Opening-Game Rosters 2000

FOR USE AS DESIRED		FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
NFL-45 9/7/00		CONTACT: DAN MASONSON (212/450-2081) OR CHRIS MC CLOSKEY (212/450-2080)

YOUNGEST, HEAVIEST, LIGHTEST
-- A LOOK AT 2000 NFL OPENING-GAME ROSTERS

STAYING ON THE ISLAND: Two players took the lead in an active career category just by stepping on the field on Kickoff Weekend. Pittsburgh Steelers guard TOM MYSLINSKI, rejoining the Steelers this year, and wide receiver ANDRE RISON, new to the Oakland Raiders, are the NFL’s top two "survivors" – players on Kickoff 2000 rosters who have been with the most NFL teams (minimum one game with a team). Following are players who lead the category:

Player, Team	# of clubs	Previous Teams (In order of appearance)
G Tom Myslinski, Pittsburgh *	7	Washington, Buffalo, Chicago, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Dallas
WR Andre Rison, Oakland	7	Indianapolis, Atlanta, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Green Bay, Kansas City
CB Robert Bailey, Baltimore	6	L.A. Rams, Washington, Dallas, Miami, Detroit
QB Chris Chandler, Atlanta	6	Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Arizona, L.A. Rams, Houston
S Tim Hauck, Philadelphia	6	New England, Green Bay, Denver, Seattle, Indianapolis
P Mark Royals, Tampa Bay *	6	St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, New Orleans

* Second time with club

FLORIDA SCHOOLS DOMINATE NFL ROSTERS: Three colleges from Florida are among the top five schools with the most players on NFL opening-day rosters. Florida State had the most players on NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters with 38. Notre Dame, which led the league the past five years, was second with 37. Ohio State ranked third with 35, and Florida and Miami (Florida) rounded out the top five with 34 each. A total of 247 colleges were represented on Kickoff rosters.

Following is a breakdown by position of schools with the most players on 2000 NFL rosters:

POS.	SCHOOL	PLAYERS	POS.	SCHOOL	PLAYERS
C	Notre Dame, Virginia Tech	3	DT	North Carolina	6
G	Penn State	6	DE	California	5
T	Auburn	5	LB	Colorado, Florida State	7
TE	Michigan, Washington	5	CB	Notre Dame	6
QB	Washington	6	S	Southern California	4
RB	Penn State	6	P	Alabama, Colorado, North Texas	2
WR	Ohio State	8		Notre Dame, Ohio State
			K	Colorado, Michigan State, Syracuse	2

IN THE TRENCHES: Recently, New York Jets quarterback VINNY TESTAVERDE discussed the importance of his offensive line. "They are the true anchor of our team right now," he said. "They just continue to do a great job week-in and week-out."

The Jets’ offensive line did not allow a sack of Testaverde, and opened holes for 118 rushing yards in New York’s 20-16 win over Green Bay on Kickoff Sunday. The Jets’ OL is not only big in production, it is also one of 13 clubs with five OL starters weighting at least 300 pounds.

Following are the average weights of starting offensive lines based on 2000 opening-game rosters:

	AFC			NFC
Team	Avg. Weight	300-pounders	Team	Avg. Weight	300-pounders
Buffalo	324.2	5	Arizona	328.8	5
Cincinnati *	324.2	5	Philadelphia	325.4	5
Oakland	319.0	5	Minnesota	323.6	5
Baltimore	316.0	5	Detroit	319.2	3
Kansas City	312.2	4	Tampa Bay	312.0	3
Miami	312.0	5	Dallas	311.6	4
San Diego	309.8	3	Green Bay	310.0	5
Jacksonville	309.2	5	Atlanta	309.2	5
New England	309.0	3	New Orleans	309.2	5
Pittsburgh	309.0	4	San Francisco	307.4	3
N.Y. Jets	308.6	5	Washington	307.0	3
Indianapolis	307.8	3	Chicago	306.4	4
Tennessee	307.0	4	N.Y. Giants	306.4	4
Seattle	306.0	4	Carolina	305.4	4
Cleveland	300.2	3	St. Louis	304.0	4
Denver	287.0	0

*NOTE: Cincinnati had Week 1 bye. Average based on projected starters.

THE BIG BOOK ON AARON GIBSON: Detroit Lions second-year tackle AARON GIBSON has taken over the mantle as the NFL’s biggest player. How big? Six-feet four inches tall and 380 pounds!

This year, Gibson is one of 280 300-pound players. The average weight of opening-day starting offensive linemen was 311.2 pounds. According to the 1990 NFL Record & Fact Book, there were 38 300-pounders that year (25 in the AFC and 13 in the NFC).

Following are the vitals on Aaron Gibson, the NFL’s biggest player:

Height	6-4
Weight	380
Shoe Size	18
Pant Size	56-long, specially tailored. Largest pant size Lions had in stock prior to Gibson’s arrival was 52.
Jersey	54. Had to add six inches of length to fit size.
Shoulder Pads	Douglas Mr. D’s XXXXXXL (6XL). When measured for shoulder pads, Gibson went 27 inches from point-to-point.
Helmet	Riddell size 8 3/8 (stretched). Largest helmet made by Riddell is 8 3/8 and Gibson’s helmet was specially molded during production process. Smaller ear pads were also placed inside the helmet to tailor to head size.
T-Shirt Size	XXXL
Glove Size	XXXL
Clothes	Has clothes tailor-made to fit frame. Interesting, Gibson only has a 46-inch waist, but due to his massive thighs, he must have everything fitted.
Family	Younger brother, Adam, is 15 years old. He is a sophomore at Bloomington North High School (Bloomington, Indiana), and is on the varsity football team. He is 6-5, 360 pounds.

***NFL***

HEIGHT, WEIGHT & AGE AVERAGES FOR 2000 AFC ROSTERS

	AVERAGE		AVERAGE		AVERAGE		AVERAGE		ROOKIE &		PLAYERS AGE
TEAM	HEIGHT		WEIGHT		AGE		EXPERIENCE		1^ST YEAR		30 & OVER
BALTIMORE	6-1.6		244.0		27.2		5.04		8		16
BUFFALO	6-2.0		246.5		26.2		3.75		15		11
CINCINNATI	6-2.0		248.3		25.7		3.74		9		5
CLEVELAND	6-2.1		243.8		25.1	+	3.00	+	15		3	+
DENVER	6-1.5	+	239.6	+	27.6	*	5.28	*	9		18	*
INDIANAPOLIS	6-1.5	+	241.5		25.7		3.38		14		5
JACKSONVILLE	6-2.0		245.6		26.6		4.13		9		9
KANSAS CITY	6-2.3		251.6	*	27.3		5.15		10		16
MIAMI	6-1.8		242.1		27.0		4.57		7	+	9
NEW ENGLAND	6-2.2		245.1		26.5		4.42		13		6
NY JETS	6-2.4	*	249.2		26.6		4.38		15		9
OAKLAND	6-2.4	*	249.4		27.0		4.87		10		11
PITTSBURGH	6-1.7		245.4		26.0		4.06		10		9
SAN DIEGO	6-2.0		242.0		27.3		4.96		7	+	14
SEATTLE	6-1.6		239.9		26.2		3.75		17	*	8
TENNESSEE	6-1.9		243.1		26.6		4.57		12		8
AFC AVERAGE	6-1.9		244.8		26.5		4.32		11.3		9.8
NFC AVERAGE	6-1.8		244.0		26.5		4.37		10.6		9.5
NFL AVERAGE	6-1.9		244.5		26.5		4.34		10.9		9.7

* AFC high; + AFC low

HEIGHT, WEIGHT & AGE AVERAGES FOR 2000 NFC ROSTERS

	AVERAGE		AVERAGE		AVERAGE		AVERAGE		ROOKIE &		PLAYERS AGE
TEAM	HEIGHT		WEIGHT		AGE		EXPERIENCE		1^ST YEAR		30 & OVER
ARIZONA	6-2.2		250.6	*	26.0		3.79		10		10
ATLANTA	6-1.4		239.5	+	26.6		4.83		9		8
CAROLINA	6-2.2		244.0		27.3		4.87		13		16	*
CHICAGO	6-1.8		243.7		26.0		4.11		8		6
DALLAS	6-1.8		241.1		27.0		4.98		10		15
DETROIT	6-2.0		248.7		26.9		5.04		8		15
GREEN BAY	6-2.1		245.0		25.9	+	3.68		11		7
MINNESOTA	6-1.7		242.5		27.0		4.85		12		9
NEW ORLEANS	6-1.3	+	239.8		26.3		4.00		11		7
N.Y. GIANTS	6-2.4	*	247.1		26.3		3.94		13		7
PHILADELPHIA	6-1.7		245.9		25.9	+	3.87		10		6
ST. LOUIS	6-1.6		241.5		26.2		4.15		8		10
SAN FRANCISCO	6-2.4	*	243.8		26.6		3.57	+	19	*	8
TAMPA BAY	6-1.4		244.2		25.9	+	4.19		7	+	4	+
WASHINGTON	6-2.1		243.2		27.7	*	5.74	*	10		15
NFC AVERAGE	6-1.8		244.0		26.5		4.37		10.6		9.5
AFC AVERAGE	6-1.9		244.8		26.5		4.32		11.3		9.8
NFL AVERAGE	6-1.9		244.5		26.5		4.34		10.9		9.7

* NFC high; + NFC low