Highlighted Year: Tiki Barber, 2004

Running Back, New York Giants

Age: 29

8^th season in pro football & with Giants

College: Virginia

Height: 5’10” Weight: 200

Prelude:

Barber was chosen by the Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft with the expectation that he would be a third-down back and kick returner in the mold of former star RB Dave Meggett, and while he started a few games, that was largely the role he filled for his first three seasons. From 1997 to ’99, he rushed for 935 yards while catching 142 passes for 1256 yards (8.8 avg.) that included a high of 66 for 609 yards in 1999. Adding in kick returns, Barber gained 1639 all-purpose yards. He became part of an effective tandem with rookie Ron Dayne in 2000, and while Dayne wore down as the season progressed, Barber rushed for 1006 yards on 213 carries (4.7 avg.) and caught 70 passes for 719 yards (10.3 avg.). He co-led the team in ’01 with 72 pass receptions, for 577 yards, and had 865 rushing yards. The biggest concern was a tendency to fumble, but he was a surprisingly effective inside runner as well as a breakaway threat on the outside and skillful receiver. Barber shouldered more of the load in 2002 and ’03, gaining 1984 yards from scrimmage in ’02 (1387 rushing, 597 receiving) and 1677 in 2003 (1216 rushing, 461 receiving).   

2004 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 322 [8]

Most attempts, game – 24 (for 101 yds.) at Minnesota 10/31, (for 95 yds.) vs. Dallas 1/2

Yards – 1518 [5]

Most yards, game – 182 yards (on 23 carries) at Green Bay 10/3

Average gain – 4.7 [8]

TDs – 13 [4, tied with Willis McGahee, Domanick Davis & Jerome Bettis]

100-yard rushing games – 9

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 52      

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 102 yds.) vs. Detroit 10/24

Yards – 578

Most yards, game – 102 (on 7 catches) vs. Detroit 10/24

Average gain – 11.1

TDs – 2

100-yard receiving games – 1

All-Purpose yards – 2096 [2, 1^st in NFC]

Scoring

TDs – 15 [4, tied with Marvin Harrison & Priest Holmes]

Points – 90

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Giants went 6-10 to finish second in the NFC East.

Aftermath:

Barber led the NFL in all-purpose yards at age 30 in 2005 with 2390 and missed the league rushing title by twenty yards with 1860 on 357 carries (5.2 avg.). He received consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl honors. Barber followed up in 2006 with 1662 rushing yards and 58 catches for 465 yards to end up going over 2000 yards from scrimmage for the third straight year with 2127 and was named to a third consecutive Pro Bowl. He chose to retire to the broadcast booth having rushed for a franchise-record 10,449 yards on 2217 carries (4.7 avg.) and gained another 5183 yards on 586 pass receptions (8.8 avg.). Barber also returned 122 punts for a 9.7-yard average and averaged 20.1 yards on 27 kickoff returns. He scored a total of 68 touchdowns. His twin brother Ronde had a 16-year career as a cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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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: Morten Andersen, 1985

Placekicker, New Orleans Saints

Age:  25

4^th season in pro football & with Saints

College: Michigan State

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 205

Prelude:

The Danish, left-footed Andersen learned the art of placekicking as an exchange student in high school and went on to excel at Michigan State, where he once connected on a 63-yard field goal against Ohio State. Chosen by the Saints in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft, his pro career got off to a rough start when he missed most of his rookie year due to injury. However, he came back strong in ’83, hitting on 18 of 24 field goal attempts (75.0 %) and added another 20 field goals in 27 tries in 1984 (74.1 %). He also connected on 71 of 72 extra point attempts over the span of those two seasons.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 31 [2, tied with Kevin Butler, 1^st in NFC]

Most field goals, game – 5 vs. LA Rams 12/1

Field goal attempts – 35 [4]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 vs. LA Rams 12/1

Field goal percentage – 88.6 [2]

PATs – 27

PAT attempts – 29

Longest field goal – 55 yards at Denver 9/15

Scoring

Field Goals – 31

PATs – 27

Points – 120 [5, tied with Jim Breech]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: Sporting News

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

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

Aftermath:

Andersen was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the next three seasons and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1986 and ’87. During 13 years in New Orleans, he kicked 302 field goals in 389 attempts (77.6 %), with 22 of those successful kicks coming from 50 yards or more, and added 412 extra points (missing six times) to become the franchise’s all-time scoring leader with 1318 points. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice more. In a surprising move, Andersen left the Saints for the rival Falcons as a free agent in 1995 and tied his career high with 31 field goals, out of 37 attempts, again achieving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition. He went on to play five more seasons in Atlanta, which included a NFC Championship in 1998 after he kicked the winning field goal against the Vikings in overtime of the conference title game. Andersen moved on to the Giants for a year, spent 2002 and ’03 with the Chiefs, was with Minnesota in 2004, and then, after sitting out a year, returned to Atlanta in 2006 and ’07, finishing out his 25-season career at age 47. His 89.3 field goal percentage in 2007 (25 of 28) was his career best. He ended up as the NFL career leader in scoring (2544 points) and field goals (565), as well as having appeared in the most games (382) and scored in the most consecutive contests (360). Andersen was three times a consensus first-team All-NFL selection, received at least second-team or All-NFC honors on three other occasions, and was chosen to the Pro Bowl seven times. In addition to the Saints, he is also the career scoring leader for the Falcons (806 points), making him the only player to hold that distinction with two different NFL teams.

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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

1988: Buccaneers Trade Steve DeBerg to Chiefs

On March 31, 1988 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded QB Steve DeBerg to Kansas City for safety Mark Robinson and two draft choices that were fourth and eighth-round selections in the pending NFL draft.

The 34-year-old DeBerg was considered to be intelligent and a hard worker, but also athletically limited. He was drafted out of San Jose State by the Dallas Cowboys in the tenth round in 1977 and was cut, catching on with the San Francisco 49ers for ’78. He became the starting quarterback for a poor team that went 2-14, and DeBerg completed just 45.4 percent of his passes while giving up 22 interceptions as opposed to 8 touchdowns. The arrival of Bill Walsh as head coach in 1979 didn’t bring an immediate improvement in record, but DeBerg had a much better season in Walsh’s controlled passing offense, setting then-NFL records for pass attempts (578) and completions (347) while gaining 3652 yards through the air and 17 TD passes against 21 interceptions.

DeBerg lost the starting job to the up-and-coming Joe Montana during the 1980 season and was dealt to the Denver Broncos for ’81, with Coach Walsh pronouncing the verdict that he was “just good enough to get you beat”.  He backed up Craig Morton for a year, saw most of the action behind center during the strike-shortened 1982 season, and then split time with first draft choice John Elway in ’83. Tampa Bay obtained DeBerg from Denver in 1984 for two draft picks. He had a good first year with the 6-10 Bucs, setting a franchise record by completing 60.5 percent of his passes, for 3554 yards and 19 touchdowns. But the return was less in 1985 and Steve Young, a refugee from the USFL, started the last five games. Young was gone by 1987, but another overall top draft choice, Vinny Testaverde, joined the club and took over for the last four games after DeBerg started the first seven in the strike-interrupted campaign.

With the team committing to Testaverde, Head Coach Ray Perkins decided that dealing DeBerg for draft choices would be more beneficial to improving the club. Thus far in his career, DeBerg had passed for 19,582 yards and 116 touchdowns while giving up 139 interceptions, although in ’87 he led the NFC with the lowest percentage of interceptions thrown (2.5). He started 33 games for the Bucs, but they won only eight of them.

As for the other players involved in the trade, four-year veteran Mark Robinson was drafted in the fourth round out of Penn State in 1984 and had backed up star safeties Deron Cherry and Lloyd Burruss. He came highly recommended by Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Doug Graber, who had previously coached the KC defensive backs. Safety was viewed as a significant area of need, and he became the starting strong safety and intercepted 12 passes in three seasons, with a high of six in 1989. The fourth-round draft pick received for DeBerg (86^th overall) was used to take Tennessee G John Bruhin, who lasted four years with Tampa Bay and started 21 games. Eighth-round draft choice RB Anthony Simpson from East Carolina failed to make the team.

DeBerg signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs and Head Coach Frank Gansz indicated that he would back up injury-prone starting QB Bill Kenney. He ended up seeing most of the action behind center, throwing for 2935 yards and 16 touchdowns, as well as 16 interceptions, for a team that went 4-11-1. DeBerg started the games that KC won and Kenney was released in the offseason. Under a new head coach, Marty Schottenheimer, DeBerg began and ended 1989 as the starting quarterback, but in between was benched in favor of two other veterans, Ron Jaworski and Steve Pelluer. Overall, the Chiefs led the AFC with a 59.5 completion percentage, and DeBerg’s was 60.5, but none of the quarterbacks were especially effective.

DeBerg finally put it all together in 1990, starting every game and passing for 3444 yards and 23 touchdowns while giving up only four interceptions. Along the way, he had a streak of 233 consecutive passes without an interception, which ranked second in NFL history at the time. The Chiefs ran the ball well with Christian Okoye and Barry Word, and that set up opportunities to utilize play-action, which worked to DeBerg’s advantage due to his excellent ball-handling skills. Kansas City finished with an 11-5 record, its best since 1971, and a Wild Card spot in the playoffs for the first time in four years.

The Chiefs qualified for the postseason again in 1991, compiling a 10-6 tally, and this time won a playoff game before falling to Buffalo in the Divisional round. DeBerg had a lesser statistical season, however, passing for 2965 yards while having fewer TDs (17) and more interceptions (14). He missed one game due to injury during the regular season and went down again in the playoff loss to the Bills. At age 37, the Chiefs determined that it was time for a change and DeBerg was allowed to depart as a free agent in the offseason, with Seattle’s Dave Krieg brought in as his replacement.

DeBerg returned to Tampa Bay in a strictly backup role in 1992, and split time with the Buccaneers and Dolphins in ‘93, with Miami putting him in the lineup after Dan Marino was lost due to injury. He then retired, but came back with Atlanta in 1998 at age 44 to provide depth when QB Chris Chandler was injured and started one game.

Despite his limitations, Steve DeBerg lasted for 17 NFL seasons in all. He completed 57.2 percent of his passes for 34,241 yards and 196 touchdowns while giving up 204 interceptions. Of that, 11,873 yards and 67 TDs came with the Chiefs, and in terms of team performance, he enjoyed his greatest success in Kansas City, which went 31-20-1 in games he started (he didn’t reach double figures in wins with any of the other five teams he suited up for).

Highlighted Year: Tom Brady, 2002

Quarterback, New England Patriots

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with Patriots

College: Michigan

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 220

Prelude:

A lightly-regarded sixth-round draft choice by New England in 2000, Brady got his chance when starting QB Drew Bledsoe was injured in the second game of the ’01 season. With the young quarterback showing surprising poise and leadership ability, the team surged in the second half and ended up with a stunning win over the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. Brady was selected to the Pro Bowl.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 601 [3]

Most attempts, game – 55 at Chicago 11/10

Completions – 373 [4]

Most completions, game – 39 vs. Kansas City 9/22

Yards – 3764 [6]

Most yards, game – 410 vs. Kansas City 9/22

Completion percentage – 62.1 [13]

Yards per attempt – 6.3

TD passes – 28 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. Kansas City 9/22

Interceptions – 14 [15, tied with Kerry Collins & Rodney Peete]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Green Bay 10/13

Passer rating – 85.7 [10]

400-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 3

200-yard passing games – 10

Rushing

Attempts – 42

Most attempts, game – 6 (for 4 yds.) vs. Minnesota 11/24

Yards – 110

Most yards, game – 26 yards (on 5 carries) vs. Green Bay 10/13

Yards per attempt – 2.6

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Patriots went 9-7 to finish second in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

The Patriots followed up with NFL Championships in 2003 and ’04. Brady was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004 and ’05, the latter year in which he led the league with 4110 passing yards. In 2007, Brady passed for a NFL-record 50 TDs while also leading the league in passing yards (4806), completion percentage (68.9), yards per attempt (8.3), and passer rating (117.2). He was a consensus first-team All-Pro for the first time as well as league MVP and the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season – however, they were upset in the Super Bowl by the Giants. Brady’s 2008 season ended prematurely due to a knee injury in the opening game. He came back to throw for 4398 yards and 28 TDs in 2009 and had another MVP season in 2010, in which he led the NFL in passing (111.0 rating) and TD passes (36). Brady passed for a career-high 5235 yards in 2011 and the Patriots won another AFC Championship, although they came up short in the Super Bowl. His outstanding play, and durability, continued through the next three years as he passed for over 4000 yards in each. The Patriots capped the 2014 season, in which both Brady and the club got off to a slow start, with a victory in the Super Bowl over Seattle. Brady was selected to the Pro Bowl in every season from 2009 through ’14, giving him a total of ten in all. Thus far, he has passed for 53,258 yards and 392 touchdowns, both figures ranking fifth all-time, against only 143 interceptions, with a completion percentage of 63.5, an average of 7.4 yards per attempt, and a passer rating of 95.9. In the postseason, he has thrown for 7345 yards and 53 TDs, with 26 interceptions, and the Patriots have compiled a 21-8 record in his starts that include four Super Bowl wins against two defeats.  

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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

1983: Blitz Defeat Express to Even Record

The Chicago Blitz were off to a lesser start than anticipated in the inaugural United States Football League season as they hosted the Los Angeles Express on March 27, 1983. Coming into the new league with the best-known head coach, George Allen, and a veteran-laden roster that also included touted rookies in HB Tim Spencer and WR Trumaine Johnson, the Blitz were viewed as the team to beat. But after handily defeating Washington in the opening week, they dropped two straight contests and were at 1-2 as they faced Los Angeles.

The Express was coached by Hugh Campbell, who had enjoyed success in the CFL. He employed a two-quarterback rotation that utilized veteran NFL backup Mike Rae and rookie Tom Ramsey out of UCLA, and unheralded rookie RB Tony Boddie had been a pleasant surprise.  The defensive line, anchored by NT Eddie “Meat Cleaver” Weaver was an asset.

It was a chilly, rainy day at Soldier Field before a sparse crowd of 10,936 fans. Following a scoreless first quarter, John Roveto kicked a 38-yard field goal with 5:43 remaining in the first half to put the Blitz in front by 3-0. Meanwhile, Tom Ramsey came in at quarterback for an ineffective Mike Rae early in the second quarter for the Express.

Later in the period, the Blitz put together a 64-yard series that included an uncharacteristic gamble. Facing a fourth-and-three situation, FB Kevin Long ran around left end for an 11-yard gain. QB Greg Landry (pictured above) then threw to Trumaine Johnson for 22 yards and Long finished the drive off with a one-yard touchdown carry. Roveto added the extra point and Chicago took a 10-0 lead into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, a breakdown by the Blitz defense allowed Ramsey to throw to Tony Boddie for a 40-yard TD and Vince Abbott kicked the PAT. With the lead cut to three points, the Blitz drove 73 yards in 10 plays. Landry completed passes to TE Paul Ricker, Trumaine Johnson, and WR Wamon Buggs along the way and capped the possession by floating a pass to TE Doug Cozen that was caught just inside the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. A pass interference call on the visitors was declined, Roveto kicked the point after, and it was a 17-7 game.

LA got a break later in the period when a poor punt by Chicago’s Frank Garcia traveled just 18 yards. The Express capitalized, scoring on a touchdown pass from Ramsey to TE Ricky Ellis that covered 18 yards. The extra point by Abbott again narrowed the margin to three points.

For the remainder of the contest, the Chicago defense came up with key turnovers to expand and then preserve the lead. First, MLB Jim Fahnhorst recovered a fumble by Los Angeles FB LaRue Harrington, who was stripped by DT Joe Ehrmann, and that led to a 24-yard Roveto field goal that put the Blitz up by six points with 2:07 remaining.

There were still opportunities for the Express, but Chicago’s defense garnered two more takeaways in the last two minutes to seal the win. LB Ed Smith and safety Eddie Brown intercepted Ramsey passes and the Blitz won by a final score of 20-14.

Chicago had the edge in total yards (322 to 208), with an almost-equal balance between rushing (158) and passing (164), and also led in first downs (19 to 12). Los Angeles turned the ball over three times, to none by the Blitz. However, Chicago was hurt by 13 penalties, to just five called on the Express.

Greg Landry completed 20 of 36 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Tim Spencer ran for 87 yards on 21 carries and Kevin Long added 58 yards on 12 attempts that included a TD. Trumaine Johnson topped Chicago’s receivers with 6 catches for 70 yards and Wamon Buggs contributed another 53 yards on his three receptions.

For the Express, Mike Rae was a dismal four-of-12 for 29 yards before being relieved by Tom Ramsey, who was successful on 8 of 20 throws for 93 yards and two TDs, but also gave up the two late interceptions. Tony Boddie rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries and also topped the club with 46 yards on his two catches that included a score. WR Kris Haines, RB Wilbert Haslip, and LaRue Harrington all had three pass receptions, for 26, 20, and 12 yards, respectively.

“Chicago has the best personnel of all the teams we’ve played so far, no question about it,” said LA’s Coach Campbell. “They present you with a lot of problems, especially their defense.”

The Blitz went on to a 12-6 record, finishing second in the Central Division and grabbing a Wild Card playoff spot. While leading the USFL in scoring and overall defense, Chicago was not so adept at holding fourth quarter leads over the course of the season as it was against the Express, and that extended into the playoffs as they fell to the Philadelphia Stars in the Semifinal round. The inconsistent Express ended up at 8-10 and second in the weak Pacific Division.

Highlighted Year: Jared Allen, 2008

Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings

Age:  26

5^th season in pro football, 1^st with Vikings

College: Idaho State

Height: 6’6”   Weight: 270

Prelude:

Chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft, Allen was initially viewed as strictly a situational player who would add depth on the defensive line, but surprised by leading the team in sacks as a rookie with 9. Intense, tenacious, and with good instincts, he followed up with 11 sacks in ’05 and improved his play against the run. Allen led the league in fumble recoveries in 2006 with 6, although his sacks fell to 7.5, and there was friction with the front office as well as a suspension from the league for a second DUI offense heading into 2007. Still, he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in ’07 and was a consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl choice for the first time. The Chiefs traded him to Minnesota in the offseason where he continued to excel while a member of a stronger overall defensive line.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 14.5 [5, tied with Julius Peppers]

Most sacks, game – 2.5 vs. Chicago 11/30

Multi-sack games – 5

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 3

Tackles – 41

Assists – 13

Scoring

Safeties – 2 [1, tied with Jameel McClain]

Points – 4

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

Sacks – 2

Interceptions – 0

Forced fumbles – 1

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC North while leading the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (1230). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to Philadelphia Eagles (26-14).  

Aftermath:

Allen recorded another 14.5 sacks and received All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors again in 2009. 2010 was a down year for the franchise as a whole, and Allen had a comparative off-year, although he still led the team with 11 sacks, his fourth consecutive season in double figures. He bounced back strongly with a 22-sack season in 2011 and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News as well as receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition. Allen followed up with 12 sacks in 2012 and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time. He registered 11.5 sacks in 2013 and signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent for 2014. A bout with pneumonia caused Allen to lose 18 pounds, snapped a 113-game playing streak, and had him playing at less than full-strength. The defense as a whole suffered through a disastrous year and Allen’s sack total fell to 5.5. Through 11 seasons and 172 games, Allen has been credited with 134 sacks, as well as five interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries. He has been a consensus first-team All-NFL honoree four times in addition to the five Pro Bowl selections.

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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: Trace Armstrong, 2000

Defensive End, Miami Dolphins

Age:  35 (Oct. 5)

12^th season in pro football, 6^th with Dolphins

College: Florida

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 270

Prelude:

Originally a college star at Arizona State, Armstrong was forced to transfer to Florida for his senior year due to a ruling by the NCAA regarding his academic eligibility. He received All-America recognition from the Sporting News at defensive end as well as All-SEC honors and was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft (12^th overall). He moved into the starting lineup as a rookie, with unspectacular results, but possessing a good work ethic as well as speed and tenacity, Armstrong improved significantly by his second year, garnering 10 sacks. He was slowed by knee and ankle injuries in 1991 but settled into being a solid starting player over the course of six seasons in Chicago, accounting for 42 sacks with a high of 11.5 in 1993. Armstrong moved on to the Dolphins in 1995 where he continued to struggle with injuries but had a 12-sack season in ’96. He performed in more of a reserve role as a pass rushing specialist while also providing veteran leadership.

2000 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 16.5 [2, tied with Warren Sapp, 1^st in AFC]

Most sacks, game – 3.5 vs. Buffalo 10/8

Multi-sack games – 4

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 7

Tackles – 24

Assists – 10

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Dolphins went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC East while leading the NFL in interceptions (28). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Indianapolis Colts (23-17). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders (27-0).

Aftermath:

Armstrong signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent for 2001. His season was cut short due to an Achilles injury and he lasted two more years as a part-time performer. Overall, he played in 211 regular season games over 15 years and finished with 106 sacks, reaching double figures five times. His Pro Bowl selection in 2000 was the only one of his career.

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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