Football
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A football field is one hundred yards-one hundred and twelve yards if you count the end zones- long and fifty-three and one third yards wide. To score, a team has to run or pass the ball up field until they get into the end zone. When they get into the end zone that means they get six points. If they kick the extra point and it goes through the field goal posts, then they get another point which would make it seven points total. You could also go for two points after you score a touchdown. There is a line of scrimmage which the offense and defense line up on. If anyone on either team passes the line before the quarterback says hut, then they are off sides and are charged with a five yard penalty.

Football Positions

On offense there is a quarterback, fullback, halfback,wide receivers, ends, tackles, guards, center, and tight ends. On defense there are defensive backs,

linebackers, and linemen.

Offensive Center: The center has two very important jobs. First he snaps the ball then blocks his assigned man. The center should be about the same height as the quarterback so they can exchange the ball well. He should also be big enough to block.

Offensive Guards: The left and right guards line up on the line of scrimmage on each side of the center. They're usually the quickest of the inner linemen. On running plays up the middle they block straight ahead. On sweeps to the outside they dash to the outside and block.

Offensive Tackles: The left and right tackles line up on each side of the guards. They're the biggest and the strongest linemen. They always block straight ahead.

Quarterback: The quarterback lines up behind the center. He receives the hike from the center when he says hut. A quarterback should be a strong leader. The other players look to him for instruction and direction. the quarterback should have good reflexes. He should also be an accurate passer.

Running Backs: The two basic types are half backs and fullbacks. Fullbacks are bigger and half backs are faster. Every team uses only one fullback. There can be two half backs, but one is often replaced by an extra receiver. The backs line up about five yards behind the quarterback. They're either split side by side or in the I-formation. The half back usually runs to the outside and the fullback usually runs up the middle.

Offensive Ends: There are two offensive ends, the tight end and the wide receivers. They line up either on the line of scrimmage or one yard behind it. The tight end lines up beside the tackles, and the wide receiver lines up next to the sideline.

On defense their are cornerbacks, defensive backs, linebackers, tackles, ends, and safeties.

Defensive Linemen: They're the biggest and strongest players on the defense. Their job is to stop the offense. There are always a left and right end. Between them are two tackles. There can also be nose tackles. The ends must be quick and strong, size is not important. The tackles are the heaviest of the linemen. They must be able to fight off blockers. They must also be able to rush the passer.

Linebackers: There are always two outside linebackers and one middle linebacker. Linebackers make up the support unit against the pass and the run. They must strong, quick, and aggressive. The linebackers job is to stop the run and the pass. Sometimes several linebackers will blitz which means to rush the passer.

Defensive Backs: The job of the defensive back is to stop the pass. The worst thing for the defensive back to do is to let the receiver out run them. If the receiver out runs the defensive back then the quarterback will probably throw a long bomb to that receiver. Speed and intelligence is the main thing a defensive back needs. Cornerbacks and safeties are the two types of defensive backs.
 
 

Equipment

Football equipment consists of a helmet, knee and thigh pads, pants, shoulder pads, a jock strap, a cup, mouth piece, chin strap, hip pads, a jersey, and cleats. Good football equipment is usually expensive. You should always have this equipment, or you'll get hurt.
 
 

Starting the Game

Before the game, captains come out to the fifty-yard line and the referee tosses a coin and the visiting team calls heads or tails. If they win the toss then they pick to kick or to receive. If they pick to kick then they will get the ball at half time, and kick at the beginning of the game. The team that receives the ball will kick at half time. In high school quarter lengths last twelve minutes, but in the NFL they last fifteen minutes.There are four quarters in a game. The clock is stopped after quarters, incomplete passes, after scores, penalties, and timeouts.

The game ends after four quarters and the team with the most points wins. If the points are equal it is called a tie. In the pros they go into another quarter called overtime. The team that scores first wins.

Penalty signs

If you have ever watched a football game you will see people in black and white striped shirts. They are known as a referee.

Delay of Game: Delay of game is when the referee folds their arms over each other.
 
 

Personal Foul: Personal foul is when the referee puts his right arm straight out to the right side of him.

Illegal Kick: Illegal kick is when the referee folds his arms upward and touches his shoulders.

Unsportsmenlike Conduct: Unsportsmenlike conduct is when the referee spreads his arms out to the side.

Clipping: Clipping is when the referee moves his right arm across the side of his knee.

Other penalties: False start and encroachment are other penalties. They're worth five yards. False start is when the offense starts before the quarterback says hut. Encroachment is just the same except the defense starts early.
 
 
 
 

2001 Football

The Baltimore Ravens won their first Super Bowl in 2001. They beat the New York Giants 37-7. One- Hundred and thirty one point two people were there. It was the fifth most watched program since January twenty eight.

In the AFA east New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins clinched a playoff spot in 2001. Both of them had ten wins and five losses. The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff spot in the AFA central. They had twelve wins and three losses. They also got to play their first playoff game on their home field. The Oakland Raiders clinched a playoff spot, and the division in the AFA west. They had ten wins and five losses also.

In the NFC east Philadelphia clinched a playoff spot and the division. They had ten wins and five losses. In the NFC Central the Chicago Bears clinched a playoff spot with twelve wins and three losses. Green Bay got a playoff spot swell. They had eleven wins and four losses. Tampa Bay clinched the Wild Card in the playoffs with nine wins and six losses. In the NFC West the St. Louis Rams and the Sanfransisco 49ers clinched a playoff spot. Sanfransisco got the Wild Card. The Rams had thirteen

wins and two losses. The 49ers had eleven wins and four losses.

Hall of Famers

In year 2001 seven people made it to the Hall of Fame. They consisted of Nick Buoniconti, Marv Levy, Mike Munchak, Jackie Slater, Lynn Swann, Ron Yary, and Jack Younblood. They all became Hall of Famers on August, 4, 2001.

2001 AFA Pro Bowl Selections

Name	Team	Positions
Marvin Harrison	Indianapolis	WR
Eric Moulds	Buffalo	WR
Rod Smith	Denver	WR
Jimmy Smith	Jacksonville	WR
Jonathan Ogden	Baltimore	OT
Tony Boselli	Jacksonville	OT
Brad Hopkins	Tennessee	OT
Bruce Matthews	Tennessee	OG
Ruben Brown	Buffalo	OG
Steve Wisniewski	Oakland	OG
Kevin Mawae	New York Jets	C
Tom Nalen	Denver	C
Tony Gonzalez	Kansas City	TE
Frank Wychek	Tennessee	TE
Rich Gannon	Oakland	QB
Peyton Manning	Indianapolis	QB
Brian Griese	Denver	QB
Eddie George	Indianapolis	RB
Corey Dillon	Tennessee	RB
Richie Anderson	Cincinnati	FB
Jason Taylor	New York Jets	DE
Trace Armstrong	Miami	DE
Jevon Kearse	Miami	DE
Trevor Pryce	Tennessee	DT
Sam Adams	Denver	DT
Ted Washington	Baltimore	DT
Junior Seau	Buffalo	OLB
Mo Lewis	San Diego	OLB
Jason Gildon	New York Jets	OLB
Ray Lewis	Pittsburgh	MLB
Sam Cowart	Buffalo	MLB
Sam Madison	Miami	CB
Samari Rolle	Tennessee	CB
Charles Woodsen	Oakland	CB
Blaine Bishop	Tennessee	SS
Rod Woodson	Baltimore	FS
Brock Marion	Miami	FS
Darren Bennett	San Diego	Punter
Matt Stover	Baltimore	Kicker
Derrick Mason	Tennessee	Return Specialist
Larry Izzo	Miami	Special Teamer

2001 NFC Pro Bowl Selections

Name	Team	Position
Randy Moss	Minnesota Vikings	WR
Issac Bruce	St. Louis Rams	WR
Cris Carter	Minnesota Vikings	WR
Terrell Owens	San Francisco 49ers	WR
Orlando Pace	St. Louis Rams	OT
Willie Roaf	New Orleans Saints	OT
Korey Stringer	Minnesota Vikings	OG
Larry Allen	Dallas Cowboys	OG
Randall Mcdaniel	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	OG
Ron Stone	New York Giants	OG
Jeff Christy	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	C
Matt Birk	Minnesota Vikings	C
Chad Lewis	Philadelphia Eagles	TE
Stephen Alexzander	Washington Redskins	TE
Daunte Culpepper	Minnesota Vikings	QB
Jeff Garcia	San Fransisco 49ers	QB
Kurt Warner	St. Louis Rams	QB
Marshall Faulk	St. Louis Rams	RB
Robert Smith	Minnesota Vikings	RB
Charlie Garner	San Fransisco 49ers	RB
Mike Alstott	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	FB
Hugh Douglas	Philedelphia Eagles	DE
Joe Johnson	New Orleans Saints	DE
Marco Coleman	Washington Redskins	DE
Warren Sapp	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	DT
La'Roi Glover	New Orleans Saints	DT
Luther Ellis	Detroit Lions	DT
Derrick Brooks	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	OLB
Jessie Armstead	New York Giants	OLB
Keith Mitchell	New Orleans Saints	OLB
Stephen Boyd	Detroit Lions	MLB
Jeremiah Trotter	Philedelphia Eagles	MLB
Champ Bailey	Washington Redskins	CB
Troy Vincent	Philedelphia Eagles	CB
Donnie Abraham	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	CB
John Lynch	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	SS
Robert Griffith	Minnesota Vikings	SS
Darren Sharper	Green Bay Packers	FS
Scott Player	Arizona Cardinals	Punter
Martin Gramatica	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	Kicker
Michael Bates	Carolina Panthers	Special Teamer