1998: Rhein Defeats Frankfurt to Win NFL Europe Title in World Bowl VI

The 1998 NFL Europe season concluded with the two German teams, the Rhein Fire and the Frankfurt Galaxy, meeting for the developmental league’s championship in World Bowl VI on June 14 before 47,846 fans at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion.

Both teams had ended up with 7-3 records in the re-named circuit (prior to ’98 it had been known as the World League of American Football). The Fire, based in Dusseldorf and coached by Galen Hall, had the league’s leading rusher in RB Derrick Clark (739 yards) and WR Marcus Robinson topped NFL Europe with 811 receiving yards on 39 catches. QB Mike Quinn had the best passer rating (87.3) while throwing for 1997 yards with 13 TDs and just three interceptions. On defense they had the co-leader in sacks in DT Ed Philion.

Under first year Head Coach Dick Curl, Frankfurt had solid performances from QB Damon Huard, who passed for 1857 yards with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, and All-League WR Mario Bailey (38 receptions, 544 yards) and TE Vince Marrow (32 catches for 345 yards). LB Hillary Butler and safety Chris Hall were feature players on the defense.

The teams had split their meetings during the regular season, with Rhein dominating the first contest, 31-14, and Frankfurt taking the season finale in overtime, 20-17. However, both clubs were without their starting quarterbacks due to injury – the Fire would have to make due with Jim Arellanes, who had thrown just one pass during the season, in place of Quinn while the Galaxy had the slightly more experienced Chris Dittoe (64 pass attempts) going for Huard.

The game, which was mostly played in heavy rain, started off in spectacular fashion as Arellanes completed a 40-yard pass to Robinson on a flea-flicker play. The drive culminated in a 29-yard field goal by Manfred Burgsmuller. Later in the first quarter the Fire increased their lead to 10-0 as WR Dialleo Burks caught a 15-yard TD pass from Arellanes.

Frankfurt fought back on the ensuing possession with a drive that led to a three-yard touchdown run by RB Jermaine Chainey, cutting the Rhein lead to 10-7. But Arellanes again connected with Burks for a 20-yard TD and 17-7 halftime lead.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Frankfurt again trimmed the Fire’s margin with a 41-yard Ralf Kleinmann field goal. But three plays later Arellanes threw his third scoring pass of the day, this one for 74 yards to Robinson, and the game was essentially over. The defense shut down Frankfurt’s offense the rest of the way, and 10 fourth quarter points made the final score a convincing 34-10.

Jim Arellanes (pictured at top) was the game’s MVP, completing 12 of 18 passes for 263 yards with three touchdowns against no interceptions. Marcus Robinson (pictured below) caught just two passes, but they were big completions as he compiled 114 yards and a TD. TE Hayward Clay led the team with three catches, for 63 yards, while Dialleo Burks scored on his two catches of the game, which totaled 35 yards. RB Jon Vaughn was the leading rusher with 89 yards on 11 carries, including a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter (Derrick Clark contributed 69 yards on 17 rushes).


In defeat, Chris Dittoe was successful on 15 of 27 pass attempts for 111 yards with no TDs and two interceptions. Jermaine Chaney was Frankfurt’s leading receiver with 6 catches for 35 yards (Mario Bailey was held to just 2 catches for 31 yards and Vince Marrow caught 3 passes for 27 yards) and was also the club’s best rusher with 84 yards on 19 attempts with the one TD.

On a day when conditions were not favorable to the aerial attack, Rhein outgained the Galaxy by 421 yards to 198. With Vaughn and Clark leading the way, the Fire outrushed Frankfurt 158 to 112. They also did substantially better in net passing yards (263 to 86) as they suffered no sacks while dumping Dittoe three times.

Jim Arellanes played for Rhein in 1999 and 2001, but never made it to the NFL (Mike Quinn, who was a backup with Pittsburgh in 1997, did, but threw a total of three NFL passes). Marcus Robinson went on to a nine-season NFL career with the Bears, Ravens, and Vikings in which he caught 325 passes.

Frankfurt became the first team to make it to the World Bowl three times (they split their previous two appearances) while Rhein won for the first time. Galen Hall, who had twice led teams to the WLAF/NFL Europe title game (Orlando in 1992, the Fire in ’97), came away a winner for the first time (he led Rhein to another championship in 2000).

List of the Day: Best Passing Yardage Seasons, 1980s AFC

Dan Marino

TOP 10
1- Dan Marino, 1984 Miami Dolphins
5084 yards, 362-564, 64.2 %, 48 TD, 17 INT

2- Dan Fouts, 1981 San Diego Chargers
4802 yards, 360-609, 59.1 %, 33 TD, 17 INT

3- Dan Marino, 1986 Miami Dolphins
4746 yards, 378-623, 60.7 %, 44 TD, 23 INT

4- Dan Fouts, 1980 San Diego Chargers
4715 yards, 348-589, 59.1 %, 30 TD, 24 INT

5- Dan Marino, 1988 Miami Dolphins
4434 yards, 354-606, 58.4 %, 28 TD, 23 INT

6- Bill Kenney, 1983 Kansas City Chiefs
4348 yards, 346-603, 57.4 %, 24 TD, 18 INT

7- Dan Marino, 1985 Miami Dolphins
4137 yards, 336-567, 59.3 %, 30 TD, 21 INT

8- Brian Sipe, 1980 Cleveland Browns
4132 yards, 337-554, 60.8 %, 30 TD, 14 INT

9- Dan Marino, 1989 Miami Dolphins
3997 yards, 308-550, 56.0 %, 24 TD, 22 INT

10-Boomer Esiason, 1986 Cincinnati Bengals
3959 yards, 273-469, 58.2 %, 24 TD, 17 INT


Dan Fouts



Bill Kenney



Brian Sipe

BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT IN TOP 10
Denver Broncos: John Elway, 1985
3891 yards, 327-605, 54.0 %, 22 TD, 23 INT

New York Jets: Ken O’Brien, 1985
3888 yards, 297-488, 60.9 %, 25 TD, 8 INT

Seattle Seahawks: Dave Krieg, 1984
3671 yards, 276-480, 57.5 %, 32 TD, 24 INT

Buffalo Bills: Joe Ferguson, 1981
3652 yards, 252-498, 50.6 %, 24 TD, 20 INT

Houston Oilers: Warren Moon, 1989
3631 yards, 280-464, 60.3 %, 23 TD, 14 INT

Pittsburgh Steelers: Terry Bradshaw, 1980
3339 yards, 218-424, 51.4 %, 24 TD, 22 INT

New England Patriots: Tony Eason, 1986
3328 yards, 276-448, 61.6 %, 19 TD, 10 INT

Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts: Bert Jones, 1980
3134 yards, 248-446, 55.6 %, 23 TD, 21 INT

Oakland/LA Raiders: Jim Plunkett, 1983
2935 yards, 230-379, 60.7 %, 20 TD, 18 INT


Boomer Esiason



John Elway



Ken O'Brien



Dave Krieg

1984: Kelly & Johnson Achieve Milestones as Gamblers Defeat Blitz

The Houston Gamblers were the best of the six expansion teams in the United States Football League’s second season. Under the direction of Head Coach Jack Pardee and operating the “run-and-shoot” offense developed by offensive coordinator Darrel “Mouse” Davis, the Gamblers got off to a 6-5 start. By the time they hosted the Chicago Blitz before 24,243 fans at the Astrodome on June 10, 1984 they had won four straight games and stood atop of the Central Division with a 10-5 tally.

Houston wasted little time in taking command of the game against the Blitz, who were struggling at 4-10 entering the contest. RB Sam Harrell, returning to action from a midseason injury, scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter, and before the period was over star rookie QB Jim Kelly threw a 10-yard TD pass to WR Richard Johnson.

Chicago got on the board early in the second quarter with a 38-yard field goal by Kevin Seibel, but the Gamblers came right back with another Kelly to Johnson TD pass, this one covering 30 yards. The score was 21-10 at halftime as Blitz QB Ron Reeves tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to WR Kris Haines just before the end of the period.

The Gamblers put the game away in the second half thanks to two more touchdown throws by Kelly, of 62 yards to WR Ricky Sanders in the third quarter and 11 yards to WR Mark Barousse in the final period. Toni Fritsch capped the scoring with a 46-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, while Chicago managed only one more Seibel field goal in the third quarter. Houston won for the fifth consecutive game by a convincing 38-13 margin.

Jim Kelly completed 21 of 36 passes for 335 yards with the four touchdowns against two interceptions before being spelled by backup QB Todd Dillon. As a result, not only did his passing totals of 4825 yards and 40 TD passes after 16 games extend USFL records but they exceeded the then-existing NFL totals of 4802 passing yards by San Diego’s Dan Fouts and 36 touchdown passes by George Blanda of the Oilers (actually an AFL record) and Y.A. Tittle of the Giants. Interestingly, both of those records were broken by Miami’s Dan Marino when the NFL took the field in ’84.


Richard Johnson, who had emerged as Kelly’s favorite target, caught 5 passes for 58 yards and the two touchdowns. The five receptions gave him 103 for the year, also exceeding the existing NFL/AFL record of 101 held by Charley Hennigan of the Houston Oilers (another record that would fall in the NFL in ’84). However, Ricky Sanders, another accomplished member of the outstanding group of receivers, had the most catches and yards for the Gamblers in this contest, grabbing 7 passes for 130 yards and the one long TD.

While Houston’s aerial attack accounted for 394 net yards, the typically-solid running game accounted for another 149 yards on 25 attempts. RB Todd Fowler led with 105 yards on 14 carries.

By contrast, RB Larry Canada led the Blitz with 26 yards rushing on seven carries, Ron Reeves completed just 16 of 36 passes for 168 yards with a TD and an interception, and Kris Haines was the team’s best receiver with 5 catches for 45 yards and the lone TD.

The Gamblers ended up winning seven straight games to end the season with a 13-5 record and the division title. They were upset in the first postseason round, 17-16, by the Arizona Wranglers (the George Allen-coached club that had played in the Windy City in ’83 before swapping locations for 1984). Chicago remained at the bottom of the Central Division, finishing out at 5-13. The franchise folded in the ensuing offseason.

With two more games left in the USFL’s 18-game schedule, Kelly added to his totals and ended up with 5219 passing yards and 44 touchdown passes - an astounding performance for a rookie quarterback in any pro league. Richard Johnson led the league with 115 pass receptions, closely followed by Ricky Sanders with 101; they thus became the first teammates in pro football history to catch over 100 passes in a season.

1966: Merger of NFL and AFL Announced

By 1966, it was becoming increasingly apparent that the American Football League was not going to fold like its three predecessors of the same name and that, most significantly to the owners of National Football League teams, it would continue to drive up the cost of new talent. In 1965, Alabama QB Joe Namath had been signed to a stunning (for the time) three-year, $426,000 contract by the New York Jets (he had also been drafted by the NFL’s Cardinals). 1966 saw LB Tommy Nobis, first draft choice of the expansion Atlanta Falcons, sign a $600,000 deal, and it cost the Green Bay Packers approximately a million dollars to sign HB Donny Anderson and FB Jim Grabowski, the presumed heirs to the aging Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor, respectively.

In April, the first discussions regarding a possible merger of the leagues commenced between Tex Schramm, the president/general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, and Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs. These background talks occurred while tumult broke out. First came the resignation of AFL Commissioner Joe Foss and his replacement by Al Davis, Oakland’s head coach/general manager who was far more inclined to engage in a no-holds-barred conflict with the older league. Then the NFL’s New York Giants signed veteran free agent placekicker Pete Gogolak away from the AFL’s Buffalo Bills, an act that now put competition for veterans on the table along with the ongoing and costly battle for talent coming out of the colleges.

The escalating strife nearly derailed the merger efforts. But on June 8, 1966 at the Warwick Hotel in New York City the NFL’s Commissioner Pete Rozelle (pictured at top), flanked by Schramm and Hunt, announced that a merger between the two leagues had been reached. Due to contractual issues, the merger was to be phased and reach completion in 1970.

- First, a game would be held between the champions of the two leagues following the 1966 season. This, more than any other provision, immediately excited pro football fans. It was decided later that the game, which of course would eventually come to be called the Super Bowl, would be played at a pre-determined neutral setting.

- Second, beginning in 1967 a common draft would be held among the teams of the two leagues (this may have dismayed college players looking forward to competing bids for their services, but came as a relief to owners looking to get player costs back under control). Also in ’67, there would be interleague preseason games.

- Finally in 1970, the AFL would be completely absorbed into the NFL, with teams playing a common schedule. Pete Rozelle would be commissioner of the entire edifice – much to the chagrin of Al Davis, who had been kept out of the merger negotiations (and, as a result, felt betrayed by his fellow owners).

In addition to the phased merging of the leagues, other points were agreed to:

- All existing franchises were to be kept, and in their current locations. While initially there had been discussion regarding the relocation of the Jets and Raiders, it was decided that there would be less danger of legal repercussions if they remained where they were, in proximity to NFL teams.

- As a result of not moving franchises, the AFL agreed to pay the NFL $26 million dollars (split between the Giants and 49ers) for the right to impinge on their territory.

- Each league agreed to add an expansion franchise no later than 1968 (the New Orleans Saints joined the NFL in 1967 and the Cincinnati Bengals rounded out the AFL in ’68).

- Television coverage would continue to be split between CBS (for the NFL) and NBC (the AFL), an arrangement which continued beyond the merger.

There had been dissenting voices among owners from both leagues – not surprisingly, teams that shared the same territory (the Giants and Jets in New York City, and the 49ers and Raiders in the Bay Area). The NFL clubs wanted the AFL teams to relocate, and the AFL teams objected to paying for the right to remain where they were.

Whatever the feelings of the dissenters at the time, the agreement reached in 1966 set the framework that continues to exist. From 13 teams in 1960, the NFL grew to 26 clubs with the merger in 1970 (the enlarged entity was broken up into the National Conference – the existing NFL – and the American Conference – the absorbed AFL).

In order to maintain equilibrium, since there were 16 NFL teams and 10 in the AFL by 1969, three existing NFL teams – the Browns, Colts, and Steelers - transferred to the American Conference. While the AFL lost its identity, there was satisfaction in that, unlike when the All-America Football Conference merged with the NFL in 1950, all of the franchises were accepted into the older league. And after losing badly in the first two Super Bowls, the AFL won the last two prior to the merger so as to make a statement that the younger teams were fully ready to compete with the older clubs.

List of the Day: Best Passing Yardage Seasons, 1980s NFC

Neil Lomax

TOP 10
1- Neil Lomax, 1984 St. Louis Cardinals
4614 yards, 345-560, 61.6 %, 28 TD, 16 INT

2- Lynn Dickey, 1983 Green Bay Packers
4458 yards, 289-484, 59.7 %, 32 TD, 29 INT

3- Don Majkowski, 1989 Green Bay Packers
4318 yards, 353-599, 58.9 %, 27 TD, 20 INT

4- Jim Everett, 1989 Los Angeles Rams
4310 yards, 304-518, 58.7 %, 29 TD, 17 INT

5- Jay Schroeder, 1986 Washington Redskins
4109 yards, 276-541, 51.0 %, 22 TD, 22 INT

6- Phil Simms, 1984 New York Giants
4044 yards, 286-533, 53.7 %, 22 TD, 18 INT

7- Danny White, 1983 Dallas Cowboys
3980 yards, 334-533, 62.7 %, 29 TD, 23 INT

8- Jim Everett, 1988 Los Angeles Rams
3964 yards, 308-517, 59.6 %, 31 TD, 18 INT

9- Tommy Kramer, 1981 Minnesota Vikings
3912 yards, 322-593, 54.3 %, 26 TD, 24 INT

10-Joe Montana, 1983 San Francisco 49ers
3910 yards, 332-515, 64.5 %, 26 TD, 12 INT


Lynn Dickey



Jim Everett



Jay Schroeder

BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT IN TOP 10
Atlanta Falcons: Steve Bartkowski, 1981
3829 yards, 297-533, 55.7 %, 30 TD, 23 INT

Philadelphia Eagles: Randall Cunningham, 1988
3808 yards, 301-560, 53.8 %, 24 TD, 16 INT

New Orleans Saints: Archie Manning, 1980
3716 yards, 309-509, 60.7 %, 23 TD, 20 INT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Doug Williams, 1981
3563 yards, 238-471, 50.5 %, 19 TD, 14 INT

Detroit Lions: Gary Danielson, 1980
3223 yards, 244-417, 58.5 %, 13 TD, 11 INT

Chicago Bears: Jim McMahon, 1985
2392 yards, 178-313, 56.9 %, 15 TD, 11 INT


Phil Simms



Danny White



Tommy Kramer



Joe Montana

1983: Newcomer JoJo Townsell Scores Winning TD as LA Defeats Wranglers

The Los Angeles Express were tied for the lead in the United States Football League’s Pacific Division as they hosted the Arizona Wranglers at the Memorial Coliseum on June 5, 1983, but with a mediocre 6-7 record. While the defense was adequate, the team was at the bottom of the league in running the ball while Head Coach Hugh Campbell split the quarterbacking between CFL and NFL veteran Mike Rae and rookie Tom Ramsey.

The Express also sought to bolster the receiving corps as the season progressed, adding WR Anthony Allen midway through and, two days prior to the contest with the Wranglers, rookie WR JoJo Townsell, a local talent out of UCLA (where he had been a teammate of Ramsey’s). It did not take long for the 5’9”, 180-pound receiver to make an impression.

Arizona, 4-9 coming into the contest, scored in the first quarter on a 25-yard field goal by Phil Denfeld, but Rae staked LA to a 7-3 halftime lead thanks to a one-yard touchdown plunge in the second quarter. The Wranglers moved back ahead in the third quarter with a 13-yard scoring run by RB Darryl Clark. Vince Abbott tied the score with a 33-yard field goal later in the period.

Arizona regained the advantage in the fourth quarter due to another Denfeld field goal, this from 34 yards. But with 2:38 remaining in the game, Ramsey passed to Townsell for a 26-yard touchdown to win the game for the Express, 17-13.

Neither team mounted much of a running attack, with LA actually outgaining the Wranglers 79 yards to 72. Time of possession was virtually the same, but the Express defense sacked Arizona’s quarterbacks a total of 9 times – both LB Eric Scoggins and NT Eddie “Meat Cleaver” Weaver recorded three apiece.

Of the two Los Angeles quarterbacks, Mike Rae completed 12 of 20 passes for 115 yards with no TDs and two interceptions; Tom Ramsey was successful on 11 of 14 throws for 101 yards with the winning TD and none picked off. Townsell was the headliner with two catches for a team-leading 57 yards and the critical TD, but Anthony Allen led the club in receptions with 6 (totaling 44 yards). RB John Barnett led the runners with 32 yards on 7 carries.

QB Alan Risher completed 14 of 17 passes for 143 yards with no interceptions for Arizona; QB Dan Manucci added another 41 yards while completing 5 of 12 passes with an interception (RB Harold Blue also completed a nine-yard pass). TE Mark Keel caught 6 passes for 44 yards and WR Neil Balholm gained 53 yards on four catches. RB Calvin Murray gained 44 yards on 10 carries to lead the team.

While the win over the Wranglers allowed the Express to stay even with Oakland at the top of the Pacific Division, ultimately LA finished second to the Invaders with an 8-10 record. It did not help that they had difficulty drawing fans to the Coliseum (there were 13,826 on hand for the June 2 contest). Arizona lost its remaining games to stay at the bottom of the division with a 4-14 tally.

The two late-arriving receivers performed well overall, with Allen catching 37 passes for 613 yards (16.6 avg.) and three touchdowns in eight games and Townsell making 21 catches for 326 yards (15.5 avg.) and three TDs over five contests. TE Ricky Ellis, who was with the Express all year (although not initially in the starting lineup) was the leader of the club’s solid group of receivers with 69 receptions for 716 yards and 6 TDs (he grabbed three passes for 21 yards against Arizona). But the lack of a running game badly hindered the offense (LaRue Harrington led the team in rushing for the year with just 547 yards and a 3.8 average).

List of the Day: Best Rushing Seasons, 1980s AFC

Earl Campbell

TOP 10
1- Earl Campbell, 1980 Houston Oilers
1934 yards, 373 att., 5.2 avg., 13 TD

2- Marcus Allen, 1985 Los Angeles Raiders
1759 yards, 380 att., 4.6 avg., 11 TD

3- Eric Dickerson, 1988 Indianapolis Colts
1659 yards, 388 att., 4.3 avg., 14 TD

4- Curt Warner, 1986 Seattle Seahawks
1481 yards, 319 att., 4.6 avg., 13 TD

5- Christian Okoye, 1989 Kansas City Chiefs
1480 yards, 370 att., 4.0 avg., 12 TD

6- Curt Warner, 1983 Seattle Seahawks
1449 yards, 335 att., 4.3 avg., 13 TD

7- Earl Campbell, 1981 Houston Oilers
1376 yards, 361 att., 3.8 avg., 10 TD

8- Freeman McNeil, 1985 New York Jets
1331 yards, 294 att., 4.5 avg., 3 TD

9- Eric Dickerson, 1989 Indianapolis Colts
1311 yards, 314 att., 4.2 avg., 7 TD

10-Earl Campbell, 1983 Houston Oilers
1301 yards, 322 att., 4.0 avg., 12 TD


Marcus Allen



Eric Dickerson



Curt Warner

BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT IN TOP 10
Buffalo Bills: Thurman Thomas, 1989
1244 yards, 298 att., 4.2 avg., 6 TD

Cincinnati Bengals: James Brooks, 1989
1239 yards, 221 att., 5.6 avg., 7 TD

New England Patriots: Craig James, 1985
1227 yards, 263 att., 4.7 avg., 5 TD

Cleveland Browns: Mike Pruitt, 1983
1184 yards, 293 att., 4.0 avg., 10 TD

San Diego Chargers: Earnest Jackson, 1984
1179 yards, 296 att., 4.0 avg., 8 TD

Denver Broncos: Sammy Winder, 1984
1153 yards, 296 att., 3.9 avg., 4 TD

Pittsburgh Steelers: Franco Harris, 1983
1007 yards, 279 att., 3.6 avg., 5 TD

Miami Dolphins: Lorenzo Hampton, 1986
830 yards, 186 att., 4.5 avg., 9 TD


Christian Okoye



Freeman McNeil



James Brooks