Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I think it had at least something to do with Ditka's and Ryan's egos and personality. I wonder if they didn't have a lot more invested emotionally in beating the top teams than they did in small potatoes like Tampa Bay.

Although the NFL and some people in this forum pretend otherwise, the 1946-1995 Browns and Ravens are the same franchise. The 1999 to current Browns is a different franchise. That is reality. Wasn't giving the "new" Browns the old Browns' name/uniform/history a condition of Cleveland pony...

"What's your name, kid?"

"It's Otto."

"Otto?! Otto Parts? Here, kid. Have a beer."

Of those six, I'd give the 1990 49ers the best shot. The NFC title game was an out-and-out brawl, not really the kind of game S.F. was used to, but it still took a somewhat fluky play for them to lose; Craig had only fumbled twice all season. A shootout with Buffalo would have been much more the fla...

When I think of the 1971 season, three names immediately come to mind: John Brockington, Elmo Wright, and Chuck Hughes.

After going 13-33-1 the previous three years and before going 10-22 the next two years, the Packers somehow went 10-6 in 1989. They were fortunate on a few fronts: - They had a last-place schedule, which meant the woeful Cowboys twice and not having to deal with the rough AFC Central; - They got a b...

Seeing Toby Harrah's name reminds me of one of those factoids you absorb as a kid and never forget: He once played an entire doubleheader at shortstop without ever touching the ball -- no chances, no assists, no putouts.

Once the AFC got its bearings, its dominance over the NFC during the '70s was so pronounced that it prompted a Sports Illustrated cover story.

Because of how late in life he began playing in the NFL, it's easy to forget that Staubach was 37 during the 1979 season. That was a much bigger deal then than it is now. The spirit was willing, but etc.

Going back to the days when scouting was in its infancy, it's not hard to find numerous drafts that were complete disasters for the teams that conducted them. We've all heard stories about how teams would pick a guy because they liked how his photo looked in the Street & Smith college football f...