Scoreboards

In the first two Super Bowls, the National Football League (NFL) routed the American Football League (AFL), with the Green Bay Packers winning both games. As the third Super Bowl loomed in January 1969, there was talk that the AFL teams were significantly weaker than their NFL counterparts. The NFL representative in Super Bowl III, the Baltimore Colts, went into the game a 20-point favorite over the AFL’s New York Jets.

• Understanding the proper mechanics is essential to throwing a football correctly
• Elements of the throw include proper grip, throwing position, and motion
• Twisting the torso while throwing can add to the velocity of a throw

• The flag football positions used by a team depend on the number of players and on the team’s flag football strategy
• The offensive team must have a center and a quarterback
• Flag football tips for defensive positions begin with the offensive formation used by the opponent
• Flag football drills can help players learn their positions

• The North American Football League (NAFL) is an amateur football league that was founded in 1999 by Robert Licopoli
• The league is intended to create some unity among the previously fragmented world of amateur football in the United States
• About 100 teams are members of the NAFL, which operates through a franchise model

• Good sources for flag football tactics on the Internet include Dr. G’s flag football blog at flagfootballplays.blogspot.com, (2) footballbabble.com, and (3) usaflagfootball.com
• Dr. G points out that documenting plays can help get all of the players on the same page
• Fumbles are a low risk proposition, while interceptions are high risk

• The top offensive players are Dan Marino, John Hannah, Anthony Munoz, and Barry Sanders
• The top defensive players are Bruce Smith and Ken Houston
• Players whose careers began before the first Super Bowl are not included

This year’s crop of college quarterbacks was generally considered to be below average. So the two that were ranked far above the others, Matthew Stafford of Georgia and Mark Sanchez of USC, generated considerable interest. As the first choice in the draft, Stafford was able to negotiate a six-year contract worth $72 million, with a record $41.7 million guaranteed. After an ignominious 0-16 season in 2008, the Detroit Lions were eager for a superstar among NFL rookies who could make an immediate contribution. They believe Stafford to be that player.

• Football uniforms have evolved in recent years to have more striking colors and graphics
• The title of “Most Outrageous NFL Uniform” surely belongs to the Cincinnati Bengals
• In college football, the Oregon Ducks may have the most outrageous uniform

• For adequate protection, football players should wear football equipment that fits properly and is in good condition
• The helmet is the most important piece of equipment in terms of avoiding serious injury
• Other types of football equipment include shoulder pads, knee pads, shoes, and gloves