Monday Nuggets: Week 2

History Published on : 9/15/2014
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Mission is to: Honor the Heroes of the Game Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE. We found many samples from Kickoff Weekend that align with our Mission, Vision, and Values!

Hall of Fame style

Two Gold Jackets (the term we use for our living Hall of Famers) were part of emotional ceremonies held in NFL Stadiums on Sunday.

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly addressed a soldout Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. during a pregame tribute to the team’s founder and longtime owner Ralph Wilson, Jr. The Buffalo Bills were playing their first home game in franchise history without Wilson as their owner. The Class of 2009 inductee passed away in March at the age of 95. Wilson’s name was added in gold to the Bills Wall of Fame as Gold Jacket Thurman Thomas presented the Wall of Fame ring to Wilson’s wife Mary Wilson.



Later in the day, after nearly an hour weather delay, the fans on hand at Raymond James Stadium cheered former Tampa Bay Buccaneers great linebacker Derrick Brooks who received his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence. Brooks also was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor and had his #55 retired during the halftime ceremony.


Aside from both events having dramatic moments, they also included the two Gold Jackets styling the same Hall of Fame hat.



Do you want to look like a Gold Jacket?
Go ahead and purchase a similar style hat in our Hall of Fame Store now>>>

10 Years After

The Cleveland Browns treated their fans to the first home opening win in 10 years. The 26-24 victory was also proved to be Mike Pettine’s first victory as an NFL head coach. The last time Pettine enjoyed a victory as a head football coach was at North Penn High School in Towamencin, Pa., from 1997-2001

Trivia. Who did the Browns beat in 2004, the last time before Sunday, that they chalked up one for the win column in their home opener? Find the answer at the end of the column.

Morris is Fast

Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris elevated himself into the team’s record book yesterday. His 85 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Redskins’ 41-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars helped him surpass the 3,000-yard rushing plateau (3,064 rushing yards in 34 career games). He is now the fastest player in franchise history to reach 3,000 rushing yards to begin his career. Morris bested Larry Brown who reached 3,000 rushing yards in his 41st NFL game with the Redskins.


Did you know that Larry Brown was the first Washington running back to rush for 1,000 yards in season? As a second-year veteran, Brown logged 1,125 yards in 1970, the Redskins 39th season in franchise history. No team has waited longer for their first 1,000-yard rusher.

Racking up the yards

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees surpassed Gold Jacket John Elway on Sunday Sept. 14, 2014 for the fourth most career passing yards in NFL history. Brees completed a 6-yard pass to Jimmy Graham with 1:56 left in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium. He finished the day completing 27 of his 40 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns to up his career passing yards total to 51,651. Only Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Gold Jacket Dan Marino have more yards.
 
1. Brett Favre 71,838
2. Peyton Manning 64,964
3. Dan Marino* 61,361
4. Drew Brees 51,651
5. John Elway* 51,475
6. Tom Brady 49,547
7. Warren Moon* 49,325
8. Fran Tarkenton* 47,003
9. Vinny Testaverde 46,233
10. Drew Bledsoe 44,611

Stats spilling over

Running back C.J. Spiller made a little history on Sunday as he helped the Bills improve to 2-0. 

He ran back a kickoff return 102 yards for a touchdown and had an explosive 47-yard run in the Bills’ 29-10 win over the Miami Dolphins. It marked the first time since 1973 that a player had a 100+ yard kickoff return and a run longer than 45 yards in the same game.


The last time a player accomplished this feat was on Sept. 23, 1973 when Houston Oilers RB Bob Gresham ran back a 103-yard return on the opening kick and recorded a 52-yard carry in his team’s 24-10 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals.


Congratulations Bill!

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick became the sixth head coach in NFL history to reach 200 regular-season wins. Belichick, who coached the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95 and has led the Patriots since 2000, now has a 200-106 (.654) record in 19 regular season campaigns.



Trivia.
Can you name the other five head coaches who have notched 200 or more regular season wins?


Nelson’s numbers

The Green Bay Packers Jordy Nelson had a big day in his team’s win over the New York Jets. His 209 yards, via nine catches, is the most by a Packers receiver since Don Beebe in 1996. But Beebe had the help of sudden death to rack up his total.

Nelson’s receiving total is the most by a Packer in a non-overtime game in nearly 60 years  years. Billy Howton totaled 257 yards in the Packers 42-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 21, 1956. Howton also racked up two TDs that day. The 257 yards via the air were the third best in NFL history at the time and today still stands as the franchise mark.

Receiving records by team>>>

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Browns Trivia Answer. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Ravens 20-3 in the season opener at home on Sept. 12, 2004. The Browns were coached at that time by Butch Davis. Jeff Garcia led the Browns in passing that day (180 yards and 1 TD) while William Green led the team’s ground assault with 65 yards.

Head Coaches with 200 Wins
1. Don Shula -- 328-156-6 (.677)
2. George Halas -- 318-148-31 (.682)
3. Tom Landry -- 250-162-6 (.607)
4. Earl “Curley” Lambeau -- 226-132-22 (.631)
5. Marty Schottenheimer -- 200-126-1 (.613)