NFL » Most Valuable Player

Cincinnati Bengals

Neal — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:50:11 +0000

The Cincinnati Bengals became apart of the American Football League in 1968 only to merge with the NFL in 1970. The Bengals weren’t the first professional football team, during the 1930′s and 1940′s the team with the same name played in Cincinnati. The Bengals won their first home game in the second game of the season defeating the Denver Broncos 24-10 on September 15, 1968, finishing with a 3-11 season. Coach Paul Brown, who had a major influence in bringing a team back to Cincinnati, won AFL Coach of the Year in 1969. Brown coached the Cleveland Browns for seventeen seasons. Brown was eager to get back into coaching and with the aid of then governor Jim Rhodes brought football back to Cincinnati.The Bengals first winning season came in just two seasons later in 1970 with a 8-6 record winning the AFC Central. This was the first time that an expansion team would win a division title in its first three season. As the decade wore on the Bengals came back down to Earth and posting back-to-back 4-12 seasons in 1978 and 1979. In 1981 the Bengals rebounded and made their way to Super Bowl XVI bu lost to the San Francisco 49ers 26-21, this was the beginning of the 49ers dynasty. Following a disappointing 4-12 season in 1987, the 1988 Bengals went 12-4 finishing first in the AFC Central and were Super Bowl contenders once again playing in Super Bowl XXIII. As was the case in their previous Super Bowl appearance the Bengals lost to the 49ers 20-16 on a last minute pass by all-time great quarterback Joe Montana.

The Bengals were lead in the 1980′s and early 1990′s by left-handed quarterback Boomer Esiason. Boomer was one of the most prolific left-handed passers of all-time being elected four times to the Pro Bowl, named the leagues Most Valuable Player in 1988, and has over 37,000 career passing yards. Another Bengal great was offensive tackle Anthony Munoz. Munuz was elected to eleven straight ro Bowl from 1982 to 1992 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

The 1990′s were a low point in Bengals history. They only appeared in two playoff games, winning one, in the entire decade posting four different 3-13 seasons. From 1991-2004 the Bengals made the playoffs zero times, never having a winning season and even had a league worst 2-14 record in 2002.

The 2000′s have produced not much more success then the 1990′s did. The Bengals since 2000 have only made the playoffs one time in 2005 winning the AFC North with a 11-5 record. The Bengals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who eventually would go on to win Super Bowl XL, in the first round 31-17. There are positives within the Bengals organization, with quarterback Carson Palmer the Bengals have someone to build a team around.

Buffalo Bills

Neal — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:25:54 +0000

The Buffalo Bills became a member of the American Football League in 1959. Not until 1963 did the Bills have the on field success they were looking for ending in a tie for the AFL Eastern Division title. The next two seasons saw the Bills win the AFL Championship defeating the San Diego Chargers in 1964 20-7 and 1965 23-0. The Bills played in a their third consecutive AFL Championship game but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 31-7. After there very successful beginnings the Bills found themselves at the bottom of the league winning only thirteen games in the next five seasons.After a dismal few years the Bills became competitive once again with running back Orenthal James or better knows as O.J. Simpson.

Simpson was the number one overall pink in the 1969 draft by the Bills and made an immediate impact in the Pro’s. Simpson set the then record for rushing yards in a single season with 2,003 becoming the first player do to so and also winning the Most Valuable Player award. Simpson was selected to the 1970′s All Decade team and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

As the 1980′s wore on the Bills began to see the makings of a successful team again as in the 1960′s. Quarterback Jim Kelly was selected in the 1983 draft but didn’t start for the Bills until 1986 because he choose to play in the United States Football League. In addition to Kelly in 1988 running back Thurman Thomas was selected. The Bills were on the verge of making NFL history, but not in the ideal way. The Bills would play in four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991-1994 which has never been done before, sadly, losing all. The Bills first Super Bowl appearance was the closest game of all with the Bills losing 20-19, making it the closest Super Bowl ever. The flowwong year the Bills made the second appearance against the Washington Redskins losing 37-24. Thurman Thomas lead the league in rushing that year winning the Most Valuable Player. The Bills lost to the Dallas Cowboys the next two years in games that were not very competitive, 52-17 and 30-13. The Bills were victims of a much better Dallas Cowboy team lead by quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin. Appearing in four straight Super Bowl will probably never happen again, or if it does it will be a very long time. What the Buffalo Bills accomplished overall was still very impressive. While the ultimate prize is to win the Super Bowl, appearing four straight times is something to be proud of.

In 1993 the Bills were apart of more history as well beating the Houston Oilers in overtime in the AFC Wild Card game coming from thirty-two points down to win 41-38. What is more remarkable about that victory is that it was won with the Bills backup QB Frank Reich when starting QB Jim Kelly suffered ligament damage to his knee.

Over the last decade the Bills have had little to be happy about making the playoffs one once in 1999 losing to the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card game. The Buffalo Bills play in the AFC East with the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots have dominated the division the last ten years. The Buffalo Bills are long over do for more success like they had in the 1990′s.

Baltimore Ravens

Neal — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:20:35 +0000

Eleven years after the Colts moved to Indianapolis, Baltimore once again was granted with an NFL team.The name “Ravens” was inspired by famous poet and Baltimore native Edgar Allen Poe after his “The Raven” poem. The Ravens first game took place on September 1, 1996 as they defeated the Oakland Raiders 19-14. In the Ravens inaugural season produced a 4-12 record last in the then AFC Central.The Baltimore Raven would continue to improve faster then most people had anticipated. In only four season the Ravens improved every year making their way to Super Bowl XXXV as a wild card team needing to win every playoff game on the road. Brian Bellick took over the ravens head coaching position in 1999 and would take the raven to the next level in a very short time. The Ravens built there 2000 team on solid defense, allowing the fewest amount of points in the history of the NFL and became one of the all-time great defensive teams dominating the New York Giants 35-7. Leading the way on the Ravens rock solid defense was Ray Lewis who earned Super Bowl XXXV Most Valuable Player. Lewis, who is currently on the Ravens, will surely represent the Baltimore Ravens when he is inducted in the Football Hall of Fame when he retires. Other notable defenders who contributed to the 2000 Ravens defense was Tony Siragusa, James Trapp, Rod Woodson, and Sam Adams.

Not only was a great defense apart of their winning but a solid running game which included Jamal Lewis. Lewis’s impact was felt in his rookie season when he rushed for over a 1,000 yards. In 2003, Lewis nearly set the all-time rushing record for a season with 2,066 yards, which is held by Eric Dickerson with 2,105 yards in 1984.

During the Ravens very brief history they have three AFC Central/North Division titles in 2000, 2003, 2006 and one Super Bowl victory. Since their Super Bowl win the Ravens have only made the playoffs three times with disappointing playoff loses which include a Ravens team who went 13-3 in 2006.

The Ravens play in the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals which is a winnable division. The Ravens have a history of a productive defense but a lack luster offense which has been their problem since there inception.

Green Bay Packers

Neal — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:37:54 +0000

The Green Bay Packers are one of the oldest and historic franchises, not just in football but in all of sports. Beginning in 1919, the city of Green Bay was awarded with a football franchise and named after the Indian Packing Company under the supervision of Earl “Curly” Lambeau hence the name Lambeau Field. In 1921, the city of Green Bay was granted and became apart of the NFL. With the long history the Packers have experienced the highs and lows unquestionably would come do to a long history, no team can sustain greatest over their entire history. No team has won more championships then the Packers totaling eleven which include two three-peat title reigns in 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1965, 1966, 1967.When the packers became a team for ages is during the Vince Lombardi years. During the 1960′s the Packers won five NFL Championships, six division titles, and were always in contention at the top of the league . Lombardi’s style was a “in your face” who promoted great defensive play. Lombardi had strict rules and regulations and demanded his players give their best effort at all times. His career record was a fantastic 105-35-6 and he never had a losing season in nine. The Super Bowl trophy was named after the legendary coach in 1971 and the same year he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which shows how important and the impact he had in the game of football.

Vince Lombardi was the architect behind the Packers success, no matter how great Lombardi was he still needed the players to execute the game plan. Bart Starr was the Packers quarterback during the Lombardi years. Bart Starr was successful in his own right winning the Most Valuable Player award in the first to Super Bowls, four Pro Bowls, and was elected to the Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

The Packers would return to their winning way in the early 1990s with quarterback Bret Favre leading the way. Favre was the quearterback of the Green Bay Packers from 1992-2007 and never missed a start setting which continues until this day. The Packers made their way to back to back Super Bowls XXXI & XXXII and winning XXI over the New England Patriots 35-21. Bret Favre set numerous records while he was a Packer which include most career touchdown passes, passing yards, and pass attempts. He continues to add to these totals now playing with the New York Jets.

The Green Packers are a big team in a small city. The Packers are the only community owned team in the NFL. The fans passion for their team is second to none in all of team sports. Also know as the “cheese heads” the fans have supported the Packers through the bad and good times because they know winning is never that far off in the future. While small markets may struggle to support a NFL franchise and relocating to a larger market would be a possibility, the Packers will certainly remain in Green Bay for many more years.