Highlighted Year: Ward Cuff, 1938

Wingback/Defensive Back, New York Giants

Age: 26

2^nd season in pro football & with Giants

College: Marquette

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 198

Prelude:

Cuff starred in track as well as football in college and was part of the Marquette team that went 7-1 in 1936 before losing to TCU in the first Cotton Bowl. He was chosen by the Giants in the fourth round of the 1937 NFL draft and was primarily a backup in his rookie season, although he had a two-touchdown performance against Brooklyn. He also kicked the first two field goals of his career, the longest from 42 yards.

1938 Season Summary

Appeared in all 11 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 5 [1, tied with Ralph Kercheval]

Most field goals, game – 2 vs. Pittsburgh 10/3

Field goal attempts – 9 [2, tied with Jack Manders & Clarke Hinkle]

Field goal percentage – 55.6 [1]

PATs – 18 [1]

PAT attempts – 20 [1]

Longest field goal – 23 yards vs. Philadelphia 9/25

Rushing

Attempts – 18

Yards – 38

Yards per attempt – 2.1

TDs – 0

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 8

Yards – 114

Yards per catch – 14.3

TDs – 1 [16, tied with many others]

Scoring

TDs – 2         

Field Goals – 5

PATs – 18

Points – 45 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship vs. Green Bay)

Field goals – 1

Field goal attempts – 2

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 14 yards

Rushing attempts – 2

Rushing yards – -12

Average gain rushing – -6.0

Rushing TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 1

Kickoff return yards – 27

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: INS

Pro All-Star Game

Giants went 8-2-1 to finish first in the NFL Eastern Division. Won NFL Championship over Green Bay Packers (23-17).

Aftermath:

The versatile Cuff played another seven seasons for the Giants and saw action at wingback, fullback, and halfback and typically handled the placekicking. He twice led the NFL in field goals while with New York, with a high of seven in 1939. His best rushing season was in 1943, when he gained 523 yards on 80 carries (6.5 avg.) and his best for pass receiving was in 1941, with 19 catches for 317 yards (16.7 avg.), the same year in which he intercepted four passes for a league-leading 152 yards. Having scored 305 points for the Giants, Cuff finished his career with the Cardinals in 1946 and Green Bay in ’47, where he led the league one last time with seven field goals. Overall, Cuff rushed for 1851 yards on 344 attempts (5.4 avg.) and 7 TDs, caught 106 passes for 1559 yards (14.7 avg.) and 13 touchdowns, intercepted 13 passes, one of which he returned for a score, and averaged 12.1 yards on 37 punt returns and 25.1 yards returning 14 kickoffs. He kicked 43 field goals out of 98 attempts (43.9 %) and was successful on 156 of 162 extra points for a total of 411 points. Cuff was named to three Pro/NFL All-Star Games. His #14 was retired by the Giants (who un-retired it for Y.A. Tittle but was later retired again to honor both players).

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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

1946: Browns Surge in Second Half to Defeat Dons

The undefeated Cleveland Browns faced a major test in the inaugural All-America Football Conference season as they hosted the Los Angeles Dons on October 20, 1946. The Browns were off to a sensational start under innovative Head Coach Paul Brown and had a 6-0 record. Brown had assembled a team that included many players that he was familiar with from coaching in the college and service ranks, such as QB Otto Graham, ends Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie, FB Marion Motley (pictured at right), G Bill Willis, and OT/PK Lou Groza, and they were all excelling.

The Dons were at 3-1-1 under Head Coach Dudley DeGroot. Viewed as the more glamorous team coming into the AAFC season, LA had several established pro veterans. They also had QB Angelo Bertelli, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Notre Dame, although Charlie O’Rourke had done the better job thus far behind center.

There were 71,134 fans in attendance, which was the largest crowd in pro football history at the time. The Browns threatened first as they reached Los Angeles territory thanks to a pass from Otto Graham to Dante Lavelli that gained 46 yards, but they came up empty when a fake field goal attempt failed. The Dons then drove 67 yards, resulting in QB Charlie O’Rourke throwing to end Bob Nowaskey for an 18-yard touchdown. Joe Aguirre added the extra point to make it 7-0.

Los Angeles was able to keep the Browns in check on offense for the remainder of the first half, but was also unable to add more points. In the second quarter, Cleveland stopped another advance by the Dons when Graham, showing his skill on defense, intercepted an O’Rourke pass at his 31 and returned it to the LA 45. HB Don Greenwood ran for two yards and two passes were incomplete but the Browns scored on a 48-yard Lou Groza field goal. The score remained 7-3 at halftime.

In the third quarter Cleveland’s offense came to life and put together an 85-yard drive. Key plays were runs by HB Edgar “Special Delivery” Jones for 15 yards and FB Gaylon Smith for 16 before a pass from Graham to Lavelli gained 36 yards and set up Graham’s two-yard carry for a TD. Groza added the point after and the Browns were in front by 10-7.

As the fourth quarter started, Joe Aguirre of the Dons attempted a 34-yard field goal that was blocked by tackle Chet Adams. Three plays later, Graham connected with Mac Speedie for a 47-yard touchdown, Groza again converted, and the home team’s lead was up to 17-7.

LA responded with a 50-yard series but, after reaching the Cleveland 26, had to turn the ball over on downs. Two running plays, the longest for 17 yards by Greenwood, got the ball past midfield and then, with the Dons looking for a pass, Marion Motley broke away for a 48-yard TD. Groza added the extra point to make it 24-7.

The Dons again drove into Cleveland territory, going 62 yards. Following an O’Rourke throw to Nowaskey to make it first-and-goal on the six, O’Rourke kept the ball himself on the next play, running around end for a touchdown. Aguirre’s PAT made it a ten-point game, but it didn’t take long for the Browns to respond. On their first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, Motley struck again, running 68 yards for a touchdown. Groza converted, thus sealing the 31-14 Cleveland win.

The Dons had the edge in total yards (395 to 353) and first downs (21 to 10), outrushing Cleveland by 274 yards to 224, but the Browns made the bigger plays in the second half that overcame LA’s statistical edge. Each team turned the ball over three times.

With the two long touchdowns, Marion Motley rushed for 143 yards on just eight carries. Otto Graham completed four of 10 passes for 129 yards with a touchdown and an interception. For the Dons, Charlie O’Rourke and Angelo Bertelli combined for 10 pass completions out of 20 attempts for 121 yards and a touchdown along with an interception.

The Browns finally lost the next week to another Western Division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. They were defeated again in the rematch with the Dons but didn’t lose another game on the way to a 12-2 record and a title game victory over the New York Yankees. Los Angeles placed third in the Western Division at 7-5-2.

Otto Graham went on to lead the AAFC in touchdown passes (17) and yards per attempt (10.5) and placed second in passing yards (1834) and completion percentage (54.6). He received first-team All-AAFC honors. Marion Motley rushed for 601 yards on just 73 carries for an 8.2 average and five touchdowns.

Highlighted Year: La’Roi Glover, 2000

Defensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football, 4^th with Saints

College: San Diego State

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 285

Prelude:

Glover was credited with 18.5 sacks in college and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL draft. He saw action in only two games as a rookie and played with the Barcelona Dragons of the WLAF in the Spring of 1997. Waived by the Raiders during the preseason in ’97, the Saints picked Glover up and he recorded 6.5 sacks as a backup before moving into the starting lineup and compiling 10 sacks in 1998 and 8.5 in ’99. The arrival of DT Norman Hand allowed the Saints to take better advantage of Glover’s speed and strength as a pass rusher.

2000 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 17 [1]

Most sacks, game – 3 at Chicago 10/8, vs. Carolina 10/15, at St. Louis 11/26

Multi-sack games – 5

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 3

Tackles – 54

Assists – 13

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

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

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Saints went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC West while leading the NFL in sacks (66). Won NFC Wild Card playoff over St. Louis Rams (31-28). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Minnesota Vikings (34-16).

Aftermath:

Glover followed up with 8 sacks and another Pro Bowl selection in 2001 before departing for Dallas as a free agent. A disruptive player with surprising speed who was also good against the run, he received first-team All-NFL honors from the Pro Football Writers and Sporting News in 2002 and was a second-team choice of the Associated Press in both 2002 and ’03. Glover was a Pro Bowl pick in each of his four seasons with the Cowboys, although he was less effective as a nose tackle with the shift to a 3-4 defense in 2005. Released by Dallas, he spent the last three years of his career with the St. Louis Rams, through 2008, before retiring. In all, Glover compiled 83.5 sacks, 50 while he was with New Orleans. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection twice and was selected to six Pro Bowls.

--

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 Garron, 1963

Fullback, Boston Patriots

Age: 26

4^th season in pro football & with Patriots

College: Western Illinois

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 215

Prelude:

Garron played at Western Illinois and followed his college coach, Lou Saban, to the Patriots of the new AFL in 1960. He appeared in only four games as a rookie and, suffering from tonsillitis, was cut. Garron returned in ’61 with added weight and split time at fullback with Billy Lott, rushing for 389 yards. His 5.6 yards-per-attempt included a team-record 85-yard run and he also caught 24 passes for 341 yards (14.2 avg.), averaged 27.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns, and scored a total of six touchdowns. Garron was a second-team All-AFL choice by the league and was selected for the AFL All-Star Game. Slowed by injuries in 1962, Garron still gained 1314 all-purpose yards, averaging 5.9 yards while rushing for 392 yards and 28.6 yards on 24 kickoff returns that included a TD.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 175 [5]

Most attempts, game – 23 (for 91 yds.) vs. San Diego 11/10

Yards – 750 [5]

Most yards, game – 107 yards (on 17 carries) at Houston 12/8

Average gain – 4.3 [4]

TDs – 2 [19, tied with five others]

100-yard rushing games – 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 26      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 45 yds.) at San Diego 9/14

Yards – 418

Most yards, game – 92 (on 2 catches) vs. Houston 11/1

Average gain – 16.1 [10]

TDs – 2

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 28 [4]

Yards – 693 [4]

Most yards, game – 131 (on 3 ret.) vs. Denver 10/18

Average per return – 24.8 [5]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 58 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 23

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1884 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 4

Points – 24

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 22

Most rushing attempts, game – 19 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Rushing yards – 59

Most rushing yards, game – 44 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Average gain rushing – 2.7

Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 6

Most pass receptions, game – 4 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Pass receiving yards – 126

Most pass receiving yards, game – 120 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Average yards per reception – 21.0

Pass Receiving TDs – 2

Kickoff returns – 2  

Kickoff return yards – 32

Average per return – 16.0

TDs – 0

Longest return – 17 yards

Awards & Honors:

AFL All-Star Game

Patriots went 7-6-1 to tie for first in the AFL Eastern Division. Won Divisional playoff over Buffalo Bills (26-8). Lost AFL Championship to San Diego Chargers (51-10).

Aftermath:

Garron was an AFL All-Star again in 1964, although showing signs of wear. He rushed for 585 yards but averaged only 3.2 yards on a career-high 183 carries with two TDs; he also caught 40 passes for another 350 yards and seven touchdowns. Garron was shifted to halfback and became more productive as a pass receiver, especially with FB Jim Nance emerging as the primary runner. He played until 1968, a total of nine seasons (all with the Patriots), and rushed for 2981 yards on 759 carries (3.9 avg.) with 14 touchdowns and caught 185 passes for 2502 yards (13.5 avg.) and 26 TDs. He averaged 25.8 yards on 89 kickoff returns that included two more touchdowns, giving him 42 TDs in all. Garron was selected to four AFL All-Star Games.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders (NFC/AFC since 1970) 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

1978: Cowboys Overcome Missed Opportunities to Defeat Cards in OT

It appeared to be a classic mismatch on October 15, 1978 as the Dallas Cowboys, with a 4-2 record, faced the winless St. Louis Cardinals, who were 0-6 and, going back to the previous season, had lost a total of ten straight contests.

Coached by Tom Landry for the 19th season, the Cowboys were the defending NFL Champions and, while off to a somewhat slow start, they remained formidable. QB Roger Staubach (pictured above) directed an offense that could run the ball effectively with HB Tony Dorsett or strike from the air to wide receivers Drew Pearson and Tony Hill. The defense was strong, with the line anchored by DE Harvey Martin and DT Randy White and containing an excellent secondary.

St. Louis had fallen on hard times after winning two division titles under Don Coryell in 1974 and ‘75. Coryell had departed following a 7-7 record in ’77 and Bud Wilkinson, a legendary college coach who had nevertheless been away from the sidelines for many years, was in his place. While the Cardinals had an able quarterback in Jim Hart and a good line, they lacked outside speed at running back. The club had yet to score more than 17 points in a game and the defense had difficulty against the run, giving up 216 yards on the ground in a loss at Dallas three weeks earlier.

There were 48,991 fans in attendance at Busch Memorial Stadium. In the first quarter and following a fumble by Roger Staubach that was recovered by NT Mike Dawson, the Cardinals advanced 47 yards in seven plays. FB Jim Otis ran for the last two and a touchdown, followed by Jim Bakken’s extra point.

Dallas missed an opportunity a few plays later when SS Charlie Waters nearly intercepted a Hart pass with a clear field in front of him, but dropped the ball. Later, however, and following a punt that had the Cowboys starting from their one yard line, the visitors drove 99 yards in 11 plays. Drew Pearson gained 28 yards on a reverse and Staubach completed passes to Tony Hill for 17 yards and TE Billy Joe DuPree for 20 along the way, and capped the series with a six-yard TD throw to FB Robert Newhouse. Rafael Septien tied the score at 7-7.

The Cards put together their own long drive, covering 87 yards, and Otis again capped it with another touchdown, this time from a yard out. Bakken’s point after put the home team back in front by 14-7. In the last minute of the first half, CB Roger Wehrli intercepted a Staubach pass and Jim Hart connected with HB Steve Jones for a 38-yard gain, but he lost his grip on the ball just short of the goal line and, while WR Pat Tilley nearly recovered in the end zone, CB Aaron Kyle recovered instead for the Cowboys. The score remained unchanged at halftime.

Still up by seven points in the third quarter and with a fourth down at their 37, the Cards were forced to punt. However, punter Steve Little dropped the snap and, while he recovered, was unable to run past the line of scrimmage. Dallas quickly capitalized on the next play, utilizing trickery. Tony Dorsett took a handoff, gave the ball to Drew Pearson coming around on an apparent reverse, and the wide receiver then flipped it back to Staubach, who threw long to Tony Hill in the corner of the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown. Septien added the game-tying extra point.

Two minutes later, and following Harvey Martin’s sack of Hart that had Little punting from his own end zone, WR Butch Johnson returned the line-drive kick 23 yards to the St. Louis 15. Helped along by a pass interference penalty, the Cowboys scored when Staubach connected with Hill for another TD, this time from six yards out. Septien’s conversion had the Cowboys in front by 21-14 with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter.

St. Louis came back with a nine-play, 68-yard series that stretched into the fourth quarter.  Hart threw to WR Mel Gray for gains of 30 and 19 yards and finished the possession off with a one-yard toss to HB Wayne Morris for a touchdown. Bakken’s conversion knotted the score again at 21-21.

Later in the period, the Cards drove from their 17 to the Dallas 16, but with 2:54 left in regulation, Bakken missed a 33-yard field goal attempt that struck the left upright, one of several instances in which both teams missed opportunities to win in regulation.

As the clock counted down to less than a minute to play, the Cards lost Hart, who was sacked again by Martin and had to leave the game due to a shoulder injury. With rookie QB Steve Pisarkiewicz now behind center, the Cards punted shortly thereafter and another good return by Johnson gave Dallas excellent field position at the St. Louis 32. Staubach passed to Pearson for 15 yards and, with the ball at the St. Louis 16, it appeared that the Cowboys were on the verge of putting the game away. Newhouse fumbled on the next play, however, and LB Steve Neils recovered for St. Louis. Pisarkiewicz then threw long for Gray, but it was intercepted by FS Cliff Harris. Staubach connected with Pearson to pick up 25 yards and, once again, Dallas had a shot to win. But with the clock down to one second, Septien’s 49-yard field goal attempt was blocked by DE John Zook and, following an eventful final minute of regulation, the game headed into overtime.

The Cowboys won the toss to start the extra period and, taking possession at their 23 after the kickoff, Staubach started off with two completions before he had to leave due to injury. It didn’t deter Dallas as Newhouse carried for 13 yards, Dorsett for six, and Septien kicked a 47-yard field goal at 3:28 into the extra period. The Cowboys came away with a hard-fought 24-21 victory.

Dallas led in total yards (418 to 372) and first downs (24 to 21). The Cowboys also recorded three sacks, to one by St. Louis. However, the visitors turned the ball over four times, to three by the Cards, and amassed 12 penalties at a cost of 109 yards while St. Louis was flagged four times.

Roger Staubach completed 23 of 40 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns while giving up two interceptions. Drew Pearson had 7 catches for 101 yards and carried the ball twice for 34 yards while Tony Hill contributed three receptions for 60 yards and two TDs. Tony Dorsett was held to 24 yards on 12 carries and Robert Newhouse topped the Dallas runners with 47 yards on 12 attempts against a surprisingly stiff St. Louis defense. Butch Johnson averaged 15.8 yards on four punt returns.

For the Cardinals, Jim Hart (pictured at right) was successful on 17 of 28 throws for 264 yards and a TD while being picked off once. Jim Otis gained 88 yards on 28 rushing attempts that included two touchdowns and Wayne Morris added 30 yards on 13 carries and had a TD among his four pass receptions for 26 yards. Mel Gray gained a team-leading 89 yards on his four catches.

Roger Staubach missed no time with his injury, which was minor, and while it was initially projected that Jim Hart would be out for at least three weeks, he missed just one. The Cowboys won their next game, lost two, and didn’t lose again as they finished atop the NFC East with a 12-4 record. They again reached the Super Bowl before losing to Pittsburgh. The Cardinals fell to 0-8 before turning around and winning six of their last eight contests. St. Louis ended up with a 6-10 tally and placed fourth in the division.

Highlighted Year: Daunte Culpepper, 2000

Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Vikings

College: Central Florida

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 250

Prelude:

Culpepper had an outstanding collegiate career, capped by completing 73.6 percent of his passes for 3690 yards and 28 touchdowns while averaging 9.2 yards-per-attempt as a senior in 1998. He also rushed for 463 yards and 12 TDs and was chosen by the Vikings in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft (11^th overall). Culpepper saw no action as a rookie, but with the departure of veterans Jeff George and Randall Cunningham after the season, he moved into the starting lineup in 2000.

2000 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 474 [12]

Most attempts, game – 53 at Tampa Bay 10/29

Completions – 297 [11]

Most completions, game – 29 at Tampa Bay 10/29

Yards – 3937 [4]

Most yards, game – 357 vs. Carolina 11/19

Completion percentage – 62.7 [5]

Yards per attempt – 8.3 [3]

TD passes – 33 [1, tied with Peyton Manning]

Most TD passes, game – 3 on seven occasions

Interceptions – 16 [7, tied with Brett Favre]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Miami 9/10, at Green Bay 11/6

Passer rating – 98.0 [4]

300-yard passing games – 5

200-yard passing games – 11

Rushing

Attempts – 89

Most attempts, game – 13 (for 73 yds.) vs. Chicago 9/3

Yards – 470

Most yards, game – 73 yards (on 13 carries) vs. Chicago 9/3

Average gain – 5.3 [5]

TDs – 7 [17, tied with seven others]

Scoring

TDs – 7

Points – 42

Postseason: 2 G

Pass attempts – 59

Most pass attempts, game – 31 vs. New Orleans, NFC Divisional playoff

Pass completions – 30

Most pass completions, game – 17 vs. New Orleans, NFC Divisional playoff

Passing yardage – 380

Most passing yards, game – 302 vs. New Orleans, NFC Divisional playoff

TD passes – 3

Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. New Orleans, NFC Divisional playoff

Interceptions – 3

Most interceptions, game – 3 at NY Giants, NFC Championship

Rushing attempts – 6

Most rushing attempts, game – 4 vs. New Orleans, NFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 61

Most rushing yards, game – 51 vs. New Orleans, NFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 10.2

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 11-5 to finish first in the NFC Central. Won NFC Divisional playoff over New Orleans Saints (34-16). Lost NFC Championship to New York Giants (41-0).

Aftermath:

Culpepper had a lesser season in 2001, missing the last five games of the year due to injury and drawing criticism for lack of preparation. He came back to throw for 3853 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2002, but also led the league with 23 interceptions, although his 609 rushing yards and 10 TDs were career highs. Culpepper improved in 2003, passing for 3479 yards and 25 TDs with just 11 interceptions, and in 2004 led the NFL with 379 completions and 4717 yards while tossing 39 TD passes and accumulating a 110.9 passer rating. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after both seasons and was a first-team All-NFC choice by Pro Football Weekly in ’04. But after achieving that peak, Culpepper had a poor season in 2005 before going down with a knee injury and, with a coaching change taking place, he was traded to Miami, where he started four games and was hampered by limited mobility before having to undergo a second knee operation. Culpepper had stints with Oakland and Detroit over the remaining three seasons of his NFL career, never appearing in more than seven games and with reduced production. He finished up with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League in 2010, where he passed for 1910 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final pro season. Overall in the NFL, Culpepper threw for 24,153 yards and 149 TDs, and also rushed for 2652 yards and 34 touchdowns. He twice received first-team All-NFC recognition and was selected to three Pro Bowls.

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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 Griese, 1970

Quarterback, Miami Dolphins

Age:  25

4^th season in pro football & with Dolphins

College: Purdue

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

A multi-talented player in college who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1966, Griese was taken by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1967 AFL/NFL draft. When starting QB John Stofa was lost to a broken ankle, Griese took over and had a solid rookie season as he threw for 2005 yards and 15 TD passes for a second-year franchise. He earned selection to the AFL All-Star game in 1967 and ’68, but suffered along with a struggling team until Don Shula took over as head coach in 1970. Griese didn’t have the strongest arm, but it was accurate and he proved to be a good fit in Shula’s ball-control offense.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 245 [19]

Most attempts, game – 27 at Boston 9/20

Completions – 142 [16]

Most completions, game – 15 at Buffalo 10/18, vs. New Orleans 11/15

Yards – 2019 [13]

Most yards, game – 225 vs. New Orleans 11/15

Completion percentage – 58.0 [3, 1^st in AFC]

Yards per attempt – 8.2 [2, 1^st in AFC]

TD passes – 12 [15]

Most TD passes, game – 2 at Houston 9/27, vs. Oakland 10/3, at NY Jets 10/10, vs. Baltimore 11/22

Interceptions – 17 [7, tied with Bill Kilmer & Joe Kapp]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Cleveland 10/25, at Philadelphia 11/8

Passer rating – 72.1 [10]

200-yard passing games – 2

Rushing

Attempts – 26

Most attempts, game – 3 (for 18 yds.) at Boston 9/20, (for 21 yds.) at Houston 9/27, (for 0 yds.) vs. NY Jets 12/13

Yards – 89

Most yards, game – 21 yards (on 3 carries) at Houston 9/27

Yards per attempt – 3.4

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2         

Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Oakland)

Pass attempts – 27

Pass completions – 13

Passing yardage – 155

TD passes – 2

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 1

Rushing yards – 2

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

1^st team All-AFC: Sporting News

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:

Griese followed up in 1971 by passing for 2089 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Dolphins won the AFC Championship. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl selection, and also received MVP and Player of the Year recognition. Griese suffered a broken leg five games into the 1972 season but returned in the playoffs as the team went undefeated and won the Super Bowl. They won again in ’73 and Griese was again selected to the Pro Bowl even though the offense was ground-oriented and he passed sparingly, although to good effect. Injuries factored into a couple of lesser seasons in 1975 and ’76, with personnel factors also an issue, but Griese, now wearing glasses, came back strong in 1977 as he led the NFL in passing (87.8 rating), TD passes (22), and yards per attempt (7.2). He was again a consensus first-team All-Pro as well as Pro Bowl selection and MVP. Griese was selected to a sixth Pro Bowl in ’78 while leading the league in completion percentage (63.0) but injuries began to wear him down and ultimately ended his career in 1980. He ended up passing for 25,092 yards with 192 TD passes and the team went 92-56-3 with him behind center. The Dolphins retired Griese’s #12 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1990. His son Brian followed him into the NFL, also as a quarterback.

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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