Atlanta Falcons Trade To Get Michael Vick

On April 21, 2001, the first day of the NFL draft was held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The draft is most remembered for the trade that took place between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Diego Chargers.

Ladainian Tomlinson was selected fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

The Falcons traded their first round pick, fifth overall, along with their third round pick in 2001, a second round pick in 2002 and wide receiver Tim Dwight to the Chargers for the No.1 overall pick.
 
Atlanta used the No.1 pick to draft quarterback Michael Vick out of Virginia Tech, while San Diego took running back Ladainian Tomlinson from Texas Christian University with the fifth selection.


When this trade was first made, it was tough to tell who got the better deal, but after some time it was quite obvious who the winner was.

Michael Vick was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Although Vick had some early success in Atlanta, his off-field problems all but killed his career, until his resurgence a few years ago in Philadelphia.

However, Tomlinson was a premier running back in the NFL for the entire decade with the Chargers and a solid tandem back with the Jets.

Vick is still currently in the NFL, now with the New York Jets, while Tomlinson is happily retired.

NFL Pro Bowl + Podcast

Scratch Hit Sports creator Stephen Langsam recaps the NFL Championship Round Playoffs with former co-host of the Sporting Hangover, Ryan Hilton.

We talk about the "New" style Pro Bowl, and draft our own Pro Bowl teams. Just a quick five on five draft, sorry offensive lineman, this one is just about skill positions!

We also dive into a few thoughts about the Super Bowl.


NFL Pro Bowl Podcast

Super Bowl History

January 26th has been a day where many Super Bowls were played. Here are a few that had some very interesting story lines.

On Jan. 26, 1986 Super Bowl XX (20) was played The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 46-10 in the Louisiana Superdome.

At the time, it was the most lopsided Super Bowl in history as linebacker Richard Dent was named the game's MVP.

New England jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but then Chicago's defense clamped down and the offense picked it up a notch. The Bears rattled off the next 44 points to secure their victory.

The Superdome in New Orleans is playing the host for this years Super Bowl with the 49ers and Ravens.

On Jan. 26, 1992, Super Bowl XXVI (26) was played at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.,

Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins was the game's MVP as the Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills by a score of 37-24. Rypien threw for 292 yards on 18-for-33 passing.

Washington had a 24-0 lead before Buffalo even scored its first points in the third quarter.

On Jan. 26, 1997, the Green Bay Packers won their first Super Bowl in the modern NFL over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI (31).

Desmond Howard was the game's MVP as his 99-yard kickoff return in the third quarter sealed the game for the Packers.

The final score was 35-21 as quarterback Brett Favre beat the Patriots' Drew Bledsoe.

On Jan. 26, 2003, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders, in Super Bowl XXXVII (37).

The final score was 48-21 as the Buccaneers scored three touchdowns directly off interceptions.

Dwight Smith had two of those interceptions and Derrick Brooks had the other as Tampa Bay won their only Super Bowl title in their only appearance in the Super Bowl to this point.

NFL Divisional Round Playoffs + Brady and Manning Playoff Moments.

Scratch Hit Sports creator Stephen Langsam recaps the NFL Divisional Round Playoffs with former co-host of the Sporting Hangover, Ryan Hilton, our predictions for the championship round, as well who is the best quarterback in each matchup.

We also dive into the previous Tom Brady and Peyton Manning playoff moments.

Scratch Hit Sports NFL Divisional Round Podcast

NFL Pro Bowl Debuts

On Jan. 15, 1939, the NFL hosts the first ever Pro Bowl.

The New York Giants played the Pro All-Stars at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, Calif. The Giants won the game by a score of 13-10 over a team that had several future Hall of Fame inductees.

The NFL's version of the all-star game would change formats over several years. Sometimes teams would play college stars. Other times the game would be held in the summer.

For the first time in 1939, the Pro Bowl was held after the season was over.

The NFL All-Star Game was played again in Los Angeles in 1940 and then in New York and Philadelphia in 1941 and 1942 respectively. Although originally planned as an annual contest, the all-star game was discontinued after 1942 because of travel restrictions put in place during World War I.

During the first five all-star games, an all-star team would face that year's league champion. The league champion won the first four games before the all-stars were victorious in the final game of this early series.

The concept of an all-star game would not be revived until June 1950, when the newly christened "Pro Bowl" was approved.

The Los Angeles Publishers Association sponsored the game. It was decided that the game would feature all-star teams from each of the league's two divisions rather than the league champion versus all-star format, which had been used previously.

This was done to avoid confusion with the Chicago College All-Star Game, an annual game that featured the league champion against a collegiate all-star team. The coach of each of the division champions would lead the teams.

The first 21 games of the series (1951–1972) were played in Los Angeles, California. The site of the game was changed annually for each of the next seven years before the game was moved to Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii for thirty consecutive seasons from 1980 through 2009.

The 2010 Pro Bowl was played at Sun Life Stadium, the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins and host site of Super Bowl XLIV, on January 31, the first time ever that the Pro Bowl was held before the championship game, with the new rule that the conference teams do not include players from the teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl. T

The 2011 and 2012 Pro Bowls were played again in Hawaii, but again held during the week before the Super Bowl.

Since the merger with the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference (AFC) against those in the National Football Conference (NFC).

Unlike most other sports leagues, which hold their all-star games during (roughly) the halfway point of their respective regular seasons, the Pro Bowl is played at the end of the NFL season.

Currently, players are voted into the Pro Bowl by the coaches, the players themselves, and the fans. Each group's ballots count for one third of the votes. The fans vote online at the NFL's official website. There are also replacements that go to the game should any selected player be unable to play due to injuries. Prior to 1995, only the coaches and the players made Pro Bowl selections.

In order to be considered a Pro Bowler for a given year, a player must either have been one of the initial players selected to the team, or a player who accepts an invitation to the Pro Bowl as an alternate; invited alternates who decline to attend are not considered Pro Bowlers. Being a Pro Bowler is considered to be a mark of honor, and players who are accepted into the Pro Bowl are considered to be elite.

The Pro Bowl head coaches are traditionally the head coaches of the teams that lost in the AFC and NFC championship games for the same season of the Pro Bowl in question (not the case for the 1980 and 1981 seasons, regarding the Pro Bowls played in 1981 and 1982). However, for the 2010 and 2011 Pro Bowls, a new rule was presented: The teams that lose in the divisional playoff game with the best regular-season record will have their coaching staffs lead their respective conference Pro Bowl team. If the losing teams of each conference had the same regular season record the coaches from the higher-seeded team will get the Pro Bowl honor.

A Player of the Game was honored from 1951–56. From 1957–71, awards were presented to both an Outstanding Back and an Outstanding Lineman.

In 1972, there were awards for both an Outstanding Offensive Player and an Outstanding Defensive Player.

From 1973–2007, only one Player of the Game award was honored (though three times this award has been presented to multiple players in a single game).

In 2008 the award was changed to Most Valuable Player (MVP).^.

Since 1984 the winner has received the Dan McGuire Award.

Players are paid for participating in the game with the winning team receiving a larger payout. In the 2011 season, a record $50,000 was awarded for a win versus $25,000 for the losers.

The NFL's all-star game draws bigger television ratings than all other major sports all-star games. The 2012 Pro Bowl drew 13.5 million viewers

Despite the great viewership and the “fun” aspect the Pro Bowl has for players, on Oct. 24, 2012, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had second thoughts about the Pro Bowl taking place this year, telling a Sirius XM show that if the players did not play more competitively, he is “not inclined to play it anymore.”

San Francisco 49ers' Clark Makes "The Catch"

On Jan. 10, 1982, Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers made the play now referred to as "The Catch" in the NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys.

With less than five minutes to go in the game and the 49ers trailing 27-21, Joe Montana led a strong drive to put the 49ers in position. He found Clark on a short touchdown pass and Clark hauled in the catch with 50 seconds left. After the extra point, the 49ers took a 28-27 lead.

Dwight Clark was a hand picked player for Bill Walsh during his tenure as the 49ers head coach. Bill Walsh drafted Dwight Clark as the first pick of the 10th round of the 1979 NFL draft.

Clark embarked on a stellar career for 49ers in which he had 506 catches for 6750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards. He led the NFL in receptions (60) during the strike-shortened 1982 season, and made the Pro Bowl twice in 1981 and 1982 in his nine NFL seasons.

After Walsh drafted Clark, he made Clark and quarterback Joe Montana practice a certain 20-yard rollout "Hail Mary" pass into the end zone at the end of every practice. Walsh wanted to make sure that they could complete that certain pass in the red zone.

That play that Montana and Clark practiced ended up being “The Catch,” smart thinking by Clark to practice that play, which put them in the 1982 Super Bowl.

After nine successful seasons with San Francisco 49ers, Dwight Clark retired after 1987 NFL season.

Clark was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams in 1982 and 1985.

To honor Clark's contribution to 49ers, the club retired his number 87.

After retirement, he has served as a team executive for the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns as well as starring in the lead role in the 1994 direct-to-video comedy Kindergarten Ninja.

Clark has also appeared in the video game, All-Pro Football 2K8.

Clark joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in 2011 as a 49ers analyst for "49ers Postgame Live."

Largent Breaks NFL Record

On Dec. 27, 1987, the Seattle Seahawks played against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium.

The game wasn’t too amazing, but a record set by Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent was, as he made his record breaking 751 receptions in the NFL.

Although Largent got his record of 751 catches and beyond, the Seahawks lost 41-20 as the season wound down. Largent had a touchdown catch in the game as well.

Largent would finish his career as the All-Time leader in the NFL with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards, and 100 receiving touchdowns, and 177 consecutive games with a catch.

Though shortly after his retirement, former San Francisco 49ers great Jerry Rice would surpass all of his records.

Largent is still known today as one of the best white receivers to play the game, compiling over 13,000 receiving yards, 819 catches and 100 touchdowns.

His career accolades include being named to the Pro Bowl seven times, being an eight-time All-Pro selection, being named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade team, winning the 1988 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award.

Largent was inducted into the Canton Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

He was enshrined into the Seahawks Ring of Honor, as well as having his no. 80 jersey retired by Seattle in 1992 and being named to the Seahawks 35^th Anniversary team in 2010.

After his football career Largent would go into Politics, where he has been in the U.S. House of Represenatives from Oklahoma’s first district from Nov. 29, 1994 to Feb. 15 2002. Largent would win all four elections he was up for by at least 24 percent of the vote.

Green Bay Packers Play First Game

On Oct. 23, 1921, the Green Bay Packers play their first game.

The Green Bay Packers played their first official NFL game against the Minneapolis Marines. 

The Packers won the game 7-6 when Curly Lambeau kicked the winning extra point. 

The Packers are one of the most beloved franchises in NFL history and have won 13 league championships, including 11 NFL Championships between 1929 and 1967, the first two AFL-NFL Super Bowls, in 1966 and 1967. More recently the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in 1996 and Super Bowl XLV in 2010.

Monk Sets NFL Reception Record

On Oct. 12, 1992, Washington Redskins’ Art Monk sets a then NFL record with career reception 820.

Monk would go on to finish his career with 940 receptions. He also put up 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns, along with 332 rushing yards.

He was the first player in NFL history to record over 102 receptions in a season, he finished with 106 during the 1984 campaign, and over 900 receptions in a career.

However, later that year, in 1992, Monk lost his all-time single season reception record to Sterling Sharpe, who finished with 108.

His most noteworthy NFL accomplishment was his record for career receptions 940, which was broken by Jerry Rice in 1995 during Monk's last season in the league.

Monk was drafted in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. During his rookie year, he was a unanimous All-Rookie selection and had 58 receptions, which was a Redskins' rookie record.

In 1984, Monk caught a then-NFL record 106 receptions for a career-best 1,372 yards.

That season, he earned team MVP honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. Monk went over the 1,000-yard mark in each of the following two seasons, becoming the first Redskins receiver to produce three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. He also became the first Redskins player to catch 70 or more passes in three consecutive seasons.

In 1989, he was part of a prolific wide receiver trio (along with Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders) nicknamed "The Posse," who became the first trio of wide receivers in NFL history to post 1,000-plus yards in the same season.

He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. Monk also became the first player in the league to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons as well as the only player ever to record at least 35 receptions in 15 consecutive seasons. Through the course of his 14 years with the Redskins, Monk converted nearly two-thirds of his 888 catches into first downs.

Over his career Monk was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, a one time AP First-Team All-Pro selection, a one time AP Second-Team All-Pro selection, a two-time First-Team All-NFC selection, a one time Second-Team All-NFC selection a four time NFC Champion, a three-time Super Bowl Champion in XVII (17), XXII (22), XXVI (26). He was also part of the All-Rookie Team in 1980.

Monk was inducted into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame in 1996 a year after his retirement from the NFL.

On August 2, 2008, Monk, along with fellow Washington Redskins teammate Darrell Green, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Upon his induction into the Hall of Fame, Monk received the longest standing ovation in Pro Football Hall of Fame history, lasting four minutes and four seconds when later timed by NFL Films. In 2012, Monk was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

New York Giants Retire LT's Jersey

On Oct. 10, 1994, the New York football Giants retire Lawrence Taylor's no. 56 jersey.

Taylor was the No. 2 overall pick out of North Carolina when the New York Giants took him in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

Taylor would have an immediate impact on the game, and the position of linebackers, as he was named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981.

Taylor would rack up 10 Pro Bowl appearances over his career, with 10 All-Pro selections as well. He was a three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year, a one time AP NFL MVP in 1986 as well being named the PFWA NFL MVP, NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and Bert Bell Award winner in 1986. That same year he led the NFL in sacks, with 20.5 sacks.

Taylor would help the Giants to two Super Bowl wins in Super Bowl XXI (21) and XXB (25).

Taylor would finish his career with 1,088 tackles, 132.5 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries and nine interceptions in 184 games with 180 starts. He also scored two touchdowns in his career, both off of interceptions. If you include the unofficial total of 9.5 sacks from his rookie year his total would be 142. *Sacks were not an official stat category until 1982.*

Taylor was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL 75 Anniversary All-Time Team and was ranked No. 3 by the Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players.

Taylor was nominated to the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2010.

Outside of football Taylor was the main event at WrestleMania XI (11) defeating Bam Bam Bigelow.

Monk Begins Reception Streak

On Oct. 2, 1983, Hall of Fame wide receiver Art Monk begins his streak of catching one reception in at least 180 games in a row. Monk was the first player to mark this feat.

With all the receptions Monk was bringing in during his career he was able to eclipse several records including, the first wide receiver to record over 100 plus receptions in a season since the Super Bowl era. Monk was also the first player to record over 90 catches and 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons. He was also the first player to record over 15 touchdowns in a season.

Monk also put up some big time career stats, he was the first receiver to catch over 820 passes in a career, and the first player to record over 900 receptions in a career, he finished with 940 receptions. The record for most receptions was broken 11 times since Monk retired in 1997.

Most notably by two San Francisco 49ers, Jerry Rice (1,549), Terrell Owens (1,078) and one Oakland Raider, Tim Brown (1,094).

Monk was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and a three-time Super Bowl Champion. He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and one of the 70 greatest Redskins of all-time, Monk’s number 81 jersey was retired by the Redskins shortly after his retirement. Monk was inducted into the Canton the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.