1967: Vikings Hire Bud Grant as Head Coach

It had been an offseason of change since the Minnesota Vikings completed the 1966 season with a disappointing 4-9-1 record. The ongoing battle between Norm Van Brocklin, the team’s first head coach, and Fran Tarkenton, who had almost immediately become the starting quarterback as a rookie in the club’s inaugural season of 1961, had reached a point of no return. The result was that both departed.

Van Brocklin resigned, and a few days before the hiring of his successor, Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants. Late on Friday, March 10, 1967, the Vikings signed Harry “Bud” Grant to be the team’s head coach (a press conference was held the next morning to make it official).

Grant was 39 years old (he turned 40 prior to the season) and had been head coach of the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the previous ten years. An outstanding all-around athlete at the University of Minnesota, he played both football and basketball professionally (the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers for two seasons before joining the NFL’s Eagles). Following two years with Philadelphia, Grant moved north to play for Winnipeg and became head coach at age 29 and, later, general manager. He had originally been offered the coaching job with the Vikings when the club was formed in 1961, but turned it down. His regular season record with the Blue Bombers was 102-56-2 and the team had gone 20-10-1 in the playoffs, winning two Grey Cup titles.

According to Vikings GM Jim Finks, Grant had signed a three-year contract. The Vikings had also considered Green Bay assistant coach Phil Bengtson and two other assistants with previous head coaching experience in the NFL, Nick Skorich of Cleveland and Bill McPeak of Detroit. But bringing Bud Grant back to the Twin Cities was their first choice, and this time he accepted the job.

The most significant question that Grant faced in preparing for the 1967 season was, who would play quarterback? The void left by the departed Tarkenton was a big one. There was Ron VanderKelen, star of the 1963 Rose Bowl for Wisconsin as well as that summer’s College All-Star game upset of the NFL champion Packers, who had been backing up – and occasionally competing with - Tarkenton for four years. The other prime contender was Bob Berry, a third-year pro out of Oregon who had thus far seen scant action. VanderKelen was more mobile, in the mold of the departed Tarkenton, while Berry was a classic drop-back passer with a better arm.

VanderKelen started the season and played abysmally. The Vikings lost their first four games. However, another product of the CFL, 29-year-old Joe Kapp, joined the club and took over as starting quarterback. What he lacked in passing ability, he made up for with fiery leadership.

At other positions, the club that Grant inherited was fundamentally sound and, while the Vikings went just 3-8-3 in ’67, the stage was set for significant improvement. HB Dave Osborn and FB Bill Brown ran for over 1500 yards and caught 56 passes between them. The offensive line was anchored by Pro Bowlers at center (Mick Tingelhoff) and tackle (Grady Alderman).

The Vikings would be known for their formidable defense during the Grant years, and the elements were coming together in that unit of 1967. The line, bolstered by the arrival of rookie DT Alan Page, contained ends Jim Marshall and Carl Eller and DT Paul Dickson. MLB Lonnie Warwick led a good unit, and cornerbacks Earsell Mackbee and Ed Sharockman and safeties Karl Kassulke and Dale Hackbart also worked well as a group.

While Gary Cuozzo was obtained for the 1968 season to provide an alternative at quarterback, it was still Kapp calling the signals as Minnesota went 8-6, won the NFL Central Division, and qualified for the postseason for the first time. Far more significant newcomers in ’68 were FS Paul Krause, obtained from the Redskins, and rookie OT Ron Yary. Second-year WR Gene Washington emerged to catch 46 passes for 756 yards and six touchdowns, although the club still ranked at the bottom of the league in passing. They were carried by the defense, which ranked fifth overall (better against the pass than the run). In winning the division in a mediocre year, they played clutch football when they most needed it, beating out the Bears by winning their last two games on the road.

The stage was set for a championship run in 1969. The Vikings lost their season-opening game against the Giants and didn’t lose again until the last game of the year. The 12-2 record was the best in the NFL, and Minnesota won the Western Conference title over the Rams before thrashing Cleveland for the NFL Championship. However, in the Super Bowl (the last pre-merger pairing of the champions of two leagues), they were beaten by the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Still, it was an impressive season for Coach Grant, GM Finks (who assembled the talent), and the team. The conservative offense led the league in scoring with 379 points. The defense, now known as “The Purple Gang”, allowed the fewest points in the NFL and was recognized as an elite unit.

The merger with the AFL took effect in 1970, and the Vikings under Grant’s calm and unflappable approach dominated the NFC Central over the course of the decade, winning the division in 10 of the next 12 seasons, through 1980. Kapp was gone after ’69 due to a contract dispute, and while the club went a combined 23-5 in 1970 and ’71 with, primarily, Cuozzo at quarterback, it also faltered in the first round of the playoffs in both years. Fran Tarkenton returned to the team in 1972, and with an improved offense complementing the solid defense (and also making the most of the home advantage in cold weather), Minnesota went to the Super Bowl three times, following the ’73, ’74, and ’76 seasons, although coming up short of a league title in each instance.

The team made it to the postseason once more with Grant as head coach, following the strike-shortened 1982 season, and after an 8-8 showing in ’83, he retired. It proved to be a brief sojourn, however – following a disastrous 3-13 record under successor Les Steckel, Grant returned in 1985 to stabilize the situation before stepping aside for good.

Overall, Grant’s record in Minnesota in 18 seasons was 158-96-5 for a .622 winning percentage. The playoff tally was 10-12 and included one NFL title and three NFC championships. Including his years in Canada, his teams won 260 regular season games plus 30 postseason contests. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

1977: Eagles Trade Charle Young to Rams for Ron Jaworski

On March 9, 1977 the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams traded the negotiating rights to disgruntled players who had played out their options and were looking to change teams. Charle Young, well-established as a top pass receiving tight end in Philadelphia, was swapped for Ron Jaworski, caught in the glut at quarterback in LA.

Jaworski (pictured at right), just short of his 26th birthday, had been chosen by the Rams in the second round of the 1973 draft out of Youngstown State. He found himself competing for playing time with, first, John Hadl, and then James Harris and Pat Haden during his four years in Los Angeles. “The Polish Rifle” started a handful of games, including a NFC Divisional playoff game win over the Cardinals. Jaworski was injured in ’76, and dropped to the number three spot behind Haden and Harris as a result (Harris was also dealt away during the same offseason, while an over-the-hill Joe Namath was brought in).

The 6’2”, 195-pound quarterback refused a five-year, $700,000 offer to stay with the Rams, hoping for a better opportunity elsewhere. While he had entertained offers from other clubs (technically, he was a free agent), Eagles Head Coach Dick Vermeil assured Jaworski of an opportunity to start. Vermeil, having completed one season in Philadelphia, was not satisfied with holdover quarterbacks Mike Boryla, who suffered from inconsistency, and Roman Gabriel, once an outstanding player but now clearly on the downside of his career. He was familiar with Jaworski from when he was offensive backfield coach with the Rams in 1973.

“We are very excited about obtaining the rights to Ron Jaworski while at the same time
we are disappointed about having to give up the rights to Charle Young,” Vermeil said following the completion of the trade.

Charle Young had been an All-American at Southern California and was one of Philadelphia’s two first round draft picks in 1973 (the other was OT Jerry Sisemore). He had an immediate impact, catching 55 passes for 854 yards and receiving NFC Rookie of the Year honors from UPI as well as consensus first-team All-Pro recognition. It was the first of three straight Pro Bowl seasons as Young followed up with an NFC-leading 63 receptions for 696 yards in ’74 and 49 for 659 yards in 1975. However, the team went a combined 16-25-1, and Head Coach Mike McCormack was replaced by Vermeil. Young caught just 30 passes for 374 yards in 1976.

The 6’4”, 240-pound Young was as outspoken as he was talented – from the day he was drafted, he made clear that he considered himself to be an elite player. He also tinkered with his first name throughout his stay in Philadelphia, which evolved from Charles to Charlie, Charli, and Charle.

The contract negotiations with the Eagles were going badly, and it was apparent that the brash tight end was looking to move elsewhere. “I want to play for a warm weather franchise,” Young said. “I'd like to play on natural turf and I'd like to be with a contender.”

“Charles Young would give us an added dimension as both a wide receiver and tight end,” said Chuck Knox, head coach of the Rams, following the trade. “I coached him in the Pro Bowl and I'm delighted we've acquired the rights to a player of this quality.”

In going back to Los Angeles, his college town, Young was clearly getting his wishes granted. However, the result was not what he anticipated. The Rams were a run-oriented team, and Terry Nelson emerged to move ahead of Young on the depth chart. The former All-Pro caught just five passes in 1977, and a total of 36 in three seasons in LA.

Jaworski, meanwhile, developed along with the Eagles under Vermeil’s guidance. He passed for 2183 yards in 1977, completing 48 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and 21 interceptions for a club that went 5-9. In 1978, Jaws completed 51.8 percent of his throws for 2487 yards and broke even with 16 TDs and interceptions apiece. The Eagles were 9-7 and claimed a wild card spot for their first foray into the postseason since 1960. In ’79, Jaworski’s yardage total was 2669 and he had more touchdowns (18) than passes picked off (12) as Philadelphia improved to 11-5 and another wild card playoff berth. 1980 saw the Eagles win the NFC East with a 12-4 record and advance to the Super Bowl (a loss to the Raiders). Jaworski led the NFC in passing (91.0 rating) and threw for 3529 yards with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and received the Bert Bell Trophy from the Maxwell Club as NFL MVP.


Things did get better for Young – and worse for Jaworski. Young moved on to the San Francisco 49ers in 1980 and again became a starting tight end. He caught 37 passes for 400 yards and five TDs during the 1981 season that culminated in a championship. He played the last three years of his career for the Seahawks (1983-85) and ended up with a career total of 418 catches for 5106 yards and 27 touchdowns. While he never achieved All-Pro or Pro Bowl recognition after leaving Philadelphia, he was a serviceable player who contributed to a Super Bowl championship.

The Eagles went out in the first round of the playoffs in 1981 and dropped to 3-6 during the strike-shortened ’82 season, after which Vermeil resigned. The team slid back into mediocrity, with organizational problems aiding the descent.

Jaworski stayed with Philadelphia through the 1986 season, when he finally was forced to give way to Randall Cunningham. Tough and durable, he started every game of his first seven years in Philadelphia until sidelined by a broken leg suffered 13 games into the ’84 season. By the time “The Polish Rifle” left, to finish his career with a year apiece in Miami and Kansas City, he had set team career passing records that would not be broken until Donovan McNabb’s tenure at quarterback, including attempts (3918), completions (2088), yards (26,963), and touchdowns (175).

Past Venue: Jeppesen Stadium

Houston, TX
aka Robertson Stadium



Year opened: 1942
Capacity: 32,000, up from 20,500 when first opened. Was 36,000 at time Oilers played there.

Names:
Houston Public School Stadium, 1942-58
Jeppesen Stadium, 1958-80
Corbin J. Robertson Stadium, 1980 to date

Pro football tenants:
Houston Oilers (AFL), 1960-64

Postseason games hosted:
AFL Championship, Oilers 24 Chargers 16, Jan. 1, 1961
AFL Championship, Texans 20 Oilers 17, Dec. 23, 1962

Other tenants of note:
University of Houston, 1946-50, 98 to date
Houston Dynamo (MLS), 2006 to date

Notes: Hosted AFL All-Star Game, Jan. 16, 1965. Hosted East-West Shrine Game, 2008-09. Major renovation occurred in 1999, thanks to $6 million donation from John and Julie O’Quinn Foundation. Located on the Univ. of Houston campus and originally constructed as a joint venture of the Houston Independent School District and WPA and used as the home football field for all of the city’s high schools. Stadium was renamed Jeppesen Stadium in honor of Holger Jeppesen, a school board member who had pushed for its construction. Bought by the Univ. of Houston in 1970, it was renamed for Corbin J. Robertson, a former member of the Board of Regents who funded its renovation following the purchase. NFL Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys scrimmaged there in 2002. Univ. of Houston football team split home games between the stadium and Astrodome from 1993-97 before moving back to Robertson Stadium full-time in ’98. Also used for track & field.

Fate: Still in use, although the Univ. of Houston announced plans in 2010 to demolish the stadium and build a new facility on the same site.

MVP Profile: Kurt Warner, 1999

Quarterback, St. Louis Rams



Age: 28
5th season in pro football, 2nd in NFL & with Rams
College: Northern Iowa
Height: 6’2” Weight: 220

Prelude:
An undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa who failed to catch on with the Green Bay Packers in 1994, Warner played for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and earned another shot at the NFL with the Rams, who allocated him to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe for the spring 1998 season. He made the Rams as the third string QB in ’98 and was expected to back up new arrival Trent Green in 1999, but a season-ending injury to Green during the preseason thrust Warner into the starting lineup.

1999 Season Summary
Appeared and started in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing
Attempts – 499 [7, tied with Elvis Grbac]
Most attempts, game – 46 at Tennessee 10/31
Completions – 325 [4]
Most completions, game – 29 at Tennessee 10/31
Yards – 4353 [2]
Most yards, game – 351 at Carolina 12/5
Completion percentage – 65.1 [1]
Yards per attempt – 8.7 [1]
TD passes – 41 [1]
Most TD passes, game – 5 vs. San Francisco 10/10
Interceptions – 13 [14, tied with Brad Johnson & Tim Couch]
Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Baltimore 9/12, at Detroit 11/7, at Carolina 12/5, at Philadelphia 1/2/00
Passer rating – 109.2 [1]
300-yard passing games – 9
200-yard passing games – 14

Rushing
Attempts – 23
Most attempts, game - 3 (for 26 yds.) at Detroit 11/7
Yards – 92
Most yards, game – 26 yards (on 3 carries) at Detroit 11/7
Yards per attempt – 4.0
TDs – 1

Scoring
TDs – 1
Points - 6

Postseason: 3 G
Pass attempts – 121
Most attempts, game - 45 vs. Tennessee, Super Bowl
Pass completions – 77
Most completions, game - 27 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Passing yardage – 1063
Most yards, game - 414 vs. Tennessee, Super Bowl
TD passes – 8
Most TD passes, game - 5 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Interceptions – 4
Most interceptions, game - 3 vs. Tampa Bay, NFC Championship

Rushing attempts – 6
Most rushing attempts, game - 3 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Rushing yards – 3
Most rushing yards, game - 3 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Average gain rushing – 0.5
Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
NFL MVP: AP, PFWA, NEA, Bert Bell Award, Sporting News
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl

Rams went 13-3 to win NFC West and gain top playoff seed in conference while leading the NFL in points scored (526) and touchdowns (66). Won Divisional playoff over Minnesota Vikings (49-37), NFC Championship over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6), and Super Bowl over Tennessee Titans (23-16).

Aftermath:
Warner led the NFL in completion percentage (67.7) and yards per attempt (9.9) in an injury-interrupted 2000, had another MVP year in 2001, when the Rams returned to the Super Bowl but were upset by the New England Patriots. However, a hand injury during the ’02 season greatly hampered his effectiveness, and he lost his starting job in 2003. After a year with the New York Giants, in which he paved the way for rookie QB Eli Manning, Warner moved on to the Arizona Cardinals and revived his career. He led the Cardinals to an NFC Championship following the 2008 season and retired after another productive, division-winning year in 2009.

--

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).

[Updated 2/15/14]

1994: Scott Mitchell Signs with Lions

On March 6, 1994 the Detroit Lions signed unrestricted free agent QB Scott Mitchell to a three-year, $11 million contract. Chosen by the Dolphins in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL draft, Mitchell had spent three quiet years as the little-used backup to durable star QB Dan Marino. But in 1993, Marino went down for the season with a torn Achilles tendon in the fifth game, and Mitchell got his chance.

Initially, the lefthander made the most of the opportunity, looking good in four starts before suffering a shoulder injury, and struggling in three starts when he returned. Miami had risen to 9-2 before losing the last five games to miss the postseason. While Mitchell had done well enough to draw interest (he ended up ranking fifth in passing in the AFC with an 84.2 rating), there were also questions regarding how well he might perform as the starting quarterback over a full season.

The Vikings were the first team to offer Mitchell a contract, and the young quarterback also met with the Saints and Rams before deciding on Detroit. “I think we were offering a crazy deal, but the Lions offered an insane deal,” said Vikings VP and chief contract negotiator Jeff Diamond (they instead obtained the proven veteran QB Warren Moon from the Oilers).

“It’s unfortunate that I’m leaving Miami, but I don’t leave behind any hard feelings, “said Mitchell. “I wanted a chance to play and be the regular guy, the starter, and I knew I wasn't going to get that here. But the Dolphins gave me a chance to become a good football player and prove myself in the league, and I'm grateful for that.”

The Lions had won the NFC Central with a 10-6 record in ’93, their second division title in three seasons. However, the offense was more centered around star RB Barry Sanders than anyone who had played quarterback during that period – indeed, Head Coach Wayne Fontes had taken much criticism for his handling of quarterbacks. Erik Kramer was the most successful, leading the Lions to the NFC Championship game following the 1991 season and spurring the run to the playoffs in ’93.

But Kramer’s hold on the starting job had been tenuous and he split time with Rodney Peete and Andre Ware, who proved to be a first-round bust. Kramer left Detroit for the Bears as a free agent, and Peete and Ware were free agents that the team was not interested in re-signing (Peete signed with Dallas to back up Troy Aikman for a year, and Ware went to the Raiders and was never activated). At the time of the signing, Chuck Long, the long-forgotten 1986 first round draft choice out of Iowa, was the only quarterback on the roster, but after looking at veteran free agents Sean Salisbury and Chris Miller, 36-year-old veteran Dave Krieg was brought in to back up Mitchell.

Mitchell had ideal size at 6’5” and 230 pounds, and proved to be tough and intelligent. He also suffered through a difficult first season in Detroit. After a good opening-game outing against the Falcons, he injured his shoulder in a rough contest the following week at Minnesota and, after developing tendinitis, struggled with his passing. Mitchell went down for good late in the second quarter of a losing game at Green Bay in Week 10 (the club’s ninth game). He ended up completing just 48.4 percent of his passes for 1456 yards (5.9 yards per attempt) and 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. The Lions were 4-5 after losing to the Packers, but Krieg stepped in and performed very well as the team won five of its last seven games to grab the last NFC wild card spot with a 9-7 tally (they were also helped by Barry Sanders putting together his best season yet, as he led the league with 1883 yards rushing). They lost once again to Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs.

There was no quarterback controversy going into 1995, as the Lions let Krieg move on to Arizona as a free agent. Still, they lost their first three games, and were 3-6 after nine contests, but caught fire and won seven straight to close out the regular season and once again advance into the playoffs. Mitchell passed for a team-record 4338 yards and 32 touchdowns, as opposed to just 12 interceptions. Both starting wide receivers caught over a hundred passes, with Herman Moore leading the league with a then-record 123 receptions for 1686 yards and 14 touchdowns and Brett Perriman contributing 108 for 1488 yards and nine TDs. Sanders caught 48 passes in addition to running for 1500 yards.

But it all came crashing down in a shocking 58-37 loss to the Eagles in the Wild Card playoff round – it wasn’t even that close, as Philadelphia had a 51-7 lead midway through the third quarter. Mitchell had a dreadful outing and was pulled in favor of backup Don Majkowski, who helped to make the score respectable with three touchdown passes.

The Lions were a 5-11 team in ’96, and Mitchell appeared to regress. He threw for 2917 yards with 17 TDs and 17 interceptions, but signed a contract extension to remain in Detroit. Fontes was fired as head coach and, with the coming of Head Coach Bobby Ross and offensive coordinator Sylvester Croom, it was hoped that Mitchell would again rebound. Both Mitchell and the Lions improved, with the quarterback throwing for 3484 yards and having a better touchdown-to-interception ratio (19 to 14) and the team returning to the playoffs with a 9-7 tally. But once again they came up short in the first round, this time against the Buccaneers, and Mitchell was benched in favor of rookie QB Charlie Batch in 1998. He was dealt to the Baltimore Ravens after the season, and his career continued on its descent. After a year with the Ravens and two as a backup in Cincinnati, it came to an end.

Overall in Detroit, Mitchell passed for 12,647 yards with 79 touchdowns and 57 interceptions, but he had a losing record as the starting quarterback (27-30) and played poorly in his postseason appearances. Immobile and inconsistent, in only one season did he approach the level of performance anticipated when he signed the big free agent contract in ’94.

Past Venue: Hagemeister Park

Green Bay, WI



Year opened: pre-1920
Capacity: 200

Names:
Hagemeister Park

Pro football tenants:
Acme/Green Bay Packers (APFA/NFL), 1919-23

Postseason games hosted:
None

Other tenants of note:
None

Notes: The site was a vacant lot owned by Hagemeister Brewery and adjacent to Green Bay’s East High School. Initially, it was completely open and spectators stood behind ropes along the sidelines and followed the action up and down the field. A small bleacher section of stands was constructed in 1920 and in ’21 a fence built around the exterior, thus allowing for admission to be charged. There were no locker rooms for the players, and at halftime the teams would adjourn to opposite end zones to discuss strategy – sometimes aided by spectators who wandered over from the sidelines.

Fate: Torn down in 1923 as part of construction of a new Green Bay East High School building, which still occupies the location.

1984: Bulls Lose Heartbreaker to Generals Before 73,227 in Jacksonville

One of six new United States Football League teams for 1984, the Jacksonville Bulls started their season off in a big way with a 53-14 opening win over the Washington Federals before a home crowd of 49,392. Head Coach Lindy Infante, former offensive coordinator of the NFL’s Bengals, put together a team that drew heavily on players who had played collegiately with schools in Florida and Georgia, and QB Matt Robinson, a product of the Univ. of Georgia who played for the NFL Jets and Broncos, performed well in the opener. For their second game, on March 4, a USFL-record 73,227 fans packed the Gator Bowl to see the new club take on the New Jersey Generals.

The Generals had been a disappointment in the USFL’s first season, finishing at 6-12, but were revamped during the offseason, starting with a new owner, real estate magnate Donald Trump. Walt Michaels, late of the Jets, was the new head coach and several veteran players had been signed away from the NFL – most notably ex-Cleveland Browns QB Brian Sipe to bolster the offense and linebackers Willie Harper and Bobby Leopold, DE Marshall Harris, CB Kerry Justin, and FS Gary Barbaro to improve a defense that had ranked last in the league in ‘83. They won their opening game at Birmingham. However, Sipe had to sit out the game in Jacksonville with a knee injury – backup Gene Bradley started for the Generals.

The Bulls scored first on a one-yard run by FB Michael Whiting just over four minutes into the first quarter. New Jersey responded with a drive that appeared to have stalled and come up empty when Roger Ruzek missed a 30-yard field goal attempt. However, the Bulls were penalized for roughing the kicker, and taking advantage of the break, the Generals tied the score early in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown carry by star RB Herschel Walker.

Jacksonville came back in the second quarter to retake the lead as Robinson connected on a nine-yard touchdown pass to TE Paul Bergmann, but the extra point was missed, making the score 13-7. Late in the period, Generals LB Bobby Leopold (pictured above) intercepted a Robinson pass and returned it 16 yards for a New Jersey TD. With the successful extra point, New Jersey took a 14-13 advantage into halftime.

The Generals extended their lead when Walker capped a 76-yard drive on New Jersey’s first possession of the second half with a one-yard touchdown run, making it 21-13. The Bulls chipped away, as Danny Miller kicked two field goals before the period was over to make it a two-point game.

In the fourth quarter, another interception by the Generals led to a score. LB Jim LeClair picked off Robinson at the Jacksonville 22, setting up a five-yard scoring run by Bradley four plays later. New Jersey now had a 28-19 lead with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter.

Following Bradley’s TD, the Bulls responded with an eight-play drive that resulted in a seven-yard scoring pass from Robinson to WR Gary Clark to make it once again a two-point contest with 1:45 still on the clock.

It appeared the Bulls might pull off a win for the big home crowd when they successfully recovered the ensuing onside kick at midfield and drove into field goal range. However, Miller’s attempt from 41 yards was unsuccessful as it curved over the right upright, and New Jersey escaped with a 28-26 win.

Of the missed field goal attempt, Miller said it “really looked like it might have been over the upright…The wind was swirling in there. Ordinarily the ball floats for me, and it went a little bit to the right.”


Jacksonville outgained the Generals (383 yards to 307) and had more first downs (22 to 13). However, they turned the ball over five times, to two suffered by the Generals. While Matt Robinson completed 28 of 51 passes for 329 yards and two TDs, he also threw three interceptions, in particular the two costly ones deep in his own territory that led to scores.

RB Larry Mason paced the Bulls with 69 yards on 14 carries. Paul Bergmann caught 6 passes for 86 yards and a TD, and Gary Clark also had 6 receptions, for 57 yards and a score. For Clark, the rookie out of James Madison, the touchdown was his first as a pro and, while he would end up scoring three in the USFL, he compiled 65 over the course of 11 years in the NFL, as well as catching 699 passes for 10,856 yards.

For New Jersey, Herschel Walker gained a relatively low 72 yards on 21 carries that included the two short touchdown runs. FB Maurice Carthon was right behind with 67 yards on 18 attempts. Phil Bradley completed 8 of 17 passes for 140 yards with an interception. WR Clarence Collins caught three passes for 34 yards and TE Sam Bowers gained 57 yards on two receptions. Bobby Leopold had a notable game on defense, not only scoring on the interception return, but forcing Mason to fumble the ball away near the New Jersey goal line to prevent a score.

Jacksonville maintained good fan support throughout the year (attendance averaged 46,736 per home game), but went a disappointing 6-12 to finish at the bottom of the Southern Division. The defense was weak, the running game poor, and there were many injuries. The veteran Robinson ended up splitting the quarterback job with second-year pro Robbie Mahfouz. However, Gary Clark had a good rookie season, catching 56 passes for 760 yards and two TDs.

New Jersey went on to a 14-4 record to finish second in the Atlantic Division and qualify for the postseason as a wild card. They lost in the first round to the division-rival Philadelphia Stars.