Super Bowl X Pittsburg vs. Dallas
The Steelers won the Super Bowl for the second year in a row on Terry Bradshaw's 64-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann and an aggressive defense that snuffed out a late rally by the Cowboys with an end-zone interception on the final play of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh ran on fourth down and gave up the ball on the Cowboys' 39 with 1:22 to play. Roger Staubach ran and passed for two first downs but his last desperation pass was picked off by Glen Edwards.
Dallas's scoring was the result of two touchdown passes by Staubach, one to Drew Pearson for 29 yards and the other to Percy Howard for 34 yards. Toni Fritsch had a 36-yard field goal.
The Steelers scored on two touchdown passes by Bradshaw, one to Randy Grossman for seven yards and the long bomb to Swann.
Roy Gerela had 36- and 18-yard field goals. Reggie Harrison blocked a punt through the end zone for a safety.
Swann set a Super Bowl record by gaining 161 yards on his four receptions.
posted by Anonymous @ 1:21 PM
Super Bowl IX Pittsburg vs. Minnesota
AFC champion Pittsburgh, in its initial Super Bowl appearance, and NFC champion Minnesota, making a third bid for its first Super Bowl title, struggled through a first half in which the only score was produced by the Steelers' defense when Dwight White downed Vikings' quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety 7:49 into the second period.
The Steelers forced another break and took advantage on the second-half kickoff when Minnesota's Bill Brown fumbled and Marv Kellum recovered for Pittsburgh on the Vikings' 30.
After Rocky Bleier failed to gain on first down, Franco Harris carried three consecutive times for 24 yards, a loss of three, and a 9-yard touchdown and a 9-0 lead.
Though its offense was completely stymied by Pittsburgh's defense, Minnesota managed to move into a threatening position after 4:27 of the final period when Matt Blair blocked Bobby Walden's punt and Terry Brown recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
Fred Cox's kick failed and the Steelers led 9-6. Pittsburgh wasted no time putting the victory away.
The Steelers took the ensuing kickoff and marched 66 yards in 11 plays, climaxed by Terry Bradshaw's 4-yard scoring pass to Larry Brown with 3:31 left.
Pittsburgh's defense permitted Minnesota only 119 yards total offense, including a Super Bowl low of 17 rushing yards.
The Steelers, meanwhile, gained 333 yards, including Harris's record 158 yards on 34 carries.
posted by Anonymous @ 1:10 PM
Super Bowl VIII Miami vs. Minnesota
The defending NFL champion Dolphins, representing the AFC for the third straight year, scored the first two times they had possession on marches of 62 and 56 yards while the Miami defense limited the Vikings to only seven plays in the first period.
Larry Csonka climaxed the initial 10-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown bolt through right guard after 5:27 had elapsed. Four plays later, Miami began another 10-play scoring drive, which ended with Jim Kiick bursting one yard through the middle for another touchdown after 13:38 of the period.
Garo Yepremian added a 28-yard field goal midway in the second period for a 17-0 Miami lead.
Minnesota then drove from its 20 to a second-and-2 situation on the Miami seven yard line with 1:18 left in the half. But on two plays, Miami limited Oscar Reed to 1 yard.
On fourth-and-1 from the 6, Reed went over right tackle, but Dolphins middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti jarred the ball loose and Jake Scott recovered for Miami to halt the Minnesota threat.
The Vikings were unable to muster enough offense in the second half to threaten the Dolphins.
Csonka rushed 33 times for a Super Bowl-record 145 yards.
Bob Griese of Miami completed 6 of 7 passes for 73 yards.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:58 PM
Super Bowl VII Miami vs. Washington
The Dolphins played virtually perfect football in the first half as their defense permitted the Redskins to cross midfield only once and their offense turned good field position into two touchdowns.
On its third possession, Miami opened its first scoring drive from the Dolphins' 37 yard line. An 18-yard pass from Bob Griese to Paul Warfield preceded by three plays Griese's 28-yard touchdown pass to Howard Twilley.
After Washington moved from its 17 to the Miami 48 with two minutes remaining in the first half, Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti intercepted Billy Kilmer's pass at the Miami 41 and returned it to the Washington 27.
Jim Kiick ran for three yards, Larry Csonka for three, Griese passed to Jim Mandich for 19, and Kiick gained one to the 1-yard line. With 18 seconds left until intermission, Kiick scored from the one.
Washington's only touchdown came with 2:07 left in the game and resulted from a misplayed field-goal attempt and fumble by Garo Yepremian, with the Redskins' Mike Bass picking the ball out of the air and running 49 yards for the score.
Dolphins safety Jake Scott, who had two interceptions, including one in the end zone to kill a Redskins' drive, was voted the game's most valuable player.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:56 PM
Super Bowl VI Dallas vs. Miami
The Cowboys rushed for a record 252 yards and their defense limited the Dolphins to a low of 185 yards while not permitting a touchdown for the first time in Super Bowl history.
Dallas converted Chuck Howley's recovery of Larry Csonka's first fumble of the season into a 3-0 advantage and led at halftime 10-3.
After Dallas received the second-half kickoff, Duane Thomas led a 71-yard march in eight plays for a 17-3 margin.
Howley intercepted Bob Griese's pass at the 50 and returned it to the Miami 9 early in the fourth period, and three plays later Roger Staubach passed 7 yards to Mike Ditka for the final touchdown.
Thomas rushed for 95 yards and Walt Garrison gained 74.
Staubach, voted the game's most valuable player, completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:53 PM
Super Bowl V Baltimore vs. Dallas
A 32-yard field goal by rookie kicker Jim O'Brien brought the Baltimore Colts a victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the final five seconds of Super Bowl V.
The game between the champions of the AFC and NFC was played on artificial turf for the first time.
Dallas led 13-6 at the half but interceptions by Rick Volk and Mike Curtis set up a Baltimore touchdown and O'Brien's decisive kick in the fourth period.
Earl Morrall relieved an injured Johnny Unitas late in the first half, although Unitas completed the Colts' only scoring pass. It caromed off receiver Eddie Hinton's fingertips, off Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro, and finally settled into the grasp of John Mackey, who went 45 yards to score on a 75-yard play.
Dallas' Chuck Howley, who picked off two passes, became the first defensive player and the first player from a losing team to be named MVP.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:44 PM
Super Bowl IV Kansas City vs. Minnesota
The AFL squared the Super Bowl at two games apiece with the NFL, building a 16-0 halftime lead behind Len Dawson's superb quarterbacking and a powerful defense.
Dawson, the fourth consecutive quarterback to be chosen the Super Bowl's top player, called an almost flawless game, completing 12 of 17 passes and hitting Otis Taylor on a 46-yard play for the final Chiefs touchdown.
The Kansas City defense limited Minnesota's strong rushing game to 67 yards and had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
The crowd of 80,562 set a Super Bowl record, as did the gross receipts of $3,817,872.69.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:43 PM
Super Bowl III New York vs. Baltimore
Jets quarterback Joe Namath "guaranteed" victory on the Thursday before the game, then went out and led the AFL to its first Super Bowl victory over a Baltimore team that had lost only once in 16 games all season.
Namath, chosen the outstanding player, completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards and directed a steady attack that dominated the NFL champions after the Jets' defense had intercepted Colts quarterback Earl Morrall three times in the first half.
The Jets had 337 total yards, including 121 rushing yards by Matt Snell.
Johnny Unitas, who had missed most of the season with a sore elbow, came off the bench and led Baltimore to its only touchdown late in the fourth quarter after New York led 16-0.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:39 PM
Super Bowl II Green Bay vs Okland
Vince Lombardi is carried off the field after leading the Packers to victory. (AP)Green Bay, after winning its third consecutive NFL championship, won the Super Bowl title for the second straight year, defeating the AFL champion Raiders in a game that drew the first $3-million gate in football history. Bart Starr again was chosen the game's most valuable player as he completed 13 of 24 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown and directed a Packers' attack that was in control all the way after building a 16-7 halftime lead. Don Chandler kicked four field goals and all-pro cornerback Herb Adderley capped the Green Bay scoring with a 60-yard interception return. The game marked the last for Vince Lombardi as Packers coach, ending nine years at Green Bay in which he won six Western Conference championships, five NFL championships, and two Super Bowls.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:36 PM
Superbowl I Greenbay vs Kansas City
The Green Bay Packers opened the Super Bowl series by defeating the AFL champion Chiefs behind the passing of Bart Starr, the receiving of Max McGee, and a key interception by all-pro safety Willie Wood.
Green Bay broke open the game with three second-half touchdowns, the first of which was set up by Wood's 50-yard return of an interception.
McGee, filling in for ailing Boyd Dowler after having caught only four passes all season, caught seven from Starr for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Pitts ran for two other scores.
The Chiefs' 10 points came in the second quarter, the only touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Len Dawson to Curtis McClinton. Starr completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns and was chosen the most valuable player.
The Packers collected $15,000 per man and the Chiefs $7,500-the largest single-game shares in the history of team sports.
posted by Anonymous @ 11:29 AM
NFL abuse infraction.
Darrell Russell's release Tuesday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was preceded by a positive test last month for alcohol, a banned substance in the player's treatment program, according to NFL sources.
Russell is facing another indefinite suspension by commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Sources say the positive test approximately five weeks ago was his seventh infraction of the league's substance abuse policy since he was selected second overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1997 draft.
Russell may be allowed to seek reinstatement after the eighth week of the 2004 season, but sources say the medical staff that oversees the substance abuse policy is still making determinations for a new course of treatment for him.
If Russell does seek reinstatement at midseason, it won't be warmly embraced by a skeptical Tagliabue, sources said.
The defensive tackle missed 1½ years while serving two league suspensions before he played in eight games in 2003 for the Washington Redskins.
Tampa Bay signed him in March, reuniting him with ex-Raider GM Bruce Allen and coach Jon Gruden, both now with the Buccaneers. The Bucs had placed several restrictions that could have prompted Russell's release, but he had complied with those restrictions until the positive test.
"If he has had a positive test, you'd have to check with the league, not me," Allen said.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment.
Russell could not be reached for comment.
posted by Anonymous @ 10:46 AM
Football player in trouble for drunk driving.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Wendell Bryant is due to appear in Dane County Circuit Court Thursday on drunken driving charges. University of Wisconsin-Madison police arrested Bryant, a former Wisconsin star who still lives near campus, on June 27. Police say a caller reported a reckless driver around 4:30 a.m. and the vehicle was parked near a convenience store. Police said they found the car, which then left the store and ran a flashing red light. The car was traveling about 45 mph in a 25-mph zone before they stopped it, police said. Bryant was issued citations for operating under the influence, speeding, failing to stop for a flashing red light and operating a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration of .10 percent or more. The legal limit in Wisconsin is 0.08 percent. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Bryant started 37 games for Wisconsin. He had 24 sacks in his career -- fifth all-time for the Badgers -- and 41 of his 189 tackles were for a loss. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft. In two seasons with the Cardinals, he has played in 26 games, recording 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks. UW-Madison police said they had no further information when contacted by The Associated Press Saturday. Bryant's number was unlisted.
posted by Anonymous @ 10:44 AM
Take it or leave the team!
Eddie George is mulling over the Tennessee Titans offer: take a pay cut or risk being released by the salary cap-strapped team. The veteran running back met Friday in Denver with his agent, Lamont Smith to discuss the situation. Smith said he will be discussing a handful of business ventures with George, the team's leading career rusher with 10,009 yards. George, who turns 31 in September, has a contract that would pay him $4.25 million for the 2004 season. But the Titans want him to sign a new deal closer to $1.5 million to create space to sign their top rookies. A decision is expected within a few days because the Titans open training camp July 31. General manager Floyd Reese, who did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Friday, has said he had enough room to sign all but a couple of his draft picks. The Titans asked George to rework his contract in February, and he declined, prompting team officials to pay him a scheduled $1 million bonus. The 1995 Heisman Trophy winner was their first-round pick in 1996, and he is a four-time Pro Bowler. George also became the 17th back in NFL history to top 10,000 yards last season, and his 10,009 yards ranks seventh among all backs through their first eight seasons. George had only two 100-yard games in 2003, and his 3.3-yard average per carry was the second-lowest of his career. But he has started 112 straight games from the start of his career, behind only Walter Payton (170) and Ricky Watters (114).
posted by Anonymous @ 10:36 AM
NFL career ruined by gambling addiction
Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Art Schlichter, whose NFL career was ruined by his addiction to gambling, was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison.
The latest conviction resulted from a scam to sell tickets to high-profile sporting events. Marion County (Ind.) Superior Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt accepted the terms of a plea agreement in the case and ordered Schlichter's sentence to run concurrent to a 60-month stretch in federal prison for money laundering.
The judge ordered Schlichter to pay restitution of $500,000 to 22 victims. Prosecutors acknowledged, however, that his victims are unlikely to ever receive restitution, given the state of Schichter's finances and pending prison time.
"It's very unlikely that Art Schichter will ever pay back all of the people that he's ripped off in his life," conceded deputy prosecutor Larry Brodeur.
A former first-round draft choice, and onetime Ohio State star, Schlichter pleaded guilty last month to corrupt business influence and to being a habitual offender. Schlichter has now been convicted at least 10 times since 1995 of crimes including or related to forgery, fraud and theft.
Schlichter, 44, was the Colts' first-round choice in the 1982 draft, when the franchise was still located in Baltimore. Following a rookie year in which he appeared in three games, he was suspended by the league in 1983 for gambling on NFL games. Schlichter that year actually turned to NFL security officials, essentially turning himself in, as he sought to gain protection from bookies to whom he owed large debts.
He remains one of few players ever suspended by the league for gambling.
In 1984, Schlichter returned to the Colts, but was then released in 1985. In all, Schlichter appeared in just 13 regular-season games, completing 91 of 202 passes for 1,006 yards, with three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. At one point, he attempted to revive his career by playing in the Arena Football League.
posted by Anonymous @ 10:29 AM
Darrel Russell and his violations with his NFL teams.
No one in Washington, where Darrell Russell appeared in eight games in 2003, was very surprised when Tampa Bay released the trouble defensive tackle Tuesday afternoon. After all, the Redskins were the first misguided franchise to provide Russell a chance to salvage his career, coming off an 18-month suspension for repeat violations of the NFL substance abuse policy, and he repaid them with a string of listless performances. He was suspended by the team for the final game of the season for violating a club rule. Redskins officials were not stunned, either, when ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Russell was cut by the Bucs because he had tested positive for alcohol, thus violating the parameters of his aftercare program. Late last year, Redskins officials and players were alarmed over the quantity of alcohol Russell was tossing down during the team's annual Christmas party at owner Dan Snyder's digs. Fact is, some team officials wondered aloud at the Christmas party if Russell was, indeed, violating his NFL probation. Recalled one player: "Even if it wasn't (a violation), you'd have thought that a guy with his history, trying to make it back into the league, would have been a little more (discreet), right? I mean, if you're Darrell Russell, you've got to know they're watching every move. But he didn't seem to care." It remains to be seen if any other team takes a chance on Russell now although, the point may be moot, if the NFL suspends him again. Defensive linemen who weigh 300 pounds and are as athletic as Russell are always tempting. But given his penchant for recidivism, getting another opportunity will be difficult. Certainly he'll never have a support group like the one in Tampa, with general manager Bruce Allen, coach Jon Gruden, and d-line coach Rod Marinelli. It should have been a blessed trinity for Russell, since Allen drafted him in Oakland, Gruden coached him there, and Marinelli was his college position coach at Southern California. If that threesome couldn't convince Russell to walk the straight and narrow, chances are no one else can, either.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:39 AM
In memory of Pat Tillman
The NFL said it plans to honor the memory of former Arizona Cardinals defensive back Pat Tillman during the regular season -- perhaps by having all teams display a helmet decal with his uniform No. 40. Tilllman, who starred at Arizona State and then the Cardinals before rejecting a multimillion dollar contract to join the Army, was killed last month in Afghanistan during a firefight with the enemy. He was 27. "We previewed some of the initial thinking we have about paying tribute," Tagliabue said. "The key thing here is to have a proper balance between respecting what Pat did and what all the other men and women of the military do." Owners also heard some preliminary discussions about the league's preparations for new television agreements and received an update on Jacksonville's preparations for the 2005 Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 6, 2005. Tagliabue said he would detail the Super Bowl preparations May 26. The owners wrap up their spring meeting May 27. Former NFL quarterback Jack Kemp briefed owners on the USA Football program aimed at increasing interest in the sport. This year the league will help with a kickoff promotion, "Play Football Week," that will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4. Supported by the league and players association, it will promote youth registration and participation in programs sponsored by police leagues, YMCA's and Pop Warner, among others.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:37 AM
Trotter is back with the Eagles.
He agreed to a one-year contract his deal is contingent upon his passing a physical on July 15. Trotter, 27, spent the past two seasons with the Washington Redskins after playing four years for the Eagles and making the Pro Bowl twice. He left Philadelphia following a bitter contract dispute in 2002, but never lived up to the seven-year contract he received from the Redskins. Trotter's role is uncertain. Mark Simoneau is listed as Philadelphia's starting middle linebacker, with Dhani Jones and Nate Wayne at the other two starting spots. Trotter led Washington with 129 tackles in 16 games last season. He had 104 tackles in 12 games in 2002, before going down with a knee injury. Trotter has 774 tackles, 10½ sacks and four forced fumbles in his six-year career.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:25 AM
Colclough joins the Steelers with a $1.89 million signing bonus.
Cornerback Richard Colclough agreed to a four-year, $3.27 million US contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The deal includes a $1.89 million signing bonus. Colclough, the 38th overall pick in the April draft, is the first NFL second-round pick to sign. He will make the usual rookie-level salaries of $230,000, $305,000, $355,000 and $460,000 under the contract. Colclough is expected to back up starting cornerbacks Deshea Townsend and Chad Scott this season.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:59 AM
NFL just around the conor!
New England looks even stronger than a year ago, having worked a deal to get running back Corey Dillon out of Cincinnati. The Patriots, who also made some moves on defense, have the most focused coach in the game in Bill Belichick, but they also have the title of "Super Bowl champion."
_Seven teams have new coaches, but the freshest story of them all also is the oldest. When Joe Gibbs walked away from a wildly successful 12-year run in Washington in 1993, he did so at the top of his game, after three consecutive playoff appearances and just a year removed from a Super Bowl crown. A dozen years later, Gibbs, 63, agreed to come out of retirement and assume the mess Steve Spurrier (12-22 in two seasons) left behind.
_With Gibbs on board, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder made a trade that rated as one of the biggest in NFL history, when the Redskins and Denver pulled off a rare superstar-for-superstar deal. Washington shipped five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey to the Broncos for running back Clinton Portis, who has rushed for 3,009 yards and 29 touchdowns the past two years.
_Speaking of trades, wide receiver Terrell Owens, with the help of the NFL Players Association, managed to beat the system by freeing himself of a deal orchestrated by San Francisco with Baltimore. Instead, Owens got the swap voided and signed with Philadelphia, which finally landed a big-play component for Donovan McNabb and its passing game. The arrival of Owens, plus the blockbuster signing of former Tennessee defensive end Jevon Kearse, considered the No. 1 free agent on the market, left the Eagles as the team to beat in the NFC. Then again, they've also lost three consecutive conference-title games, including two at home.
_In Atlanta, fans will hold their breath with each step quarterback Michael Vick takes from the pocket. In `02, Vick almost single-handedly guided the Falcons from futility to a victory from the NFC title game.
Vick broke his right leg on a preseason scramble last year, which caused him to miss 11 games, ending Atlanta's dreams for another wild season. How Rich McKay, the team's new general manager, and first-year Coach Jim Mora Jr. use Vick in the exhibition season bears watching.
_The amount of player turnover was noteworthy. Aside from Bailey and Portis, other familiar faces in new places include quarterbacks Kurt Warner (New York Giants), Jeff Garcia (Cleveland) and Mark Brunell (Washington); wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson (Dallas), Joey Galloway (Tampa Bay) and David Boston (Miami); running backs Charlie Garner (Tampa Bay), Garrison Hearst (Denver) and Duce Staley (Pittsburgh); defensive linemen Warren Sapp and Ted Washington (both in Oakland), along with end Grant Wistrom (Seattle); cornerbacks Troy Vincent (Buffalo), Antoine Winfield (Minnesota) and Bobby Taylor (Seattle); and safety John Lynch (Denver).
NFL parity dictates that some team will vault from mediocrity (or worse) into title contention.
Last year, Carolina and Dallas were the league's big surprises, with the Panthers falling to the Patriots on a field goal with four seconds left in perhaps the greatest Super Bowl of them all. Who doesn't want another finish like that?
The NFL is just days away . . . and it can't get here soon enough.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:42 AM
CBS will resist all fines for last years Superbowl half time show
CBS will fight any fines leveled against its television stations over Janet Jackson's startling Super Bowl performance, a top executive with parent company Viacom Inc. said. CBS could face a Federal Communications Commission fine of $550,000 or a maximum penalty of $27,500 for each of 20 CBS-owned stations, The Associated Press reported last month. An FCC staff recommendation did not call for fining CBS affiliates that aired the Super Bowl halftime show but are not owned by Viacom.
The MTV-produced Feb. 1 Super Bowl show watched by some 90 million featured Jackson and singer Justin Timberlake in a duet that ended with Timberlake ripping off part of Jackson's top and exposing a breast. The FCC, hit by more than 500,000 complaints, stepped up its anti-decency enforcement after the incident. The U.S. Senate and House have gone on record seeking higher penalties for indecency.
Viacom has more at stake in the debate. Its Infinity Broadcasting unit owns the majority of stations that airs Howard Stern, the radio shock jock who generated record fines for both Infinity and another broadcaster, Clear Channel Communications.
posted by Anonymous @ 6:36 AM
