Rookie of the Year: Domanick Davis, 2003

Running Back, Houston Texans

(Later known as Domanick Williams)

Age: 23 (Oct. 1)

College: LSU

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 216

Prelude:

Chosen by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft, it was not anticipated that he would be an every-down back as a pro. He started off his rookie year backing up veteran RB Stacey Mack but moved into the lineup and demonstrated surprising power to go along with his speed and receiving ability.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 238 [19]

Most attempts, game - 27 (for 129 yds.) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Yards – 1031 [15, tied with Eddie George]

Most yards, game – 129 yards (on 27 carries) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Average gain – 4.3 [20]

TDs – 8 [13, tied with Deuce McAllister, Stephen Davis & Correll Buckhalter]

100-yard rushing games - 4

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 47       

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 70 yds.) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Yards – 351

Most yards, game - 70 (on 7 catches) at Tennessee 10/12, (on 9 catches) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Average gain – 7.5

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 3

Yards – 61

Avg. – 20.3

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 8

Points – 48

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: League/Pepsi

Texans went 5-11 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Concerns about his durability in a full-time role ultimately proved justified, although Davis improved on his numbers in 2004, rushing for 1188 yards and 13 TDs and catching 68 passes for 588 yards and another score for a total of 1776 yards from scrimmage. However, a knee injury shut down his 2005 season with 976 yards on the ground and 337 through the air on 33 pass receptions in 11 games. He wouldn’t be back – injuries cost him all of ’06 and he was released by the Texans in March 2007 (by which time he had changed his last name from Davis to Williams). In his short but productive career, Davis rushed for 3195 yards on 770 carries (4.1 avg.) and 23 TDs and caught 154 passes for 1276 yards (8.3 avg.) and five more touchdowns.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

[Updated 2/8/14]

MVP Profile: Leroy Kelly, 1968

Halfback, Cleveland Browns

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football & with Browns

College: Morgan State

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 200

Prelude:

An unheralded player out of a small college, Kelly was taken by the Browns in the eighth round of the 1964 NFL draft (and was completely ignored by the AFL). He saw scant action on offense in his first two seasons, with star FB Jim Brown and HB Ernie Green starting in the backfield. As a kick returner, he led the NFL in punt returning in 1965 (15.6 avg.). The sudden retirement of Brown just prior to the opening of training camp in ’66 opened up a spot for Kelly in the backfield as he became the starting halfback and Green was shifted to fullback. The virtually-unknown Kelly rose to the occasion, nearly leading the league in rushing with 1141 yards while having the best yards-per-carry average (5.5), catching 32 passes for 366 more yards, and scoring a total of 16 TDs. He was a consensus first-team All-Pro and gained selection to the Pro Bowl. Kelly followed up by winning the league rushing title in 1967 (1205 yards), again with the highest average gain-per-carry (5.1). His 1487 yards from scrimmage also led the NFL and he was again a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl choice.

1968 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 248 [1]

Most attempts, game - 30 (for 130 yds.) at Baltimore 10/20

Yards – 1239 [1]

Most yards, game – 174 yards (on 27 carries) at San Francisco 11/3

Average gain – 5.0 [2]

TDs – 16 [1]

100-yard rushing games - 7

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 22       

Most receptions, game – 3 (for 29 yds.) vs. Atlanta 10/27, (for 104 yds.) vs. New Orleans 11/10, (for 35 yds.) vs. NY Giants 12/1

Yards – 297

Most yards, game - 104 (on 3 catches) vs. New Orleans 11/10

Average gain – 13.5

TDs – 4

100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing

Pass attempts – 4

Pass completions – 1

Passing yards – 34

TD passes – 1

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1   

Yards – 10

TDs – 0

Punt Returns

Returns – 1   

Yards – 9

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1555 [2]

Scoring

TDs – 20 [1]

Points – 120 [1]

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 33

Most rushing attempts, game - 20 vs. Dallas, Eastern Conf. Championship

Rushing yards – 115

Most rushing yards, game - 87 vs. Dallas, Eastern Conf. Championship

Average gain rushing – 3.5

Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 5

Most pass receptions, game - 3 vs. Baltimore, NFL Championship

Pass receiving yards - 73

Most pass receiving yards, game - 46 vs. Dallas, Eastern Conf. Championship

Average yards per reception – 14.6

Pass Receiving TDs - 1

Awards & Honors:

NFL Player of the Year: Bert Bell Award

1^st team All-NFL/AFL: Pro Football Weekly

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, PFWA, NEA, NY Daily News, Pro Football Weekly

1^st team All-Eastern Conference: Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Browns went 10-4 to finish first in the Century Division while ranking third in the NFL in rushing yards (2031), scoring (394 points), and TDs (49). Won Eastern Conference Championship over Dallas Cowboys (31-20). Lost NFL Championship to Baltimore Colts (34-0).

Aftermath:

While Kelly never again had a thousand-yard rushing season, he remained productive, gaining over 800 yards in three of the next four years as well as over a thousand yards from scrimmage. In all, he was selected to six straight Pro Bowls through 1971. His career ended in 1974 as a member of the WFL’s Chicago Fire, gaining 315 yards on the ground and catching 8 passes for 128 more yards. Upon leaving the NFL, he ranked fourth all-time with 7274 rushing yards and sixth in touchdowns with 90. Kelly also caught 190 passes for 2281 yards and gained 12,329 total yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1994.

--

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 2/8/14]

1993: Marcus Allen Signs with Chiefs

On June 9, 1993 the Kansas City Chiefs signed 33-year-old free agent RB Marcus Allen to three one-year contracts. Allen joined another established veteran, QB Joe Montana, who had come to the Chiefs via trade from the 49ers earlier in the offseason.

Allen had played 11 seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders and was ranked 12^th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list following the ’92 season. Having won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 1981, he was taken by the Raiders, newly moved from Oakland to LA, in the first round of the NFL draft and led the league in yards from scrimmage (1098) and rushing touchdowns (11) in the strike-shortened ’82 season. When the Raiders won the Super Bowl following the 1983 season, Allen was the game’s MVP with a then-record 191 yards rushing, and in the four seasons from 1984 through ’87 he was selected to the Pro Bowl. He also received MVP honors in 1985 as he led the NFL with 1759 rushing yards and caught 67 passes for 555 more yards, adding up to a league-leading total of 2314 yards from scrimmage.

A versatile back who excelled both at running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, the 6’2”, 210-pound Allen had been one of pro football’s best backs in his first six seasons. But beginning with the arrival of RB Bo Jackson in 1987, who split his time between major league baseball and pro football, Allen became less of a factor in the Raiders’ offense. To be sure, injuries played a role in Allen’s decline, but even after Jackson’s career came to an end in the 1990 postseason, he found himself backing up other running backs (including over-the-hill former stars Roger Craig and Eric Dickerson) due to a bitter feud with LA’s managing general partner, Al Davis. In 1991 and ’92, he carried the ball just 130 times and publicly accused Davis of trying to wreck his career. In a parting shot after the season, Davis referred to Allen as an “asterisk” in Raiders history.

Having Montana on the team was a selling point for Allen to sign with Kansas City.  “You’d have to be crazy not to take advantage of an opportunity to play with Joe Montana,” he said. “I want to go to the Super Bowl and Kansas City does, too. Hopefully, I can help them get there.”

The Chiefs had become a revitalized franchise with the arrival of President/GM Carl Peterson and Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer in 1989. Having had just two winning seasons and one postseason appearance in the 14 years between the end of the Hank Stram coaching era and the arrival of Peterson and Schottenheimer, Kansas City had put together four straight winning records and three consecutive trips to the playoffs from ’89 through 1992. However, the Chiefs had yet to make it beyond the Divisional playoff round, and it was hoped that adding the two accomplished veterans would get the team deeper into the postseason.

“The last couple of years I haven’t had much enthusiasm, and it showed in my play,” said Allen at the time of his signing with Kansas City, alluding to the conflict with Al Davis. “Believe me, there’s a lot left. You’ll see.”

Allen proved during the 1993 season that he did indeed have something left. When young RB Harvey Williams had difficulties in the early going, the savvy veteran moved into the starting lineup and rushed for 764 yards on 206 carries (both figures his most since the ’88 season) and caught 34 passes for another 238 yards. He tied for the AFC lead with 15 touchdowns and led the entire NFL in rushing TDs with 12. It earned Allen selection to the Pro Bowl for the first time in six years. While he might have lost a step, he was still a solid all-around back and fit well in Kansas City’s offense.

With Montana and Allen in the lineup the Chiefs won the AFC West in ’93 with an 11-5 record and advanced to the conference title game before losing to Buffalo. That would prove to be the postseason high-water mark for Kansas City during the period in which Montana, who retired following the 1994 season, and Allen were with the club.

In all, Allen played another four seasons for the Chiefs, rushing for a total of 3698 yards (of a career total 12,243) with a high of 890 in 1995 and pulling in 141 catches for 1153 yards (he retired with 587 receptions, the most for a running back up to that time). Even as a backup in 1997, his last year at age 37, he still rushed for 11 touchdowns, giving him a career total of 145 (123 by rushing). While there were no Super Bowl appearances, Kansas City did make it to the playoffs in three of those four years (four of five overall). It was also no doubt satisfying for Allen that the Chiefs posted a 9-1 record against the Raiders during his tenure with the team.

As a footnote, Marcus Allen was ultimately enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, part of the Class of 2003.

Rookie of the Year: Greg Cook, 1969

Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals

Age:  23 (Nov. 20)

College: Cincinnati

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 212

Prelude:

Personally scouted by Cincinnati Head Coach Paul Brown, Cook, a record-setting local collegiate talent, was chosen by the Bengals in the first round of the 1969 AFL/NFL draft (fifth overall). With ideal size and mobility combined with a strong arm, quick release, and great poise, he earned a spot in the starting lineup during the preseason and the results remained impressive at the start of the regular season. However, a shoulder injury suffered in Week 3 against the Chiefs would prove to be the beginning of the end for Cook’s career.

1969 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 11 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 197 [9]

Most attempts, game – 30 at Denver 12/14

Completions – 106 [9]

Most completions, game – 19 at Denver 12/14

Yards – 1854 [8]

Most yards, game – 327 vs. San Diego 9/21

Completion percentage – 53.8 [2]

Yards per attempt – 9.4 [1]

TD passes – 15 [4]

Most TD passes, game – 4 at Houston 11/9

Interceptions – 11 [9, tied with Pete Liske, John Hadl & Rick Norton]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Boston 11/16

Passer rating – 88.3 [1]

300-yard passing games – 1

200-yard passing games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 25

Most attempts, game - 4 (for 33 yds.) vs. Boston 11/16, (for 21 yds.) at Buffalo 11/30

Yards – 148

Most yards, game – 33 yards (on 3 carries) vs. San Diego 9/21, (on 4 carries) vs. Boston 11/16

Yards per attempt – 5.9

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Awards & Honors:

AFL Rookie of the Year: UPI, PFWA

Bengals went 4-9-1 (with all four wins coming in games started by Cook) to finish fifth in the AFL Western Division.  

Aftermath:

Playing through a torn rotator cuff and detached bicep, Cook fatally damaged his career and became one of the great “what if” stories in pro football history. Multiple surgeries cost him the next three seasons and he returned to throw just three passes in 1973 before quitting for good. His 9.4 yards per attempt in ’69 remain a record for a rookie passer.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

[Updated 2/8/14]

MVP Profile: Bert Jones, 1976

Quarterback, Baltimore Colts

Age:  25

4^th season in pro football & with Colts

College: LSU

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 212

Prelude:

Son of former Cleveland HB Dub Jones, Bert Jones received his first exposure to pro football as a ball boy for the Browns. Achieving All-American status as a senior at LSU, he was taken by the Colts in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft (second overall). Jones had a rough rookie season with a team in disarray and was involved in a quarterback controversy as he split time with Marty Domres in ’74. Under new, offensive-minded Head Coach Ted Marchibroda in 1975, Jones gained the starting job and broke out with 2483 yards, a 59.0 completion percentage, and 18 TD passes to just 8 interceptions (for a league-low 2.3 percentage). The team started slowly but gained momentum in the second half of the season and won the AFC East with a 10-4 record. An outstanding passer with mobility and strong leadership skills, Jones appeared to be developing into an elite quarterback.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared in and started all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 343 [6]

Most attempts, game – 32 vs. NY Jets 11/28

Completions – 207 [6]

Most completions, game – 22 vs. NY Jets 11/28

Yards – 3104 [1]

Most yards, game – 301 vs. Cincinnati 9/19

Completion percentage – 60.3 [3]

Yards per attempt – 9.0 [3]

TD passes – 24 [2]

Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. Cincinnati 9/19, at San Diego 11/7, vs. NY Jets 11/28, vs. Buffalo 12/12

Interceptions – 9

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Cincinnati 9/19

Passer rating – 102.5 [2]

300-yard passing games – 1

200-yard passing games – 8

Rushing

Attempts – 38

Most attempts, game - 7 (for 20 yds.) at Miami 11/22

Yards – 214

Most yards, game – 41 yards (on 5 carries) at Dallas 9/26

Yards per attempt – 5.6

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff vs. Pittsburgh)

Pass attempts – 25

Pass completions – 11

Passing yardage – 144

TD passes – 1

Interceptions – 2

Rushing attempts – 2

Rushing yards – 3

Average gain rushing – 1.5

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: AP, PFWA, NEA

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: AP

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA

1^st team All-AFC: AP, UPI

Pro Bowl

Colts went 11-3 to finish first in the AFC East while leading the NFL in total yards (5236), passing yards (2933), scoring (417 points), and TDs (51). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (40-14).

Aftermath:

Jones had another strong year in 1977, leading the NFL with 224 completions while passing for 2686 yards and 17 TDs. The Colts won a third straight division title but suffered a tough overtime loss to the Raiders in the Divisional round of the playoffs. However, shoulder injuries caused Jones to miss most of the 1978 and ’79 seasons – he saw action in just seven games and the team collapsed. While he returned in 1980 and passed for a career-high 3134 yards, the Colts were no longer a strong team and went 7-9. After passing for 3094 yards and 21 touchdowns with a 2-14 club in ’81, Jones, actively battling the front office, was traded to the Rams but appeared in just four games due to a major neck injury and retired. For his injury-shortened career, he passed for 18,190 yards with a healthy 56.1 completion percentage and 124 TDs to 101 interceptions. He also rushed for 1429 yards on 247 carries (5.8 avg.) with a high of 321 in 1975.

--

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 2/8/14]

1984: Wranglers Pull Away in 4th Quarter to Upset Stallions

The Arizona Wranglers came into the United States Football League game on June 3, 1984 against the Birmingham Stallions as ten-point underdogs. Head Coach George Allen’s team was 6-8 and barely staying alive in the Pacific Division (Due to what was, in essence, a trade of franchises, the Wranglers were for the most part the same veteran-laden club that played as the Chicago Blitz under Allen in 1983). Meanwhile the Stallions, under Head Coach Rollie Dotsch, were leading the Southern Division with a 12-2 record and had won their last three games in impressive fashion. Furthermore, star RB Joe Cribbs would be back in uniform for Birmingham following a two-week walkout over a contract dispute.

There were 32,500 fans at Birmingham’s Legion Field and they saw the home team score first. An interception by CB Ricky Ray that was returned 24 yards – and had an additional 15 tacked on at the end thanks to a facemask penalty – gave the Stallions the ball on the Arizona 15 yard line and set up an eight-yard touchdown pass from QB Cliff Stoudt to WR Ken Toler late in the first quarter. However, Arizona no sooner got the ball back when RB Tim Spencer took off on an 81-yard scoring run that, with the successful extra point, tied the score at 7-7.

The Wranglers scored twice in the second quarter, first on a 32-yard field goal by Frank Corral and then, in the final minute before the half, on a 25-yard touchdown pass play from 16-year QB Greg Landry to WR Larry Douglas. Arizona went into halftime with a surprising 17-7 lead.

However, the Stallions mounted a comeback in the third quarter. First, RB Leon Perry dove into the end zone from three yards out for a touchdown and then Birmingham took the lead when Stoudt threw to WR Jim Smith for a 21-yard TD. It was 21-17 heading into the final period.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Wranglers went back in front thanks to a 17-yard scoring pass from Landry to WR Lenny Willis. They got a further, and ultimately decisive, break when Stoudt fumbled and DT Joe Ehrmann recovered at the Birmingham 15. Landry hit WR Trumaine Johnson for a touchdown from 12 yards out and, with the extra point, Arizona once again held a ten-point lead.

Birmingham kept it close when Stoudt threw to WR Joey Jones for a 10-yard TD in the last two minutes, but an onside kick attempt was recovered by the Wranglers who proceeded to deliver the final blow as Spencer ran for a 43-yard touchdown. Arizona came away with a big 38-28 win.

The Wranglers outgained Birmingham, 416 to 361, with 246 of those yards coming on the ground (as opposed to 196 yards rushing for the Stallions). Birmingham led in first downs, 25 to 17. However, Arizona sacked Cliff Stoudt seven times, with three accounted for by DT Mark Buben and two by DT Kit Lathrop. Both teams suffered many penalties, as the Wranglers were flagged 15 times at a cost of 105 yards and the Stallions were penalized on 9 occasions for 79 yards.

Tim Spencer ran for 177 yards on just 12 carries thanks to the two long scoring runs and FB Kevin Long added another 12 rushes for 62 yards. Greg Landry completed 12 of 21 passes for 185 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Trumaine Johnson led the team’s receivers with 4 catches for 71 yards and a TD.

In his return to the lineup, Joe Cribbs had 110 yards on 16 rushing attempts. Cliff Stoudt was successful on 21 of 27 passes for 225 yards and three scoring passes of his own along with one interception, and also rushed for 43 yards on five carries – however, he also suffered the seven sacks. Lost in the defeat was a big day by Jim Smith, who caught 9 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

“This was unquestionably our biggest win,” said a happy George Allen. “We cam in here ten-point underdogs and beat them in their own backyard by ten points. We showed a lot of character, toughness and guts.”

“It’s not the end of the world, but it’s always depressing when you lose,” summed up Coach Dotsch of the Stallions.

Arizona didn’t lose again the rest of the regular season, winning the next three contests to finish at 10-8 and qualifying for the playoffs as a Wild Card. The Wranglers kept up the momentum by upsetting Houston in the first round and beat the Lost Angeles Express in the Conference Championship to advance to the league title game, where they fell to the Philadelphia Stars. Birmingham closed out the regular season atop the Southern Division with a 14-4 record, handily beating Tampa Bay in the first round but losing to the Stars in the Eastern Conference Championship game.

Despite leaving the team for two games, Joe Cribbs ended up leading the USFL in rushing with 1467 yards. Tim Spencer was fifth with 1212 yards on 227 carries for a 5.3-yard average and 17 rushing touchdowns.

Rookie of the Year: Wally Chambers, 1973

Defensive Tackle, Chicago Bears

Age: 22

College: Eastern Kentucky

Height: 6’6”    Weight: 250

Prelude:

Chambers received All-American recognition as a senior at Eastern Kentucky, where he led the team in tackles and assists in three straight seasons. Chosen in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft (eighth overall) by the Bears, he moved directly into the starting lineup.

1973 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 14 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – N/A

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Tackles – 101

Assists – 31

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Pro Bowl

Bears went 3-11 to finish fourth in the NFC Central as the defense ranked 17^th overall and tied for 12^th with 32 sacks.

Aftermath:

Chambers followed up his outstanding rookie season by receiving second-team All-NFL recognition from UPI and the Associated Press and first-team All-NFC honors from AP and The Sporting News in 1974. While he was not named to the Pro Bowl in ’74, he was in 1975 and ’76 and was a consensus first-team All-Pro in 1976, his peak season. However, a major knee injury limited Chambers to four games in 1977 and contract issues caused him to be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 1978. Injuries and illness hampered him in his first season with the Bucs but, moved to right end opposite Lee Roy Selmon, Chambers again became a big-play lineman in a 1979 season in which defense carried the team all the way to the NFC Championship game, after which he retired. Overall, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times in seven years, but injuries cut short a career that began with great promise.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).