Highlighted Year: John Carney, 2008

Placekicker, New York Giants

Age: 44

21^st season in pro football, 1^st with Giants

College: Notre Dame

Height: 5’11” Weight: 180

Prelude:

Carney kicked 51 field goals in college and set a Notre Dame season record with his 89.5 percentage in 1984 (17 of 19). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987 but failed to make the team and sat out the year. Carney finished out the last four games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988, substituting for the injured Donald Igwebuike, and started the year in ’89, playing in a total of five games and making good on two of five field goal attempts and all six of his PAT attempts. After failing to make the Chargers during the 1990 preseason, he appeared in one game with the Rams and was then re-signed by San Diego, succeeding on 19 of 21 field goal attempts. Following a lesser year in ’91, Carney bounced back to play a total of 10 full seasons with the Chargers. Highlights included hitting on 31 of 40 field goal tries in 1993, with two games in which he kicked six field goals in as many attempts, and a 1994 season in which he led the NFL with 34 field goals, out of just 38 attempts, as well as totaling a league-leading 135 points. Carney was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice that year and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Carney departed following the 2000 season as the club’s all-time leader in field goals (261) and scoring (1076 points). While not strong on kickoffs, and with concerns about his range, he joined the New Orleans Saints in 2001 and stayed for six years, providing reliability if not long distance. Carney split time with the Jaguars and Chiefs in 2007 before moving on to the New York Giants in ’08 after regular PK Lawrence Tynes was sidelined by injury.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 35 [2, 1^st in NFC]

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 9/21, at Pittsburgh 10/26, at Minnesota 12/28

Field goal attempts – 38 [3, tied with Matt Bryant & Rian Lindell]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 at Minnesota 12/28

Field goal percentage – 92.1 [4]

PATs – 38 [17]

PAT attempts – 38 [17]

Longest field goal – 51 yards at Minnesota 12/28

Scoring

Field Goals – 35

PATs – 38

Points – 143 [3]

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff vs. Philadelphia)

Field goals – 3

Field goal attempts – 5

PATs – 0

PAT attempts – 0

Longest field goal – 36 yards

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Giants went 12-4 to finish first in the NFC East while leading the NFL in rushing yards (2518). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Philadelphia Eagles (23-11).  

Aftermath:

With the younger, and stronger-legged, Lawrence Tynes recovered from his injury, Carney’s contract was not renewed by the Giants and he spent parts of the 2009 and ’10 seasons back with the Saints, finishing his 23-year career at 46 years old. Overall, Carney kicked 478 field goals in 580 attempts (82.4 %) and added 628 extra points (with 10 misses) for a total of 2062 points. At the time of his retirement, the field goal and point totals ranked third all-time in NFL history. He received first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team honors twice, and was chosen to two Pro Bowls. Carney was named to the Chargers’ 50^th anniversary all-time team.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1985: Collier Leads Renegades to Upset of Outlaws

The Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League were hoping to build off of their first win of the season the previous week as they played the Arizona Outlaws on April 14, 1985. The Renegades, coached by Lee Corso, were the relocated Washington Federals, a club that had gone a combined 7-29 in two USFL seasons, and losing the first six games of their third campaign promised only more disappointment. QB Reggie Collier (pictured above) was highly mobile as well as an able passer and WR Joey Walters was a quality receiver. But the Renegades were held back by having the league’s poorest defense.

Arizona was a combination of the previous year’s Arizona Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws, coached by Frank Kush, formerly of Arizona State. Veteran QB Doug Williams was a capable passer and also had a good target in WR Alphonso Williams. The roster contained several holdover veterans from the Wranglers team that had reached the 1984 USFL title game and the club was off to a respectable 4-3 start.

There were 32,169 fans in attendance on a hundred-degree day at Sun Devil Stadium. It was not a promising beginning for the Renegades when FB William Miller was lost to a knee injury on the opening kickoff. But the visitors scored first during the opening period after DT Ed McAleney recovered a fumble by the Outlaws at the Arizona 46. Shortly thereafter, Reggie Collier rolled to his right and threw long to WR Jackie Flowers for a 38-yard touchdown. Jeff Brockhaus added the extra point.

Before the first quarter was over, Orlando got another break when FB Rickey Claitt grabbed a deflected Collier pass and gained 31 yards. On the next play, RB Curtis Bledsoe, running to his left, went 19 yards for a TD and Brockhaus again converted.

Down by 14-0, the home team narrowed the score in the second quarter. A short Arizona punt hit WR Jeff Smith of the Renegades and was recovered by the Outlaws at the Orlando 13, and two plays later Doug Williams threw to TE Ron Wheeler, who made a diving catch for an 11-yard touchdown with five minutes remaining in the first half. Luis Zendejas kicked the point after. On Arizona’s next possession, Doug Williams connected with Alphonso Williams for a gain of 45 yards to the Orlando four. But the Renegades held on defense and the Outlaws settled for a 20-yard Zendejas field goal with the clock down to 34 seconds. The score was 14-10 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Arizona made it a one-point contest with a Zendejas field goal from 42 yards. However, the Renegades put together a long drive that covered 81 yards in 12 plays, including passes to Walters for gains of 33 and 15 yards and culminating in a three-yard scoring run by Claitt. Brockhaus added the extra point to increase Orlando’s lead to 21-13.

The Outlaws struck back before the period was over as Doug Williams connected with Alphonso Williams for a 54-yard TD. However, an attempt to tie the score with a two-point conversion failed. Still, it was a two-point contest at 21-19 heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Renegades maintained possession for 8:45 in a key drive that included carries by Collier of 8 and 14 yards to convert third downs. With 2:08 left on the clock, Jeff Brockhaus extended Orlando’s lead with a 38-yard field goal. There was still time for the Outlaws, but they now needed a touchdown to win and, starting from their own 27 following the kickoff, Doug Williams, confronted by an inspired defense, threw four incomplete passes and the Renegades held on for a 24-19 victory.

The Renegades led in total yards (303 to 231), first downs (16 to 12), and time of possession (37:11 to 22:49). The Outlaws had three sacks, to one by Orlando, and the Renegades were penalized 9 times for 60 yards, to six flags for 50 yards thrown on Arizona. Orlando also turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by the Outlaws.

Reggie Collier completed 12 of 23 passes for 180 yards with a touchdown and an interception and also ran the ball for 48 yards on 9 carries. Rickey Claitt rushed for 51 yards on 13 attempts and Curtis Bledsoe contributed 43 yards on 15 carries, each accounting for a TD. Joey Walters led the Renegades with four catches for 63 yards. On defense, LB Ron Freeman was the standout as he accumulated 11 tackles, defended two passes, and had a sack.

For the Outlaws, Doug Williams was successful on just 8 of 24 throws for 166 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Alphonso Williams had a big performance with four pass receptions for 127 yards and one TD. RB Reggie Brown gained 70 yards on 15 rushing attempts.

“It was a big win for us, and the defense came up with some big plays at the end,” said Orlando’s Coach Corso. “The last drive was set up by Collier and his great athletic ability.”

Having won two straight games, the Renegades returned to their losing ways for the next three and, while more competitive down the stretch, finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 5-13 record. Arizona continued to lose, eventually dropping six straight contests on the way to ending with an 8-10 tally that placed fourth in the Western Conference.

Reggie Collier continued to impress with his running and passing, throwing for 2578 yards and 13 touchdowns while giving up 16 interceptions and rushing for 606 yards and 12 TDs.

Highlighted Year: Tom Dempsey, 1969

Placekicker, New Orleans Saints

Age: 22

3^rd season in pro football (2^nd active), 1^st in NFL & with Saints

College: Palomar Junior College

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 264

Prelude:

Born without a right hand and with no toes on his right (kicking) foot, Dempsey seemed an unlikely football player. Still, he played offensive tackle in high school and defensive end, in addition to placekicking, at California’s Palomar Junior College. Dempsey spent 1967 in the Atlantic Coast Football League with the Lowell Giants where he booted just two field goals but a league-leading 42 extra points and joined San Diego’s taxi squad in ’68, where a special kicking shoe was designed for him that would, in time, generate controversy. While capable of kicking for distance with his size and leg strength, accuracy was a chronic problem.

1969 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 22 [3, tied with Bruce Gossett]

Most field goals, game – 4 at NY Giants 11/16, vs. Philadelphia 11/30

Field goal attempts – 41 [1]

Most field goal attempts, game – 7 vs. Philadelphia 11/30

Field goal percentage – 53.7 [6]

PATs – 33 [7, tied with Pete Gogolak, Bob Etter & Lou Michaels]

PAT attempts – 35 [7]

Longest field goal – 55 yards at LA Rams 10/5

Scoring

Field Goals – 22

PATs – 33

Points – 99 [5]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Saints went 5-9 to finish third in the NFL Capitol Division.   

Aftermath:

Dempsey gained notoriety during a 1970 season in which he kicked a 63-yard game-winning field goal against Detroit, which exceeded the previous NFL record by seven yards. He hit on 18 of 34 field goal attempts overall, with three of 50 yards or more but with three misses inside the 30 and just one of five good between 30 and 39 yards. Dempsey lost out to Skip Butler in the 1971 preseason but caught on with the Philadelphia Eagles and, active for the last five games, led the NFL in field goal percentage (70.6) while connecting on 12 of 17 three-pointers, including a then-club record 54-yard kick. He spent three more seasons with the Eagles and had a six-field goal game in ’72. His most productive year in Philadelphia was in 1973 when he made good on 24 of 40 field goal attempts (60.0 %) and 34 extra points with no misses. However, with the goal posts moved to the back of the end zone in 1974 Dempsey attempted just 16 field goals, was successful on 10 of them, and missed four of his 30 extra point attempts. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1975 and, while his field goal percentage rose to 80.8 as he succeeded on 21 of 26 attempts, he continued to struggle with extra points. Dempsey’s performance slipped in ’76, his last with the Rams, and he spent time with the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills before his career ended in 1979. Overall in the NFL, he kicked 159 field goals out of 258 attempts (61.6 %) and added 252 extra points, with 30 misses, for a total of 729 points. With the Saints, he was 40 of 75 on field goals (53.3 %) and 49 of 52 on PATs for 169 points. He received his lone Pro Bowl selection with New Orleans, as well as his greatest fame with the 63-yard field goal that remained the NFL record until 2013.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Tony Franklin, 1986

Placekicker, New England Patriots

Age: 30 (Nov. 18)

8^th season in pro football, 3^rd with Patriots

College: Texas A & M

Height: 5’8”   Weight: 182

Prelude:

The barefoot-kicking Franklin booted 44 field goals out of 73 attempts (60.3 %) in college and had two of over 60 yards in a game against Baylor in 1976. The Philadelphia Eagles, having endured significant problems with placekicking in 1978, selected him in the third round of the ’79 NFL draft. He had an outstanding rookie season, hitting on 23 of his 31 field goal attempts, including a team-record 59-yard kick at Dallas, and all 36 of his PATs. However, he clashed with Head Coach Dick Vermeil and, following a lesser year in 1980, withstood a challenge in ’81. He bounced back with 20 field goals out of 31 attempts. After two more seasons in Philadelphia, Franklin was traded to the Patriots in 1984. He had his two best years from a field goal percentage standpoint, hitting on 22 of 28 attempts in ’84 (78.6 %) and 24 of 30 in 1985 (80.0 %) when the club won the AFC Championship.

1986 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 32 [1]

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. Indianapolis 9/7, vs. Atlanta 11/2

Field goal attempts – 41 [1, tied with Kevin Butler]

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 vs. Indianapolis 9/7, at Buffalo 10/26, vs. Atlanta 11/2

Field goal percentage – 78.0 [5]

PATs – 44 [3, tied with Pat Leahy, Chuck Nelson & Rich Karlis]

PAT attempts – 45 [4, tied with Rich Karlis]

Longest field goal – 49 yards vs. Indianapolis 9/7

Scoring

Field Goals – 32

PATs – 44

Points – 140 [1]

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Denver)

Field goals – 1

Field goal attempts – 1

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 38 yards

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

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

Pro Bowl

Patriots went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC East while ranking second in the NFL in scoring (412 points). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Denver Broncos (22-17).  

Aftermath:

Franklin’s performance dropped off significantly in 1987, as he made good on just 15 of 26 field goal attempts (57.7 %), and his career ended with Miami in ’88. Overall, Franklin kicked 177 field goals out of 264 attempts (67.0%) and added 341 PATs with 14 misses for a total of 872 points. Of those totals, 93 of 125 field goal tries (74.4 %), 163 extra points, and 442 points came with the Patriots, where he had his best seasons. In the postseason, he was 16 of 22 on field goals and made all 27 of his extra point attempts. Franklin received first-team all-conference honors once, second-team recognition after one other season, and was selected to one Pro Bowl.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1984: Stars Rally to Defeat Wranglers

The Arizona Wranglers were off to a slow start in the second United States Football League season as they hosted the Philadelphia Stars on April 8, 1984. Due to an exchange of franchises, the Wranglers were a transplanted version of the 1983 Chicago Blitz, bringing with them venerable Head Coach George Allen. In two meetings between the Blitz and Philadelphia in ‘83, one of them a playoff game, the Stars had pulled off dramatic second half rallies to ultimately win.

The Stars, coached by Jim Mora, remained strong and had a 5-1 record. However, they were missing RB Kelvin Bryant, a key component of their ball control offense, due to a sprained knee. Still, QB Chuck Fusina (pictured above) was a dependable, if unspectacular, field general and the opportunistic defense was stingy and adept at creating opportunities through takeaways.

Arizona was loaded with veteran talent but off to a sluggish 3-3 start. QB Greg Landry had plenty of savvy in his 16^th pro season and he had a good target in second-year WR Trumaine Johnson. The running back combination of RB Tim Spencer and FB Kevin Long was a productive one. Characteristic of Allen-coached teams, the defense was strong and yielded ground grudgingly.

There were 30,252 fans in attendance at Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona had the first possession and drove 73 yards in 12 plays that concluded with a one-yard touchdown run by Kevin Long. Frank Corral added the extra point. At the end of the opening period, the Wranglers extended their lead when Greg Landry threw to Trumaine Johnson for a 10-yard TD and Corral successfully converted to make it 14-0.

In the second quarter, the Stars put together a long drive of 73 yards in 18 plays that resulted in FB David Riley’s run for a four-yard touchdown. However, David Trout hooked the extra point attempt and the Wranglers maintained an eight-point lead.

In the final minutes of the first half, Arizona had a long series of its own that advanced 84 yards in 15 plays. Tim Spencer ran two yards for a TD with 22 seconds remaining on the clock and, with Corral’s successful point after, the Wranglers took a 21-6 lead into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, the Wranglers had an opportunity to add to their lead but Corral missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. Philadelphia got a further break, recovering a fumbled punt at the Arizona 46, and capitalized seven plays later when Chuck Fusina passed to Riley for a 30-yard touchdown. A running play to try for a two-point conversion failed and Arizona maintained a still-formidable 21-12 advantage.

Another fumbled punt by the Wranglers, recovered by WR Herbert Harris, gave the Stars the ball at the Wranglers’ 15 early in the fourth quarter and, while they weren’t able to reach the end zone, David Trout booted a 27-yard field goal to further narrow the home team’s lead to 21-15.

There was 3:31 remaining to play when, with the Wranglers attempting to drive to a game-clinching field goal, LB Sam Mills recovered yet another fumble by the Wranglers, this time due to a poor snap that Landry couldn’t handle, at the Philadelphia 35. The aroused Arizona defense initially rose to the occasion as Fusina was aggressively sacked by DE Karl Lorch for a five-yard loss on first down and then a short completion to WR Willie Collier led to the loss of another yard thanks to a quick tackle by CB Frank Minnifield. But facing third-and-16 at his own 29 Fusina, very near the line of scrimmage as he scrambled to avoid tacklers, threw into a crowd and Riley pulled it in for a 60-yard gain to the Arizona 11. With 1:40 left on the clock, Fusina then passed to Collier for an 11-yard touchdown and Trout’s successful kick put the visitors in the lead. The Stars sealed the 22-21 win on another Landry fumble that was recovered by NT Pete Kugler at the Philadelphia 47.

Arizona led in total yards (314 to 206), first downs (22 to 14), and time of possession (31:32 to 28:28). The Wranglers also recorded five sacks to one by Philadelphia. But the home team also turned the ball over five times, to just one suffered by the Stars. There were many penalties on both sides, with the Stars flagged 11 times at a cost of 62 yards and Arizona hit for 9 penalties for 35 yards.

Chuck Fusina completed 15 of 29 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. He also led the Stars in rushing, who without Bryant and against Arizona’s tough defense had an uncharacteristically mediocre day on the ground, with 27 yards on three attempts. David Riley (pictured at left) gained 19 rushing yards on five carries but had a big receiving day out of the backfield with four catches for 106 yards and a TD. Willie Collier also had four pass receptions, gaining 32 yards and scoring the winning touchdown.

For the Wranglers, Greg Landry was an efficient 24 of 29 for 217 yards with a TD and an interception, but gave up two fumbles. Trumaine Johnson had 8 pass receptions for 68 yards and a score. Tim Spencer led the rushers with 55 yards on 17 carries and Kevin Long contributed 46 yards on 14 attempts. On defense, DT Kit Lathrop and Karl Lorch were credited with two sacks apiece.

“I can’t think of a loss over the years that was more disheartening and devastating as this one,” said a distraught Coach Allen. “It’s like a morgue in this locker room.”

The Stars kept winning, topping the Atlantic Division with a league-best 16-2 record. They easily advanced to the USFL Championship game with victories over New Jersey and Birmingham in the first two playoff rounds. Arizona, having dropped to 3-4 with the loss to Philadelphia, finally turned things around during the second half of the season and finished second in the Pacific Division at 10-8. Qualifying for the postseason as a Wild Card, the Wranglers edged Houston in the first round and then defeated Los Angeles, the club that won the division, to reach the league title game and a rematch with the Stars. It was not nearly as close the second time, and no late heroics by Philadelphia were necessary, as the Stars dominated by a score of 23-3.

Highlighted Year: Cris Carter, 1994

Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings

Age: 29 (Nov. 25)

8^th season in pro football, 5^th with Vikings

College: Ohio State

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 197

Prelude:

Carter caught 168 passes for 2725 yards (16.2 avg.) and 27 touchdowns in college, including 69 receptions for 1127 yards and 11 TDs in 1986, when he was a consensus first-team All-American. Declared ineligible for the 1987 season due to having signed a contract with an agent, he was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the ’87 NFL supplemental draft. He saw little action as a rookie but caught 39 passes for 761 yards (19.5 avg.) and six TDs in 1988 and scored 11 touchdowns among his 45 receptions for 605 yards in ’89. However, he had off-field substance abuse issues, clashed with Head Coach Buddy Ryan, and was waived in 1990. Picked up by the Vikings, Carter backed up wide receivers Anthony Carter (no relation) and Hassan Jones that year but had a 72-catch, 962-yard season in 1991. While missing four games due to a broken collar bone in ’92, Carter still led the club with 53 catches and in 1993 he caught 86 passes for 1071 yards and 9 TDs, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Lacking speed, Carter provided height, excellent jumping ability, and reliable hands.

1994 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 122 [1]          

Most receptions, game – 14 (for 167 yds.) at Arizona 10/2

Yards – 1256 [7]

Most yards, game – 167 (on 14 catches) at Arizona 10/2

Average gain – 10.3

TDs – 7 [11, tied with four others]

100-yard receiving games – 5

Scoring

TDs – 7

2-pt conversions – 2 [4, tied with six others]

Points – 46

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff vs. Chicago)

Pass receptions – 8

Pass receiving yards – 61

Average yards per reception – 7.6

Pass Receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, 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 leading the conference in passing yards (4324). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to Chicago Bears (35-18).

Aftermath:

Carter’s record-breaking 1994 season was the second of eight in which he both exceeded a thousand pass receiving yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl. He matched his total of 122 catches in ’95, when he achieved career highs with 1371 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns – his first of five consecutive seasons reaching double figures in receiving TDs. Carter had 90 or more catches three more times and departed the Vikings after the 2001 season, having caught 1004 passes for 12,383 yards (12.3 avg.) and 110 TDs with Minnesota, all franchise highs. He finished up with the Miami Dolphins in 2002. Overall, Carter had 1101 pass receptions for 13,899 yards (12.6 avg.) and 130 TDs; the receptions and receiving TDs ranked second in NFL history at the time, and the yards placed fourth. He received first-team All-NFL honors twice, second-team All-NFL or All-NFC recognition after two other seasons, and was chosen to eight Pro Bowls. His #80 was retired by the Vikings and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2013.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Larry Csonka, 1970

Fullback, Miami Dolphins

Age: 24 (Dec. 25)

3^rd season in pro football & with Dolphins

College: Syracuse

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 235

Prelude:

Csonka rushed for 2934 yards in college and was a consensus first-team All-American in 1967. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1968 AFL/NFL draft (eighth overall) but, with a poor team, was undistinguished in his first two seasons. Csonka suffered a severe concussion as a rookie, when he rushed for 540 yards, and missed further time to injury in 1969, ending up with 566 yards on the ground. The arrival of new Head Coach Don Shula for 1970 brought about a significant turnaround for both the team and Csonka.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 193 [11]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 84 yds.) at Houston 9/27

Yards – 874 [5]

Most yards, game – 115 yards (on 21 carries) vs. Boston 12/6

Average gain – 4.5 [5]

TDs – 6 [9, tied with Paul Robinson, Jim Kiick & Leroy Kelly]

100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 11      

Most receptions, game – 2 (for 16 yds.) at Boston 9/20, (for 8 yds.) at Philadelphia 11/8

Yards – 94

Most yards, game – 54 (on 1 catch) vs. Buffalo 12/20

Average gain – 8.5

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 6

Points – 36

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Oakland)

Rushing attempts – 10

Rushing yards – 23

Average gain rushing – 2.3

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Dolphins went 10-4 to finish second in the AFC East and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card while leading the conference in rushing yards (2082). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders (21-14).

Aftermath:

Csonka, a classic power-running fullback with speed and a punishing style, continued to excel for the Dolphins. He gained over a thousand yards rushing in each of the next three seasons, twice averaging over five yards per carry, and Miami won AFC titles in each of those years as well as two Super Bowls, going undefeated in ’72. His crowning achievement was a 145-yard rushing performance in the Super Bowl VIII win over the Vikings that earned him game MVP honors. While Csonka ran for 749 yards and 9 TDs in 1974 and was selected to a fifth straight Pro Bowl, he, along with teammates HB Jim Kiick and WR Paul Warfield, had already committed to jumping to the World Football League in 1975. Csonka gained 421 yards in seven games with the Memphis Southmen before the league folded and he returned to the NFL in ’76 with the New York Giants. He had three lackluster years with New York, never gaining more than 569 rushing yards in a season or averaging better than 3.6 yards-per-carry. He returned to the Dolphins for one last year in 1979 and returned to form, gaining 837 yards and scoring a career-high 12 touchdowns. Overall in the NFL, Csonka rushed 1891 times for 8081 yards, which ranked sixth all-time at the time of his retirement, for a 4.3-yard average with 64 touchdowns and caught 106 passes for 820 yards with another four TDs. 6737 of those rushing yards came with Miami, making him the franchise’s all-time leader. In 12 postseason games he added another 891 yards and 9 TDs on the ground and also had a scoring catch among his four pass receptions. Csonka received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition three times, garnered All-AFC honors after one other season, and was selected to five Pro Bowls. The Dolphins retired his #39 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1987.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970