1) After the AFL/NFL merger, no one could agree on a realignment plan for the NFC. So how was it determined? The five best plans were put into a vase and Pete Rozelle’s secretary selected one at random.

2) Jerry Rice and Brett Favre are about as durable of a football player as you can ask for. They are the only non-kickers to play in over 300 games.

3) Most people associate NFL football with Sunday. However, there has actually been games played on every day of the week in the modern NFL. A game was played on a Tuesday because of a Pennsylvania blizzard. A game was played on Wednesday because the NFL moved the Washington-New York Thursday night season opener so that it would not overlap with John McCain’s speech at the Republican convention. Games that were played on a Friday were either due to Christmas or New Year’s.

4) Steve Young is the only left-handed quarterback to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5) Back in 1962, CBS paid $4.65 million for the first exclusive rights to broadcast NFL games, a small fraction of what it costs for these rights today. Fox Network pays a reported $1.15 billion per year to broadcast NFC games.

6) In 1992, the National Football League experimented with two bye weeks.

7) Emmitt Smith won the rushing title during the 1993 season, despite missing the first two games because of a contract dispute.

8) There have been a lot of team names in the NFL that have come and gone. Some of the team names that no longer exist include the All-Americans, Celts, Reds, Panhandles, Triangles, Heralds, Eskimos, Yellowjackets, Colonels, Marines, Tornadoes, Maroons, Jeffersons, Gunners, Stapes, and Maroons.

9) The Indianapolis Colts won an impressive 23-straight regular-season games spanning the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

10) There is only one quarterback in NFL history that has an undefeated record in multiple playoff starts. Frank Reich went 2-0 in relief of Jim Kelly back in 1993. One of the games includes one of the biggest comeback of all time.

11) There have been a total of 373 sets of brothers who have played in the NFL. Since the merger, the Browner family holds the record for most brothers in the NFl with a total of four. Eli and Peyton Manning are the only brothers to both win the Super Bowl MVP.

12) NFL Players were not required to wear helmets until the 1943 season.

Information courtesy of USA Today

Here are the top 4 advancements in football safety:

1) Mobile Virtual Players

Dartmouth.edu

Head coach Buddy Teevens of Dartmouth College eliminated tackling in practice back in 2010. Instead of players, the team has been using robots, known as Mobile Virtual Players. The equipment was designed by a former Dartmouth football player, in an attempt to limit the brunt of the punishment during tackling drills, sparring humans potential harm. NFL officials are beginning to catch wind of this technology, and they have met with Teevens to discuss the robot’s effectiveness. “We are always interested in new technologies that will improve training techniques with an eye toward the health and safety of players,” says Jeff Miller, NFL’s senior vice president of health and safety policy.

2) BrainScope

BrainScope

The NFL has partnered with General Electric in an effort to discover new safety improvements for the sport. The two businesses recently gave $500,000 to the Maryland-based start-up BrainScope for further development of its mobile device that can conduct and analyze electroencephalograms, enabling the diagnosing of brain injuries immediately after a collision. The products, which use electrodes attached to a mobile device, are not yet cleared for commercial use, but we should expect to see them very soon!

3) Heart Health Questionnaire

The medical community is currently divided on whether EKG screenings are an effective way to uncover heart problems in athletes. Many believe they are unreliable, giving false positives and false negatives, including the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. These organizations support the use of a 14-point questionnaire about symptoms and family heart history, which can be assessed by physicians for further testing or monitoring.

4) Guardian Caps

Guardian Caps

Guardian Caps estimates that over 40,000 of its padded coverings are used across the United States by football and lacrosse teams. The padding fits over helmets and hooks to face masks, reducing impact by up to 33 percent. This technology has been cleared by the National Federation of State High School Associations for use in practice and games. The Atlanta-based company is also committed to helping to aid brain injury research, donating 5 percent of its profits to research.

The 2016 football season begins today, as Vanderbilt is set to kick off spring practice. The Black & Gold Spring Game will take place next month, March 25, and feature a “Friday Night Lights” theme, according to head coach Derek Mason. Over the next month, Vanderbilt will look to retool on both sides of the ball in preparation for the exhibition game.

The Black & Gold Spring Game will help give us a better idea of what to expect once the regular season kicks off next fall. With that in mind, here are the five storylines that you need to follow during spring practice.

Simplified Defense In The Spring

Expect to see Mason trim down the defensive playbook for the spring so that he can see his players’ raw abilities at full speed. Within the 3-4 scheme, Mason will only have four base calls and four more calls in a nickel package. “We are going to recalibrate, bring this thing right back to ground zero,” said Mason, whose defense was among the best in the SEC last season. “We have tweaked this defense a little bit, so you are going to see some guys in different positions. There will be more speed on the field and a more athletic look.”

Same OC and Quarterback

Vanderbilt will most likely be sticking with their starting Quarterback, Kyle Shurmur, who started five games at the end of his 2015 freshman campaign. Shurmur passed for 503 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions last season. Offensive Coordinator, Andy Ludwig, is back as well, giving the Commodores more stability on the offensive end this spring. Strong quarterback play will be the most important factor for Vanderbilt if they hope to see improvement this season.

Spring Game Standouts

A good spring practice does not necessarily translate into a successful season. However, there is no question that some individual breakouts begin in the spring. Look no further than Ralph Webb, who had a big performance in the spring game two years ago before going on to break Vanderbilt’s freshman rushing record that fall. Mason hopes to see some running backs and wide receivers show promise during this spring game so that the team can really open up the offense.

Aggressive Up Front

The new offensive line coach, Cameron Norcross, will make his on-field debut with the Commodores this spring. He was hired just last month, previously serving as the Nevada/Fresno State assistant coach. Norcross shared his aggressive philosophy with his new players heading into spring practice. “The big thing with him is that we’re going to be aggressive in everything we do,” said offensive lineman Andrew Jelks, who returns from a 2015 torn ACL. “He wants us up front to be labeled as aggressive types that will hit you in the mouth every play.”

Who Will Be The Go-To Players

Mason stated that is the overall goal for the spring is to get a “true understanding of exactly what our personnel is because you want to design scheme around your best players.” This means that Mason will be moving around players on the defense to try and find the best fit. Norcross will try to get his offensive line solidified, so we can expect some experimentation as he looks to find a group that works best together. Lastly, Shurmur is hopeful to find some new targets in the passing game in the second year of Ludwig’s offense.

Number 5: Class of 2003

The Selections:

Round 1, pick 5: Terence Newman, CB, Kansas State.

Round 2, pick 38: Al Johnson, C, Wisconsin.

Round 3, pick 69: Jason Witten, TE, Tennessee.

Round 4, pick 103: Bradie James, LB, LSU.

Round 6, pick 178: B.J. Tucker, CB, Wisconsin.

Round 6, pick 186: Zuriel Smith, WR, Hampton.

Round 7, pick 219: Justin Bates, G, Colorado.

What Makes Them Special?

Following the 2002 season, the 5-11 Dallas Cowboys were desperate for a shutdown corner. Terence Newman stepped in and made significant contributions for the better part of nine years. He made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009, intercepting at least three passes in all but one season (2006). Bradie James was one of the most consistent players for the Cowboys in recent memory. He recorded at least 100 tackles in five straight seasons and led the Cowboys in tackles six times. Jason Witten has been a rock for the organization to this day. He has earned 10 trips to the Pro Bowl and will certainly be considered for the Ring of Honor some day.

Number 4: Class of 2005

The Selections:

Round 1, pick 11: DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Troy State.

Round 1, pick 20: Marcus Spears, DE, LSU.

Round 2, pick 42: Kevin Burnett, LB, Tennessee.

Round 4, pick 132: Chris Canty, DE, Virginia.

Round 6, pick 208: Justin Beriault, DB, Ball State.

Round 6, pick 209: Rob Petitti, T, Pittsburgh.

Round 7, pick 224: Jay Ratliff, DE, Auburn.

What Makes Them Special?

On his own, DeMarcus Ware makes for a spectacular draft class. Since his rookie year began, Ware has been one of the top pass rushers in the National Football League, recording 134.5 sacks during those 11 seasons and being selected to nine Pro Bowls. The last draft selection by the Cowboys in 2005, Jay Ratliff, proved to be a stellar defensive player as well. Marion Barber provided several quality years for the team, while Spears, Burnett, and Canty all proved to be great value picks as well.

Number 3: Class of 1990

The Selections:

Round 1, pick 17: Emmitt Smith, RB, Florida.

Round 2, pick 26: Alexander Wright, WR, Auburn.

Round 3, pick 64: Jimmie Jones, DT, Miami (Fla.).

Round 9, pick 221: Kenneth Gant, DB, Albany State (Ga.).

Round 11, pick 277: Dave Harper, LB, Humboldt State.

What Makes Them Special?

Although Emmitt Smith is the only notable name from the 1990 draft class, he stand alone as one of the greatest Cowboys of all time. If a team lands a running back that becomes the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and helps the team win three Super Bowls in four year, then that is good enough to put the 1990 class on the list. Let’s be honest, not many general managers would pass up the opportunity to land one of the greatest running backs in NFL history if it meant forgoing the rest of their draft picks.

Number 2: Class of 1991

The Selections:

Round 1, pick 1: Russell Maryland , DT, Miami (Fla.).

Round 1, pick 12: Alvin Harper, WR, Tennessee.

Round 1, pick 20: Kelvin Pritchett, DT, Mississippi.

Round 2, pick 37: Dixon Edwards, LB, Michigan State.

Round 3, pick 62: Godfrey Myles, LB, Florida.

Round 3, pick 64: James Richards, G, California.

Round 3, pick 70: Erik Williams , T, Central State (Ohio).

Round 4, pick 97: Curvin Richards, RB, Pittsburgh.

Round 4, pick 106: Bill Musgrave, QB, Oregon.

Round 4, pick 108: Tony Hill , DE, Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Round 4, pick 110: Kevin Harris, DE, Texas Southern.

Round 5, pick 132: Darrick Brownlow, LB, Illinois.

Round 6, pick 153: Mike Sullivan, G, Miami (Fla.).

Round 7, pick 173: Leon Lett, DE, Emporia State.

Round 9, pick 235: Damon Mays, WR, Missouri.

Round 10, pick 264: Sean Love, G, Penn State.

Round 11, pick 291: Tony Boles, RB, Michigan.

Round 12, pick 320: Larry Brown, CB, TCU.

What Makes Them Special?

The NFL draft is an exciting time of the year for any team, but it is especially special when you have 18 picks. The draft began with Jimmy Johnson grabbing one of his former Miami Players, Russell Maryland. He was one of the foundational pieces that helped the team win three Super Bowls. Lining up next to Maryland during the height of the Cowboys success was Leon Lett. The Defensive End was an absolute steal in the seventh round. Another steal for Dallas came when the landed Larry Brown in the 12th round. Brown was the starting corner for all three Super Bowls and was one of only four defensive players to win Super Bowl MVP since 1987. On offense, Erik WIlliams was one of the best pickups. He started at right tackle for one of the best offensive lines in NFL history.

Number 1: Class of 1989

The Selections:

Round 1, pick 1: Troy Aikman, UCLA

Round 2, pick 39: Daryl Johnston, Syracuse

Round 3, pick 57: Mark Stepnoski, Pittsburgh

Round 3, pick 68: Rhondy Weston, Florida

Round 4, pick 85: Tony Tolbert, UTEP

Round 5, pick 113: Keith Jennings, Clemson

Round 5, pick 119: Willis Crockett, Georgia Tech

Round 5, pick 125: Jeff Roth, Florida

Round 7, pick 168: Kevin Peterson, Northwestern

Round 8, pick 196: Charvez Foger, Nevada

Round 9, pick 224: Tim Jackson, Nebraska

Round 10, pick 252: Rod Carter, Miami (FL)

Round 11, pick 280: Randy Shannon, Miami (FL)

Round 12, pick 308: Scott Ankrom, TCU

What Makes Them Special?

Troy Aikman certainly was the crown jewel of the 1989 draft class, as a Hall of Fame quarterback who led the franchise to three Super Bowl victories. But the Cowboys did not stop there, they hit on a number of other picks as well. Johnston was a two-time Pro Bowl fullback who helped the team for 11 years. Stepnoski had a six-year stint with the Cowboys, making it to three Super Bowls during this time. The 1989 class does not get enough credit for its help as the core of the Cowboys dynasty during the 1990s. The Dallas Cowboys secured three offensive cornerstones, including their leader.

1) The Dallas Cowboys were established in 1960 as an expansion team.

2) The Dallas Cowboys have won the Super Bowl five times. They won Super Bowl VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX.

3) The Dallas Cowboys have played in the playoffs in 31 different seasons. These years include: 1966-1973, 1975-1983, 1985, 1991-1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2014.

4) In 1990, the Cowboys began a streak of 160 sold-out regular and post-season games. This included 79 straight sellouts at their former home, Texas Stadium, and 81 straight sell-outs on the road.

5) The Cowboys are the only team in NFL history to record 20 straight winning seasons: 1966-1985

6) The Dallas Cowboys have several different nicknames, including America’s Team, Doomsday Defense, The Boys and Big D.

7) The Dallas Cowboys are the wealthiest team in the NFL, with an estimated value of approximately $4 billion. They generate almost $620 million in annual revenue.

8) The Dallas Cowboys do not actually play their games in Dallas. They currently play their home games in Arlington, Texas.

9) The team mascot is Rowdy

10) The current owner, president, and general manager is Jerry Jones. The head coach is currently (2014) Jason Garrett.

The Denver Broncos, with Peyton Manning at the helm, defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24-10 in Sunday’s Super Bowl game at Levi’s Stadium. In his 18th season, Manning was able to take home his second Super Bowl trophy. This was certainly a great moment to see for fans who have watched him dominate the field for so many years.

Following the game, Peyton Manning said that he is “very much at peace” as he contemplates retirement from the NFL.

In an interview today, Manning stated: “I’m very much at peace right now and I think, however it works out, it’ll work out the way it’s supposed to. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and to be playing with a group of special guys.”

The veteran quarterback had celebrated the victory with his team all night. Before he makes a final decision on his future he plans to take some time away from the game to think and reflect.

“I got some good advice from my old coach Tony Dungy. He told me just to take some time after this game and not make an emotional decision,” Manning said, referring to his former Indianapolis Colts coach. “There’s been a lot of emotion these past two weeks and certainly in the Super Bowl, so to take some time and to get away and kind of reflect on what’s happened this season and maybe a few other things.”

This was an interesting season for Manning. He struggled to begin the season, looking like a shell of him old self. But when the season is on the line, it is the players like Peyton Manning who shine brightest. He is the ultimate leader and the type of person that anyone would want to have in their locker room.

After this emotional and trying season, Manning certainly deserves some time to relax and enjoy the moment. “I’ve been fortunate to be on a Super Bowl team before and I remember how special that was, almost 10 years ago, and it was just as special tonight,” Manning stated said. “It’s even better when you can celebrate with your family and your friends and I’ve been doing that tonight.”

There is no question that with a Super Bowl win would be an incredible way for one of the greatest football players of all time to would be an incredible way to leave the game. If he decides to hang up his cleats this offseason, it will certainly be sad to see.

The Carolina Panthers are considered the favorite to win Super Bowl 50. Five of the eight writers at CBS Sports are taking the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. The experts at SB Nation have similar predictions, with six people in favor of the Panthers and only two for Denver. This is not surprising, considering that fact that the Panthers were close to a undefeated season and that Peyton Manning has been very unpredictable.

The Panthers are making their second trip to the Super Bowl after they dismantled the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. Cam Newton was at the top of his game, throwing for two touchdowns and running two more. The defense may have been even better, forcing Carson Palmer into six turnovers.

However, the game against the Cardinals did come with some unfortunate results. Thomas Davis, the Panthers veteran linebacker, broke his forearm. Davis hopes to play against Denver, but his status will be a question mark with such a short covery window.

The AFC Championship game proved to be a much more competitive game. The Broncos pulled off a nail-biting 20-18 win over the New England Patriots that game down to the last seconds. The Broncos have no reached the Super Bowl for the second time in the past three years. They hope to fare better this time around, as their last appearance resulted in a 43-8 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.

Although Peyton Manning has struggled this season, he appeared to have hit his stride against New England last week; he threw for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. This is the Manning that the Broncos are going to need against the tough Panthers defense. The Broncos Defense has been a rock this entire season. They had an inspiring performance against Tom Brady, never allowing him to get into a rhythm. Cam Newton will certainly be a different type of challenge, but if last week was any indication, they are ready for the big stage.

While the Carolina Panthers may be the heavy favorites, we should look no further than last year’s Super Bowl to know that anything can happen. This will certainly be a great matchup between the two former number one draft picks, pitting the youth of Cam Newton against the experience of Peyton Manning.

If the Broncos want to win this game, their defense will need to keep playing at a high level so that they can put Peyton Manning in a position for some late-career magic.

The NFL playoff field is down to four teams: Carolina, Arizona, New England, and Denver. Each of these teams is capable making a run and lifting the VInce Lombardi Trophy on February 7th. With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, we can expect to see some intense action this weekend. Here is a breakdown of the four teams and what we can expect to see from each team.

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have been dominate this season. They have now won 21 of their past 23 games, including the playoffs. The Cardinals are what now stand in their path, a team which has had success against Cam Newton. Throughout his three career games against Arizona, he has faced a blitz on 54% of dropbacks, leading to 12 sacks and four interceptions against the pass rush.

Arizona Cardinals

Carson Palmer has finally got the monkey off his back; he secured his first career playoff win with help of Larry Fitzgerald who has been sensational. Fitzgerald averages 114 receiving yards in his eight career playoff games, along with 10 touchdowns. However the Panthers defense will likely be his biggest test yet. They have allowed the lowest Total QBR (56.7) on passes to wide receivers in the regular season.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have had their ups and downs, but their defense has been a rock solid all season long. The Broncos allowed only 18.5 points per game this season and led the NFL in total defense. No Peyton Manning-led team has ever led the league in total defense before, which is extremely encouraging for him this postseason. However, no Manning-led team has scored as few points as he has this season since 2002. The Broncos already took down the Patriots once this season, will they be able to do it again?

New England Patriots

The Patriots have faced a number of injuries this season that have really slowed down the offense. But with Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman both on the field, Tom Brady is a completely different quarterback; he completes 68 percent of his passes with a 79 Total QBR when he has his star receivers, compared to 60% and a 50 Total QBR with either off the field. Although Brady has a 11-5 record against Peyton Manning in head-to-head matchups, the home team has one each of the playoff matchups. Unfortunately for Brady, the Broncos sneaked by the Patriots to secure home-field advantage this year.

1) Carolina Panthers

Carolina had a nearly perfect season, finishing with an incredible 15-1 record along with the conference’s top overall seed in the playoffs. Although they benefited from one of the easiest schedules in the league, as the season went on everyone realized how good the Panthers really are. Now Carolina will need to continue to win as the competition ramps up. They are fortunate to have a week of rest before their quest for a Super Bowl begins.

2) Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals fell apart at home against Seattle, but they still have a bye week to rest up. Arizona has been one of the league’s most impressive teams going into Week 17, and they still remain a massive threat to win the Super Bowl. Their toughest matchup will undoubtedly be Seattle. The beatdown they suffered will not bode well for their confidence if the two teams matchup at some point.

3) Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings pulled off a tough win in Green Bay in Week 17, winning the NFC North division in the process. They finished with an 11-5 record and will now play host to an intimidating Seahawks team this week. There is no question that Minnesota has the talent to win this game and go far in the playoffs, but Seattle has experience on their side. The Vikings defense is certainly good enough to slow down Russell Wilson. However, will their offense be able to do enough against Seattle?

4) Washington Redskins

Through the second half of their schedule, the Washington Redskins have been on a tear. Jay Gruden was criticized for his decision to go with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, but the decision really paid. He has helped develop Cousins into a real quality player who can lead the team to wins. Although they will likely be the underdog in any NFC matchup, they do have home-field advantage to begin the playoffs. The difference in play at home this season has been great, and they will have the chance to surprise everyone with a home playoff victory.

5) Green Bay Packers

The Packers made a late-game push against the Vikings but fell short in the end. The loss cost them the division and home-field advantage in the wild-card round. Surprisingly, the loss actually gives them an easier matchup than the third seed. Green Bay has struggled of late and they seem to be a shell of their old self. Injuries have really slowed the team down, especially on offense. Their defense has been good enough to keep the Packers hanging around, so you can never count them out.

6) Seattle Seahawks

Seattle’s crushing win over the Cardinals sent a loud message to the rest of the conference: the two-time NFC champions are still here and will not go away without a fight. This team strikes fear into every opponent that it faces. The recipe for Seattle’s success is similar to year’s past, however, Russell Wilson has developed into an elite playmaker, now more than ever.

1) Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos propelled themselves into the top overall seed with their 27-20 win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 17. This is a huge advantage as it will keep them in Denver throughout the AFC playoffs as well as give them a bye week to rest. The extra week will also give them some more time to figure out what to do at the quarterback position. The return of Peyton Manning was encouraging, but he was also one of the leaders in interceptions this season despite missing six games. Brock Osweiler has played well but clearly has less upside. The coaching staff will now have to decide whether or not they want to opt for more ball control in Osweiler or a higher ceiling but lower floor in Manning.

2) New England Patriots

New England’s loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 was not pretty. Injuries and a conservative game plan really held the Patriots back. It now has people questioning whether they should have just benched all of their healthy players instead of risking further damage. The week off should allow Julian Edelman to make a healthy return to the field. But there are still plenty of reasons to be concerned with the Patriots right now, as their run-heavy approach was easily stopped by a terrible Dolphins defense.

3) Cincinnati Bengals

Although the Bengals won a tight game against Baltimore, they did not earn themselves a first-round bye. They are now stuck playing on Wild Card Weekend, which the team definitely does not want to do. Cincinnati will now be forced to take on Pittsburgh with Andy Dalton still on the sidelines. Marvin Lewis has built a strong team, but they will likely be the underdogs in their own stadium without Dalton. It may be a tough pill to swallow for Bengals fans, but they have to wait another year to get Lewis his first playoff win.

4) Houston Texans

Bill O’Brien and his team deserve a lot of credit for bouncing back from some major injuries and poor play that plagued the team early in the year. While they will likely be the underdog in any matchup, it will not be by much. Lucky for them, they will have home field advantage against the Chiefs. If quarterback Brian Hoyer is able to return, then the Texans should have a real shot at advancing.

5) Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs may be the hottest team in all of football; they have won 10 games in a row. Led by an amazing defense, Kansas City nearly won the AFC West While storming their way into the fifth seed. Andy Reid has truly been masterful this season. Despite losing their best offense player (Jamaal Charles), the team has not missed a step. Everyone should be nervous about facing the Chiefs this postseason.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers

Thankfully for Pittsburgh, their Week 16 loss to Baltimore did not end up mattering. The Steelers got some much-needed help from the Buffalo Bills in Week 17, as Buffalo took down the Jets. Now they enter the playoffs with arguably the best quarterback in the conference. Their defense has shown glimpses of being Super Bowl-worthy. Their first test will be against AJ McCarron of the Bengals, which is sure to be a favorable matchup.