NFL fun facts when you are bored (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

● The Philadelphia Eagles joined the league in 1933....not really a fun fact but......

● Philadelphia hosted the 1st ever Official college selection meeting.....The NFL Draft......in 1933.

● Philadelphia also had the 1st overall pick in 1933.

● Philadelphia's 1st pick in 1933 was RB Jay Berwanger out of Chicago.....he refused to sign with them, his rights were traded, and he never played a down in the NFL.

GO BIRDS !!!

The first NFL draft was in 1936, otherwise those hold true.

Maybe '36 was the first time it was called a "draft" but, the first time there was an actual OFFICIAL NFL meeting to select college players was '33. Prior to that, teams that could not afford a bidding war with wealthier teams had zero chance of signing the better college players. The whole reason for a selection meeting was to give the those teams a fair chance to improve their rosters without the threat of a wealthier team swooping in and offering more money.

I am 100% sure the first official NFL collegiate selection meeting was 1933.

Just ask @JohnnyU - he probably watched it live.

(I kid, I kid!)

I know I seem older, but I’m only 66 for crying out loud.

Ok. So you listened to it on the radio instead.

Actually, our league draft was held as the opening act for Our American Cousin" at Ford’s theater in Washington DC. I’ll never forget that night.

 

[TheWinz]

Actually, our league draft was held as the opening act for Our American Cousin" at Ford’s theater in Washington DC. I’ll never forget that night.

Is that how you got your limp?

 

[TheWinz]

The first male NFL cheerleader was Robin Williams on 11 November 1979, when the Broncos hosted the Pats. He did it as a PR stunt to promote Mork and Mindy.

 

[menobrown]

The first male NFL cheerleader was Robin Williams on 11 November 1979, when the Broncos hosted the Pats. He did it as a PR stunt to promote Mork and Mindy.

I saw it so now you have to: https://x.com/HistoryColorado/status/1460430927746813958

The inspiration for Mrs. Doubtfire?

 

[JohnnyU]

I wonder what the soonest a 1st round pick has been cut from a team for performance reasons? The one for the Colts that stands out to me is Ken Novak DT.

Strong enough to bench-press 475 pounds, the 6-foot-7 Novak was regarded as a top tier professional football prospect and was selected by the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft. He was the 20th overall pick from the 1976 draft.

Novak was unable to crack the Colts' starting roster, however, and was limited to a reserve role as a defensive tackle.

Unable to live up to the lofty expectations of his draft position, the Colts released Novak on August 29, 1978.

Their 1977 first round pick WR Randy Burke from Kentucky and 1978 1st round pick TE Reese McCall were also busts. Three years in a row whiffing in the first round will doom a team.

 

[menobrown]

I wonder what the soonest a 1st round pick has been cut from a team for performance reasons?

Google told me it was Dimitrius Underwood who was chosen at pick 29 in 1999 by the Vikings and pretty much quit due to his faith in training camp.

That's not really performance related, would guess there are a few cut after a year but would also think most teams who are ready to give up on a guy after a year they picked in round one can trade him for cheap.

Off top of my head, and I'm sure it's not the right answer, I recall the Titans cutting Isiah Wilson after one season, who was also pick 29.

 

[TheWinz]

I wonder what the soonest a 1st round pick has been cut from a team for performance reasons? The one for the Colts that stands out to me is Ken Novak DT.

Strong enough to bench-press 475 pounds, the 6-foot-7 Novak was regarded as a top tier professional football prospect and was selected by the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft. He was the 20th overall pick from the 1976 draft.

Novak was unable to crack the Colts' starting roster, however, and was limited to a reserve role as a defensive tackle.

Unable to live up to the lofty expectations of his draft position, the Colts released Novak on August 29, 1978.

In 2020, the Titans drafted 350-lb OL Isaiah Wilson in the first round. He played 3 offensive snaps his entire career. He then tried to make it as a rapper named GGBowzer. OK, this guy's release wasn't performance reasons, but still a sad tale.

 

[JohnnyU]

Actually, our league draft was held as the opening act for Our American Cousin" at Ford’s theater in Washington DC. I’ll never forget that night.

Is that how you got your limp?

Don’t ever say “limp” to a 66 year old man!!!!

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

He then tried to make it as a rapper named GGBowzer. OK, this guy's release wasn't performance reasons, but still a sad tale.

unfortunately it appears he’s deleted his Spotify. Tragic that we’ll never get to appreciate his genius.

 

[Anarchy99]

Steve Young never took a shotgun snap in his 15 year career

I actually saw Young play against my HS back in the day. He was a senior when I was a freshman. I don't remember him passing a ton, but he scrambled and ran QB keepers all game long. Our guys just couldn't tackle him. Very elusive to try to get to the ground.

 

[RandyDB]

● The Philadelphia Eagles joined the league in 1933....not really a fun fact but......

● Philadelphia hosted the 1st ever Official college selection meeting.....The NFL Draft......in 1933.

● Philadelphia also had the 1st overall pick in 1933.

● Philadelphia's 1st pick in 1933 was RB Jay Berwanger out of Chicago.....he refused to sign with them, his rights were traded, and he never played a down in the NFL.

GO BIRDS !!!

The first NFL draft was in 1936, otherwise those hold true.

Maybe '36 was the first time it was called a "draft" but, the first time there was an actual OFFICIAL NFL meeting to select college players was '33. Prior to that, teams that could not afford a bidding war with wealthier teams had zero chance of signing the better college players. The whole reason for a selection meeting was to give the those teams a fair chance to improve their rosters without the threat of a wealthier team swooping in and offering more money.

I am 100% sure the first official NFL collegiate selection meeting was 1933.

From Wiki.
John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger (March 19, 1914 – June 26, 2002) was an American college football player and referee.[1] In 1935, Berwanger was the first recipient of the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, renamed the Heisman Trophy the following year. At its inception, the award was given to "the most valuable player east of the Mississippi."[2] In 1936, Berwanger became the first player drafted into the National Football League in its inaugural 1936 NFL draft, although he did not play professionally due to a salary dispute.

 

[Anarchy99]

Trent Dilfer once won 20 starts in a row . . . 5 to end the season with TB in 99, 11 with BAL in 00, and all 4 games he started in SEA in 01.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Saquon Barkley's 338 receiving yards for the 2022 Giants (on 76 targets) were the fewest by any team's most-targeted receiver in the history of target-tracking.

Here's the complete list, back to when targets were first counted as an individual stat in 1992 (per PFR, h/t @TheWinz). Let's all welcome our newest entrant, courtesy of last year's Packers!

Player	Team - Pos	Year	Targets	Rec Yards
1. Saquon Barkley	NYG RB	2022	76	338
2. Kimble Anders	KC FB [1]	1995	82	349
3. Freddie Jones	ARZ TE	2002	81	358
4. Tim McGee	CIN WR	1992	90 [2]	408
5 (tie). Mike "No, The Other One" Thomas	JAX WR	2011	91	415
5 (tie). Dontayvion Wicks	GB WR	2024	76	415

[1] - Yes, the 1995 Chiefs' leading target-getter in the passing game was their fullback. Just in case you doubted how much NFL offenses have changed in the past 30 years.
[2] - I don't remember a thing about Tim McGee, but he now holds a special place in my heart, because PFR tells me he caught 35 of these 90 targets. That's ... impressive, for certain definitions of the word.

 

[TheWinz]

Saquon Barkley's 338 receiving yards for the 2022 Giants (on 76 targets) was the fewest by any team's most-targeted receiver this century (and honestly, probably much longer than that, but I don't have the energy to go back any further in the data) ... breaking the dubious mark held by Freddie Jones, with 358 (on 81 targets) for the '02 Cardinals.

On a related note, I suspect you'll be as shocked by who's in third place on this particular list as I was:

Spoiler

Dontayvion Wicks for last season's Packers, with 415 yards on a team-high 76 targets.

Target stats only start in 1992, at least on PFR.

 

[TheWinz]

Kadarius Toney is the most recent first round WR without a job (2021).
I guess that happens when your 2024 stat line reads - 2 touches, negative 4 yards, 1 fumble

 

[TheWinz]

QB Todd Santos was a 4-year starter at San Diego State, and got drafted by the Saints in 1988. Take a look at his stats, then scroll down and check out his rushing.

Todd Santos College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Check out Todd Santos's College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits and More College Stats at Sports-Reference.com

www.sports-reference.com

 

[Snoopy]

Sacks are considered negative rushing yards in college football.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

In 1982 the NFL MVP played for the Washington Redskins. It was Mark Mosely, their kicker.

 

[JohnnyU]

In 1982 the NFL MVP played for the Washington Redskins. It was Mark Mosely, their kicker.

Slow news year?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

In 1983 the Detroit Lions had the 13th pick in the first round. They selected a fullback.

 

[Snoopy]

In 1982 the NFL MVP played for the Washington Redskins. It was Mark Mosely, their kicker.

Slow news year?

strike year.

 

[TheWinz]

In 1982 the NFL MVP played for the Washington Redskins. It was Mark Mosely, their kicker.

Slow news year?

strike year.

Yes, short season.
WR Wes Chandler got totally ripped off. He finished the season with 1032 receiving yards... in 8 games!
So did Dan Fouts. He was on his way to the first ever 5K season, and was averaging a tad over 320 yards per game.
Moseley, on the other hand, went 20 for 21 and never even attempted a kick over 48 yards, and missed 3 of 19 EP's.
I met Moseley at a Bingo night and asked for his autograph. He signed it 1982 MVP, and I wanted to rip it up in front of him.

Yes, I am a disgruntled Chargers nut who wants that MVP trophy back.

 

[JohnnyU]

In 1982 the NFL MVP played for the Washington Redskins. It was Mark Mosely, their kicker.

Slow news year?

strike year.

I believe that was the yearI had tickets to see the Colts play @Detroit but was cancelled. Good thing,, because the Colts were terrible (0-8-1).