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The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end.
When Art Modell, owner of the Cleveland Browns, wanted to relocate his team to Baltimore in a surprise move first reported on by the Boston Globe on November 4th of 1995, the ensuing press furor and public relations mess forced the league to intercede and make an agreement with him and the Cities of Cleveland and Baltimore before the new season had barely begun. In the belated agreement, the name, colors and history of the Browns were to remain in Cleveland, while the relocated club would technically be a new league franchise; the city of Cleveland would be given another new franchise in the next few years, or a relocated existing franchise. Either way, the beloved Cleveland Browns would continue.[1]
Thereafter, Modell's team became the Baltimore Ravens, and Modell who'd become the most hated man in Cleveland over night thereafter reportedly feared for his life and wouldn't go back to the city even for a funeral of a close friend as recently as 2002.[2] In a ramification that would come to shake the football world, the Browns ex-Head Coach Bill Belichick who was perceived by the Cleveland press as mediocre to average was let go by Modell in the move of the team (He'd heard the news from the press coverage) —consequently he became acquainted with a novice team owner named Kraft when hired as the new assistant coach of the New England Patriots and would resign as Head Coach of the New York Jets after only a few days on the job when Kraft wanted to hire his services in January of 2000. The press in Cleveland was glad to be rid of Belichick, who'd blocked their access to the team and insulted and ever after furious with Modell.[3]
One of the most memorable aspects of the 1996 season was that the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, each in only its second year of existence, both advanced to their respective conference championship games. 1996 marked the third year the NFL salary cap was in force and also marked the end of an domination era in the NFL as it was the first season since 1991 (and only the second since 1987) in which neither the Dallas Cowboys nor the San Francisco 49ers played in the NFC Championship Game.
The season ended with Super Bowl XXXI when the Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots in a close game decided by the special teams in the return game a kick-off return was scored against the Patriots resulting in the award of the games MVP trophy to a special teams member, Desmond Howard, for the first and only time.
All that was nearly overshadowed by the press feeding frenzy reporting and commenting on the rumor (Between the AFC championship game up to and into the broadcast coverage of Super Bowl XXXI itself) that iconic coach Bill Parcells was planning on breaking his contract with the New England Patriots because he did not get along well with novice owner Robert Kraft, who had at least made the Patriots solvent. In the event, Parcells did not even return with the players, and telephone records showed he was talking to the Jets in the days before and the day of the Super Bowl itself. This documentary evidence lead to the league awarding the Patriots multiple draft picks in compensation for the "tampering" by the Jets[4], which is but a continuation of oneupsmanship that has gone on for years between the hated rivals.
[edit] Major rule changes
- In order to reduce injuries, hits with the helmet or to the head will be personal fouls and subject to fines.
[edit] Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
[edit] Tiebreakers
- Jacksonville was the second AFC Wild Card ahead of Indianapolis and Kansas City based on better conference record (7-5 to Colts' 6-6 and Chiefs' 5-7).
- Indianapolis was the third AFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over Kansas City (1-0).
- Cincinnati finished ahead of Houston in the AFC Central based on better net division points (19 to Oilers' 11).
- Oakland finished ahead of Seattle in the AFC West based on better division record (3-5 to Seahawks' 2-6).
- Dallas finished ahead of Philadelphia in the NFC East based on better record against common opponents (8-5 to Eagles' 7-6).
- Minnesota was the third NFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Washington (8-4 to Redskins' 6-6).
- Carolina finished ahead of San Francisco in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
- Atlanta finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
[edit] Playoffs
-
- Home team in capitals
- Wild-Card playoffs: Jacksonville 30, BUFFALO 27; PITTSBURGH 42, Indianapolis 14
- Divisional playoffs: Jacksonville 30, DENVER 27; NEW ENGLAND 28, Pittsburgh 3
- AFC Championship: NEW ENGLAND 20, Jacksonville 6 at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, January 12, 1997
- Wild-Card playoffs: DALLAS 40, Minnesota 15; SAN FRANCISCO 14, Philadelphia 0
- Divisional playoffs: GREEN BAY 35, San Francisco 14; CAROLINA 26, Dallas 17
- NFC Championship: GREEN BAY 30, Carolina 13 at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin, January 12, 1997
[edit] Super Bowl
[edit] Statistical leaders
| Points scored |
Green Bay Packers (456) |
| Total yards gained |
Denver Broncos (5,791) |
| Yards rushing |
Denver Broncos (2,362) |
| Yards passing |
Jacksonville Jaguars (4,110) |
| Fewest points allowed |
Green Bay Packers (210) |
| Fewest total yards allowed |
Green Bay Packers (4,156) |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed |
Denver Broncos (1,331) |
| Fewest passing yards allowed |
Green Bay Packers (2,740) |
[edit] Individual
| Scoring |
John Kasay, Carolina (145 points) |
| Touchdowns |
Terry Allen, Washington (21 TDs) |
| Most field goals made |
John Kasay, Carolina (37 FGs) |
| Rushing |
Barry Sanders, Detroit (1,553 yards) |
| Passing |
Steve Young, San Francisco (97.2 rating) |
| Passing touchdowns |
Brett Favre, Green Bay (39 TDs) |
| Pass receiving |
Jerry Rice, San Francisco (108 catches) |
| Pass receiving yards |
Isaac Bruce, St. Louis (1,338) |
| Punt returns |
Desmond Howard, Green Bay (15.1 average yards) |
| Kickoff returns |
Michael Bates, Carolina (30.2 average yards) |
| Interceptions |
Tyrone Braxton, Denver and Keith Lyle, St. Louis (9) |
| Punting |
John Kidd, Miami (46.3 average yards) |
| Sacks |
Kevin Greene, Carolina (14.5) |
[edit] Awards
| Most Valuable Player |
Brett Favre, Quarterback, Green Bay |
| Coach of the Year |
Dom Capers, Carolina |
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Terrell Davis, Running Back, Denver |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Bruce Smith, Defensive End, Buffalo |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year |
Eddie George, Running Back, Houston |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year |
Simeon Rice, Defensive End, Arizona |
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Michael Holly. Patriots Reign, 1st ed. HC, HarperCollins, 240.
- ^ Michael Holly. Patriots Reign, 1st ed. HC, HarperCollins, 240.
- ^ Michael Holly. Patriots Reign, 1st ed. HC, HarperCollins, 240.
- ^ Michael Holly. Patriots Reign, 1st ed. HC, HarperCollins, 240.
