1997 NFL KICKOFF RELEASE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NFL KICKOFF '97

• OPENING-GAME RECORDS OF NFL TEAMS
• OPENING-GAME RECORDS OF NFL COACHES
• NFL KICKOFF ’97 SCHEDULE
• HIGHEST SCORING OPENING GAME
• BEST OPENING GAME PERFORMANCES, 1933-96
• BEST OPENING GAME PERFORMANCES OF THE ’90s
• BEST SEPTEMBER RECORDS OF ’90s
• BEST NFL RECORDS OF THE ’90s
• 1997 NFL STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
• YOUR AVERAGE NFL SUNDAY
• SUPER BOWL REPEATERS
• STARTING RECORDS OF NFL QUARTERBACKS
• KICKOFF WEEKEND NOTES
• TOTAL 1997 NFL AIR MILES
• VAN BROCKLIN RECORD REMAINS UNTOUCHED — 46 YEARS LATER
• 10,000TH NFL GAME
• 10 TOP OPENING GAMES
• HEADLINE GAMES OF 1997
• JERRY RICE MONDAY NIGHTS
• MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RECORDS
• JACK KENT COOKE STADIUM DEBUTS; OTHER NEW NFL STADIUMS ON HORIZON
• TEAMS CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES IN '97
• BENGALS, BRONCOS, BUCS, DOLPHINS SPORT NEW UNIFORMS IN ‘97
• NFLMEDIA.COM AND NFL.COM
• WOMEN ARE FOOTBALL FANS TOO
• "TOTAL FOOTBALL" -- FIRST OFFICIAL STATISTICAL REGISTER OF EVERY NFL PLAYER -- PUBLISHED KICKOFF ‘97 WEEK
• NFL FAMILY COOKBOOK OUT IN SEPTEMBER
• NFL YOUTH PROGRAMS
• NFL INTERNATIONAL
• NFL IN THE COMMUNITY
• ACTIVE STATISTICAL LEADERS HEADING INTO 1997
• THE LAST TIME...
• NFL NETWORK TV PROGRAMMING
• NFL 1997 SEASON CALENDAR

NFL TEAMS

• THE TEAMS: WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 1997
• DA BEARS & THE PACK: THE RIVALRY OF CHICAGO AND GREEN BAY, 40 YEARS OF LAMBEAU FIELD HISTORY, 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF '32 NFL CHAMPIONSHIP
• "...BEEN PLAYING SINCE..." THE OLDEST NFL RIVALRIES
• MIAMI & KC GO FOR 300
• 20 YEARS LATER -- HISTORY REPEATS
• RIGHT AT HOME; HOME RECORDS
• YEAR AFTER YEAR: COWBOYS SEEK 6TH-STRAIGHT DIVISION CROWN
• TOP COMEBACK CLUBS OF `90s
• TAKING A NICE DRIVE: THE LONGEST DRIVES OF 1996
• HAPPY RETURNS: INTERCEPTIONS, PUNT AND KICKOFF RETURNS
• AN ALL-STAR ANTHEM TEAM (SINGERS OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM)
• SUPER BOWL TROPHY, BY THE NUMBERS

NFL PLAYERS

• THE PLAYERS: WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN '97
• STREAKING INTO ’97
• KNACK FOR SACKS: SACK LEADERS BY POSITION
• JERRY RICE KEEPS COOKIN’
• ELWAY’S WAY
• ’96 ROOKIE RECEIVER CLASS BEST EVER?
• SHANNON’S SHARPE AND BROTHER COMBOS
• MARCUS, EMMITT & BARRY
• MOST 150-YARD RUSHING GAMES
• WAYNE CHASES ISAAC, ISAAC CHASES ANDRE: RECEIVERS GAIN ON EACH OTHERS' RECORDS
• NO FUM-M-M-BLE: THE MOST RELIABLE RUNNING BACKS!
• DAN FIRST TO 400 AND 7,000
• BRETT FAVRE IS NO. 2 TO DAN -- AIN’T ALL THAT BAD
• BLEDSOE’S BLASTING
• NFL’s "GENERATION X" QUARTERBACKS
• STILL GREEN: DARRELL GREEN OF THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS
• "TACKLE, AGAIN, BY…": THE MOST PROLIFIC TACKLERS
• YOUNG TRIOS: QUARTERBACK AND RECEIVER COMBOS
• BEST OF THE BLOCKING BACKS
• SECRET WEAPONS: UNLIKELY LINEMEN SCORING TOUCHDOWNS
• TESTED TANDEMS: PLAYER COMBOS WITH THE MOST YEARS SERVICE TOGETHER
• "...AND STARTING, AS ALWAYS, AT...": TOP CONSECUTIVE STARTERS
• TRUE TOES: KICKERS VIE FOR ACCURACY TITLE
• NFL ALL-LABOR DAY TEAM

THE COACHES

• WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN '97
• COACHES’ QUESTIONAIRES
• TED THE TEACHER: MARCHIBRODA BEGINS HIS 29TH YEAR OF SERVICE
• RAMS’ COACHING STAFF EXPERIENCED -- AND THEN SOME!
• MARV-ELOUS! MARV LEVY TIES GEORGE HALAS
• WORLD LEAGUE -- CRADLE OF NFL COACHES
• GILBRIDE LATEST PRODUCT OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE

1997 NFL OPENING DAY RELEASE

THE PACKERS WILL BEGIN THEIR QUEST TO DEFEND THEIR SUPER BOWL TITLE and seek to become only the fourth team in NFL history to win at least four Super Bowl championships when they host the Chicago Bears on Monday, September 1. The season premiere of ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football (9:00 PM ET) concludes NFL Kickoff Weekend ‘97, opening the NFL’s 78th season.

Since 1978 when the NFL went to a 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious on kickoff weekend are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game.

Of the 254 teams which won openers...135 went to the playoffs (78 won division titles).

Of the 254 teams which lost openers...57 went to the playoffs (29 won division titles).

In 1996, nine of the 12 playoff teams -- Buffalo, Carolina, Denver, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Philadelphia and San Francisco -- were victorious on Kickoff Weekend ‘96.

OPENING-GAME RECORDS OF NFL TEAMS

OPENING-GAME RECORDS OF NFL COACHES

NOTE: The longest current opening-game winning streak by a coach belongs to the New Orleans Saints’ Mike Ditka, who has won nine consecutive opening games. Kansas City Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer tops the AFC coaches with seven straight opening-game wins.

NFL KICKOFF ’97 SCHEDULE
SUNDAY AND MONDAY, AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 1

(All games Sunday unless noted otherwise. All times local p.m.)

87 POINTS!

Fifty years ago, the WASHINGTON REDSKINS and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES opened the 1947 season with a record-breaking bang as the Eagles outscored the Redskins 45-42 on September 28 in Philadelphia's Municipal Stadium. The 87-point total was an NFL record and it continues to stand as the most points ever scored in an opening game.

The 12-touchdown scoring blitz, also an NFL record, was highlighted by the play of two future Pro Football Hall of Famers -- Washington quarterback SAMMY BAUGH and Philadelphia halfback STEVE VAN BUREN.

Baugh, whose 1947 totals in completions (210), attempts (354) and yards passing (2,938) were NFL records, threw for 364 yards and five touchdowns, including three to rookie end HUGH TAYLOR. Van Buren, whose 1,008 rushing yards for the year were also a league record, returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and rushed for another while totaling 98 yards on the ground.

Following is the game summary:

September 28, 1947, Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

BEST OPENING GAME PERFORMANCES, 1933-96

BEST OPENING GAME PERFORMANCES OF THE ’90s

BEST SEPTEMBER RECORDS OF ’90s

Getting a head start makes the rest of the season easier. And some teams in the ’90s have consistently started well during the first month of the season. Following is a list of the best records in September during this decade:

BEST NFL RECORDS OF THE ’90s

This season, the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS are aiming to extend their NFL record to 15 consecutive years with 10-or-more victories. In establishing that mark, San Francisco became the only team in the 1990s to post double-digit victories in every season. With 84 wins since 1990, the 49ers lead the league over that span. Following are the 10 best won-lost records of the 1990s:

1997 NFL STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
IN ROAD GAMES

YOUR AVERAGE NFL SUNDAY

Not only do footballs have to be blown up, but ankles taped, Gatorade prepared, extra chin straps readied. There’s a whole trunkload of stuff that NFL equipment managers and trainers -- among the hardest-working people in the league -- have to prepare for a game. The typical game-day check list, as prepared by Denver Broncos equipment manager DOUG WEST and trainer STEVE ANTONOPULOS:

SUPER FOLLOW-UPS

How Super Bowl winners have fared the following season, with teams that repeated in bold (six Super Bowl winners won the title game the next year and two lost it):

STARTING RECORDS OF ACTIVE NFL QUARTERBACKS
(Minimum 10 starts)

KICKOFF WEEKEND NOTES

* The CHICAGO BEARS, playing in the first Monday Night Football game of the year on Kickoff Weekend on the road against the Super Bowl XXXI champion GREEN BAY PACKERS, are 12-1 in their past 13 openers. The Packers will be opening at home for the 10th time in the past 11 years.

* Detroit Lions running back BARRY SANDERS, who can become the NFL’s third all-time leading rusher in ‘97, has averaged 97.8 yards on the ground in eight career openers.

* Since the 1970 merger, the MIAMI DOLPHINS are 23-4 in home openers, the best mark in the NFL in that time. The OAKLAND RAIDERS are 27-9-1 in home openers, including a 22-4-1 record since 1970.

* In the 1990s, the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS are 7-0 on Kickoff Weekend and the MIAMI DOLPHINS 5-0. In the ‘90s in home openers, the BUFFALO BILLS are 6-1, the DETROIT LIONS 5-1 and the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 4-1.

* The MINNESOTA VIKINGS have won 10 consecutive home openers.

* The DAN REEVES, debuting as the Atlanta Falcons head coach in Detroit on Kickoff Weekend, is 25-6 on opening day as an NFL player, assistant and head coach.

* Denver Broncos head coach MIKE SHANAHAN is 4-0 in openers as a head coach. The Broncos are 11-2 in their past 13 home openers.

TOTAL AIR MILES NFL TEAMS WILL TRAVEL IN 1997
(1997 preseason and regular season)

Notes On 1997 NFL Travel

The longest trip occurred when Chicago traveled to Dublin for the American Bowl on July 27 (7,010 miles round-trip).

The shortest flying trip occurs during the Green Bay-Chicago meetings (152 miles round-trip for each team).

Chicago flies the most miles during the preseason (10,618).

San Francisco flies the most miles during the regular season (30,340).

Pittsburgh will fly 10,020 miles during the preseason, but only 9,926 during the regular season. Chicago will fly 10,618 miles during the preseason, but only 9,494 miles during the regular season. They are the only teams to travel less in the regular season than in preseason.

New England is the only club that travels to all three NFL Florida cities during the regular season (6,920 miles round-trip).

Baltimore (716 miles round-trip) and Tampa Bay (4,024 miles round-trip) are the only teams that travel to both New York teams during the regular season.

This is the second straight season that Arizona, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle are the five teams that travel the most miles. San Diego led the NFL in 1996 with 41,822 miles traveled.

VAN BROCKLIN RECORD REMAINS UNTOUCHED — 46 YEARS LATER

LOS ANGELES RAMS QUARTERBACK NORM VAN BROCKLIN set one of the NFL’s longest-standing records on September 28, 1951 in the Rams’ season-opener against the New York Yanks. Van Brocklin passed for 554 yards (and five touchdowns) in the Rams’ 54-14 win in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Since then, only six NFL quarterbacks have thrown for 500 yards or more in a game: Cardinals passed for 522 yards BOOMER ESIASON of the Arizona against the Washington Redskins on November 10, 1996. WARREN MOON of the Houston Oilers passed for 527 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 16, 1990; DAN MARINOagainst the New York Jets on October 23, of the Miami Dolphins passed for 521 yards 1988; threw for 513 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals PHIL SIMMS of the New York Giants on October 13, 1985; FERRAGAMO of the Los Angeles Rams passed for 509 yards VINCE against the Chicago Bears on December 26, 1982; and Y.A. TITTLE of the Giants totaled 505 yards vs. the Washington Redskins on October 28, 1962.

10,000 GAMES!

On Sunday, October 5, 1997, the NFL will reach a nice, round number. One of four games beginning at 4:00 PM ET will be the league’s 10,000th. Entering the weekend (Week 6), 9,992 games will have been played. Seven games kick off at 1:00 PM ET, bringing the all-time total to 9,999. The first of the four 4:00 games to finish is scheduled to be the league’s 10,000th. The four games that will vie to make history:

The Race To 10,000

Tennessee Oilers at Seattle Seahawks
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

10 TOP OPENING GAMES

Through the NFL’s 77 seasons, not only have there been memorable individual performances in opening games, many times the games themselves have been as exciting and memorable as the individual performances.

Listed below are 10 memorable NFL opening games through the years:

HEADLINE GAMES

As New York Giants General Manager GEORGE YOUNG, who will be entering his 29th year in the NFL in 1997, says, "Every one of the NFL's games mean something. We sell intensity. We have intense games every week. We also have national fans. People can live in Denver and root for the Cowboys or 49ers."

Every game matters, because each team has only 16 of them to reach the postseason. Some, because of the people involved, the history of the series, or the players competing, will generate even more interest than usual. Following is a 1997 Weeks 1-17 list of "Headline Games" -- but far from the only ones.

Bigger Than Usual

JERRY MONDAY NIGHTS

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver JERRY RICE, the league’s all-time touchdown leader, holds or is tied for two Monday night single-game records (see above), but also leads or is tied for eight other Monday night milestones. Following is Jerry’s Monday Night list:

MONDAY NIGHT RECORDS

ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football begins its 28th season in 1997. The series kicks off on September 1 when the Chicago Bears visit the Green Bay Packers, and concludes on December 22 in Miami when the Dolphins host the New England Patriots. Following are some memorable Monday Night Football record-making or tying performances: (* indicates set or tied NFL record).

Most Touchdowns, Game

Most Field Goals, Game

Most Rushing Yards Rushing, Game

Longest Run From Scrimmage, Game

Most Yards Passing, Game

Longest Pass Play

Most Touchdown Passes, Game

Most Pass Receptions, Game

Most Yards on Pass Receptions, Game

JACK KENT COOKE STADIUM DEBUTS; OTHER NEW NFL STADIUMS ON HORIZON

A new stadium debuting this season was built in record time. An expanded one will be ready in time for Super Bowl XXXII this January. Those are two of the stadium developments in this decade that are reshaping the NFL landscape.

The new stadium -- Jack Kent Cooke Stadium -- is the home of the Washington Redskins and is named after the team’s late owner. It will make its regular-season debut on September 14 -- a scant 17-and-a-half months after ground was broken in Raljon, Maryland. According to the project manager, WALTER LYNCH, that construction time span is a record for an NFL stadium.

In San Diego, the renamed Qualcomm Stadium, Jack Murphy Field, home to the Chargers and host to Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, will have been expanded by approximately 11,800 seats by the game.

These stadiums are two of 17 that have been built or renovated the past five years or are scheduled for such developments by 2002.

A review of NFL stadium developments in the '90s:

NFL Stadium Construction In The ‘90s

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

The 1997 NFL season features a whole range of anniversaries and celebrations, from league, to club to player milestones. A list of them...

BENGALS, BRONCOS, BUCS, DOLPHINS SPORT NEW UNIFORMS IN ‘97

Four clubs will sport new duds this year. The Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will introduce new uniform designs on Kickoff ‘97 Weekend.

The Broncos and Buccaneers have completely redesigned their uniforms, while the Bengals and Dolphins have kept their basic style, but with alterations.

When the Bucs introduced their new uniforms in the spring, more than 1,000 fans gathered at the Tampa Convention Center to witness the unveiling.

The team changes from a basic color of orange to red. "Red will be our statement color," says Bucs head coach TONY DUNGY, "the color we’ll wear in the playoffs."

The new wardrobes of the Bengals, Broncos, Buccaneers and Dolphins:

Bengals -- A bengal emblem has been added to jersey sleeves, and sleeve uniform numbers have been moved to the shoulders. Also, the Bengals will now wear black socks instead of orange.

Broncos -- The team will now wear navy blue home jerseys with a five-inch-wide orange Lycra striping that curls down the side from the shoulders. Additional orange appears in piping on the jersey neckline, outlines on the numbers and sock stripes. The Broncos’ navy blue helmets will have an orange center stripe and a stylized white bronco with an orange mane.

Buccaneers -- Primary colors have changed to red, black and pewter. The Bucs will wear red jerseys for most home games with pewter pants. Pewter helmets and jersey sleeves will feature a Jolly Roger flag, which in the 17th century warned opponents of an ensuing fierce battle.

Dolphins -- The Dolphin helmet emblem has been redefined. Additionally, the Tennessee Oilers will sport a patch on their left shoulder signifying their inaugural season in Tennessee, and the Washington Redskins will wear a patch in honor of their late owner, JACK KENT COOKE.

NFLMEDIA.COM and NFL.COM

NFLMEDIA.COM: The NFL has created a dedicated Internet site for the media - - NFLMedia.com. The site is easy and quick to navigate and features the latest news and releases from the NFL and its teams, as well as injury reports, rosters, depth carts, statistics, conference-call details and other information.

The NFL’s official web site for fans- - NFL.COM - - will have a new look as well as new interactive features for the 1997 season.

Enhanced live gameday coverage, NFL Films video highlights and a "Play Football" area are a few of the new features that will debut.

Fans will be able to follow, in real time, the performance of their favorite players with the "Player Tracker." This feature instantaneously updates individual player statistics for any roster of players. The live game play-by-play will be enhanced this season with graphical scoring drive charts as well as a comprehensive scoreboard that does not require reloading for the latest information. Statistics will also be sortable by team and over 15 individual categories.

The site also will showcase NFL Films video highlights of the previous week’s games as well as upcoming matchups. Video will also support feature stories and fans can access team highlight clips from every game in 1996.

To support the NFL’s youth initiative Play Football campaign, NFL.com will feature a new interactive area on the site dedicated to the league’s younger fans. The area will present educational and interactive games and activities, plus information on the teams and players.

NFL.com averaged 75,000 users daily and up to 150,000 on Sundays last season. Fans can also visit TeamNFL on America Online (keyword: NFL).

WOMEN LOVE IT TOO

The NFL is not only a man’s game. Far from it. Women love it too. In a survey last season, 41 percent of women polled said they follow pro football. That interest has grown since 34 percent of women surveyed in 1995 said they liked the game and 32 percent in 1993.

But many women not only watch the game, they either played it (791 high school girls played football in 1995) or coached it, or prompted their sons to master it. Many an NFL player has mom to thank for his career:

* Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver REIDEL ANTHONY: his mother KATHLEEN was a track star in high school and constantly raced her son as a youngster -- and beat him. "She’d come out in front of all my friends and want to race me," says Reidel, who now boasts 4.4 speed. "She’d always beat me. The other boys would be talking a lot of noise about how I couldn’t even beat my own mama. But they couldn’t beat me, and so I knew they couldn’t beat her."

* Detroit Lions rookie running back TERRY BATTLE: mother BOBBIE was a Pop Warner coach. "My mom was the one who constantly told me to keep working and that if it was meant to be, it would all work out," says Terry.

* New York Jets wide receiver KEYSHAWN JOHNSON: mother VIVIAN steered him towards football by teaching him the game and throwing him his first passes.

* Washington Redskins linebacker MARVCUS PATTON: mother BARBARA played professional football -- outside linebacker -- for the Los Angeles Dandelions of the National Women’s Football League in the 1970s. "I thought it was really cool to tell my friends that my mom was a linebacker," says Marvcus. "My mom’s love for the game definitely influenced me."

* New England Patriots defensive tackle DEVIN WYMAN: mother PATSY was his coach for a neighborhood team, leading them one year to a 9-1 record. Devin played fullback, tight end and defensive end for his mother. "I owe her a lot," he says. "She was always there for me."

* And though she wasn’t his mom, New England Patriots wide receiver HASON GRAHAM was coached by one, DOT MURPHY, the receivers coach at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. "Mrs. Murphy can yell just like BILL PARCELLS," says Hason.

"TOTAL FOOTBALL" -- FIRST OFFICIAL STATISTICAL REGISTER
OF EVERY NFL PLAYER -- PUBLISHED KICKOFF ‘97 WEEK

Which two quarterbacks -- one already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the surely other headed to it upon retirement -- both have the middle name "Constantine?"

Which NFL quarterback, who led the league in TD passes in 1996, was ironically born in Pass Christian, Mississippi?

How many New York homes were equipped with TV sets when the first NFL game was televised?

The answers to these questions (JOHNNY UNITAS and DAN MARINO; BRETT FAVRE; an estimated 1,000) and thousands more can be learned from the first-ever complete statistical register of every player who ever pulled on an NFL uniform that will be published by HarperCollins in conjunction with the kickoff of the 1997 NFL season.

"Total Football, The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League," will contain 1,652 pages of editorial and statistical information on the 77 years of the NFL, and sell for $49.95 at bookstores.

The book will be divided into four sections -- "The History," "The Men Who Made The Game," "Strategy: The Inside Game," and "Statistics and Registers."

Interspersed in those sections will be such articles as "The NFL’s 25 Greatest Regular-Season Games," "The Evolution of Strategy," and "The 300 Greatest Players" among numerous other subjects.

By far, the bulk of Total Football will be dedicated to the "Statistics and Registers" section that will be broken down into player, coach and draft registers. As befits it, a statistical rundown of the encyclopedia’s player register:

Total Football Player Register

* Full name, nickname, birthdate, birthplace, college, high school, position, height, weight, year drafted, round and selecting team.

NFL FAMILY COOKBOOK OUT IN SEPTEMBER

The training table traditionally features steaks, potatoes and pasta -- and lots of it. But NFL players may soon be treated to Australian meat pie, oxtail and dumplings, crawfish etouffe, summer risotto and fried venison.

These are just a few of the 100 recipes from more than 60 players, coaches, owners, former players, broadcasters and even NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE featured in The NFL Family Cookbook. The 160-page book, slated for release in September ($17.98, Smithmark Publishers), includes favorite recipes supplied from players like JOHN ELWAY, BRETT FAVRE, JUNIOR SEAU and EMMITT SMITH, coaches DAVE WANNSTEDT, MIKE DITKA and TONY DUNGY, Pro Football Hall of Famers DEACON JONES and GALE SAYERS, along with broadcasters CHRIS BERMAN, HOWIE LONG and PHIL SIMMS.

Here’s Brett Favre’s recipe for Crawfish Etouffe:

Saute bell peppers, celery and onion in margarine until soft. Add soup and cook for 20-30 minutes. Add crawfish tails and cook 30-40 minutes. Add tomatoes. Serve over rice.

NFL YOUTH PROGRAMS

In 1997, the NFL’s youth initiative will reach more than two million children throughout the country. Under the umbrella of "PLAY FOOTBALL," girls and boys ages six to 14 will participate in programs that allow them to play, watch and experience the game of football in exciting and innovative ways. Existing programs such as NFL Flag, presented by NIKE; NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick; and NFL C.I.T.Y. (Challenge and Inspire Today’s Youth) Football, will continue to build on a successful 1996 season that saw 1.6 million children participate in NFL youth programs. In 1995, approximately 375,000 children participated in "Play Football" programs.

Two new programs are being added this year: NFL Starter Youth Training Camps, which kicked off the 1997 "Play Football" season this summer, and Kmart Family/Stadium Days which will launch in September.

NFL INTERNATIONAL

The NFL has been an international passion for years. Forty-six preseason games -- including 30 contests in the American Bowl series (three in 1997) -- have been played in seven countries outside the United States over the past 48 years. In October 1996, the NFL went international in New York, forming NFL International, a separate division, to serve the growing worldwide interest in American football.

Last June, the World League capped its third season as an all-European venture with World Bowl ‘97 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona Dragons quarterback JON KITNA, allocated to the World League by the Seattle Seahawks, set a pair of World Bowl records and earned MVP honors in leading the Dragons to a 38-24 victory over the Rhein Fire in front of 31,100 enthusiastic fans.

Kitna will be among a record 112 NFL players allocated to the World League in 1997, and if the 1996 NFL season is any indication, a future contributor to his NFL team. During the ’96 NFL campaign, 116 players with WL experience were on NFL rosters, including 1997 Pro Bowlers CARY BLANCHARD of the Indianapolis Colts and MICHAEL SINCLAIR of the Seattle Seahawks. San Diego Chargers and former Amsterdam Admirals punter DARREN BENNETT, an Australian native, was the first World Leaguer to earn Pro Bowl honors, representing the AFC in the 1996 Pro Bowl.

In addition to fielding players who spent time abroad, many NFL teams have players who speak foreign languages:

NFL IN THE COMMUNITY

This season, the NFL celebrates the 25th anniversary of NFL CHARITIES. Last season, NFL Charities made grant contributions of nearly $5 million to more than 100 organizations.

NFL Charities’ tradition of caring has been mirrored over the years by the thousands of NFL players who make it a priority to give back to the communities in which they play. A sample of those involved:

For more information on league, team and player community relations, visit the "NFL Community Relations" section on NFLmedia.com.

ACTIVE STATISTICAL LEADERS HEADING INTO 1997

TOP 10 ACTIVE PASSERS
1,000 or more attempts

THE LAST TIME...

PASSING...

RECEIVING...

RUSHING...

INTERCEPTIONS...

SCORING...

KICKOFF RETURNS...

PUNT RETURNS...

SAFETIES...

MISCELLANEOUS...

NFL NETWORK TV PROGRAMMING

(TYPICAL 1997 WEEK)

NFL 1997 SEASON CALENDAR

THE TEAMS

DA BEARS & THE PACK

They debut on Monday Night Football this year. They have played each other more than any two NFL teams. They rank first and second in most Pro Football Hall of Fame members. One can become the first NFL team to win 600 games. The other is coming off a Super Bowl victory.

When these two play each other, it is "Mudbaths and Bloodbaths," which, incidentally, is the title of a recently published book (Prairie Oak Press).

"It is clearly a rivalry for the ages," write the authors (GARY D’AMATO and CLIFF CHRISTL), "one that has stood the test of time like few others in American sport. In fact, if rivalries could be rated by assigning points in pertinent categories -- such as tradition, fan involvement, continuity, and memorable games and plays -- Bears vs. Packers might come out on top. There have been mudbaths. There have been bloodbaths. There have been games played in monsoon rains and white-out blizzards, in biting below-zero wind chills and on idyllic autumn days."

A statistical breakdown of the Bears (two wins give them 600 regular-season victories; 24 Hall of Fame members) vs. the Packers (league-high 12 NFL championships; 19 Hall of Famers):

*Set or tied NFL record

Two teams seeped in such traditional are bound to have significant milestones in their history. Forty years ago this year, the Packers opened their home stadium, Lambeau Field, where many historic games have been played. Sixty-five years ago, the Bears played in one of the NFL’s most significant games – the 1932 NFL championship.

10 KEY Games In Lambeau Field’s 40-Year History

65 Years Ago -- The ’32 Nfl Championship

One of the most far-reaching games in Bears’ and league history occurred at the end of the 1932 season. Both Chicago and the Portsmouth Spartans (renamed the Detroit Lions in 1934) finished the season in a first-ever tie for first. Chicago was 6-1-6 and Portsmouth 6-1-4. Since the teams had already tied twice during the season, the league office ruled that a "playoff," which counted toward the season standings, would be needed to determine a champion.

Chicago’s Wrigley Field was scheduled to host the game but a blizzard made it impossible to play, and the game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium. So on December 18, 1932, the NFL had its first playoff game...and indoor game. The history-making didn’t stop there. Because of space limitations, the field was only 80 yards long, and changes were dictated:

• Kickoffs from the 10-yard line.
• Teams penalized 20 yards when crossing midfield, thus making field 100 yards long.
• Goal posts moved from end line to goal line.*
• Field goals not allowed.
• Ball spotted on hashmarks drawn 10 yards from each sideline.*

*Later adopted for all league games.

But the most significant development of the game occurred on a play in the scoreless fourth quarter. Bears running back BRONKO NAGURSKI took a snap from the two-yard line, faked a run, dropped back to pass and connected with running back RED GRANGE for the game-winning touchdown. But a controversy immediately arose as to where Nagurski threw the ball from. The rule at the time stated that a forward pass had to be thrown from at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The officials overruled Portsmouth’s protests that Nagurski was not five yards from scrimmage. Chicago went on to win 9-0 and claimed their second league championship.

At a February league meeting, the NFL was changed forever when a forward pass thrown from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage was legalized. Also, as a result of the success of the game, the league was divided into two divisions with the division winners meeting in an annual championship game.

"...BEEN PLAYING SINCE..."

Following are the five oldest rivalries in NFL history:

* Includes postseason

MIAMI & KC GO FOR 300

The MIAMI DOLPHINS and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS can become the second and third AFL teams (after the Oakland Raiders in 1991) to reach the 300-victory mark (including postseason) this season, the Dolphins in a year in which they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their undefeated season. Miami enters 1997 with 297 wins, while the Chiefs, known as the Dallas Texans from 1960-62, begin the season with 294. Following are the Dolphins’ and Chiefs’ first, 50th, 100th, 150th and 200th wins:

20 YEARS LATER -- HISTORY REPEATS

The similarities are startling. Two decades ago, three teams -- the MIAMI DOLPHINS, OAKLAND RAIDERS and PITTSBURGH STEELERS -- won all five Super Bowls and competed in eight round-robin playoff games during a five-year span from 1972-76.

Twenty years later, from 1992-96, almost the identical scenario occurred between another three teams -- the DALLAS COWBOYS, GREEN BAY PACKERS and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS. Like their counterparts 20 years earlier, this trio won all five Super Bowls and competed in eight round-robin playoff games.

What does it prove? That anything -- or the same thing -- can happen in the NFL. Following are some of the similarites between the trios of the ‘70s and ‘90s:

RIGHT AT HOME

The CAROLINA PANTHERS, DENVER BRONCOS and GREEN BAY PACKERS posted perfect home records in 1996 and this year seek to join the DALLAS COWBOYS (1980-81) as the only teams with 8-0 home marks in consecutive seasons since the 16-game schedule was implemented in 1978. In the 19 seasons of the 16-game schedule, 17 teams won all eight home games with 16 earning postseason berths, 11 reaching the conference championship game, six the Super Bowl with four winning it. Following are the teams with perfect 8-0 home records since 1978:

YEAR AFTER YEAR