54 Special Publication by Kapp Advertising - Season 2016

Pro Football History Timeline – Part Five 1970 1971 economic support to persons formerly The of the WFL Kansas City defeated Minnesota 23-7 in The NFC defeated the AFC 27-6 in the associated with professional football who signed , , and Paul Super Bowl IV at , January 11. first AFC-NFC at Los Angeles, were no longer able to suppor t themselves. Warfield of Miami, March 31. The gross receipts of approximately $3.8 January 24. Congress adopted experimental legislation The divisional winners with the highest million were the largest ever for a one-day Miami defeated Kansas City 27-24 in sud- (for three years) requiring any NFL game won-loss percent- age were made the home sports event. den-death overtime in an AFC Divisional that had been declared a sell-out 72 hours team for the divisional , and the A special league meeting was held to Playoff Game, December 25. Garo prior to kickoff to be made available for surviving winners with the highest percent- determine the divisional realignment of the Yepremian kicked a 37-yard for local televising. The legislation provided age made home teams for the championship National Football Conference. With no the Dolphins after 22 minutes, 40 seconds for an annual review to be made by the games. Previously, the home sites were consensus, Rozelle ordered the five most of overtime, as the game lasted 82 minutes, Federal Communications Commission. pre-determined by division on a rotating viable plans be written down on sheets of 40 seconds overall, making it the longest A rival league, the , basis. paper. Rozelle’s assistant, Thelma Elkjer, game in history. was formed and was reported in operation, Referees were equipped with wireless picked the winning one out of a vase at 1972 October 2. It had plans to start play in 1974. microphones for all preseason, regular- random. The inbounds lines or hashmarks were O.J. Simpson of Buffalo became the first season, and playoff games. Four-year television contracts, under which moved nearer the center of the field, 23 player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in The World Football League folded. CBS would televise all NFC games and yards, 1 foot, 9 inches from the sidelines. a season, gaining 2,003. 1976 NBC all AFC games (except Monday night The method of determining won-lost per- 1974 Pittsburgh defeated Dallas 21-17 in Super games) and the two would divide televising centage in standings changed. Tie games, Sweeping rules changes were adopted to Bowl X in Miami. The Steelers joined the Super Bowl and AFC-NFC Pro Bowl previously not counted in the standings, add action and tempo to games: one sud- Green Bay and Miami as the only teams games, were announced. were made equal to a half-game won and a den-death overtime period was added for to win two Super Bowls; the Cowboys half-game lost. The merged 26-team league adopted rules preseason and regular-season games; the became the first wild-card team to play in changes putting names on the backs of The National District Attorneys Association goal posts were moved from the goal line the Super Bowl. players’ jerseys, making a point after touch- endorsed the position of professional to the end lines; kickoffs were moved from The owners adopted the use of two 30-sec- down worth only one point, and making the leagues in opposing proposed legalization the 40- to the 35-yard line; after missed field ond clocks for all games, visible to both scoreboard clock the official timing device of gambling on professional team sports. goals from beyond the 20, the ball was to be players and fans to note the official time of the game. 1973 returned to the line of scrimmage; restrictions between the ready-for-play signal and snap The Players Negotiating Committee and Rozelle announced that all Super Bowl VII were placed on members of the punting team of the ball. the NFL Players Association announced a tickets were sold and that the game would to open up return possibilities; roll-blocking 1977 four-year agreement guaranteeing approxi- be telecast in Los Angeles, the site of the and cutting of wide receivers was eliminated; A 16-game regular season, 4-game pre- mately $4,535,000 annually to player pen- game, on an experimental basis. the extent of downfield contact a defender season was adopted to begin in 1978. A sion and insurance benefits. The owners could have with an eligible receiver was A jersey numbering system was adopted: second wild-card team was adopted for also agreed to contribute $250,000 annu- restricted; the penalties for offensive holding, 1-19 for quarterbacks and specialists, 20-49 the playoffs beginning in 1978, with the ally to improve or implement items such illegal use of the hands, and tripping were for running backs and defensive backs, wild-card teams to play each other and the as disability payments, widows’ benefits, reduced from 15 to 10 yards; wide receivers 50-59 for centers and linebackers, 60-79 winners advancing to a round of eight post- maternity benefits, and dental benefits. The blocking back toward the ball within three for defensive linemen and interior offensive season series. agreement also provided for increased pre- linemen other than centers, and 80-89 for yards of the line of scrimmage were pre- Rules changes were adopted to open up the season game and per diem payments, aver- wide receivers and tight ends. Players who vented from blocking below the waist. passing game and to cut down on injuries. aging approximately $2.6 million annually. had been in the NFL in 1972 could continue The defeated the Defenders were permitted to make contact Vince Lombardi died of cancer at 57, to use old numbers. 22-21 in the WFL World with eligible receivers only once; the head September 3. Bowl, winning the league championship. NFL Charities, a nonprofit organization, slap was outlawed; offensive linemen were The Super Bowl trophy was renamed the was created to derive an income from mon- 1975 prohibited from thrusting their hands to an Vince Lombardi trophy, September 10. ies generated from NFL Properties’ licens- Pittsburgh defeated Minnesota 16-6 opponent’s neck, face, or head; and wide Tom Dempsey of New Orleans kicked a ing of NFL trademarks and team names. in Super Bowl IX at New Orleans, the receivers were prohibited from clipping, game-winning NFL-record 63-yard field NFL Charities was set up to support educa- Steelers’ first championship since entering even in the legal clipping zone. tion and charitable activities and to supply the NFL in 1933. goal against Detroit. continued on page 55

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