<B><U>FOF Dynasty: a New Football League</U></B>

Something I've been playing with for some time - a brand new NFL. This game was begun as a OPU with the starting year of 1966, and played through with all-scout controlled teams; no FA-signings, etc. We've now reached 2003 with a fully-realized team history, and a New Football League (NFL). "My" team has been the Cleveland Browns - I plan to take over control of the team now, and run this in sync with a TCY universe I'm beginning as well.

Some words on the initial settings, before getting into the current history of the NFL.

<U>Initial Settings</U>
Difficulty Level: Wall Street
Team Chemistry: Yes
Hire/Fire GMs: Yes

<B><U>NFL (1966-1971): The Early Years</U></B>

<U>Super Bowl Winners</U>
<OL TYPE="I">
<LI>San Francisco 49ers
<LI>Washington Redskins
<LI>Cincinnati Bengals
<LI>Cincinnati Bengals
<LI>San Francisco 49ers
<LI>Seattle Seahawks
</OL>

The San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl I over the Cleveland Browns by a 21-17 score. Neither of those two teams would see the playoffs again until 1970, a year that would see the 49ers win their second championship.

The dominant team in this early going was the Cincinnati Bengals (hard to say that with a straight face). Led by Hall of Fame quarterback Ken McFarlane (MVP of Super Bowl III and IV), the Bengals would only miss the playoffs once between the inaugural 1966 season and 1983 - and not at all during this era.

<U>Hall of Fame Players</U>
<B>QB Ken McFarlane (Cincinnati)</B>
<I> Elected 1982, 98%</I>
<I> 11 Seasons</I>
<I> 60.5% completion, 39117 yards, 249 TDs (124 Int)</I>
McFarlane was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Bengals in the offseason of 1967 to become their starting quarterback. A somewhat undistinguished but consistant passer; McFarlane is the only member of the Hall of Fame to make his largest impact during these early years. He led the Cincinnati Bengels to seven divisional titles and ten playoff appearances in his eleven seasons as a starting quarterback, and was the Super Bowl MVP in each of their two Super Bowl wins in that timeframe. Ken was never named first team all-Pro, garnering no real awards other than the Super Bowl MVPs; but finishes his career in 1977 as the all-time leader in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. He is currently third in all three categories.

<B><U>NFL (1972-1977): NFC Domination and Edgar Burton</U></B>


<U>Super Bowl Winners</U><OL TYPE="I" START=7><LI>Dallas Cowboys
<LI>Dallas Cowboys
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
<LI>Denver Broncos
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
</OL>

A six-year stretch here where the AFC saw only a single winner in the Super Bowl - that a 12-6 Denver win over St. Louis. The remaining years were a battle between the Cowboys and an Atlanta Falcons dynasty. The 1972 playoffs belonged to the Dallas Cowboys - the 'boys rolling 35-7, 21-3, and 41-14 through the playoffs to their first championship. 1973 saw the beginning of the ascendency of the Atlanta Falcons; even with Dallas hanging on to the magic of 1972. A 1973 divisional classic was a great matchup in freezing rain in Dallas, with the Cowboys coming out with a victory over Atlanta 31-24; then the Giants 20-17, and the Bengals (and Ken McFarlane) in the Super Bowl 28-21.

Three of the next four years belonged to the Atlanta Falcons, cruising through the NFC playoffs and beating the New England Patriots twice in 1976 and 1977; in fact, three of the four Atlanta Super Bowl victories have come over the New England Patriots.

Still, the greatest player of this period was not in the NFC; in fact, he did not figure in any of the Super Bowls played. In 1971, the Baltimore Ravens signed an undrafted free agent named Edgar Burton to play RB - he was a good change-of-pace backup on 1971, not starting a game but rushing for nearly 500 yards on 98 carries and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

To start the 1972 season, the Ravens handed Burton the starting job to see what he could do with it. That began the single most amazing run by a player in the NFL - Edgar Burton proceeded to win the NFL MVP in <I>six straight years</I>, 1972-1977. During that six year run, Burton rushed for under 1500 yards once - 1976, where he played in only 14 games due to injuries, and still put up 1470 yards - and averaged no less than 4.1 yards/carry. His greatest years were 1974 and 1975; in 1974, Burton rushed for 1957 yards and 17 touchdowns as well as 417 yards through the air for another 4 scores. In 1975, the emphasis was more the passing game - 722 yards receiving for 5 touchdowns, and 1881 on the ground for 12 scores. Burton broke 200 yards on the ground four times during his career, all during this stretch. His greatest single performance was either in 1976 or 1977 - the opening day of the 1976 season where Burton toted the ball 37 times for 256 yards and a pair of scores; or against a hapless Buffalo squad in 1977 when only 16 carries resulted in 184 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The one piece of Burton's career that was lacking was the championship - while the Ravens regularly made the playoffs during the 1972-1977 run, they never made it over that hump to appear in the Super Bowl. Edgar Burton began to succumb to injuries in the 1978 season, finishing with under 800 yards each of the next three years with the Ravens before signing with the New Orleans Saints in 1981. 1981 and 1982 saw a resurrection of sorts, as EB puts up consecutive 1100-yard seasons before retiring after another injury-filled year in 1983. Burton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1988, the first to be elected with 100% of the vote.

<U>Hall of Fame Players</U>
<B>QB Edwin Mallon (Washington)</B>
<I> Elected 1987, 85%</I>
<I> 12 Seasons</I>
<I> 58.6% completion, 30,133 yards, 209 TD (111 Int)</I>
Mallon began his career in 1972 with the Seahawks, taking over as a starting quarterback midway through his rookie campaign. After a very good second season in which he threw for 3800 yards and 25 touchdowns; Mallon jumped ship to Washington. He stayed with the Redskins for the rest of his career, although he never led them to the promised land. His best season was in 1979 - in fifteen games, he threw for 4,039 yards and 29 touchdowns; compiling a passer rating of 100.3.

<B>RB Antonio Fitch (Houston)</B>
<I> Elected 1981, 88%</I>
<I> 11 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,684 carries, 11,821 yards, 70 TD</I>
Antonio Fitch was consistantly the second-best back in the NFL behind Edgar Burton for much of the early seventies; enjoying a pair of MVP awards in 1968 and 1971. His best season was his MVP year of 1971, where he rushed for 1700 yards and 15 touchdowns.

<B>RB Edgar Burton (Baltimore)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 100%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 3,597 carries, 15,785 yards, 107 TDs</I>
Much has been said about Burton already; he was the poster player of this block of NFL history and is considered by many to be the best back in the history of the NFL. His career rushing record is a good 2,000 yards above any other player (Timothy Tonkin, 13,711).

<B>WR Harvey Swayda (Seattle)</B>
<I> Elected 1987, 80%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 674 catches, 10,504 yards, 64 TD</I>
Swayda was a good receiver who had all kinds of injury problems - in his career, Swayda only had three complete seasons; and started in less than ten games in seven of his fourteen years. Flashes of his potential were shown early on, with a 93-catch, 1400 yard season in his second year (1970), and a three-year stretch (1973-1975) where Swayda was one of the most feared receivers in the league (combined 229 catches for 3,751 yards and 28 touchdowns. He finished with a total of 10,504 yards receiving, but could (and should) have had many more.

<B>WR Kenny Tinkis (New York Giants)</B>
<I> Elected 1990, 90%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 905 catches, 14,505 yards, 88 TDs</I>
Tinkis was underappreciated as he played - even as he set the initial watermarks for career receptions, yards, and touchdowns (to be broken by Keith McCormick in the mid-80s), he was only named to the All-League team in 1973, 1974, and 1979. Tinkis' 1973 season was his best, catching 89 balls for 1620 yards and 10 touchdowns; he stayed with the Giants for his entire career, despite not appearing the postseason between 1975 and 1984. He never reached the Super Bowl.

<B>TE Tyrell Bates (Philadelphia)</B>
<I> Elected 1986, 80%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 660 catches, 6,816 yards, 36 TD</I>
Tyrell Bates was a very good tight end, one of only two in the Hall. He was All-League three teams early in his career, spending fourteen of his fifteen seasons with the Eagles. Tyrell was a consistant threat, catching at least 40 passes in all but two years (both injured). His best season was his sophmore effort, 64 catches for 677 yards and 6 touchdowns.

<B>G Sean Elliott (Dallas)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 87%</I>
<I> 17 Seasons</I>
<I> 34.9 Block Percent, 624 Key Run Blocks</I>
Elliott was a monster RG and paved the way for the Dallas Cowboy running game between 1967 and 1977. During that time, he was named 1st Team Guard seven straight seasons; in his 17-year career with the Cowboys, Patroits, and Colts he won two Super Bowls (72, 73) and was named to the All-League team 12 times.

<B>T Patrick Albert (Cincinnati)</B>
<I> Elected 1992, 81%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 34.2 Block Percent, 482 Key Run Blocks</I>
Patrick Albert played most of his years in Cincinnati, winning a Super Bowl with the Bengals in 1979. He quietly racked up Pro Bowl appearances, named to the team each year between 1971 and 1975.

<B>DE Skip Richard (Houston)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 83%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 531 tackles, 129.0 sacks</I>
Richard was a feared member of the Houston Texan line in the early seventies where he rang up 58.5 sacks in four seasons (1971-1974). He moved to Chicago in the 1975 season, but after his first season there (18.0 sacks), he disappointed and was unable to regain his form for the Bears. In 1980, Richard strung together one last very good season for the Seahawks (12.5 sacks), and retired in 1983 with an average of over 9 sacks/season.

<B>CB Kris Mayes (Baltimore)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 89%</I>
<I> 16 Seasons</I>
<I> 67 Interceptions</I>
Kris Mayes was a regular in the Pro Bowl, being elected as the All-League 1st Team Cornerback five consecutive years between 1969 and 1973. His best season was his last year in Baltimore - 1974 - when he made 76 tackles and intercepted 10 passes. His 67 interceptions was the career high at the time of his retirement, but is tenth now.

<B>K Dan Schwartz (Miami)</B>
<I> Elected 1992, 82%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 493-609 FG (81%), 604-607 XP</I>
Dan Schwartz is most readily identified with the Miami Dolphin teams of the early 1970s, although he played through the 1987 season. For such a long career, Schwatz was remarkably consistant; although never leading his team to the Super Bowl. He moved around the league in the latter half of his years, but never hooked onto a Super Bowl team. His career long FG was 57 yards.

Originally posted by Celeval
<B><U>NFL (1972-1977): NFC Domination and Edgar Burton</U></B>


<U>Super Bowl Winners</U><OL TYPE="I" START=7><LI>Dallas Cowboys
<LI>Dallas Cowboys
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
<LI>Denver Broncos
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
</OL>

<B>K Dan Schwartz (Miami)</B>
<I> Elected 1992, 82%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 493-609 FG (81%), 604-607 XP</I>
Dan Schwartz is most readily identified with the Miami Dolphin teams of the early 1970s, although he played through the 1987 season. For such a long career, Schwatz was remarkably consistant; although never leading his team to the Super Bowl. He moved around the league in the latter half of his years, but never hooked onto a Super Bowl team. His career long FG was 57 yards.


I was waiting for some reference about the Dolphins. Now I can keep reading. :)

Very cool start to the dynasty! I really like the history references. The challenge will be, I suspect, to keep refering to the past to add a little extra depth.

Originally posted by DolphinFan1
I was waiting for some reference about the Dolphins. Now I can keep reading. :)

I like the references to the Cowboys... :)

Originally posted by 3ric
Very cool start to the dynasty! I really like the history references. The challenge will be, I suspect, to keep refering to the past to add a little extra depth.

I hope to. This will be a pretty slow dynasty, I think, at least at first - it's taking al ong time to put this history together; wondering if I shouldn't have predone all this before posting. Anyhow, next post with the late 70s-early 80s should be Monday.

Kevin

<B><U>NFL (1978-1985): Early 80s Bring Parity,

Great Players</U></B>

<U>Super Bowl Winners</U>
<OL TYPE="I" START=13>
<LI>Buffalo Bills
<LI>Cincinnati Bengals
<LI>Atlanta Falcons
<LI>Seattle Seahawks
<LI>Green Bay Packers
<LI>Denver Broncos
<LI>Minnesota Vikings
<LI>Tennessee Titans
</OL>

The early 80s was a time when the NFL began to develop a nationwide following. Following the ascendency of Edgar Burton; the league began to take off with a stretch of 1979-1990 with eleven different Super Bowl champions; with many of those winning their first.

In addition to the balance of teams, there are suddenly an explosion of great players. The 78-85 era has developed more players currently in the Hall of Fame than any other (and as such, the post is broken up by position). Some great names to come out of this period: RB Daryl "Bam-Bam" Mancini (3-year League MVP out of Arizona), QB Aaron Wiggins (Super Bowl MVP as a rookie), and possibly the best WR in NFL history - Keith McCormick of the San Francisco 49ers.

<U>Hall of Fame Players - Quarterbacks</U>
<B>QB Calvin Conway (New England)</B>
<I> Elected 1992, 83%</I>
<I> 18 Seasons</I>
<I> 60.5% completion, 22,409 yards, 163 TD (76 Int)</I>
Calvin Conway bounced about the league a good bit during his 18-year run, playing for Washington, Jacksonville, New England, Minnesota and Denver before returning to finish his career in Jacksonville. An odd career - his first six years were very nondescript; playing in a total of 19 games and starting in only 9. The Jaguars gave him his first starting shot in 1975, where he threw for 1500 yards and 10 TDs in six starts. His second year in New England (in 1979) was a breakout - Conway threw for at least 3000 yards in five of the next six years, winning the NFL MVP award in 1980 with 3771 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. He won a title in 1984 with the Vikings, taking the Super Bowl

MVP that season; but that was his last significant time. A lower-tier Hall of Famer, Conway built his numbers up very quickly.

<B>QB Donnie Donovan (Buffalo)</B>
<I> Elected 2000, 84%</I>
<I> 16 Seasons</I>
<I> 58.3% completion, 28,579 yards, 179 TD (115 Int)</I>
Donnie Donovan always wanted to be a Buffalo Bill, and as soon as his rookie contract with the Colts ran out; he jumped at the opportunity to move to Buffalo. While he went into the Hall as a Bill, his best season was

still his last with Indianapolis - a League MVP season, throwing for 4400 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks. One of the greatest seasons by a quarterback, Donovan had that in his fourth season; but never touched even 3700 yards or 25 touchdowns after that year.

<B>QB Blaine Laney (San Francisco)</B>
<I> Elected 1996, 92%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 63.7% completion, 37,892 yards, 209 TD (147 Int)</I>
Laney began his career with the Lions in 1980 as their first round draft pick and started right away. He was the starting quarterback each of his 13 seasons (4 with the Lions, 9 with San Francisco), and put up very consistant numbers his whole time. One major reason for that was his pairing with Keith McCormick for a large portion of his time in San Francisco, and those two hooking up deep was an abiding memory for the 49ers. One of Laney's biggest weaknesses was the interception - he had eight years with double-digit interceptions, and five with at least 15.

<B>QB Gabe May (Jacksonville)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 94%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 61.1% completion, 36,912 yards, 227 TD (125 Int)</I>
Gabe May was the swivel point of a dangerous Jacksonville passing attack between 1976 and 1982. Coming off a season just short of 4000 yards with Denver in 1975, he moved to Jacksonville and started 111 games in seven seasons; throwing for over 4000 yards each year; and only missing 25 touchdowns once in that timeframe. His best season was either 1976 (4,159 yards, 34 TD, 17 Int) or his league MVP season of 1981 (4,974 yards, 30 TD, 14 Int).

<B>QB Kris McNeil (Cincinnati)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 88%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 61.6% completion, 32,795 yards, 230 TD (107 Int)</I>
McNeil was drafted in the first round by the Eagles in 1971, but never saw the playing field until 1975 - he bounced around the league a few seasons as a backup before settling into a starting role in Cleveland in 1977. After one season with the Browns, he joined the Bengals where Kris enjoyed his greatest success - leading Cincinnati to the 1979 Super Bowl (and winning MVP of that game). His mark of 38 touchdown passes thrown in 1980 still stands as the best single-season mark.

<B>QB Leslie Millard (Carolina)</B>
<I> Elected 1994, 93%</I>
<I> 16 Seasons</I>
<I> 60.0% completion, 38,259 yards, 214 TD (204 Int)</I>
Millard is a very chancy Hall of Famer - he didn't win a single season honor during his 16-season career; and finished with nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns. In his eleven seasons as a full-time starter, he threw more picks than touchdowns three times (1975 - 21/21, 1983 - 12/24, 1985 - 12/19).

<B>QB Norman Rodgers (Tennessee)</B>
<I> Elected 1994, 92%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 61.1% completion, 37,335 yards, 203 TDs (157 Int)</I>
Norman Rodgers was named offensive rookie of the year after a 3200 yard, 19-TD season with the Patriots in 1975; an injury-marred career was highlighted in Tennessee. He won the Super Bowl MVP in 1985 after throwins for 2800 yards, 22 TDs and 7 picks in 12 games for the Titans that year.

<B>QB Korey Walsh (Buffalo)</B>
<I> Elected 1989, 83%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 58.3% completion, 30,935 yards, 186 TD (112 Int)</I>
Korey Walsh is another player who never reached his full potential - in his eight years of starting for the Bills, he only played in ten games in four seasons; but was incrediblewhen he played. 1978 saw him missing one game but still finishing with 3800 yards, 31 TDs, and 11 interceptions - in 1981 he was knocked out after only five starts, but put up 8 touchdown passes against only one interception.

<B>QB Chuck Weaver (St. Louis)</B>
<I> Elected 1994, 85%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 63.0% completion, 27,370 yards, 149 TD (92 Int)</I>
Chuck Weaver was never a quarterback with a ton of great numbers; but he was one of the most exciting players to watch during his time in the league. He finished his career with a losing record (62-73-1), and is probably a memory vote for a lot of voters; but he put up over 2800 yards rushing in his time starting - including a 1982 season where he rushed for 450 yards, passed for 3500, and threw 23 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.

<B>QB Aaron Wiggins (Dallas)</B>
<I> Elected 1995, 100%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 61.0% completion, 42,332 yards, 307 TD (164 Int)</I>
Aaron Wiggins was the greatest quarterback of this era, and stands a fighting chance to be the greatest of all time. Wiggins signed as an undrafted free agent in 1976. His rookie year was with the Falcons; and a great one - he led Atlanta to the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl MVP as well as rookie of the year. He put up over 4100 yards passing and 33 touchdowns that season, numbers he didn't surpass until 1980 when he put up a 4200 yard, 35 touchdown season. While Cowboy fans love Wiggins, Falcon fans hate him with a passion - he bolted Atlanta after his first season when they refused his contract demands, and signed with the Cowboys. He led Dallas through 1989, setting the career record for touchdown passes (307) as he did. Wiggins was Super Bowl MVP again in 1978, despite a 13-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills; however he never won the Super Bowl after that first season with Atlanta.

Dallas fans love Aaron Wiggins!!! :)

<B><U>NFL (1978-1985) [cont]</U></B>
<B>RB Ronnie Aranda (Dallas)</B>
<I> Elected 1995, 90%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 3,205 carries, 13,326 yards, 68 TD</I>
Aranda was the backfield mate to Aaron Wiggins for his career in Dallas; he arrived as a rookie in Dallas the year Wiggins was signed, and left a season before Wiggins retired. During that time, he was a very solid complement , averaging 31 catches, 230 carries, and 1200 yards from scrimmage in those twelve seasons. Aranda fans will point to his best season - that after he left Dallas for Washington - as proof that his numbers would have been greater without Wiggins; his one full year as the focus was his thirteenth season, and he put up career highs in carries (380), yards (1758), and catches (55).

<B>RB Cary Crawford (Houston)</B>
<I> Elected 1988, 87%</I>
<I> 12 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,777 carries, 13,175 yards, 55 TDs</I>
Crawford hit the big time in his first year as a starter (his fourth season overall) in St. Louis, going for 1200 yards and nine touchdowns before signing with the Texans. Crawford was a consistant 1200+ yard guy while starting with Houston through the 1982 season.

<B>RB Darrell Franklin (Pittsburgh)</B>
<I> Elected 1997, 89%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,766 carries, 12,511 yards, 72 TD</I>
Franklin's glory period was the early 80s with the Steelers - while not gaining impressive yardage; Franklin was deadly in the short yardage situations, consistantly putting up touchdown numbers even while not a full starter.

<B>RB J.C. Horn (Tampa Bay)</B>
<I> Elected 1994, 84%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,688 carries, 11,466 yards, 78 TD</I>
J.C. Horn was drafted by the Bucs in the first round, and stuck with Tampa his entire career. He was the undisputed starter for ten seasons; most remembered for 1981 when he rushed for 1700 yards and 18 touchdowns. That 18 touchdowns, at the time, was the record for scores in a season; passing Burton's 17 in 1974.

<B>RB Daryl "Bam Bam" Mancini (Arizona)</B>
<I> Elected 1994, 83%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,382 carries, 9,849 yards, 65 TD</I>
Mancini's career numbers are not spectacular; but between 1981 and 1984 he was the most feared player in the game. Three straight League MVP trophies, and Mancini rushed for an average of over 1500 yards and 13 touchdowns in those three years; in 1981 he had perhaps the single best offensive season for a back, with 1500 yards on the ground, 1100 yards through the air, and 16 total touchdowns.

<B>RB Hugh Schultz (Minnesota)</B>
<I> Elected 1991, 84%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,505 carries, 11,418 yards, 99 TDs</I>
Schultz was one of the few members of the Hall who retired on the top of his game - even after 13 seasons, Hall retired after a run of eight seasons with a 4.5 ypc average, 5 touchdowns, and 750 yards. He was a full-time starter in Chicago, and could have returned for his 100th career rushing touchdown but left under his own conditions. His best year was 1979 in Minnesota, 1200 yards, 5.5 ypc, and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

<B>RB Ellis Shapiro (New England)</B>
<I> Elected 1995, 81%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,839 carries, 11,647 yards, 58 TD</I>
Shapiro was the League MVP in 1985, breaking Mancini's streak with a 1900 yard, 8 TD rushing season. He played for the Niners, Falcons, and Patriots during his career.

<B>WR Scottie Bunyan (Buffalo)</B>
<I> Elected 1987, 80%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 841 catches, 12,705 yards, 71 TD</I>
Scottie Bunyan was the first round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1968, and was a consistant number one receiver with the Browns and the Bills from 1969 through 1979. He should have been marked in the last era, but I missed him, so here he is. :-) His two best seasons were with the Browns in 1971 (1487 yards, 8 TD), and then the Bills in 1978 (1460 yards, 12 TDs).

<B>WR Keith McCormick (San Francisco)</B>
<I> Elected 1996, 87%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 997 catches, 15,493 yards, 89 TD</I>
Keith McCormick was the greatest receiver in the history of the NFL. This is a pretty good bet - McCormick owns all major career receiving records and did almost all of it with the San Francisco 49ers. McCormick had two seasons over over 100 catches, both 105 in 1980 and 1985; those were his best seasons, with 1800 yards in 1980 and 16 touchdowns in 1985. He finished his career a Denver Bronco; putting up a pair of solid but subpar seasons (for him) before retiring after the 1991 year.

<B>WR Burt Wells (Washington)</B>
<I> Elected 1989, 80%</I>
<I> 11 Seasons</I>
<I> 664 catches, 10,845 yards, 77 TD</I>
Drafted in the second round out of Auburn by the Bengals, Wells was not a consistant receiver, spiking as high as 1634 yards and 14 touchdowns and as low as 569 yards and 6 scores during his years as a starter. A Redskin for most of his career, he was the Super Bowl MVP in 1973 as a Bengal.

<B>TE Dusty Briggs (Oakland)</B>
<I> Elected 1991, 84%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 623 catches, 7451 yards, 39 TD</I>
Briggs was a 3-time all-league TE, and a heavy focus of Oakland's passing attack from 1974 through 1984. During that time, he was never had less than 46 catches in seasons where healthy, with a high of 63 catches for 859 yards and 5 touchdowns in 1981.

<B>G Antonio Dunkelberger (Chicago)</B>
<I> Elected 1996, 84%</I>
<I> 18 Seasons</I>
<I> 33.0 Block Percent, 554 Key Run Blocks</I>
Dunkelberger was drafted in 1974 by the Bears and started through 1984 for the Big Brown, joining the Patriots, Bucs, and Saints at the tail end of his career. He is most remembered for the pairing with fellow Hall-of-Famer Bryce Smeenge between 1980-1984.

<B>G Bryce Smeenge (Chicago)</B>
<I> Elected 1998, 84%</I>
<I> 18 Seasons</I>
<I> 32.7 Block Percent, 539 Key Run Blocks</I>
Bryce Smeenge was the right side of the Chicago line from 1984-1989 - he started his career with the Jets in 1980, but signed as a free agent to work with Dunkelberger in 1984. After leaving the Bears in 1990, he played for Arizona and Minnesota before suffering a career-ending injury after the first game of the 1993 season with the Vikings.

<B>C Arnold Schroeder (New England)</B>
<I> Elected 1998, 81%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 37.4 Block Percent, 546 Key Run Blocks</I>
Arnie Schroeder played with Dunkelberger as well; except in New England - undrafted out of Tuskegee college, he is the only center in the Hall, and is generally acknowledged as the best at his position.

Originally posted by JeeberD
Dallas fans love Aaron Wiggins!!! :)

He still never won them a Super Bowl, though. :-D

great stuff so far

<B><U>NFL (1978-1985) [cont]</U></B>

<B> DE Donald Fernandez (Pittsburgh)</B>
<I> Elected 1996, 83%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 558 Tackles, 126.5 Sacks</I>
The Steelers' Donald Fernandez was a gamechanger from day one. He was drafted in the first round by Pittsburgh, and started about half the games of his rookie year - putting up a total of 10.5 sacks, including a 3-sack game against the Jaguars. That began a streak of five seasons of 10.5 sacks or more; with a high of 1982 (17.5 sacks) and 1984 (18.0 sacks). Fernandez played nearly his entire career in Pittsburgh, moving to the Lions in 1990 for his final season (in which he still put up 9.5 sacks in 8 games before injury).

<B> CB Chad Murphy (Washington)</B>
<I> Elected 1995, 86%</I>
<I> 16 Seasons</I>
<I> 88 Interceptions</I>
Chad Murphy was the most dominant corner in the league between 1979 and 1989, awarded first-team All-League in seven of those seasons. A singularly durable player, Murphy played in no less than fifteen games between his sophmore year in 1976 and two years before retirement in 1988 - during his career, he spiked two years of 10+ interceptions; both for the Redskins. He finished his career with the Giants, still effective until his retirement at 38 years old. He holds the career record for Interceptions (88), and Passes Defended (286).

<B> P Adam Cleary (Carolina)</B>
<I> Elected 1993, 82%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 80,905 Punting Yards, 40.2 Average</I>
Cleary started his career with Carolina in 1969 and went into the Hall with those Panthers, regardless of only spending six of his twenty years with that team. He played in every game of his 20-year career; 320 in all.

<B> P Kendrick Kolodzijski (Minnesota)</B>
<I> Elected 1990, 83%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 90,033 Punting Yards, 43.7 Average</I>
Kolodzijski's career was similar to that of Adam Cleary's, but he was better in general - 3.5 yards per punt longer. He spent his first nine years in Minnesota before moving to Chicago, KC, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

<B> K Vernon Compton (Cincinnati)</B>
<I> Elected 1994, 80%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 484-584 FG (82.8%), 651-654 XP</I>
An undrafted free agent in 1971, Compton hooked on with the Cincinnati Bengals, spending six seasons with them before moving on to the Titans, Cowboys, Broncos, and Cowboys again. Very consistant - missing three extra points his entire career, two of those in his first season.

<B> K Deion Field (Seattle)</B>
<I> Elected 1995, 83%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 520-654 FG (79.5%), 695-700 XP</I>
Field was a third-round selection of the Lions in 1971, and bounced around the league for his 20-year career. He had a very strong leg, with his longest field goal at 61 yards.

<B> K Oscar Watson (Chicago)</B>
<I> Elected 1998, 84%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 578-777 FG (74.3%), 516-526 XP</I>
Watson spent fifteen years with the Bears between 1974 and 1988, consistantly hitting from 58-60 yards out.

<B> K Kerry Winslett (New York)</B>
<I> Elected 1997, 83%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 572-759 FG (75.3%), 592-601 XP</I>
Kerry Winslett was drafted by the Chiefs and traded immediately to the Giants; he never returned to Kansas City despite spending time in seven NFL cities. He has kicked a 62-yard field goal, the longest of any of these HOF kickers.

<B><U>NFL (1986-1993): Browns Win First, 'Hawks Win Three</U></B>

<U>Super Bowl Winners</U>
<OL TYPE="I" START=21>
<LI>Cleveland Browns
<LI>Pittsburgh Steelers
<LI>New England Patriots
<LI>Seattle Seahawks
<LI>Seattle Seahawks
<LI>Miami Dolphins
<LI>Seattle Seahawks
</OL>

This era of the NFL begins with our Cleveland Browns catching lightning in a bottle for the first of two NFL titles. This season saw the Browns go 15-1 in the regular season; losing only to the Bills (21-17, in front of only 9,800 in Buffalo). The story of this era was more the Seattle Seahawks - they made the playoffs every season between 1986 and 1993 save one ('92), winning the Super Bowl three times in that timeframe. Aside from the Hawks in the NFC, the AFC dominated this period.

<U>Hall of Fame Players</U>
<B>QB Rex Crone (Denver)</B>
<I> Elected 2000, 92%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 61.3% completion, 32,819 yards, 156 TD (139 Int)</I>
Crone was named the rookie of the year in 1981 in Kansas City after passing for 2900 yards and rushing for 570 - called the second coming of Chuck Weaver by a few; but he never really fulfilled the promise he put forth. A lot of yards through the air, he never threw for 20 touchdowns in his career; although he did gather nearly 5000 yards on the ground.

<B>QB T.J. Lane (New England)</B>
<I> Elected 2000, 85%</I>
<I> 11 Seasons</I>
<I> 62.0% completion, 28,184 yards, 195 TD (104 Int)</I>
A two-time Super Bowl MVP with the Patriots, T.J. Lane was one of the smartest quarterbacks to play the game. After retiring in 1995, Lane went to Boston College as a QB coach and has since moved up to Offensive Coordinator, with his eyes on the head coaching job. He is utterly revered in Boston; his jersey hangs on the Sports Guy's office wall.

<B>QB Fred Luster (Atlanta)</B>
<I> Elected 2003, 80%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 60.2% completion, 26,124 yards, 152 TD (82 Int)</I>
Fred Luster played well in Atlanta and Green Bay, named the Super Bowl MVP of the 1994 game despite a loss to the Jets. He retired due to multiple concussions in 1998 as a Packer.

<B>QB Kelvin Raymond (San Diego)</B>
<I> Elected 2001, 84%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 60.3% completion, 33,631 yards, 224 TD (126 Int)</I>
The face of the San Diego Chargers, Kelvin Raymond retired after a very good 1996 season in Tampa Bay - 3500 yards, 28 TD, 19 Int - he hung up his cleats in order to spend time with his family, and stayed true to his word; turning down offers from a handful of playoff-quality teams in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

<B>QB Darren Ripken (Oakland)</B>
<I> Elected 1999, 99%</I>
<I> 16 Seasons</I>
<I> 64.0% completion, 37,421 yards, 236 TD (135 Int)</I>
An under-rated passer, Darren Ripken was a consistant passer in Oakland from 1982 through 1992 before falling prey to injuries; his best year was probably 1984 where he threw 22 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions in 14 games.

<B>QB Troy Solly (Jacksonville)</B>
<I> Elected 1999, 90%</I>
<I> 18 Seasons</I>
<I> 59.0% completion, 37,186 yards, 209 TD (211 Int)</I>
Traded from Tampa to Jacksonville before the 1984 season, Solly ran the Jaguar passing attack for a decade - another not terribly great quarterback in the Hall of Fame, Solly had fine career numbers for yards and touchdowns. However, he threw a ton of interceptions, and ended with a losing career record (77-81-0). Whereas Darren Ripken was constantly underrated, Troy Solly was a very overrated quarterback and it shows in his final numbers.

<B>QB Morris Weber (Houston)</B>
<I> Elected 1999, 84%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 59.4% completion, 28,703 yards, 189 TD (122 Int)</I>
Morris Weber had a string of solid seasons with the Texans between 1987 and 1992, putting up 20+ TDs and 3000+ yards each of those years (save injury in 1991). He left the league after a gruesome knee injury with the Packers in 1994; never a number one QB in the NFL, some say he was named to the Hall of Fame due to that injury and it's continual replay on network television. He is currently a broadcast announcer for the Washington Redskins (who he came into the league with).

<B>RB Earl Nelms (Tennessee)</B>
<I> Elected 2000, 83%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,364 carries, 9,835 yards, 76 TD</I>
Earl Nelms broke into the league with Tennessee, putting up his best year in 1987 with those Titans - 1400 yards on the ground for 10 TDs and a League MVP trophy. He signed with Arizona in the offseason, but couldn't get it going in the desert, and eventually faded into the background.

<B>RB J.T. Schiman (Cleveland)</B>
<I> Elected 2002, 83%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 2,562 carries, 10,130 yards, 64 TD</I>
A first round pick out of San Diego State, Schiman was in his first year starting when he took the Browns on his back to the Super Bowl in 1986; he jumped ship in 1989 and did the same to the Panthers - named the Super Bowl MVP for Carolina in 1989 as well. His numbers were put together during a short timeframe - although in the league for 14 years, he had a shorter peak than most Hall of Famers, starting for 8 years in the center of that career.

<B>WR Oliver McConnell (Cleveland)</B>
<I> Elected 2001, 86%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 847 catches, 12,701 yards, 77 TD</I>
Oliver McConnell was the second half to the Cleveland offense in their title year of 1986; but like Schiman, he left the Browns after his rookie contract to seek greener pastures. He ended up in Dallas and New England for the rest of his career - not one that stood out season to season, but a key player.

<B>WR Neil Myers (Philadelphia)</B>
<I> Elected 2003, 85%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 850 catches, 12,886 yards, 47 TD</I>
Myers put up two 100+ catch/1800+ yard/9 TD seasons in his first two years starting, but fell victim to injury late in his career; becoming ineffective after knee surgery in late 1991. After that, he was a shadow of his former self and never reached so much as 800 yards through his retirement in 1998.

<B>WR Glen Winters (San Francisco)</B>
<I> Elected 2001, 80%</I>
<I> 13 Seasons</I>
<I> 715 catches, 10,985 yards, 54 TD</I>
Winters was the 'battery mate' of Keith McCormick for the latter half of the 80s, and stepped up into the top role when McCormick left. His best season was 1990 - 1400 yards and 8 touchdowns for the 'niners; he never played for another team.

<B>G Ellis Hines (Cincinnati)</B>
<I> Elected 2002, 84%</I>
<I> 18 Seasons</I>
<I> 32.5 Block Percent, 567 Key Run Blocks</I>
One of only three Guards in the Hall of Fame, Hines was elected as a Cincinnati Bengal despite spending only four seasons with the team. He was most effective during his three years in Seattle - with over a 40% Block Percent in two of those years.

<B> DE John O'Neill (Seattle)</B>
<I> Elected 2000, 84%</I>
<I> 16 Seasons</I>
<I> 558 Tackles, 126.5 Sacks</I>
John O'Neill was a major component of the Seahawks during their run to the 1990 Super Bowl crown - 17.5 sacks that season - but left Seattle in what he termed later a "poor decision". While the Hawks went on to win two more of the next three, he spent three injury-plagued seasons with the Giants, and finished his career not with a bang but a whimper in Atlanta. He's since moved back to Seattle, and is a major player in local charity there.

<B> LB Alex Farley (Kansas City)</B>
<I> Elected 2003, 81%</I>
<I> 14 Seasons</I>
<I> 1,041 Tackles, 79.0 Sacks, 22 Interceptions</I>
Farley came into his own as a player during the 1988 season with 11 sacks - including being named MVP of the Super Bowl in the Kansas City victory over the St. Louis Rams. That began a streak of five straight First-Team All-Pro selections; he was named Defensive POY twice during that run. His best season was likely 1991 - 140 tackles, 35 assisted tackles, and 12.5 sacks; he was the tackler on 20.2% of the plays on the field.


<B> LB Bob Shimada (New Jersey)</B>
<I> Elected 2001, 81%</I>
<I> 15 Seasons</I>
<I> 1,188 Tackles, 93.0 Sacks, 21 Interceptions</I>
Twice Defensive Player of the Year, Shimada was the face of the Jets during the 1980s. He broke onto the scene as a third-year player in 1984, racking up 94 tackles and 8 sacks in his first year as a starter. His sack numbers were always high - putting up double-digits in both his Defensive POY years. He left the New York area in 1992 to sign with Indianapolis for one year; and finished his career in Buffalo - Jets fans booed him heavily after leaving as a free agent; he was 0-6 in games against New Jersey in those last four years.

<B> K J.R. Daniels (Philadelphia)</B>
<I> Elected 2000, 83%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 545-724 FG (75.2%), 540-545 XP</I>
Daniels is another example of a kicker spending twenty years bouncing aroudn the league - he was something of a prima donna; as an undrafted free agent out of Miami, the 5'9" Daniels kept the Philadelphia crowd fired up during his time in Philly; and respected the Eagle fans after his public split with the management in 1981 - even after leaving the team, he signed only with AFC teams to avoid competing against the Eagles.

<B> K Mike Ford (Cleveland)</B>
<I> Elected 1999, 82%</I>
<I> 20 Seasons</I>
<I> 506-653 FG (77.5%), 606-612 XP</I>
Mike Ford was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round out of Dartmouth in 1975 and stuck with Cleveland for six years before moving on to Atlanta, Baltimore, the Vikings, and Detroit.

<B><U>NFL (1994-1998)</U></B>

<U>Super Bowl Winners</U>
<OL TYPE="I" START=28>
<LI>New Jersey Jets
<LI>Pittsburgh Steelers
<LI>Detroit Lions
<LI>Oakland Raiders
<LI>Tampa Bay Buccaneers
</OL>

The late 90s were owned by Leland McDermid - a Hall of Famer-to-be; possibly the greatest "hired gun" quarterback; McDermid played for a number of teams, and eventually built up the career leader in Passing Yards (45,457), Completions (4,022); and finished second in touchdowns (280). There was no real dominant team in this era, and unfortunately, the player records are tough to get to without any Hall of Famers... so we'll be touching on the major players of this time frame as they are elected to the Hall.

You gotta love any dynasty that starts out with the Bengals as one of the super powers =)

God Luv ya Dude!! keep this up!

<B><U>NFL (1999-2002): Recent History</U></B>

<U>Super Bowl Winners</U>
<OL TYPE="I" START=33>
<LI>Oakland Raiders
<LI>Cleveland Browns
<LI>Philadelphia Eagles
<LI>Washington Redskins
</OL>

The best player in the league finally won his Super Bowl last season with the Redskins - RB Tracy Schultz was the NFL MVP in 1999, 2000, and 2001 with three consecutive seasons of 1490 yards or more; each with at least 11 touchdowns. Last season he was passed over for MVP by QB Kendrick Tyler of the Broncos.. who won the Super Bowl MVP in the loss to Washington.

Tyler is the headliner at quarterback right now - coming off an outstanding season with Denver where he threw for 4000 yards, 35 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions.

Up Next: Team-by-Team analysis

Miami finally won a Super Bowl. Sorry I'm a little slow. Just saw it.

<B><U>NFC North</U></B>

<U>Chicago Bears</U>
2002 Record: 6-10
All-Time Record: 268-317-6 (.457)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 2-14 (1976, 1987)
Hall of Famers: G Bryce Smeenge, G Antonio Dunkelberger, K Oscar Watson
Stadium: Good (46)
Roster: Excellent (96)
Support Very Good (62)
Economy: Very Good (68)
Franchise Value: $1,355,310,000

<U>Detroit Lions</U>
2002 Record: 10-5-1
All-Time Record: 321-266-5 (.546)
Championships: 1996
Worst Season: 5-11 (1966, 1968, 1980)
Hall of Famers: [none]
Stadium: Good (40)
Roster: Very Good (68)
Support: Excellent (99)
Economy: Fair (35)
Franchise Value: $1,201,880,000

<U>Green Bay Packers</U>
2002 Record: 3-13
All-Time Record: 312-271-9 (.534)
Championships: 1982
Worst Season: 3-13 (2002)
Hall of Famers: [none]
Stadium: Excellent (94)
Roster: Fair (26)
Support: Excellent (93)
Economy: Fair (24)
Franchise Value: $1,410,720,000

<U>Minnesota Vikings</U>
2002 Record: 8-8
All-Time Record: 305-283-4 (.518)
Championships: 1984
Worst Season: 3-13 (1971, 1974)
Hall of Famers: RB Hugh Schulz, P Kendrick Kolodziejski
Stadium: Good (55)
Roster: Fair (27)
Support: Very Good (72)
Economy: Fair (30)
Franchise Value: $1,042,050,000

<B><U>NFC South</U></B>

<U>Atlanta Falcons</U>
2002 Record: 8-8
All-Time Record: 325-260-7 (.554)
Championships: 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
Worst Season: 5-11 (1967, 1986)
Hall of Famers: QB Fred Luster
Stadium: Good (50)
Roster: Fair (36)
Support: Excellent (97)
Economy: Fair (27)
Franchise Value: $1,108,120,000

<U>Carolina Panthers</U>
2002 Record: 9-7
All-Time Record: 286-300-6 (.488)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 2-14 (1979)
Hall of Famers: QB Leslie Millard, P Adam Cleary
Stadium: Fair (20)
Roster: Excellent (88)
Support: Good (55)
Economy: Good (45)
Franchise Value: $1,018,610,000

<U>New Orleans Saints</U>
2002 Record: 6-10
All-Time Record: 264-322-6 (.451)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 1-14-1 (1989)
Hall of Famers: [none]
Stadium: Fair (31)
Roster: Poor (1)
Support: Fair (39)
Economy: Fair (22)
Franchise Value: $796,990,000

<U>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</U>
2002 Record: 11-4-1
All-Time Record: 292-291-9 (.500)
Championships: 1998
Worst Season: 1-15 (1990)
Hall of Famers: RB J.C. Horn
Stadium: Fair (37)
Roster: Excellent (90)
Support: Very Good (68)
Economy: Fair (25)
Franchise Value: $1,095,330,000

<B><U>NFC East</U></B>

<U>Dallas Cowboys</U>
2002 Record: 3-13
All-Time Record: 269-322-1 (.455)
Championships: 1972, 1973
Worst Season: 2-14 (1994)
Hall of Famers: QB Aaron Wiggins, RB Ronnie Aranda, G Sean Elliott
Stadium: Poor (80)
Roster: Poor (1)
Support: Fair (28)
Economy: Very Good (67)
Franchise Value: $771,420,000

<U>New York Giants</U>
2002 Record: 10-6
All-Time Record: 296-292-4 (.503)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 3-12-1 (1995)
Hall of Famers: WR Kenny Tinkis, K Kerry Winslett
Stadium: Poor (8)
Roster: Excellent (86)
Support: Very Good (66)
Economy: Fair (31)
Franchise Value: $956,810,000

<U>Philadelphia Eagles</U>
2002 Record: 6-10
All-Time Record: 276-308-8 (.472)
Championships: 2001
Worst Season: 4-12 (1995, 1996)
Hall of Famers: TE Tyrell Bates, WR Neil Myers, K J.R. Daniels
Stadium: Fair (39)
Roster: Poor (1)
Support: Fair (38)
Economy: Fair (26)
Franchise Value: $837,480,000

<U>Washington Redskins</U>
2002 Record: 12-4
All-Time Record: 333-254-5 (.566)
Championships: 1967, 2002
Worst Season: 5-11 (1969)
Hall of Famers: QB Edwin Mallon, WR Burt Wells, CB Chad Murphy
Stadium: Poor (13)
Roster: Fair (27)
Support: Excellent (99)
Economy: Fair (35)
Franchise Value: $931,240,000

<B><U>NFC West</U></B>

<U>Arizona Cardinals</U>
2002 Record: 6-10
All-Time Record: 312-275-5 (.531)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 3-13 (1998)
Hall of Famers: RB Daryl Mancini
Stadium: Poor (18)
Roster: Very Good (71)
Support: Fair (34)
Economy: Fair (24)
Franchise Value: $884,360,000

<U>San Francisco 49ers</U>
2002 Record: 12-4
All-Time Record: 290-296-6 (.494)
Championships: 1966, 1970
Worst Season: 2-14 (1983)
Hall of Famers: QB Blaine Laney, WR Glen Winters, WR Keith McCormick
Stadium: Fair (36)
Roster: Poor (2)
Support: Excellent (83)
Economy: Good (57)
Franchise Value: $988,780,000

<U>Seattle Seahawks</U>
2002 Record: 9-6-1
All-Time Record: 330-256-6 (.562)
Championships: 1971, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1993
Worst Season: 4-12 (1972)
Hall of Famers: WR Harvey Swayda, K Deion Field, DE John O'Neill
Stadium: Poor (18)
Roster: Excellent (100)
Support: Very Good (62)
Economy: Good (56)
Franchise Value: $1,082,540,000

<U>St. Louis Cardinals</U>
2002 Record: 7-8-1
All-Time Record: 269-318-5 (.458)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 0-16 (1992)
Hall of Famers: QB Chuck Weaver
Stadium: Poor (16)
Roster: Excellent (90)
Support: Good (46)
Economy: Very Good (60)
Franchise Value: $1,018,610,000

<B><U>AFC North</U></B>

<U>Baltimore Ravens</U>
2002 Record: 8-8
All-Time Record: 261-314-7 (.463)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 2-14 (1978)
Hall of Famers: RB Edgar Burton, CB Kris Mayes
Stadium: Fair (22)
Roster: Good (55)
Support: Good (46)
Economy: Fair (21)
Franchise Value: $886,490,000

<U>Cincinnati Bengals</U>
2002 Record: 12-4
All-Time Record: 329-258-5 (.559)
Championships: 1968, 1969
Worst Season: 1-14-1 (1987)
Hall of Famers: QB Kris McNeil, QB Ken McFarlane, G Ellis Hines, T Patrick Albert, K Vernon Compton
Stadium: Poor (18)
Roster: Fair (21)
Support: Very Good (63)
Economy: Fair (38)
Franchise Value: $869,440,000

<U>Cleveland Browns</U>
2002 Record: 4-12
All-Time Record: 294-294-4 (.500)
Championships: 1986, 2000
Worst Season: 2-14 (1974)
Hall of Famers: RB J.T. Schiman, WR Oliver McConnell, K Mike Ford
Stadium: Fair (21)
Roster: Poor (1)
Support: Excellent (88)
Economy: Fair (25)
Franchise Value: $865,180,000

<U>Pittsburgh Steelers</U>
2002 Record: 11-5
All-Time Record: 281-305-6 (.479)
Championships: 1987, 1995
Worst Season: 4-12 (1977, 1979, 1982, 2001)
Hall of Famers: RB Darrell Franklin, Donald Fernandez
Stadium: Fair (39)
Roster: Fair (27)
Support: Fair (34)
Economy: Fair (25)
Franchise Value: $882,230,000

<B><U>AFC South</U></B>

<U>Houston Texans</U>
2002 Record: 8-8
All-Time Record: 297-290-5 (.505)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 2-14 (1984)
Hall of Famers: QB Morris Weber, RB Cary Crawford, RB Antonio Fitch, DE Skip Richard
Stadium: Poor (6)
Roster: Excellent (81)
Support: Good (56)
Economy: Poor (15)
Franchise Value: $882,230,000

<U>Indianapolis Colts</U>
2002 Record: 3-13
All-Time Record: 267-322-3 (.453)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 2-13-1 (1968)
Hall of Famers: [none]
Stadium: Poor (9)
Roster: Excellent (93)
Support: Fair (29)
Economy: Fair (29)
Franchise Value: $892,880,000

<U>Jacksonville Jaguars</U>
2002 Record: 8-8
All-Time Record: 264-328-0
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 3-13 (1971)
Hall of Famers: QB Troy Solly, QB Gabe May
Stadium: Fair (25)
Roster: Excellent (98)
Support: Poor (0)
Economy: Fair (30)
Franchise Value: $912,060,000

<U>Tennessee Titans</U>
2002 Record: 11-5
All-Time Record: 267-312-4 (.454)
Championships: 1985
Worst Season: 4-12 (1974, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001)
Hall of Famers: QB Norman Rodgers, RB Earl Nelms
Stadium: Fair (20)
Roster: Good (51)
Support: Fair (26)
Economy: Good (53)
Franchise Value: $895,020,000

<B><U>AFC East</U></B>

<U>Buffalo Bills</U>
2002 Record: 3-13
All-Time Record: 300-288-4 (.510)
Championships: 1978
Worst Season: 3-13 (2002)
Hall of Famers: QB Donnie Donovan, QB Korey Walsh, WR Scottie Bunyan
Stadium: Poor (6)
Roster: Poor (1)
Support: Good (41)
Economy: Fair (32)
Franchise Value: $716,010,000

<U>Miami Dolphins</U>
2002 Record: 10-6
All-Time Record: 258-328-6 (.440)
Championships: 1992
Worst Season: 2-14 (1967)
Hall of Famers: K Dan Schwartz
Stadium: Poor (4)
Roster: Very Good (64)
Support: Poor (12)
Economy: Fair (32)
Franchise Value: $779,940,000

<U>New England Patriots</U>
2002 Record: 13-3
All-Time Record: 367-221-4 (.623)
Championships: 1989
Worst Season: 4-12 (1974)
Hall of Famers: QB T.J. Lane, QB Calvin Conway, RB Ellis Shapiro, C Arnold Schroeder
Stadium: Very Good (74)
Roster: Excellent (88)
Support: Excellent (99)
Economy: Good (58)
Franchise Value: $1,674,960,000

<U>New Jersey Jets</U>
2002 Record: 5-11
All-Time Record: 263-326-3 (.446)
Championships: 1994
Worst Season: 4-12 (1979, 1982, 1987, 2000)
Hall of Famers: OLB Bob Shimada
Stadium: Good (41)
Roster: Poor (17)
Support: Fair (36)
Economy: Fair (30)
Franchise Value: $884,360,000

<B><U>AFC West</U></B>

<U>Denver Broncos</U>
2002 Record: 11-5
All-Time Record: 291-298-3 (.494)
Championships: 1975, 1983
Worst Season: 3-13 (1979)
Hall of Famers: QB Rex Crone
Stadium: Very Good (70)
Roster: Poor (1)
Support: Good (58)
Economy: Good (49)
Franchise Value: $1,061,230,000

<U>Kansas City Chiefs</U>
2002 Record: 6-10
All-Time Record: 312-275-5 (.531)
Championships: 1988
Worst Season: 4-12 (1970, 1981)
Hall of Famers: OLB Alex Farley
Stadium: Poor (12)
Roster: Good (42)
Support: Excellent (82)
Economy: Good (5)
Franchise Value: $965,340,000

<U>Oakland Raiders</U>
2002 Record: 9-7
All-Time Record: 313-274-5 (.532)
Championships: 1997, 1999
Worst Season: 2-14 (1969)
Hall of Famers: QB Darren Ripken, TE Dusty Briggs
Stadium: Poor (17)
Roster: Very Good (77)
Support: Excellent (92)
Economy: Good (59)
Franchise Value: $1,116,640,000

<U>San Diego Chargers</U>
2002 Record: 6-10
All-Time Record: 269-317-6 (.459)
Championships: [none]
Worst Season: 0-16 (1998)
Hall of Famers: QB Kelvin Raymond
Stadium: Poor (6)
Roster: Very Good (64)
Support: Fair (34)
Economy: Good (51)
Franchise Value: $875,840,000

Wow, look at the Patriots' winning average: .623 ! But only one championship - what happened, did they lose a lot of finals?

Actually, yes... Patriots are 1 for 6 in Super Bowl Appearances.

Damn, the Cowboys are terrible! That needs to change in a hurry...