Highlighted Year: Ron Davenport, 1985

Fullback, Miami Dolphins

Age: 23 (Dec. 22)

1^st season in pro football

College: Louisville

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 225

Prelude:

In college, Davenport rushed for 1477 yards on 369 carries (4.0 avg.) and caught 55 passes for another 532 and scored a total of 18 touchdowns. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft and proved to be an outstanding short-yardage runner near the goal line and in third down situations.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 98

Most attempts, game – 12 (for 49 yds.) vs. Indianapolis 9/15, (for 55 yds.) vs. Kansas City 9/22

Yards – 370

Most yards, game – 57 yards (on 6 carries) vs. Buffalo 12/22

Average gain – 3.8

TDs – 11 [3, tied with Marcus Allen, 1^st in AFC]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 13      

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 23 yds.) at Buffalo 11/24

Yards – 74

Most yards, game – 23 (on 4 catches) at Buffalo 11/24

Average gain – 5.7

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 13 [5, tied with Daryl Turner]

Points – 78

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 9

Most rushing attempts, game – 6 vs. Cleveland, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 54

Most rushing yards, game – 48 vs. Cleveland, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 6.0

Rushing TDs – 2

Pass receptions – 3

Most pass receptions, game – 3 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Pass receiving yards – 23

Most pass receiving yards, game – 23 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Average yards per reception – 7.7

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Dolphins went 12-4 to finish first in the AFC East. Won AFC Divisional playoff over Cleveland Browns (24-21). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (31-14).

Aftermath:

Davenport spent another four seasons with the Dolphins, but his first remained his most productive. He ran for 314 yards in 1986 but with no rushing TDs and scored just two more in the remainder of his time with the club. He was utilized more as a receiver out of the backfield and achieved career highs with 30 receptions for 282 yards in 1988. Competing with FB Woody Bennett, a better pass blocker, and effective in spurts, Davenport was also inconsistent. Overall, he rushed for 1127 yards on 374 attempts (4.1 avg.), caught 93 passes for 801 yards, and scored 17 touchdowns.

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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

1963: Giants Trade Rosey Grier to Rams

On July 8, 1963 the New York Giants traded away one of the stalwart members of their defensive line by dealing DT Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier to the Los Angeles Rams for DT John LoVetere and a future draft pick.

The 6’5”, 290-pound Grier had been chosen by the Giants in the third round of the 1955 NFL draft out of Penn State. Except for the 1957 season, which he missed due to military service, Grier was part of an outstanding unit that included DT Dick Modzelewski and ends Andy Robustelli and Jim Katcavage. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, received consensus first-team All-NFL honors in 1956, and gained at least some first- or second-team recognition after four other seasons. In 1962 Grier was an All-Eastern Conference choice by The Sporting News. Over the same course of time, the Giants consistently contended and won a NFL Championship while topping the Eastern Conference on five occasions. The tough and cohesive defense played a significant role in the club’s success.

However, there were concerns about age and the need for retooling. “At 31, Grier is about four years older than LoVetere,” explained New York’s Head Coach Allie Sherman. Sherman also expressed the desire to use the draft choice obtained from the Rams in dealing for a veteran running back, which failed to materialize (it ended up being a fourth-round choice in 1964 that was used to take Ohio State FB Matt Snell, who chose to sign with New York’s AFL club, the Jets).

In Los Angeles, Grier was reunited with a former Giants teammate, Harland Svare, who was now commencing his first full season as head coach of the Rams. He moved directly into the starting lineup alongside second-year DT Merlin Olsen and flanked by ends Dave “Deacon” Jones, in his third season, and Lamar Lundy, a 28-year-old veteran, putting Grier as the senior member in the midst of another formidable unit. But the remainder of the defense, while containing some good young players, was not so impressive, nor was the offense, and the team as a whole was coming off of a miserable 1-12-1 record in 1962, its fourth straight under .500. Svare had been promoted to head coach during the season.

The club improved to 5-9 in ’63 and the line, now containing Grier, remained the best part of the defense and led the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards in 1964, although the Rams finished once more with a losing record. Yet another disappointing year in ’65, in which Grier was beginning to show his age at 33 but was also still tough against the run, led to the dismissal of Svare and the hiring of George Allen, who had been an outstanding defensive coach with the Bears.

Under Allen’s guidance, the Rams improved to 8-6 in 1966 and were poised for further improvement. However, Grier went down with a torn Achilles tendon in the preseason that cost him the entire year and DT Roger Brown was obtained from Detroit to fill his place. LA went on to reach the postseason for the first time since 1955 with a gaudy 11-1-2 mark in ’67, and the “Fearsome Foursome” of Jones, Olsen, Brown, and Lundy played a key role in the success.

While it was anticipated that Grier would return to the Rams in 1968, he announced his retirement in July, moving on to a full-time entertainment career. Over the course of 11 seasons in the NFL, four with the Rams, he appeared in 141 regular season games and was a solid contributor to excellent defensive lines with two clubs. While sacks were not yet an officially-compiled statistic, Grier has been unofficially credited with 21 during his four active years with the Rams, with a high of seven in 1966.

As for the player the Giants obtained for Grier, the 27-year-old LoVetere (pictured at left), who was 6’4” and weighed 285 pounds, attended Compton Junior College but didn’t play football collegiately although he did play with distinction in the service for two years and was signed by the Rams in 1959. An early proponent of weight training, he was both strong and fast. LoVetere performed well, and in 1960 blocked five kicks, but ran afoul of Svare’s predecessor, Bob Waterfield, and lost his starting job.

LoVetere settled into Grier’s spot in the defensive line (he even wore the same number 76) and was named to the Pro Bowl as the Giants won a third consecutive Eastern Conference title in 1963. However, time finally caught up with the club and the bottom dropped out in ’64. It caught up to LoVetere as well, who appeared in just 12 games combined in 1964 and ’65 due to, first, a broken leg and then a knee injury that required surgery and proved to be career-ending.

Highlighted Year: Len Dawson, 1963

Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

Age:  28

7^th season in pro football, 2^nd in AFL & with Texans/Chiefs

College: Purdue

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Highly regarded coming out of college, Dawson was taken in the first round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After sitting on the bench and throwing just 17 passes in three years, he was dealt to Cleveland, where he backed up Milt Plum for two seasons. He requested his release from the Browns in 1962 and joined his former backfield coach at Purdue, Hank Stram, who had gone on to become the head coach of the AFL’s Dallas Texans. Stram worked intensively with Dawson, rusty from his years as a reserve, and he took over as the team’s starting quarterback with outstanding results. Dawson was the AFL’s top passer (as well as Player of the Year) in ’62, leading the league in touchdown passes (29), completion percentage (61.0), and yards per attempt (8.9), and the Texans won the AFL Championship. The franchise moved to Kansas City and was rechristened the Chiefs in 1963, and suffered through a lesser year.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 352 [3, tied with Dick Wood]

Most attempts, game – 46 vs. Buffalo 10/13

Completions – 190 [3]

Most completions, game – 25 at Buffalo 9/22

Yards – 2389 [4]

Most yards, game – 278 at Denver 9/7

Completion percentage – 54.0 [2]

Yards per attempt – 6.8 [7]

TD passes – 26 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 4 at Denver 9/7, vs. Houston 10/6, vs. NY Jets 12/22

Interceptions – 19 [4, tied with Dick Wood]

Most interceptions, game – 4 at Houston 10/27

Passer rating – 77.5 [3]

200-yard passing games – 7

Rushing

Attempts – 37

Most attempts, game – 7 (for 69 yds.) at Houston 10/27

Yards – 272 [12]

Most yards, game – 69 yards (on 7 carries) at Houston 10/27

Yards per attempt – 7.4

TDs – 2 [19, tied with five others]

Points

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Chiefs went 5-7-2 to finish third in the AFL Western Division.

Aftermath:

Fortunes improved for Dawson and the Chiefs in the ensuing seasons. By the rating system then in use, he led the league in passing three times over the next five years (by the modern system, he led it in all five). Dawson also led in completion percentage five straight times, TD passes twice (although not when he had his career high of 30 in 1964), yards per attempt twice, and, further testimony to his efficiency as a passer, four times in percentage of TD passes. The team won AFL championships in 1966 and ’69, losing in the inaugural Super Bowl following the former and winning Super Bowl IV (the last prior to the merger of the two leagues) after the latter. Dawson missed time to injury in that 1969 season but was behind center in the postseason and was named Super Bowl MVP. He remained with the Chiefs through 1975, at age 40, and retired with 28,711 passing yards, 239 TD passes, and an 82.6 passer rating. Dawson was a consensus first-team All-AFL selection twice, received second-team honors after two other seasons, and was selected to six AFL All-Star Games and, following the AFL/NFL merger, one Pro Bowl. The Chiefs retired his #16 and Dawson 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

Highlighted Year: Jimmy Smith, 1996

Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 27

4^th season in pro football (3^rd active), 2^nd with Jaguars

College: Jackson State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 207

Prelude:

Smith caught a total of 85 passes for 1695 yards and 12 touchdowns in his last two college seasons and was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft. He broke his leg in training camp but saw action on special teams during his rookie season, catching no passes, and complications from appendicitis caused him to be de-activated for ’93. Smith was waived in 1994, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was cut during the preseason. He joined the expansion Jaguars in 1995 and returned kickoffs, averaging 22.5 yards and scoring a touchdown, while backing up at wide receiver, where he impressed with his speed and caught 22 passes for 288 yards (13.1 avg.) and scored three TDs. Smith became more of a factor in ‘96 and moved into the starting lineup across from WR Keenan McCardell, creating an effective tandem.

1996 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 83 [14]          

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 131 yds.) at Baltimore 11/24, (for 124 yds.) vs. Seattle 12/15

Yards – 1244 [5, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 162 (on 7 catches) vs. Cincinnati 12/1

Average gain – 15.0 [20]

TDs – 7 [19, tied with seven others]

100-yard receiving games – 4

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 49

Average per return – 24.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 29 yards

Scoring

TDs – 7

Points – 42

Postseason: 3 G

Pass receptions – 11

Most pass receptions, game – 5 at Buffalo, AFC Wild Card playoff

Pass receiving yards – 174

Most pass receiving yards, game – 71 at Denver, AFC Divisional playoff

Average yards per reception – 15.8

Pass Receiving TDs – 2

Jaguars went 9-7 to finish second in the AFC Central and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card entry while leading the NFL in passing yards (4110). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Buffalo Bills (30-27) and AFC Divisional playoff over Denver Broncos (30-27). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (20-6).

Aftermath:

The breakout 1996 season was the first of seven consecutive in which Smith reached the thousand-yard pass receiving threshold (and nine overall) and six of seven in which his receptions totaled 80 or more. He had 82 catches for 1324 yards (16.1 avg.) in 1997, his first of five consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, and led the NFL with 116 receptions in 1999. McCardell departed after 2001 and a drug suspension decreased his production in 2003 but he bounced back in ’04 with 74 catches for 1172 yards (15.8 avg.) and six TDs while being heavily double-teamed. He retired following a 70-catch, 1023-yard year in 2005. Overall, he caught 862 passes for 12,287 yards (14.3 avg.) and 67 touchdowns, all with Jacksonville, making him the franchise leader in all three categories. In addition to being named to five Pro Bowls, he was a first-team All-AFC selection once and received second-team All-NFL recognition after two seasons.

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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: Bob Boyd, 1964

Cornerback, Baltimore Colts

Age: 27 (Dec. 3)

5^th season in pro football & with Colts

College: Oklahoma

Height: 5’10” Weight: 190

Prelude:

Boyd played quarterback as well as in the defensive backfield under legendary Head Coach Bud Wilkinson in college. Operating in a split-T offense, he passed for 653 yards and rushed for 960, scoring 10 touchdowns. Chosen by the Colts in the tenth round of the 1960 NFL draft, he was placed at left cornerback and excelled, intercepting 7 passes as a rookie. Boyd became a fixture at the position and, through his first four seasons, intercepted 19 passes.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 9 [3]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at San Francisco 11/29

Int. return yards – 185 [1]

Most int. return yards, game – 47 (on 1 int.) vs. LA Rams 10/4, (on 1 int.) vs. San Francisco 11/1

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 0

TDs – 0

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 25

TDs – 0

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Cleveland)

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Rushing attempts – 1

Rushing yards – -9

Awards & Honors:

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

Pro Bowl

Colts went 12-2 to finish first in the NFL Western Conference while leading the league in sacks (57) and fewest points allowed (225). Lost NFL Championship to Cleveland Browns (27-0).

Aftermath:

Boyd followed up in 1965 by again intercepting 9 passes, this time leading the NFL, and added another in the Western Conference playoff loss to Green Bay. He played until 1968, a total of nine years (all with the Colts), and remained an outstanding performer to the end, intercepting 8 passes and garnering consensus first-team All-NFL honors in his final season. Boyd then retired to become an assistant coach for the Colts. Overall, he intercepted a franchise-record 57 passes that he returned for 994 yards and four touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition twice, at least some first- or second-team All-NFL honors after three other seasons, and was selected to two Pro Bowls.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Nick Collins, 2008

Safety, Green Bay Packers

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football & with Packers

College: Bethune-Cookman

Height: 5’11” Weight: 200

Prelude:

Collins started at both safety positions in college and was an All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection in 2004 when he intercepted 6 passes and was credited with 54 tackles. He was chosen by the Packers in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft and, with the departure of Darren Sharper due to contract issues, Collins moved directly into the starting lineup at free safety. With good speed and work ethic, he grew into the role and was credited with 84 tackles and two forced fumbles along with one interception. Collins picked off three passes in 2006, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and his play continued to improve.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 7 [2, tied with Michael Griffin, Troy Polamalu & Charles Woodson; 1^st in NFC]

Most interceptions, game – 1 on seven occasions

Int. return yards – 295 [1]

Most int. return yards, game – 62 (on 1 int.) vs. Indianapolis 10/19

Int. TDs – 3 [1]

Sacks – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 60

Assists – 12

Scoring

TDs – 3

Points – 18

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Packers went 6-10 to finish third in the NFC North while tying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the conference lead in interceptions (22).

Aftermath:

Collins followed up his outstanding 2008 season by gaining second-team All-NFL honors from the Associated Press as well as selection to the Pro Bowl in each of the next two years while intercepting a total of 10 passes. He also scored a TD on an interception return in the Super Bowl XLV win over Pittsburgh following the 2010 season. However, a serious neck injury suffered in the second week of 2011 not only ended his season but cut short his career. Overall, he started 95 games, all with the Packers, and intercepted 21 passes that he returned for 507 yards and four touchdowns. He was a three-time AP second-team All-NFL selection and was chosen for as many Pro Bowls.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Bob Cifers, 1946

Back/Punter, Detroit Lions

Age: 26

1^st season in pro football

College: Tennessee

Height: 5’11” Weight: 200

Prelude:

With his great speed and jumping ability, Cifers excelled in track & field as well as football in college, where he was a single-wing tailback and also an excellent punter. He entered the military during World War II and played service football before joining the Lions, who had chosen him in the second round of the 1944 NFL draft.

1946 Season Summary

Appeared in all 11 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 30 [8]

Yards – 1369 [7]

Average – 45.6 [1]

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 73 yards

Rushing

Attempts – 8

Yards – 18

Average gain – 2.3

TDs – 0

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 4

Yards – 178

Yards per catch – 44.5

TDs – 4 [6, tied with Jack Ferrante, Frank Liebel & Don Currivan]

Passing

Attempts – 6

Completions – 2

Yards – 24

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 1

Punt Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 3

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 4 [19, tied with seven others]         

Points – 24

Lions went 1-10 to finish fifth in the NFL Western Division while ranking at the bottom of the league in fewest yards generated (2146).

Aftermath:

Cifers was traded to Pittsburgh as part of the deal for star tailback Bill Dudley. As a halfback on offense, he rushed for 356 yards in 1947 and 361 in ’48 and as a punter averaged 41.1 and 39.6 yards, respectively. He spent 1949 with Green Bay, his last season. Overall, Cifers rushed for 787 yards on 230 carries (3.4 avg.), caught 12 passes for 296 yards, and averaged 41.4 yards on 161 punts. His 61.75-yard average on four punts against the Bears in 1946 remains the NFL single-game record to date. His older brother Ed also played in the NFL with the Redskins and Bears.

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

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

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

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

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

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

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

**NFC/AFC since 1970