TUESDAY TIDBITS: "There's a Battle Outside and It Is Ragin'"

By TJ Troup 

Fran Tarkenton and Norn Van Brocklin

For the first time since Norm Van Brocklin took the field with his "36 stiffs"... the Vikings play a meaningful game against the Lions this coming Sunday night! 

If Minnesota wins is Kevin O'Connell coach of the year? If Detroit wins is Dan Campbell coach of the year? While there are a handful of other interesting or compelling games this coming weekend; Minnesota vs. Detroit sure stands out! 

Dan Campbell

Was able to watch Eric Dickerson play against the Bears in Angels Stadium during both 1983 and 1984, and boy oh boy did he lug the leather impressively in the Ram victories those afternoons. 

That said, how much should Barkley play on Sunday? His health is paramount, yet that record would be a signature moment for him, and his offensive line—which by the way is coached by who I believe is the position coach of the year in Stoutland. 

For those of you who have read my column over the years you know that the defensive passer rating is my key stat; and that will never change. Four teams have the opportunity to finish first in this team stat, and those teams are Minnesota, Philadelphia, Houston, and Detroit. The combined record of those four teams entering this weekend's games is 50-14. 

Looking back at past historical games has always been a joy for me and sharing my perspective here at the journal is hopefully enjoyable for all of you. 

December 29th, 1974 is the day the Steelers finally realized that they were in fact a team of destiny for their performance in the 24-13 victory over Oakland. 

December 29th, 1968 remains truly the hallmark game in AFL History when the Jets met the Raiders for the right to play the Colts in the Silver Trophy game. 

December 29th, 1963, though, is still my favorite game of all time. The George Allen-coached Bears defense made enough big plays to limit Tittle and the Giants on a frigid day at Wrigley Field and win the title. 

Twelve years old glued to the radio with my dad sitting next to me----with a day! 

Not sure how many of you enjoy the music of the past; and this past week went and saw "A Complete Unknown" at the theater. Robert Allen Zimmerman impacted me in 1964 when his song "The Times They Are a Changin" came across the airwaves—thus the title for today's saga. 

Timothée Chalamet is compelling as Bob Dylan, and just might garner some awards. You might want to check out the flick.....believe you will be entertained.

Michael Hoecht—Blocking Kicks Among Other Things

 By John Turney 

This past Saturday night in a 13-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals in SoFi stadium, Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht blocked his third kick block of the season -- two PATs and a field goal.

The Los Angeles Rams PR department on X that Hoecht, " .. blocked his third kick of the season, the second-most by a Rams player in a single season trailing Cory Littleton (four). His three blocked kicks lead the NFL."

Well, they are part right in that post. His three blocked kicks do, in fact, lead the NFL. Additionally, it is the first time since 2016 that an NFL player had three in a season -- that was Bengals' defensive lineman Margus Hunt. Further, they are the most in the NFL since Alex Carrington of the Buffalo blocked four in 2012.

Where they err is in saying it's, "second-most by a Rams player in a single season trailing Cory Littleton (four)." Littleton has four career blocks (all punts) and had two in both 2017 and 2018. 

The last Rams player to block three kicks in a season (according to official NFL gamebooks) was 1987 when Nolan Cromwell blocked three punts -- though one was in a strike game. Almost a decade earlier Pat Thomas blocked three in a season. It was 1978 when he blocked three field goals and a punt. 

But is that the most in a season by a Ram?

No, the unofficial record is four and it's a four-way tie and they are:

Irv Cross, 4, 1966 (four field goals)

Eddie Meador, 4, 1962 (four field goals)

John LoVetere, 4, 1960 (two punts, one field goal and one extra point)

Bob Reinhard, 4, 1950 (three pints and one field goal)

Meador and Cross were star defensive backs while LoVetere was a defensive tackle -- who was traded along with a draft pick to the New York Giants for a guy named Rosey Grier, the final piece that formed the Fearsome Foursome. 

Irv Cross

Eddie Meador

John LoVetere

Bob Reinhard

Bob Reinhard was a tackle for the Rams who played just one season for the Rams. He'd come over from the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC where he's been an all-league tackle, one that also punted and played some fullback.

Hoecht has had quite an NFL journey. He was undrafted and signed with the Rams as a defensive lineman and played some there for about a year and a half. Late in his second season, he was moved by the Rams defensive coach to outside linebacker because injuries had depleted that position room.

He started the rest of that season as an edge player and was a starter in 2023 as well. He'd play outside linebacker in the base defense and would rush as a defensive end in their sub packages. In the base defense he'd sometimes move out to the slot or "Apex" as it is sometimes called and cover a tight end or even a receiver if one ended up as the guy he had to match.

This year he does that on a rotational basis. The Rams have second-year Byton Young as one 3-4 OLBer/DE and Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate as the other. When one of them needs a breather, Hoecht will step in.

But that is not all. In the Rams sub defense this year, especially their dime defense he will play inside linebacker. Usually, he will rush, but sometimes he does drop back and cover a hook or curl zone or match a route. In that package, the dime, he's one linebacker and rookie defensive back Jaylen McCollough plays the other second-level player with four rushers in front and five other defensive backs behind them.

The Rams' dime package has been very good this year in creating pressure, getting hits on quarterbacks and, getting sacks and picking off passes as a result of pressure. Hoecht is a major part of that.

Hoecht has gotten to a kick before this year. In Week 3 of the 2022 season, he deflected an Andy Lee punt that was caught by Jake Gervase caught the ball in the air and set the Rams up for a field goal.

However, it does not count as a block. The ball traveled beyond the line of scrimmage so it went down as a three-yard punt and Gervase was credited with a one-yard pun return.

For all intents and purposes, it was a blocked punt but because it got positive yards it wasn't. If someone deflects a field goal and it is no good, they get credit for a blocked kick. 

No so with punts. It probably has to do with how official scoring has to work, but in our mind, there should be a rotating for deflected punts because it's a notable play that can be change-changing. And that is what counting stats is for, identifying big plays and it does not make sense to ignore one because of scoring rules. 

But, then again, it's one of those things that may never change. Such is life.

In the mean time the Rams are concerned with bigger things, but it wouldn't be terrible if Michael Hoecht blocks one more placekick or even a punt to tie for the most-ever by a Rams player in a single season. 

Darn! Old No. 14 Riddles Green Bay

 By Eric Goska

Sam Darnold as pictured in the Vikings media guide.

Sam Darnold stands alone.

Darnold, the castoff who has found new life with the Vikings, shredded Green Bay in Minnesota’s 27-25 win at U.S. Bank Stadium. The third pick overall in the 2018 NFL draft did not miss an offensive snap as his team extracted more yards from the Packers than any other this season.

Let go by the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Darnold has ascended in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. His passer rating of 106.5 this season is a career-high and ranks fifth best in the league.

Sunday evening, Darnold reminded one and all that he was no Sam Howell or Spencer Rattler, two quarterbacks the Packers schooled in wins over the Seahawks and Saints. The 27-year-old native of California demonstrated time and time again that he’s the real deal.

Darnold completed 33 of 43 passes for 377 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He was particularly effective in the second quarter (12 of 14 for 156 and a TD) when the Vikings registered 13 unanswered points to go up 13-3 at the break.

Twenty-four of Darnold’s completions landed in the hands of Justin Jefferson (8 for 92), Jordan Addison (6-69), Jalen Nailor (5-81) and T.J. Hockenson (5-68). Nailor, Addison and Cam Akers each caught a touchdown pass.

Darnold completed five or more consecutive passes on four separate occasions. His run of seven straight in the second quarter resulted in five first downs, one touchdown and 101 yards.

So effective was Darnold that only once did the Vikings run more than twice in succession until the fourth quarter. Then, when Minnesota turned to the ground game in the final 15 minutes and Green Bay rallied to get to within two, Darnold went 3-for-3 for 28 before kneeling three times to ensure victory.

Darnold, of course, was not perfect. He overthrew Akers on a short toss behind the line of scrimmage late in the second quarter. He was high on a pass that Carrington Valentine intercepted midway through the third quarter.

But far too often he had the answer for whatever defense he faced.

Jordan Addison caught six passes for 69 yards and a TD.

By this author’s count, the Packers rushed four on 39 of Darnold’s 44 dropbacks. Defensive coordinator Jeff Halfey sent five three times and dispatched six twice.

Karl Brooks registered Green Bay’s lone sack. Aaron Mosby looked to join his teammate, but his fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble were overturned with an expedited review that revealed Darnold’s hand was moving forward when the linebacker collided with the quarterback.

How to best encapsulate Darnold’s performance? Perhaps with a convoluted statistic (see Extra Point) that the media and fans seem to love.

Here goes: Darnold is the only quarterback to have passed for 300 yards, three touchdowns and 20 first downs in a regular-season game against Green Bay while completing better than 75 percent of his throws.

In the last 104 years, there have been 127 instances of a player throwing for 300 or more yards at the expense of the Packers (regular season). In 51 of those cases, that player also found the end zone three or more times. And on 10 of those occasions, said player also amassed 20 passing first downs.

Darnold is the only one to have checked all the boxes: 300 yards, three TD passes, 20 first downs, and a better-than-75-percent-completion rate all in the same game.

Call him a lone wolf. Call him a cut above the rest.

Call him what you will, but Darnold is definitely one who could make life miserable for the Packers should they run into him in the playoffs.

Extra Point: Here’s a convoluted statistic from the Packers Dope Sheet. “(Jayden) Reed is the first player in league history to post 750- plus receiving yards and six-plus receiving TDs and 100-plus rushing yards and a rushing TD in each of his first two NFL seasons.” String together enough qualifiers and just about anyone can make NFL history.

300 Plus 3 Plus 20

The 10 quarterbacks who passed for 300 yards, three touchdowns and 20 first downs in a single regular-season game against the Packers. Sam Darnold is the only one to have done so while completing better than 75 percent of his passes.

Player	Date	Att	C	Yds	TD	HI	FD	Rate
Sam Darnold	12-29-2024	43	33	377	3	1	20	116.1
Ben Roethlisberger	11-26-2017	45	33	351	4	2	21	106.8
Kirk Cousins	9-16-2018	48	35	425	4	1	20	118.8
Drew Brees	9-8-2011	49	32	419	3	0	20	112.5
Drew Brees	9-30-2012	54	35	446	3	0	23	109.0
Ben Roethlisberger	12-20-2009	46	29	503	3	0	20	121.9
Dan Fouts	10-7-1984	50	31	376	3	0	21	105.1
Daunte Culpepper	11-14-2004	44	27	363	4	0	20	117.9
Matthew Stafford	1-1-2012	59	36	520	5	2	27	103.8
Philip Rivers	11-6-2011	46	26	385	4	3	20	85.9

Historic Seasons By Running Backs With No Chance at MVP

 By John Turney 

Saquon Barkley (left) and Derrick Henry (right)

When running back Derrick Henry ran through the Houston Texans on Wednesday, he did more than deliver a late Christmas present to Baltimore Ravens' fans. 

He made history.

Henry ran 27 times that evening for 147 yards in a 31-2 victory that catapulted the Ravens into first place in the AFC North. But he did more than that. He moved past 300 carries for this season and increased his rushing total to 1,783 yards. He also pushed his yards-per-rush to an impressive 5.8 yards.

Wait. Did I say impressive? How about rare?

Among running backs with 300 or more carries in a season, only four -- Barry Sanders (6.1 YPC in 1997), O.J. Simpson (6.0 in 1973), Adrian Peterson (6.0 in 2012) and Saquon Barkley (5.9 this year) -- have higher figures. Furthermore, only six additional backs ended a season with an average of 5.5 yards per carry and 300 or more totes.

That's a total of 11, and, yes, that's pretty rare.

But there's something else that's notable: Sanders, Simpson and Peterson were all AP NFL MVPs in those seasons. But that was then; this is now, and now neither Henry nor Barkley has more than a long shot of being the league MVP. A running back winning the award is almost a thing of the past, and the reason is clear.

Analytics. 

The prevailing thought is that, because the passing game is so much more valuable to winning, no running back has as much value as an average NFL quarterback. Running backs are seen as interchangeable, and if you don't believe me, look what the New York Giants did after last season.

They let Barkley walk because of a reported "positional value,"  which is a convenient way of saying that running backs don't warrant the money they did in the past. Fortunately for Philadelphia fans, the Eagles didn't buy into that idea and signed Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract.

Now, he's within 268 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. 

Now, let's make something clear: The notion that quarterback is the most important position in football is indisputable. It's a fact. But it's also nothing new. It's been the case for over half a century ... if not longer. Former Lions' and Steelers' coach Buddy Parker, for example, wrote that quarterback was the most important position in football in his 1955 book, "We Play to Win.".

Nevertheless, the NFL was still a running game until the 1980s, so running backs were still MVPs ... and deservedly so. But the last one was Peterson in 2012, and he may be the last, period. He's the only non-quarterback to win the award since 2006. But that doesn't mean backs or receivers should be excluded from consideration. If the MVP were determined just by "the numbers," a computer could spit out the names of players with top "value."

But they're just numbers.

The AP panel is composed of voters who know football and use their heads. They see the games and talk to coaches, players and GMs -- and all can ... and should ... be used IN ADDITION to numbers as part of the analysis. More than a single criterion matters to voters I've spoken to over the years, and, while they may be in the minority, analytics are not going to take votes out of their hands.

With the AP's NFL's MVP determined by voting on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis (which began in 2022), it seems likely that Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen battle for first-and second-place votes, with Barkley and Henry in line next. At least, that's how I view what obviously is a fluid situation.

Jackson has better numbers this year than in 2023 when he won his second AP NFL MVP, and his team is on a roll. The Ravens won their last three game by outscoring opponents, 100-33. While Allen has been the favorite since midseason, Jackson's performances the past few weeks may have made the award his to lose. The point is: The race looks like a two-headed one between (what else?) quarterbacks.

So that leaves the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year for Henry and Barkley, and there they have more of an opportunity. But, with both having "MVP-level" seasons, we have to ask: Which will be the AP All-Pro running back? Remember: Voters can only choose one. And will either be the OPOY? Or could one be the first-team All-Pro and the other the league's Offensive Player of the Year?

Given the voting format that is a possibility. 

So which of the two would you pick? And how do you separate them? Not only are they battling for postseason acclaim; they could meet in Super Bowl LIX, too.

That's a long way of saying that Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley are producing such magnificent seasons that they could change the thinking prevalent in today's NFL by demonstrating the difference between an average starter and MVP/OPOY-type back is significant. 

In the meantime, appreciate two running backs producing gargantuan numbers in a season that will be remembered as one of the best ever by running backs. In fact, I cannot think of many, if any, seasons where two backs had this kind of year at the same time. 

They are in rarified air, and here's the proof: What follows is a list of players with 300 or more carriers and a 5.5 or higher yards-per-carry average: 

Rank, player, season, carries, yards, yards per carry, rushing touchdowns

1. Barry Sanders, 1997—335-2,053, 6.1, 11

2. O.J. Simpson, 1973—332, 2,003, 6.0, 12

    Adrian Peterson, 2012—348, 2,097, 6.0, 12

4. Saquon Barkley, 2024 (through 16 weeks)—314, 1,838, 5.9, 13

5. Derrick Henry, 2024, (through 17 weeks)—305, 1,783, 5.8, 14

6. Barry Sanders, 1994—331, 1,883, 5.7, 7

7. Chris Johnson, 2009—358, 2,006, 5.6, 14

    Eric Dickerson, 1984—379, 2015, 5.6, 14

8. O.J. Simpson, 1975—329, 1,817, 5.5, 16

    Walter Payton, 1977—339, 1,852, 5.5, 14

    Jonathan Taylor, 2021—332, 1,811, 5.5, 18

Without question, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry are in elite company. Maybe ... OK, probably ... they aren't named this season's league MVPs, but that doesn't diminish their value. Their importance is undeniable.

Packers Stand Tall in Blanking Saints, 34-0

By Eric Goska

Carolers sing "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful"
as football fanatics arrive at Lambeau Field.
(photos by Eric Goska)

“When you throw a pass, three things can happen, and two of them are bad.”

That’s a quote attributed to Woody Hayes who coached at Ohio State for 28 years. Presumably he was talking about completions, incompletions and interceptions.

What Hayes neglected to mention is the bad that can occur prior to a pass being thrown: namely, a quarterback sack.

Credit the Packers with limiting that third bad. In fact, Green Bay has kept its passers clean at a rate seldom seen in the NFL’s least populous city.

The Packers did not give up a sack in blanking the Saints 34-0 Monday night. The playoff-clinching win marked the sixth time this season that Green Bay passers have avoided being deposited on their backsides when attempting to pass.

NFL passers have been sacked 1,178 times in 2024 for losses totaling 7,689 yards. On average, that’s 36.8 bad plays resulting in 240.3 lost yards for each of the 32 teams.

Packers passers have been sacked 16 times for 93 yards. They, and the Bills (14-63), are the only two clubs to have yielded fewer than 20.

Yes, Green Bay has become more run oriented. Only the Eagles (388) have attempted fewer passes than the Packers (424).

But even on a percentage basis, Green Bay ranks second having allowed a sack on 3.64 percent of its dropbacks. Buffalo is first at 2.95.

The league average is 6.99.

Chris Roth and Dave Schroeder ready for a remote broadcast.

Let’s put Mr. Jordan Love under the microscope. He’s launched 383 passes and has been sacked just 11 times for a percentage of 2.79.

Who has been better? Not Josh Allen (2.98) of the Bills. Not Jared Goff (5.41) of the Lions. Not Patrick Mahomes (6.22) of the Chiefs. Not Sam Darnold (8.89) of the Vikings.

Only Derek Carr (2.79) of the Saints is ahead of Love, and he leads by the slimmest of margins. Carr, who likely will not play again this season, was sacked just eight times despite dropping back 287 times.

Love tossed 28 passes at Lambeau Field Monday night without incident. Eight days earlier, he threw 27 in Seattle while staying clean.

Love has not been sacked since Za’Darius Smith got to him on Green Bay’s first offensive play in the Lions’ 34-31 win on Dec. 5. He has not been sacked in his last 75 dropbacks.

That’s far from the franchise record (175 by Brett Favre in 2004), but the accomplishment is worth noting.

Favre, by the way, is the only Green Bay passer who can compete with Love when it comes to avoiding sacks. His rate of 2.17 in 2004 is the team record, and his rate of 2.73 in 2007 is second.

Yards lost attempting to pass were first recorded in 1947. Since then, there have been 117 instances of a Packers quarterback throwing 50 or more passes in a season. Only Favre, Love and Bart Starr (2.90) in 1959 posted rates below three percent.

How has Love been so elusive? First, he has operated behind a line that has had the same starters in 14 of 15 games this season. Second, he possesses an uncanny knack to stay out of trouble, one that must have frustrated the Saints.

Case in point: New Orleans sent seven on third-and-goal from the two on Green Bay’s opening possession, but Love didn’t flinch. He flipped a scoring pass to Dontayvion Wicks with linebacker Demario Davis in his face and the Packers went up 7-0.

Near the end of the first quarter, Chase Young had hands on Love, but No. 10 dropped off a pass to Josh Jacob before the defensive end could wrap him up. The play gained eight, and Green Bay scored eight plays later for a 14-0 lead.

“You know, this is what doesn’t really show up on the stat sheet,” game analyst Troy Aikman said of the play. “Watch Jordan Love. You see this time after time. He’s just a quarterback who refuses to take sacks. He’s got really an unblocked guy who’s right in his face and he always knows where to go with the football.”

Further, Love knows when to give up on a play. Afforded plenty of time, he threw into the dirt when no one was open on the play prior to his toss to Jacobs. Then, in the second quarter, he did the same when safety Ugo Amadi blanketed his intended target tight end Tucker Kraft.

While throws like that lower a player’s completion percentage, they also prevent sacks. And Love, with games remaining against the Vikings and Bears, could become the first Packers player to lead the league in terms of lowest sack percentage (minimum 50 pass attempts) since Favre in 2004.

Standing Tall
Since 1947, Packers passers who were sacked at a rate less than 3.5 percent (minimum 50 pass attempts)

Rate     Player                 Season     Pass Attempts    Sacks      Dropbacks
2.17        Brett Favre             2004                    540                  12                    552
2.73        Brett Favre             2007                    535                  15                    550
2.79        Jordan Love           2024                    383                  11                    394
2.90       Bart Starr                1959                    134                    4                     138
3.23        Scott Tolzien          2013                     90                    3                       93
3.31        Jerry Tagge            1974                    146                     5                     151
3.31        Brett Favre             2006                   613                   21                    634

Why Calais Campbell 'Defines' a Pro Football Hall of Famer

By John Turney 

If there were a Hall of Fame for NFL players who did great things for their community and were all-around good men, Calais Campbell would be a first-ballot selection.

The 2008 second-round draft pick was the recipient of the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. That same year, Athletes in Action, an organization that mentors coaches and athletes. gave him the Bart Starr Award. In 2022, the NFL named him its winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, and this year the NFL Players Association chose him for its Alan Page Award for community service. 

Few NFL players have been recognized so widely for their philanthropy.

But the Pro Football Hall of Fame is not about what is done off the field -- good or bad. It's what is done on it, and Campbell has done that effectively and consistently as he nears the end of his 17th season. But has it been a Hall-of-Fame career? If 2024 is his final season, would he eventually have his 6-foot-8, 307-pound frame fitted for a Gold Jacket?

Hard to say.

That's because defensive linemen who often play inside don't always gain the attention from Hall voters as the outside stars -- i.e., the sack meisters. Heck, Kevin Williams was a five-time consensus All-Pro, and he can't even make a semifinalists' list. 

But Campbell may be different. 

For openers, he may not be finished, recently telling The Athletic's Zak Keefer that he may play "until the wheels fall off" ... and the wheels are still rolling, thank you very much. Campbell takes extraordinary care of his body, spending around a quarter of a million dollars a year on body specialists, a nutritionist and chef to get the most from his aging body.

And it's worked.

He's still playing like a Pro Bowler. So much so that at this year's trade deadline, the Baltimore Ravens tried to acquire him to bolster their defensive front. Campbell played there from 2020-22, so they were familiar with his skill set. But Miami coach Mike McDaniel refused. to let him go.

At that time, the Dolphins were trying to dig out of a hole and felt that, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returning from concussion protocol, they not only had a shot to be successful; but would have a better chance with a solid defense that included Campbell.

"He's like the LeBron James of the NFL right now," teammate Jonnu Smith said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "As far as his age and the production that he brings to the game, (he's) still playing at a high level. I mean, the guy is 1,000 years old and playing like he's 21."

Exaggerations aside, Smith is right.

For example, last Sunday he took down Texans' running back Joe Mixon two yards behind the line of scrimmage for his 105th career stuff (a tackle for loss on a run or pass play other than a sack ... and that's a lot. According to researcher/historian Nick Webster, few players ever reach triple digits. But, when combined with 109-1/2 sacks, they bring Campbell's career numbers to 214-1/2 plays behind the line scrimmage.

But that is not all.

Having 100 sacks and 100 stuffs puts Campbell in rarefied air. Webster's figures show he's one of five defensive linemen to achieve it -- that is if you include outside linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs as a lineman. And the others? Deacon Jones, Bruce Smith, J.J. Watt and Alan Page.

That sounds like a career worthy of the Hall of Fame.

If you don't like that, then go by the official tackles for loss (TFL) stat that was introduced in 1999. It's not as comprehensive and is scored in an odd way -- let's just say I don't love it -- but it's useful. And it's official. So some like it.

In that statistic, Campbell is third all-time with 185 (and counting) TFLs. Only Suggs and J.J. Watt have more. He tops Aaron Donald, Julius Peppers, Jared Allen and everybody else who played this century.

That also sounds like the stuff of a Hall-of-Famer.

Football analytics site Pro Football Focus (PFF) this year ranks him sixth in the NFL at his position. Sixth. At the age of 38. It's the ninth time Campbell has been in PFF's top 10 in his 17 years, with a handful of others when he was close. In 2018, for instance, he ranked first. In 2016 and 2017, he was second. And in 2019, he was third.

Perhaps not now but in six, eight or 10 years -- when Campbell's case is presented to the Hall's board of selectors -- voters may pay more attention to analytics sites like PFF or NextGen Stats as the group gets younger and is receptive to more than just counting stats. If they do, Campbell's grades and ranking will sound Hall-of-Fame worthy.

One group the current board is receptive to is Proscout, Inc. (PSI), an independent scouting firm that several NFL teams use for personnel evaluations and other insights. PSI's work has been a consistent resource for voters since 1994 when former Sports Illustrated writer and Hall voter Paul Zimmerman utilized the expertise of PSI's founder, the late Mike Giddings, to strengthen the Hall-of-Fame case for cornerback Jimmy Johnson.

It helped. Johnson was enshrined in 1994. And it helped the cases of other players who now own Gold Jackets.

The ratings by PSI on Campbell are similar to PFF's. Seven times it has him in what are called "single digits," which means among the top nine, and another five where it evaluates him as "blue," its highest ranking.

Again, that sounds like the stuff of the Hall of Fame.

A few years ago Giddings said that Campbell "defines a Hall of Famer. Tall, fast, strong, moving all downs. (He's) blue vs. TE, T, G, C." That last sentence is telling. It says that Campbell excels vs. all those positions -- tight end, tackle, etc. -- which means he's elite on the inside or out, over whomever a coach wants to play him.

But that's what Campbell has done throughout his career -- play multiple positions and play them well.

With the Cardinals, he was an end in a 3-4 defense. But when he would move inside for passing situations, it was over a guard or even a center. Later, after he signed a free-agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was a 4-3 end. But, again, on passing downs, he slid inside to defensive tackle.

In the last five years with the Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins, you could find him lining up everywhere, without the structure of his early years. With the Falcons last year, he played 63 percent of the time on the edge, with the rest more to the middle. This year, it's more inside than out. 

With Campbell, you just don't know where he'll line up ... and that uniqueness is part of his greatness.

"In the run game," he told the Palm Beach Post, "I am more dominant at the defensive end position. In the pass game, I am more dominant in the interior position ... but I also feel like I am pretty good in all space."

None of that was lost on Hall-of-Fame voters when they chose him to the all-decade of the 2010s, along with J.J. Watt, Julius Peppers and Cameron Jordan. The AP voted him first-team All-Pro in 2017 and second-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2016, while the Pro Football Writers voted him Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, a year when he was just six votes shy of winning the AP award.

Additionally, he was a Pro Bowler five times and an alternate once.

That also sounds like the stuff of the Hall of Fame.

The University of Miami product currently has over 900 combined tackles and is credited with 63 passed defensed. He's also blocked nine place kicks and defensively scored five times, with three touchdowns and twice on safeties. Those kinds of numbers, plus the sacks, are rare -- and Hall-worthy

By the end of the year, he will have played over 260 games, with over 240 starts, and that's third all-time in both. Plus, his 17 seasons are exceeded by only three defensive linemen. 

His longevity is certainly the stuff of a Hall-of-Famer, too.

But will it be? It should. 

Calais Campbell is one of those players who can stop the run and rush the passer ... who can knock down a pass or a field goal ... and who is tough, durable and a leader. Guys like that deserve to have their careers recognized with a bronze bust in Canton. 

"With his passion leadership and toughness," said Ravens' GM Eric DeCosta, "Calais has undoubtedly produced a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career.

Now you know why.

Career stats through Week 15, 2024—

Among Rookie Tight Ends, Bears' Mike Ditka Still Reigns as 'The Man'

By John Turney

When it comes to NFL tight ends Mike Ditka is still The Man. For 64 years, all tight ends who entered the NFL failed to top two records he set back in 1961. 

It doesn't matter that the length of the NFL schedule increased from 14 to 16 games in 1978 and then to 17 in 2021. It doesn't matter that the NFL has become more and more pass-oriented with each year, either. Nor does it matter that the passing game is more complex, with quarterbacks more accurate than ever. Tight ends entering the NFL cannot break Ditka's rookie receiving records.

He still holds the league's rookie benchmarks for most receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. And he did it in 1961. 

That year, the future Hall-of-Famer caught 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12  touchdowns. He also had a hefty 19.2-yard average per catch -- not a small thing in and of itself. All were the most for what was then a recently created position in pro football. 

His receptions record held until 1988 when Keith Jackson, then a rookie tight end for the Eagles, broke it with 81 catches. That record lasted until last season when Lions' rookie Sam LaPorta topped it with 86 receptions. Then it was broken again this year by Raiders' rookie phenom Brock Bowers. 

He has 90 catches with three games to go and is on pace to finish with 109. However, even with 34 more receptions than Ditka in 1961, Bowers still trails Ditka by 108 receiving yards. That's because Bowers averages fewer than 11 yards a catch; Ditka was a hair over 19 per grab.

Big difference.

Yep, Ditka is still The Man.

Bowers will eclipse Ditka's record this weekend or next, and surely by the end of the season ... but he won't have done it in 14 games. Over a 17-game schedule, Ditka's average per game would translate to just over 1,300 yards. 

Bowers won't be close to 12 touchdown receptions, either, unless he scores nine times in the next three games (he has four now), which is next to impossible. 

Thus, Ditka will remain The Man.

The TD reception record is so noteworthy that only two rookie tight ends have come close to challenging it -- Sam LaPorta last year and Rob Gronkowski in 2010. Each had 10. In fact, Ditka's 12 TD catches are surpassed by only four rookie players in NFL history ... regardless of position. 

Randy Moss had 17 in 1998 and Ja'Mar Chase (2021), John Jefferson (1978) and Billy Howton (1953) are tied for second with 13. All are outside receivers. The only one who occasionally would've played close to the line of scrimmage would've been Howton.

When records are challenged -- especially when they go way back into history -- they can teach us about how the game's evolved and give us reason to reflect on what and how it happened. But they do more than that. They make us remember that Mike Ditka was more than the coach of the Super Bowl XX champion Chicago Bears.

In this case, history highlights how significant a player Mike Ditka was when he emerged from the University of Pittsburgh as Chicago's first-round draft pick. There were tight ends before Ditka, including the guy he replaced -- Willard Dewveall -- who was pretty good. Even so, tight end was a relatively new position in pro football, with some teams not using one. 

In the 1950s, teams began flanking halfbacks outside the ends and splitting out one end as a basic formation instead of motioning a back outside the ends, who were "tight" ... or on the line of scrimmage. It was effective, and teams added it to their offensive schemes.

Eventually, it became permanent.

This explains why Ditka was not an AP All-Pro in 1961. The AP ballot didn't have a slot for a tight end, so voters had to pick two ends, a flanker, fullback and halfback. Ends voted as All-Pro outside receivers were the kind voters were used to -- pass catchers streaking downfield, not those close to the line of scrimmage, working the middle and spending much of his time blocking.  

However, the NEA All-Pro poll was more reflective of how football was played. In its polling of NFL players, Ditka was a first-team All-Pro. That's because there was a slot for him in a poll structured by astute writer Murray Olderman, who recognized the changes in NFL positions. "Mike (Ditka) is the tight end," he wrote, and, for the first time, ends were designated as "tight" and "split."

That's how Ditka became the first All-Pro "tight end." He was so far ahead of the curve that a position on a major "all" team had to be created for him. Talk about changing the game.

Now, let's jump to this year.

Bowers has a legitimate shot of becoming an AP first-team All-Pro, but he's no lock. He must contend with San Francisco's George Kittle, who -- having made it twice (including last year) -- is more entrenched. However, if Bowers does, he becomes just the fourth rookie tight end to make the team, following Charle (spelled Charlie at the time) Young in 1973, Keith Jackson in 1988 and Jeremy Shockey in 2002

Nevertheless, I count the NEA All-Pro team, as it's recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and "Total Football: Official Encyclopedia of the NFL." It includes Ditka in the list of rookie tight ends who were first-team All-Pros, and it should.

Because Mike Ditka was The Man.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Free Four Seconds"

By TJ Troup 

How many coaches like and enjoy being around officials? Yes, that is a loaded question; and would relish any and all of you responding. Receiver catches the ball in play and is tackled, why does the clock stop? 

The Saints got the gift of the year, and with those four free seconds, spiked the ball, then scored. Imagine if the game went to overtime, and Washington lost? Sammy Baugh would be turning over in his grave. 

As a former longtime coach you might think that I hate all officials, and you would be wrong. Worked a summer football camp with and for Laird Hayes. We got along well, and in conversation we even discussed some of the sideline banter between coaches and officials. Lots of laughter, then we had a beer. 

Yesterday was Don Hultz birthday, and this past Sunday is the anniversary of his legendary game for the Vikings. Halfway through the '61 campaign Jim Marshall was moved from left to right defensive end, and Mr. Marshall managed to stay at right defensive end for Minnesota for a few seasons. 

Bet you knew that? Marshall was replaced at left end by Jim Leo, and Leo held the position for all of '62. He never played another down of pro football after '62. Replacing him is an undrafted rangy defensive end named Don Hultz, and his rookie season of '63 is one for the ages. 

Watching film of him he is learning on the job, and he is adequate shedding blocks and defending off tackle plays, and helping on sweeps. 

Hultz is excellent at pressuring the quarterback and even takes them down at times. Those days in the play by play is listed as "times tackling the passer", and we all know the Deacon coined the term "sack". Fortunately, the Minnesota Vikings had a researcher named Scott Grams who compiled individual sacks for their record books so we know learned Hultz had 10-1/2 sacks in 1963. 

Though Minnesota is still not considered a strong defense due to lack of talent at some positions, the Vikings hustle and hit for the Dutchman, and knock the ball loose during the season. 

Hultz breaks Joe Schmidt's record for most opponent fumble recoveries in a season with NINE! The odds of anyone breaking this record—well, just not gonna happen. 

Five times Don Hultz records a sack and recovers an opponent fumble in the same game! Imagine the contract for a defender in this era who breaks or even ties Hultz record? 

December the 15th of '63 and the Norsemen defeat the Eagles, as Hultz records 2-1/2 sacks, recovers an opponent fumble, and returns an interception 35 yards for a touchdown. As stated a game for the ages. Hultz reward for his superb season is to be traded to Philadelphia. 

He is replaced at left defensive end by a moose! Mr. Carl Eller. 

Many times have shared the failures of the Elias Sports Bureau, and their inability to be accurate historically, yet that is not my goal today. 

This is a time to celebrate an achievement; Don Hultz your place in history will remain forever.

Cruising in First, the Pack Scores Big Differential

 By Eric Goska

Coach Matt LaFleur's Packers are the best of the best in the first quarter.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Every journey begins with a first step.

More often than not, the Packers have been getting off on the right foot.

Green Bay returned to its first-quarter dominance Sunday night in Seattle. The Green and Gold outgained and outpointed the Seahawks in the opening 15 minutes, cruising to a 30-13 win in which they never trailed.

As he often does, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur chose to go on offense after winning the coin toss. Most teams would have deferred.

LaFleur wanted to make a statement: Get a touchdown and play with a lead.

Quarterback Jordan Love and his offensive mates obliged. They counted TDs on each of their first two possessions, going up 14-0 before the Seahawks could get beyond midfield.

The Packers drove 63 yards in 10 plays on their first outing. Josh Jacobs crashed in from a yard out.

The Packers moved 80 yards in 8 plays on their second outing. Romeo Doubs cashed in on a 13-yard pass from Love.

Not until Geno Smith connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 25 on the second-to-last play of the opening period did Seattle cross into Packers territory.

Green Bay (128 yards) more than doubled Seattle’s first-quarter output (60). It amassed 10 first downs to 3 for the Seahawks and controlled the ball for 10 minutes, 30 seconds.

That was quite a bounce back from their effort in Detroit. At Ford Field, Green Bay managed just 17 first-quarter yards and held the ball for a meager 4:29.

Sunday’s game marked the 12th time the Pack has outgained their opponent in the first quarter this season. Only the Chargers and 49ers (10 times each) are in the same ballpark.

Jack Jacobs has rushed for 421 yards
in the first quarter.

If the season consisted solely of first quarters, Green Bay would be world champs. What follows are the categories in which they rank first followed by the club in second place.

• Most offensive plays: 227 (Tampa Bay 220)
• Most yards gained: 1,367 (New Orleans 1,336)
• Most rushing attempts: 130 (New Orleans 114)
• Most rushing yards: 713 (Washington 573).
• Fewest offensive plays allowed: 145 (Tampa Bay 164)
• Fewest yards allowed: 773 (Miami 845)
• Fewest rushing attempts allowed: 63 (Tampa Bay 71)
• Fewest pass plays allowed: 82 (Miami 85)

In gaining a league-high 1,367 yards and allowing a league-low 773, the Packers own the greatest positive differential in first-quarter production at plus-594. Tampa Bay is second at plus-421.

Not since 2014 (plus-874) has Green Bay been so top heavy in the early going after 14 games. That team and the clubs of 1995 (plus-680) and 1993 (plus-609) are the only other aggregations in Packers history to have been better than plus-594 since the league expanded to 14 games in 1961.

Ball control has been a factor in this gaping disparity. On average, the Packers have held the ball for 9:17 versus 5:43 for their opponents. Eleven times has Green Bay held the ball longer than the competition in the first quarter.

One benefit to putting in the work early has meant the Pack has been out front for the last 50 minutes-plus in six of its 10 wins: Colts (55:30), Titans (51:15), Cardinals (53:55), 49ers (52:35), Dolphins (57:00) and the Seahawks (54:19). Surely, the club has gained experience protecting a lead.

Next up for Green Bay: the Saints (5-9) owners of the third largest first-quarter yardage differential (plus-381) this season. New Orleans’ outlay of 1,336 first-quarter yards is second only to the Packers and it has controlled the first-quarter clock in five of its last six games.

Jump Start
The six teams that have outgained their opponents by more than 250 yards in the first quarter.

                                     Offense            Defense
Team                    Plays-Yards      Plays-Yards       Difference
Packers                       227-1367               145-773                   +594
Buccaneers                220-1327               164-906                   +421
Saints                          217-1336               181-955                    +381
49ers                           198-1224               180-854                   +370
Chargers                    189-1157                181-854                    +303
Vikings                       170-1192                195-915                    +277