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NFL fun facts

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

The Giants and Patriots have changed their uniforms for the 2000 season. The Giants returned to a script "NY" on their helmets, and the Patriots have gone to a dark Navy blue home uniform with red piping and a lightning bolt coming off the shoulders. The last five teams to alter their uniforms -- Philadelphia in 1996, Denver and Tampa Bay in 1997, the Jets in 1998 and the Tennessee Titans in 1999 -- have all since advanced to the post-season.

Other uniform alterations this season: The Dallas Cowboys will wear a "fedora" patch commemorating late coach Tom Landry. The Kansas City Chiefs will wear a "58" helmet decal to honor late linebacker Derrick Thomas. The Minnesota Vikings will wear 40th anniversary patches. The Seattle Seahawks will wear 25th anniversary patches. The San Diego Chargers will wear their early '60s powder blue uniforms when they play Oakland on Oct. 29.

Seven new NFL stadiums are scheduled to be opened in the near future. This season, the 65,600-seat Paul Brown Stadium opens in Cincinnati. Other stadiums coming soon are in Denver and Pittsburgh (2001), Seattle, New England and Houston (2002) and Detroit (to be determined).

Top-5 NFL jerseys sold: Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, Randy Moss, Peyton Manning and Terrell Davis. Top-5 NFL team merchandise sold: Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns.

This being an election year, it's only right to identify the five former presidents who have college football experience: Dwight D. Eisenhower (Army, HB, 1912), John F. Kennedy (Harvard JV, WR, 1937), Richard Nixon (Whittier College, OL, 1931-34), Gerald Ford (Michigan, C, 1932-34) and Ronald Reagan (Eureka College, G, 1928-31).

It's true. Mothers of NFL players have formed a union, called the Professional Football Players Mothers Association. The organization is designed to take steps to support their sons and participate in community activities to benefit children and parents. Among the plans for this season are television appearances by mothers and sons, school appearances and a motivational video.

Among the anniversaries being celebrated this season: founding of the NFL (80th), Chicago's 73-0 win over Washington in the NFL championship (60th), Johnny Unitas' 47-game TD streak (40th), founding of the AFL (40th), merger of NFL and AFL (30th), Tom Dempsey's record 63-yard field goal (30th).

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