Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Todd Pence wrote:There's a concise history on this in the book THE HIDDEN GAME OF FOOTBALL.

I believe it has that mistaken bit about using only completion percentage from 1938 to 1940, though. Otherwise, I think it's the same list that Matt found earlier -- and maybe it came from the same original source.

What "system" does the NFL/PFRA people use to recognize historic passing leaders? The rating system that was in use as that time, or applying the current rating system to past seasons? I don't believe there's any way to compare passers across eras simply by using statistics. The standards...

Jerry Goldsteyn was a lousy QB backup on the Giants, backed up Picarcek. Had played for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental Football League Goldsteyn didn't play in the Continental League, or any of the top minor leagues of the 1960s. That was way too early for him, anyway. He was 15 years old ...

Just a handful out of many, off the top of my head: Bob Kuechenberg and Jeff Van Note both played in the Continental League in 1969 before launching long NFL careers. Ted Vactor, a defensive back who was outstanding on kick coverage with the Redskins in the 1970s, started out in one of the minor lea...

1938-1940: Percentage of completions I've seen this before, but I'm not sure it's right. Just to take one example off the top of my head, Frankie Filchock was not the leader in 1939 despite completing more than 60 percent of his passes, far better than Parker Hall, the official leader. It could be ...

This AOL survey for the 2014 season inspires a broader question about the best examples of "comeback players" in pro football history. Guys like Rocky Bleier (post-Vietnam) and Frank Gifford (post-Bednarik) are the first two that come to mind. Off the top of my head, I'd nominate Y.A. Tit...

Fred Arbanas had some sort of All-Pro or Pro Bowl recognition his first six seasons. He only played nine seasons and does not have career numbers that would make people argue he should be in the Hall of Fame. Based on what I have read and seen, I believe he was similar to Mark Bavaro. For those of ...

I realize this is just for fun, but I personally don't like putting players in the PFHOF until their careers are over, even if they're obvious like Manning or Brady. Plus I can't stand when announcers/media/etc say so and so is a "future hall of famer". I just think, what if 'we' were doi...

Besides the other career options, the levels of football were different unlike today where HS, CFB, NFL it mostly all looks the same with shotgun/spread, no defense allowed, etc ... Being good at the college level of course doesn't mean that it will translate to the NFL but today with more teams an...

What I'd like to know is where that bit about Jack McBride being named the MVP came from? It might just be pregame hype, but it's also possible that some group or some notable sportswriter made the selection, and I don't believe I've ever seen it before. As for these Nevers and Grange and Friedman t...