterward, “but their defense may be easier to break a big play on than it is to gain a simple four to five yards.” 

Baltimore went on to defeat the Oakland Invaders to repeat as USFL Champions in what would prove to be the league’s last game. Hopes for a favorable financial result in the USFL’s anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL were dashed when, although the verdict was favorable, the jury awarded just one dollar in compensation (tripled to three dollars in accordance with the law) and the planned move to the Fall for ’86 never occurred. 

MVP Profile: Don Hutson, 1942

End/Defensive Back, Green Bay Packers

Age:  29

8^th season in pro football & with Packers

College: Alabama

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 185

Prelude:

Coming out of college, where he had been an All-American at Alabama, there were questions as to whether Hutson was suited to the pro game. He quickly allayed such concerns as a rookie in 1935, catching 18 passes for 420 yards (23.3 avg.) and 6 TDs (he led the league with a total of 7). The numbers improved dramatically as he became the top receiver in the NFL, leading the league in receptions (34), yards (536), and TDs (8) in 1936 and receptions (41) and TDs (7) in ’37. Fast and innovative in the maneuvers he utilized and routes he ran, Hutson became the first deep threat and caused defenses to utilize new strategies, such as double- and triple-teaming, to contain him. He led the NFL in receiving yards (548) as well as TDs (9) in 1938 and in receptions (34), yards (849), and yards per catch (24.9) in ’39. While he didn’t lead the league in receptions in 1940, he still had a then-career high with 45, and in 1941 he was first awarded the Joe F. Carr trophy as league MVP after tying the NFL record for catches (58) and also leading in yards (738), scoring (95 points), and touchdowns (12, tied with George McAfee of the Bears).

1942 Season Summary

Appeared in all 11 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 74 [1] 

Most receptions, game – 14 (for 134 yds.) at NY Giants 11/22

Yards – 1211 [1]

Most yards, game - 209 (on 13 catches) vs. Cleveland 10/18

Average gain – 16.4 [9]

TDs – 17 [1]

200-yard receiving games – 2

100-yard receiving games – 6

Rushing

Attempts – 3

Yards – 4

Average gain – 1.3

TDs – 0

Kicking

Field goals – 1 [9, tied with five others]

Field goal attempts – 4 [10, tied with Augie Lio]

Percentage – .250

PATs – 33 [1]

PAT attempts – 34 [1]

Longest field goal – 20 yards vs. Pittsburgh 12/6

Interceptions

Interceptions – 7 [2]

Return yards – 71 [8]

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1286 [2]

Scoring

TDs – 17 [1]

FG – 1

PATs – 33

Points – 138 [1]

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: Joe F. Carr Trophy

1^st team All-NFL: League, AP, INS, NY Daily News

NFL All-Star Game

Packers went 8-2-1 to finish second in the NFL Western Division while leading the league in passing yards (2407) on offense and interceptions (33, tied with the Bears) on defense.

Aftermath:

Taking advantage of diluted competition during World War II, he continued to be the NFL’s dominant pass receiver. He retired following the 1945 season as the career leader in receptions (488), receiving yards (7991), TD receptions (99), and overall TDs (105). Many of those records lasted for decades – the one for TD receptions lasted until 1989. Used as a defensive back (rather than end) on defense, he intercepted 30 passes in his last six seasons (individual interceptions were first compiled in 1940). As a placekicker, he compiled 7 field goals and 172 extra points and his overall point total was 823, which also was the NFL career record at the time. Hutson was a consensus first-team All-Pro on eight occasions. The Packers retired his #14 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Charter Member in 1963.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

Rookie of the Year: Curt Warner, 1983

Running Back, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 22

College: Penn State

Height: 5’11” Weight: 205

Prelude:

Warner broke 42 school rushing records and was a key player on the 1982 national championship squad as he rushed for 3398 yards at Penn State. The Seahawks took him in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft (third overall) with the expectation that he would add speed and pass receiving ability to the backfield.

1983 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 335 [3]

Most attempts, game - 32 (for 207 yds.) vs. Kansas City 11/27

Yards – 1449 [3, 1st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 207 yards (on 32 carries) vs. Kansas City 11/27

Average gain – 4.3 [19, tied with Ottis Anderson & Joe Cribbs]

TDs – 13 [4]

200-yard rushing games – 1

100-yard rushing games – 6

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 42      

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 72 yds.) at Kansas City 9/4, (for 49 yds.) at San Diego 10/9, (for 29 yds.) at NY Giants 12/11

Yards – 325

Most yards, game - 72 (on 6 catches) at Kansas City 9/4

Average gain – 7.7

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 14 [3, tied with Roy Green & Pete Johnson, 1st in AFC]

Points – 84

Postseason: 3 G

Rushing attempts – 63

Most rushing attempts, game - 29 at Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 238

Most rushing yards, game - 113 at Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 3.8

Rushing TDs – 2

Pass receptions – 10

Most pass receptions, game - 5 at Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

Pass receiving yards - 70

Most pass receiving yards, game - 38 at Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

Average yards per reception – 7.0

Pass Receiving TDs - 0

Awards & Honors:

AFC Rookie of the Year: UPI

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Seahawks went 9-7 to finish second in the AFC West and qualify for a Wild Card playoff spot. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Denver Broncos (31-7) and Divisional playoff over Miami Dolphins (27-20). Lost AFC Championship to Los Angeles Raiders (30-14).

Aftermath:

Warner suffered a knee injury in the opening game of the 1984 season that cost him the remainder of the year, and while he came back in ’85 to rush for 1094 yards and catch 47 passes, he wore down noticeably in the second half of the season. In 1986 he regained form as he led the AFC in rushing with 1481 yards and followed up with 985 in the strike-interrupted ’87 season. Warner was selected to the Pro Bowl following both of those seasons. However, he suffered an ankle injury in the 1987 season finale that required surgery and, while he ran for 1025 yards in ’88, was no longer as consistent as in his peak years. Following a 631-yard season in 1989, Warner joined the Rams as a free agent but ran the ball just 49 times for 139 yards in his last year. Overall, he rushed for 6844 yards (6705 with the Seahawks, which made him the franchise career rushing leader at the time) and caught 193 passes for 1467 more yards, scoring a total of 63 touchdowns. Warner was selected to the Pro Bowl on three occasions.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

[Updated 11/29/14]

1984: Wranglers Score 2 TDs in 4th Quarter to Edge Gamblers

The United States Football League First Round playoff game at the Houston Astrodome on July 1, 1984 featured the high-powered Houston Gamblers against the defense-rich Arizona Wranglers.

Under Head Coach Jack Pardee and offensive coordinator Darrel “Mouse” Davis, the first-year Gamblers operated with a high-scoring run-and-shoot offense that generated the most touchdowns (79) and points (618) of any USFL club. Rookie QB Jim Kelly had phenomenal success, most notably passing for 5219 yards and 44 touchdowns while garnering MVP honors from the league. Wide receivers Richard Johnson and Ricky Sanders ranked first and second among the league’s receivers, with 115 and 101 catches, respectively. Houston could move the ball on the ground, too, as RB Todd Fowler gained 1003 yards with a hefty 5.9-yards per carry average and RB Sam Harrell added another 697 yards. If there was a chink in the attack, it was the 82 sacks the Gamblers gave up. The defense was not nearly as glamorous, but was tough against the run. Overall, Houston had been the most successful of the USFL’s six new teams for 1984, finishing atop the Central Division with a 13-5 record.

The Wranglers were a veteran-filled club coached by 66-year-old George Allen. Allen’s teams, most notably the Rams and Redskins in the NFL, were characterized by strong defense and ball-control offense, and Arizona was no different. QB Greg Landry was in his 16^th pro season at age 37 and still an effective field general who completed 63 percent of his passes for 3534 yards and 26 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. The tandem of RB Tim Spencer (1212 yards) and FB Kevin Long (1010 yards) was a productive one and WR Trumaine Johnson led the receivers with 90 catches for 1268 yards and 13 TDs. The defense was the best at giving up the fewest yards (250.9) and points (11.3) per game while generating the most sacks (73). DE John Lee was the individual leader in sacks (20).

There was a crowd of 32,713 on hand at the Astrodome. They saw the Gamblers put together a scoring drive of 74 yards in the first quarter. Jim Kelly completed four of his five passes for 44 yards and ran the ball three times for another 29 yards that included a 14-yard touchdown.

The Arizona defense began to assert itself in the second quarter, however, as two key sacks by the Wranglers forced the Gamblers to settle for field goal attempts, one of which was successful by Toni Fritsch from 38 yards and the other a miss from 46 yards following back-to-back sacks by John Lee and DE Karl Lorch. Just before the half, Frank Corral booted a 32-yard field goal for the Wranglers and the score was 10-3 at the intermission.

For all of Houston’s ability to move the ball, the home team had difficulty getting into the end zone. Still, Arizona wasn’t scoring either and, after Fritsch kicked a 22-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and then added another three points from 25 yards out early in the final period, the Gamblers held a 16-3 lead with fewer than 14 minutes to play.

Two squibbed punts helped Arizona to come back. First, a 15-yard kick by Dale Walters gave the Wranglers good field position. They made the most of it as Greg Landry completed a pass to TE Paul Ricker for 28 yards and then Tim Spencer ran 20 yards for a touchdown that, with the successful extra point, put them six points behind with 6:11 still to play.

Once again Houston was forced to punt, and this time Walters booted the ball only 13 yards. Landry completed passes to RB Doug Dennison that gained 22 yards and WR Lenny Willis for another 13 before tossing to Dennison again for an 11-yard touchdown. Corral added the critical extra point to provide Arizona with a one-point margin with 1:49 left on the clock. The defense made it stand up and the Wranglers came away with a 17-16 win to advance to the next round.

Houston significantly outgained the Wranglers (415 yards to 196), had more first downs (23 to 13), and dominated time of possession (37:15 to 22:45). However, Arizona’s defense held when necessary and sacked Jim Kelly six times while intercepting two of his passes – plus, the two shanked punts in the fourth quarter were disastrous for the Gamblers.

Greg Landry completed 11 of 22 passes for 130 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Doug Dennison caught three passes for 27 yards and the game-winning TD while RB Allan Clark topped the club with 43 yards on his two receptions. Tim Spencer rushed for 39 yards on 10 carries that included a TD and Kevin Long was held to 19 yards on 6 attempts.

For the Gamblers, Jim Kelly was successful on 23 of 34 throws for 301 yards with no TDs and the two interceptions – he was held without a touchdown pass for the first time all season. WR Scott McGhee pulled in 7 passes for 112 yards and Todd Fowler carried the ball 19 times for 84 yards. Kelly added another 59 yards and a TD on 8 rushes.

“The key to winning the game was poise and playing together,” said George Allen, who broke a personal four-game postseason losing streak as a pro head coach with Arizona’s win. “Don’t take chances. Every play could be the game in the last six minutes.” 

The Wranglers went on to mount another fourth quarter comeback and defeat the Los Angeles Express the next week to win the Western Conference Championship. Advancing to the USFL title game, they lost to the Philadelphia Stars, which marked the end of Allen’s pro coaching career. The team was merged with the Oklahoma Outlaws to become the Arizona Outlaws in 1985 and finished at 8-10 in the USFL’s final year. Houston reached the postseason at 10-8 but again fell in the first round.

MVP Profile: Keith Millard, 1989

Defensive Tackle, Minnesota Vikings

Age:  27

6th season in pro football, 5^th in NFL & with Vikings

College: Washington State

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 262

Prelude:

Millard was the first draft choice of the Vikings in 1984 but spent his rookie season with the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. He joined Minnesota in 1985 and recorded 11 sacks that year and had another 10.5 in ’86. He became the key figure in the middle of Minnesota’s talented defensive line and was a consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection in 1988.

1989 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – 18 [3]

Most sacks, game – 4 vs. Green Bay 10/15

Multi-sack games (2 or more) – 5

Interceptions – 1

Int. yards – 48

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Fumble rec. TD – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff at San Francisco)

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: AP

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

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC Central while allowing the fewest yards in the NFL on defense overall (4184) and in passing defense (2501 yards) as well as leading the league in sacks (71). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to San Francisco 49ers (41-13).

Aftermath:

Millard’s 1990 season ended when he suffered a significant knee injury in the fourth game and the resulting two surgeries cost him all of ’91 as well. The Vikings dealt him to Seattle for 1992, but he played in just two games and moved on to the Packers. Millard finished up with the Eagles in 1993. Playing in eight seasons in the NFL, he accumulated 58 sacks (53 of them with the Vikings). At his best, he was an explosive pass rusher from the middle of the defensive line, but his promising career was cut short by injury.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.