March 4, 2016
American Football League logos
I was reading through some stuff on the upcoming NFL draft today. Just the usual stuff about who performed well at the scouting combine, whose draft stock is rising and whose value is falling.
It got me thinking about the days when players had options regarding where they wanted to play after college as there have been several challengers to the NFL over the years.
Most recently was the XFL (Extreme Football League) which was the brain child of WWE owner, Vince McMahon. I never watched it so I couldn’t tell you anything other than one of the players had “HE HATE ME” on the back of his jersey. I guess you could choose what you wanted to display.
Before that, the USFL (United State Football League). Lots of stars playing there who went on to greatness in the NFL. Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young got their starts in the USFL. I would mention Reggie “Benedict” White, but I don’t know that he is really worth mentioning as I don’t recall him having much of a professional football career.
I’m sure you remember the AFL (American Football League) as that league eventually merged with the NFL after the 2nd Super Bowl. I remember the Chiefs, Colts and NY Jets as being the powerhouses of the AFL, but to be honest I was too young to remember much. I think the leagues merged when I was 6 so my memories of those teams are as AFC teams, not as AFL.
World Football League Logos
The competing league that I remember best was the World Football League. I was thinking they played 3 seasons in the mid 70s, but when I went back and checked I found that they only played 2 (1974-75).
I only remember a few of the teams. I remember the Shreveport Steam (mostly because I didn’t know where Shreveport was) and the Memphis Southmen because former Miami Dolphins, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield and Jim Kiick played for them. Then there was also the team I actually liked, the Florida Blazers. I liked Florida for two reasons:
- RB Tommy Reamon
- WR Hubie Bryant
I loved Tommy Reamon! I believe he lead the league in rushing one of the years and even made it to the NFL, but never really did anything there. I admit that I had to do some research as I couldn’t remember who he played for (drafted by the Steelers and played for the Chiefs).
My other guy was Hubie Bryant. I was never the kind of guy who liked wide receivers, but Bryant was different. Why? The sleeves on his jersey were bigger. Not longer, but bigger… not tight. There was something about how they looked when he ran that I really liked. Yes, I know how goofy that sounds, but I was only 11 at the time.
Eventually the World Football League folded and there was no “extra” football till 1983 when the USFL started up. As I said before… I didn’t watch so for me the only game in town for professional football has been the NFL.
NFL Europe logos
WLAF (World League of American Football)? Even with the backing of the NFL (1991-1992) it still didn’t work out and I didn’t watch it.
I really don’t remember you watching many, if any, of the WFL games (or any of the other leagues) as they didn’t have a team with ugly uniforms named the Packers!
Canadian Football? Please. Is it hockey season yet?
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