Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Dallas Cowboys America's Team Celebrating 50 Years of NFL Championship Football by Ed Housewright ISBN 13: 9780984192717. Dallas Cowboys America's Team: Celebrating 50 Years of Championship NFL Football. Ed Housewright. This specific ISBN edition is currently not available. Dallas Cowboys America's Team by Ed Housewright, with a foreword by Troy Aikman and published by the Associated Press, is a Texas-sized celebration of the most popular team in the NFL. This retrospective of more than 200 photographs are drawn from the voluminous archives of the Associated Press. This is the first time the AP has opened their photo archive for a sports anniversary book through their own imprint. These AP photos capture the panorama, drama and culture of the NFL football in Texas' favorite sport and America's favorite team. "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. Dallas Cowboys America's Team by Ed Housewright, with a foreword by Troy Aikman and published by the Associated Press, is a Texas-sized celebration of the most popular team in the NFL. This retrospective of more than 150 photographs is drawn from the voluminous archives of the Associated Press. About the Author : Ed Housewright is an award-winning reporter for the Dallas Morning News. He has written extensively about the Dallas Cowboys, including two books, 100 Things Cowboy Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die , and Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Dallas Cowboys Football History . Dallas Cowboys America's Team: Celebrating 50 Years of NFL Championship Football by Ed Housewright. John J. Monteleone is the editorial director and managing executive of Mountain Lion, Inc., a book development and production company, publisher and literary agency specializing in sports, topical reference, health, self-help, fitness, business, commemorative, professional and children's subjects. His duties include consulting, writing, editing, sales, product development, project management and general administration. Mr. Monteleone is well known in the book business as a writer/editor and agent/producer of quality books. His works have attained best-selling status and received national recognition, including the prestigious PBS-TV Rainbow Room award for best children's books and multiple New York Public Library book-of-the-year awards. He edited Branch Rickey's Little Blue Book: The Wit and Strategy of Baseball's Last Wise Man , wrote What Makes a Boomerang Come Back: How Things in Sports Work, Coaching the Little League Hitter and A Day in the Life of a Major League Baseball Player, a children's book and authored Luke , a novel of baseball and the Mafia. He wrote The Louisville Slugger Ultimate Book of Hitting and The Louisville Slugger Complete Book of Hitting Faults and Fixes , and collaborated on The Little Book of Putting with T.J. Tomasi, PGA, Saving Par: How to Hit the 40 Toughest Shots in Golf , with Todd Sones, PGA, and Lowdown from the Lesson Tee with David Glenz, PGA. Among his credits as a book developer and producer: Dallas Cowboys—America's Team: Celebrating 50 Years of Championship NFL Football by Ed Housewright. First Pet: The Presidents and Their Beloved Canines, Felines and Other Four-Legged Creatures Who Made Their Home at the White House by John J. Monteleone and the Staff of the Associated Press. The Official New York Yankee Encyclopedia by Harvey Frommer. The Art of Hitting .300 by N.Y. Yankees batting coach Charley Lau with Alfred Glossbrenner. The Art of Pitching by Tom Seaver, former N.Y. Met pitcher and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kentucky Bred: A Celebration of Thoroughbred Breeding by Dan White with Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer, Jon Naso. The PGA Tour Complete Book of Golf: Lessons and Advice from the Best Players in the Game by Michael Corcoran. Speaking Freely: A Guided Tour of American English by Stuart Berg Flexner and Anne H. Soukhanov. He is a former board member and past president of the American Book Producers Association (ABPA), a trade association of independent book producers in the United States and Canada. He served for three years as co-chairman of the ABPA's contracts committee, which developed a model contract, and chairman for six years of the Exhibit/Trade Show Committee. From the Hall of Fame Archives: The 1940's All-Decade Team. See which greats, like Hall of Fame , helped forge the NFL ahead with this photographic look at the 1940's All- Decade Team. Copied! Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Waterfield runs upfield in a 70 to 27 win over the Baltimore Colts on October 22, 1950 at Los Angeles Memorial Colesium. After a rookie season in 1945 that led him to become the first rookie ever to win the league's MVP title, Waterfield continued to captain the Ram's feared offense. He was named first- or second-team All-NFL five times. One of the game's most versatile players, he was also an ace defensive back for his first four seasons, a top punter with a 42.4 yard average, and a deadly place kicker. In eight seasons he totaled 573 points on 13 touchdowns, 315 PATs and 60 field goals. He led the in passing in 1946 and 1951, finishing with career totals of 814 completions, 11,849 yards gained and 97 touchdown passes. (Photo by Vic Stein/NFL) Offensive tackle of the , circa 1940's. He played his entire nine-year NFL career for the Eagles and became their team captain. He was named to play in the NFL's first as an Eagle. During most of Wistert's career there were no football All-star games although he was named to the league All-Pro team eight times.(Photo by NFL/NFL) Bruno Banducci was born in Tassignano, Italy, but moved to the US for high school and college. He was elected into the Stanford University Football Hall of Fame and selected by the combined Philadelphia/Pittsburgh team in the 1943 Draft. He went on to play guard on the San Francisco 49ers for 9 years, playing a large role in the success of their running game with his effective blocking. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) Hall of Fame halfback was a first round draft pick of the in 1942. Dudley played for 3 teams in his 9 year career. The 5-10, 182-pound halfback ran, passed, punted, and placekicked. He returned punts and kickoffs, caught passes, and was a deadly defender. The 1946 season with the Steelers was his League MVP campaign as he led the league in rushing, punt returns, interceptions, and lateral passes attempted. Never before had an NFL player led the league in four distinctly different statistical categories, and it�s not likely to happen again anytime soon. (Photo by Nate Fine/NFL) Fullback of the Bears runs upfield in a 73 to 0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship on December 8, 1940 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Osmanski was drafted in the 1st round (6th pick overall) of the 1939 NFL Draft by the . The pick paid immediate dividends for the Bears as Osmanski led the NFL in rushing in 1939 with 699 yards. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) , at 6-2 and 210 pounds, was small by pro football standards in 1946, yet he performed in a class by himself, particularly on defense. In the eight years he played for the from 1946 through 1953, he was a first-team All-League selection seven times and a second- team choice once. He also played in three NFL Pro Bowls. It was Bill's touchdown-saving tackle in a playoff game against the New York Giants that enabled the Browns to continue their quest for the 1950 championship their first year in the NFL after four dominating seasons in the All- America Football Conference. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) » Video: Bill Willis retrospective. is featured on the program for a 1942 NFL game against the Redskins. He played offensive tackle for the Giants in 1942 and 1943 before entering the military. He was also able to play three games in 1944 while on furlough. During that time he was an outstanding performer, being chosen All-Pro, and given special acclaim for his ability to obliterate would-be kick returners in the open field. Blozis was killed in combat in France in 1945, and his number was retired by the Giants. (Pro Football Hall of Fame) was drafted was the in the 3rd round (24th overall) of the 1939 Draft. He went on to play center and back for 9 seasons with the Packers, and was selected to the Pro Bowl 3 times and First Team All-Pro once. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) After graduation from the University of Colorado, Byron "Whizzer" White signed with the NFL's Pittsburgh Pirates (now Steelers), playing there during the 1938 season. He took 1939 off to study at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, but returned to play for the from 1940-41. In three NFL seasons, he played in 33 games. He led the league in rushing yards in 1938 and 1940. His career was cut short when he entered the US Navy during World War II; after the war, he elected to attend law school rather than returning to football. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1954 and went on to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) of the Chicago Cardinals was signed to a staggering $100,000, 4-year contract in 1946, causing a breakthrough in the war between the NFL and AAFC. In the 1947 NFL Championship Game, when the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-21, Trippi wore basketball shoes for better traction on the icy field and totaled 206 yards, including 102 yards on two punt returns. He scored touchdowns on a 44-yard run and a 75-yard punt return. Trippi could and would do anything on a football field. He played as a left halfback for four seasons before switching to quarterback for two years. He then moved back to offensive halfback for one campaign before changing almost exclusively to the defensive unit in 1954 and 1955. He also was the Cardinals' punter and he excelled on the punt and kickoff return teams. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) Hall of fame center Clyde " Bulldog " Turner of the Chicago Bears in his rookie season in 1940. As a linebacker who was blessed with halfback speed, Turner, in 1942, led the league in interceptions with eight. On offense, he was a flawless snapper and an exceptional blocker who could also play guard or tackle. Never was his versatility more evident than in 1944 when he was asked to fill in as a ball carrier in an emergency situation. He consistently ground out long gains, including a 48-yard touchdown romp. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) During his eight-year career (1948-1955) with the Bears, George Connor was named to the All-NFL team at three different positions - offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and linebacker. In 1952 and 1953, he was named all-league on both the offensive and defensive teams by different wire services. He seemingly instinctively knew about keys - the tips that the movements of certain offensive players will provide to the alert defender as to which way the play if going - long before keys became the vogue. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) Hall of Fame wide receiver of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch and chased by Rex Berry in a 23 to 21 win over the San Francisco 49ers. To make the Browns after a long stint in the U. S. Army had limited his college experience to just three games, he had to beat out four more experienced and highly regarded candidates. But Dante not only prevailed, he led the league in receptions and won All-AAFC honors in his rookie season. He also caught the winning touchdown pass in the first AAFC championship game between the Browns and the New York Yankees. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) dropped out of high school in his sophomore year and began working in Philadelphia supermarkets. He began playing pro football in local leagues in 1934, initially getting $7 per game. He gained a tryout with the Eagles in 1939, and was signed by their farm team, the Wilmington Clippers. After another tryout, he played end in three games for the Eagles in 1941, but was sent back to Wilmington until making the Philadelphia roster for good in 1944. He was a member of the Eagles' championship teams in 1948 and 1949. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) Chicago Bear Hall of Fame running back/defensive back George McAfee takes a handoff from Hall of Fame quarterback in a 1940s file photo. In his first exhibition game, McAfee returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown with just seconds remaining to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 1940 regular-season opener, he ran back a kickoff 93 yards and threw a touchdown pass in a 41-10 Bears victory over arch-rival Green Bay. In the historic 73-0 rout of the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, McAfee contributed a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown. (Photo by NFL/NFL) The 11th overall pick in the 1938 Draft, Jim Benton began his career with the Cleveland Rams. He spent the 1943 season with the Chicago Bears before returning to the Rams where he would stay through their move to Los Angeles in 1946. Shown here, Cleveland Rams head coach Adam Walsh, running back Donald Greenwood, quarterback Bob Waterfield, end Jim Benton, and backfield coach Bob Synder assemble in the lockerroom to celebrate a 15-14 win over the Washington Redskins in a NFL Championship Game on December 16, 1945 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) After a Hall of Fame college career at LSU, played for the Chicago Bears. His career was interrupted by World War II where he was a pilot in the European theater. He flew 30 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. After the war, he continued his career with the Bears. Kavanaugh spent a total of eight seasons in Chicago, setting team records for most single-season touchdown receptions, and highest average gain, for both career and season. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) When positioned at both offensive guard and then middle guard, on defense, Frank "Bucko" Kilroy played notoriously rough down in the trenches from 1943-55 for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kilroy and the Eagles captured back-to-back NFL Championships in 1948 and 1949. The Eagles won both championship games in shutouts, due in no small part to Kilroy, defeating Chicago 7-0 during a blinding snowstorm in 1948 and Los Angeles 14-0 on a rain-soaked field the following season. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Wide receiver #58 the Cleveland Browns gathers in a reception against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns defeated the NFL champion Eagles 35-10 in the first game of the merger between the AAFC and the NFL. In each of the four seasons of the AAFC's existence, the Browns captured the championship, with Speedie being on the receiving end of 211 passes for over 3,500 yards and 24 touchdowns. From 1947 to 1949, Speedie led the league in receiving, with arguably his most spectacular scoring effort coming on November 2, 1947. Catching Otto Graham's pass from the Browns' one-yard line, Speedie scored on a 99-yard pass play. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos) Fullback of the Cleveland Browns prepares for contact in a 28 to 56 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 9, 1949 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, California. Motley was the AAFC's all-time rushing leader and also led the NFL in ground gaining in his initial season in the league in 1950. That year, in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the powerful Motley rushed for 188 yards on just 11 carries for a 17.1 yards-per-carry average. In his nine professional seasons, he amassed 4,720 yards on 828 carries for an amazing 5.7 yards-per-carry average. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL) » Video: Marion Motley retrospective. (34) of the Chicago Cardinals supports teammate Charley Trippi in a 27 to 22 win over the Los Angeles Rams on October 31, 1948 at Los Angeles Memorial Colesium. Harder was drafted 2nd overall in the 1944 NFL Draft by the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals. Harder was part of the Cardinals' "Million-Dollar Backfield" which also included quarterback Paul Christman and halfback Trippi. He was the first player in league history to score over 100 points in three consecutive years, which he did from 1947-1949, leading the league all three years. (Photo by Vic Stein/NFL) Wide receiver (35) of the Philadelphia Eagles grabs a catch over Les Horvath of the Los Angeles Rams. Immediately after Pete joined the Eagles, the team marched to its first divisional championship. In the playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Eastern Division crown, he blocked a punt to set up the first touchdown in the Eagles 21-0 win. Philadelphia won three straight divisional championships and then back-to- back NFL titles by shutout scores. (Photo by Vic Stein/NFL) A free agent from Vanderbilt in 1938, Buford was a dominating blocker and defensive tackle. The 6'6" Baby Ray was a giant of a lineman in his time. He weighed more than 280 pounds in college but dropped 30 pounds in his first season in Green Bay. Ray played 11 seasons, from 1938-'48. He was a member of two Packer championship teams. Ray became a long-time Packer scout after his retirement and was inducted into the Packer's Hall of Fame. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) Washington Redskins Hall of Fame quarterback in 1940. When Baugh first started with the Redskins, pro football was largely a grind-it-out ground game. The forward pass was something to be used with caution. By the time Baugh was through, the forward pass was a primary offensive weapon. He won a record-setting six NFL passing titles and earned first-team All-NFL honors seven times in his career. Sammy also led the NFL in punting four straight years from 1940 through 1943 and he led the NFL in passing, pass interceptions, and punting in 1943. (Photo by Nate Fine/NFL) played offensive guard/tackle for the Eagles from 11941-1953, playing with the team during its two NFL Championship titles in 1948- 49. He was a 1st Team All-Pro selection in 1943 and 1949 and was selected by various wire services to 1st or 2nd Team All-NFL in five different seasons. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) Quarterback Sid Luckman #42 of the Chicago Bears runs past end Tom Fears #55 of the Los Angeles Rams during a game played on November 7, 1948 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Luckman, in his 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears, became the first successful T-formation quarterback. The 1940 NFL title game, which saw the Bears defeat the Washington Redskins, 73-0, showcased the explosive possibilities of the T attack. Almost immediately, many other pro teams began to adopt the new formation. Luckman was named first- or second-team all-league from 1940 through 1948 and won league MVP honors in 1943. (Photo by Vic Stein /NFL Photos) , lineman and defensive end for the Chicago Bears from 1944-1955, was known to many as "The Meanest Man in Pro Football" and was nicknamed "The Claw." He was selected to four Pro Bowls, playing with the team during their four Championship seasons in the 40's and led the defense in the 50's as they earned the moniker "Monsters of the Midway." (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame (15) on a carry in a game against the Washington Redskins circa 1940s at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Van Buren surpassed 1,000 yards rushing twice, won four NFL rushing titles and a rare "triple crown" in 1945 when he led in rushing, scoring, and kickoff returns. He was a first-team All-NFL selection each of his first six seasons. Van Buren lined up as a halfback but played more like a fullback as the battering ram of a powerful Eagles squad that dominated the NFL in the late 1940s.(Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL) Hall of Fame running back of the Green Bay Packers. Canadeo played offense and defense, ran with the ball, threw passes, caught passes, returned punts and kickoffs, punted and intercepted passes. In 11 years, he rushed for 4,197 yards, passed for 1,642 yards, recorded 69 receptions for 579 yards, gained 513 yards on punt returns, 1,736 on kickoff returns, and scored 186 points. Altogether the versatile Canadeo gained 8,667 multi-purpose yards, accounting for almost 75 yards in each of the 116 games he played. Add to that, he also intercepted 9 passes and punted 45 times during his remarkable career. (Photo by NFL/NFL) was selected in the 8th round (67th overall) by the New York Giants in the 1941 NFL Draft, and played a variety of positions, including linebacker, offensive lineman, kicker, and punter. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his alma mater, Oregon State, in 1988. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame) NFL Homecoming. With their playing days behind them, former NFL players often return to the field of their glory days to be honored with a warm reception from the home crowd. Take a look at some of the players who have returned in our NFL homecoming gallery. Copied! Former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall-of Fame running back Franco Harris greets members of the one time Pittsburgh Steelers cheerleaders, the Steelerettes, before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mel Blount greets members of the one time Pittsburgh Steelers cheerleaders, the Steelerettes, before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks reacts to a play while watching from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. The 49ers won 33-14. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) Former Indianapolis Colts running back Marshall Faulk addresses the crowd as he was inducted in the team's "Ring of Honor" as owner Jim Irsay looks on during half time of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Former Minnesota Viking John Randle acknowledges the crowd during a ceremony honoring the All Mall of America Field team during half time of an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King) Former Minnesota Viking Steve Hutchinson acknowledges the crowd during a ceremony honoring the All Mall of America Field team during half time of an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King) Former Minnesota Viking Daunte Culpepper acknowledges the crowd during a ceremony honoring the All Mall of America Field team during half time of an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King) Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, center, mascot Jaxson de Ville, left, and owner Shahid Kahn, right, watch a highlight video of Brunell's career during a halftime ceremony inducting him into the team's Pride of the Jaguars honor group during an NFL football game against the against the Buffalo Bills in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Former Minnesota Vikings players, from left, Steve Jordan, Chris Doleman, Daunte Culpepper and pose for a photo before a ceremony honoring the All Mall of America Field team during half time of an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King) Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor acknowledges the crowd after being introduced with other former players prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay , right, introduces former Colts running back Erik Dickerson as he was inducted in the team's "Ring of Honor" during half time of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Former Indianapolis Colts running back Erik Dickerson addresses the crowd as he was inducted in the team's "Ring of Honor" during half time of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and former running back speak on the NFL Network set prior to the NFL regular season game between the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos on Dec. 12, 2013 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. (Ric Tapia/NFL) From left, former Denver Broncos players Terrell Davis, Tom Nalen, Haven Moses, Randy Gradishar and Rod Smith walk off the field after watching the coin toss before an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) Former Denver Broncos Karl Mecklenburg holds a football trophy during the Homecoming ceremony at half time of an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) The NFL Homecoming logo adorns the field at Sports Authority Field at Mile High during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) Former Denver Bronco Louis Wright presents the state title trophy to the Liberty Stratton football team during the half time Homecoming ceremony at an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) Referee Bill Vinovich (52) shows the coin toSan Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos team captains for the coin toss of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) (L-R) Chicago Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips, Chairman George McKaskey, and former player and coach look on as Ditka's number 89 jersey is retired during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, in Chicago, IL. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL) Former Chicago Bears player and coach Mike Ditka speaks to fans as his number 89 jersey is retired during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, in Chicago, IL. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL) Former Chicago Bears tight end and coach Mike Ditka waits to take the stage for the ceremony retiring his jersey and sweater at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on December 9, 2013. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL) Former Chicago Bears player and football coach Mike Ditka acknowledges fans as he takes the stage for a ceremony to retire his No. 89 during halftime of an NFL football game between the Bears and Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, in Chicago. The Hall of Famer is the 14th Bear to have his number retired by the team. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Warren Sapp wipes his face after being inducted in the Ring of Honor ceremony during halftime in an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Warren Sapp acknowledges spectators in the stands after being inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Warren Sapp speaks after being inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Warren Sapp, center, poses with family members after being inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp waves to the fans after being inducted into the team's ring of Honor during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Monday, Nov. 11, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Former New York Jets wide receiver Wesley Walker, left, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath, center, and Hall of Fame wide receiver Don Maynard, right, participate in a New York Jets Ring of Honor ceremony honoring former Jets defensive tackle Marty Lyons during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Former Dallas Cowboys Jay Novacek and Chad Hennings during an NFL football game, against the Washington Redskins Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman) Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly waves during ceremonies at halftime of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert) Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter, left, talks with Thursday Night Football analyst Michael Irvin, right, before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) Former Los Angeles Raiders player Bo Jackson waves after lighting a torch for former owner Al Davis before an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Titans in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, left, leads a cheer with former Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffers from ALS, before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Oakland Raiders hall of famers, from left, Willie Brown, John Madden, and Rod Woodson during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Former Chicago Bears players (50) and Ed O'Bradovich talk with each other during halftime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Chicago. The 1963 Bears team, which won the NFL Championship over the New York Giants, was honored during halftime. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching) Former Chicago Bears players cornerback Larry Glueck (43), defensive tackle John Johnson (76) and offensive guard Ted Karras (67) are seen on the field during halftime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Chicago. The 1963 Bears team, which won the NFL Championship over the New York Giants, was honored during halftime. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching) Former Detroit Lions and NFL Hall of Fame members, from left, Lem Barney, and Charlie Sanders are introduced during an alumni celebration at half time of the Detroit Lions NFL football game against the Dallas Coyboys in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Former NFL player Jerry Rice waves before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Kehoe) Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back , center, walking with his wife Monique, waves before being honored during an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in Cleveland. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, right, watches. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown acknowledges the crowd after being honored at halftime of an NFL football game between the Browns and the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard) Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, third from right, and his wife Monique Brown, back center, pose for a photo with their family, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, left, and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, third from left, during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24. (AP Photo/David Richard) Hall of Fame inductee and former Dallas Cowboys player Larry Allen acknowledges cheers from fans as he stands by his HOF bust, right, on the field during a ceremony at half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins where Allen was honored, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Former Dallas Cowboys player and Hall of Fame inductee Larry Allen, second from left, reaches up to touch his own bust as team owner Jerry Jones, third from left, does the same during a ceremony at half time of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. Team president Stephen Jones, and HOF representative Steve Perry, second from right along with Charlotte Jones, right, watch. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman) The Name Games: Five All-Time Classic NFL Contests You Know by Name. NFL history is replete with games that have become so famous (or infamous) and so ingrained into the public consciousness that all you have to do is utter a word or a phrase to a fan and there’s an instant recall. As much as any of the legends that have actually suited up for the NFL, these games are an essential part of this history and fabric of professional football in America. Let’s take a look at just five of the most well-known. The Ice Bowl – Cowboys vs. Packers, December 31, 1967. When you hear someone like Chris Berman talk about “the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field,” you can credit this game as the inspiration. On the last day of the 1967 season, the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys met in a rematch of the previous year’s NFL Championship. The official game-time temperature was a balmy −15°F / −25°C, with a wind chill around −48°F / −44°C. To this day it’s still the coldest game ever in terms of actual air temperature. To put this into perspective, consider that the average February low temperature for Nome, Alaska is −2.3°F / - 19.06°C. Brrr. This would be nothing more than a trivia question, however, if not for the game itself. The Packers jumped out to a 14-0 lead after a pair of to TD passes, but a pair of costly miscues led to 10 Dallas points. The Cowboys took the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, when Dan Reeves halfback option went for 50 yards to Lance Rentzel. That seemingly iced (ha ha) the win for Dallas, until Starr marched his team nearly 70 yards downfield with less than five minutes to play. With 16 seconds to play and his team on the Dallas 1-yard-line Starr followed the blocking of guard to paydirt, giving the Packers their third consecutive NFL title. The Miracle at the Meadowlands – Eagles vs. Giants, November 19, 1978. From the sublime to the sad. In week 12 of the 1978 campaign the New York Giants hosted the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles at the Meadowlands. New York came into the game with a three-game losing streak and a sub-.500 record, while the Eagles had won two in a row to climb to 6-5 and third place behind Dallas and Washington. They had also not lost to the Giants since the opening game of the 1975 season. Despite being favored, the Eagles fell behind 14-0 after Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik threw a pair of touchdowns. Down 17-6 to start the final period, Philly fullback Mike Hogan ran for a one-yard score to make the score 17-12 (the PAT failed). But after Eagles QB threw his third interception of the game, New York seemed to have things all sewn up (CBS even started rolling their closing credits). They simply had to kill 31 seconds on a 3rd-and-2 from their own 29. The smart play would’ve been for Pisarcik to take a knee and run the clock. They did not choose the smart play. For some baffling reason offensive coordinator Bob Gibson called a running play. Pisarcik attempted to hand the ball off to Larry Csonka, but never really had a firm grip. He lost the ball and it was picked up by Eagles defensive back (and future mediocre coach) Herman Edwards, who sprinted for a touchdown. For a fan base used to disappointment – the Giants had logged two winning seasons since 1963 – The (as it was known locally) was simply one more punch to the groin. For Gibson, it spelled the end of his career. He was fired the next day and never worked in football again. The team, meanwhile, lost three of their last four to finish 6-10, good for last place. Head coach John McVay’s contract expired after 1978 and was not renewed. He never coached again, although he did find a front office job with the 49ers. Pisarcik was released after the 1979 season and he finished his career with the Eagles. Csonka’s contract expired and he opted to return to the Miami Dolphins for his final year. The Catch – Cowboys vs. 49ers, January 10, 1982. Man, I never get tired of watching Dallas lose. And this was more than just any Cowboys loss. This was a very real passing of the torch for NFC dominance. The Cowboys, who pretty much owned the NFC in the ’70s (along with the Minnesota Vikings) and were playing in a second-straight conference championship game, squared off against a San Francisco squad that was improving rapidly under third-year head coach Bill Walsh and second-year starting QB Joe Montana. The two teams traded the lead six times heading into the final five minutes. The 49ers, down 27-21, took the ball on their own 11 and marched down the field largely on the strength of Montana’s arm and Lenvil Elliott’s legs. They drove all the way to the Dallas 6 with just 51 seconds to play and facing a 3rd-and-3. Walsh sent Montana in with a play known as “Sprint Right Option,” which called for Montana to roll right and locate his primary receiver, Freddie Solomon. The two had already connected for a first-quarter TD using this play, but this time it nearly fell apart. Solomon slipped coming off the line and Montana was harassed by Dallas defenders Ed “Too Tall” Jones and D.D. Lewis. Montana heaved a pass that for all appearances looked like it was going to sail past the end zone. But tight end Dwight Clark, the second option on the play, leaped up about 12 feet (or so it seemed) and snagged the pass for a touchdown. That tied the game at 27 until Ray Wersching nailed the most important PAT in team history. With that catch, the 49ers advanced to their first Super Bowl. They beat the Cincinnati Bengals for the first of four NFL titles in the ’80s. The dejected Cowboys made it back to the NFC title game during the strike-shortened 1982 season but lost to the hated Washington Redskins. They didn’t win another playoff game for the remainder of the 1980s. The Greatest Game Ever Played – Colts vs. Giants, December 28, 1958. Remember the days the NFL didn’t finish their season right before baseball started? Me neither. This game hearkens back to the days before playoffs as we know them. The 9-3 Baltimore Colts rolled into Yankee Stadium as winners of the Western Division. The 9-3 New York Giants won the Eastern Division after defeating Cleveland in a tie-breaking playoff, 10-0. Although the Colts dominated the Giants statistically, they squandered a 14-3 lead and actually fell behind, 17-14, in the fourth period. A 20-yard Steve Myhra field goal evened the score at 17 with seven seconds to play, and that’s how the fourth quarter ended. Seeing as it would be pretty crappy to end a championship game with a tie (this isn’t soccer after all), the stage was set for the first sudden-death overtime game in NFL playoff history. Most of the players hadn’t even heard of overtime, so new was the concept. The Giants won the coin toss but failed to do anything with the ball. Baltimore – led by the legendary John Unitas – took the ball on their own 20 for the ensuing drive and bullied an exhausted Giants defense down the field for 13 plays. With an estimated TV audience of 45 million glued to their sets, the Colts won the game when fullback plunged one yard for a touchdown. Most fans and historians point to this game as the catalyst for the NFL’s popularity explosion in the 1960s. America’s growing appetite for football led to the creation of an entirely new league – the League – in 1960. The Colts and Giants met again for the 1959 championship, and Baltimore took their second-straight NFL title. After a few seasons of struggle the Colts fired head coach Weeb Ewbank and replaced him with Don Shula. They did OK for themselves throughout the ’60s. The Giants went on to appear in and lose three more NFL championships in the ensuing four seasons. They fell off a cliff in 1964 and didn’t make the postseason again until 1981. Oh by the way, here’s some fun trivia. The offensive and defensive coordinators for New York’s ’58 squad? and Tom Landry. The Snowplow Game – Dolphins vs. Patriots, December 12, 1982. The odd, strike-shortened 1982 season got even odder. Don Shula brought his 4-1 Dolphins into New England’s Schaefer Stadium for an AFC East showdown with Ron Meyer’s 2-3 Patriots. A major snowstorm all but guaranteed a low-scoring affair, which this game certainly was. With nine inches of snow on an already frozen artificial playing surface, the game was scoreless through the first 55 minutes. That’s when New England found itself in field goal position on the Miami 16, and that’s when Mark Henderson became a Patriots hero. Henderson, a convicted burglar on a work-release program, was part of the stadium’s maintenance crew. His task was to keep the sidelines and yard markers clear of snow, a fruitless effort on that day. Meyer, whose team had already missed one field goal due to the horrendous conditions, found Henderson and ordered him onto the field with his tractor. Backup QB and holder Matt Cavanaugh led Henderson to the spot where he would take the snap and Henderson obliged by clearing a swath. Placekicker John Smith nailed a 33-yard field goal and New England won the game. Shula was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it. The NFL banned the use of snowplows prior to kicks for the next season. The “plow” itself, was actually a John Deere tractor with sweeping broom attached. The broom was mothballed when the Foxboro field was converted to natural grass. During the Patriots’ final regular-season home game in Schaefer/Foxboro, Henderson saddled up once more and rode the tractor and broom onto the field to the cheers of fans. Their opponent? The Dolphins.