In three of those years they also allowed the fewest points in the league. Bednarik worked as a concrete salesman during the NFL's offseason and was known for his hard hits and persistent endurance. The New York Stock Exchange had plenty of style, they also had substance. His ability to cover wide receivers was compared to being stranded on an island. New York Jets fans certainly still remember the worth of the New York Sack Exchange. It's like planking, but dumber. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Nickname given to his frequent acts off the field and his huge ego. His blond hair, combined with his tendencies to throw the ball down the field, hence "bomber". Since 2016, no one comes close to Bakhtiari's 96.4 pass-blocking grade. Parcells retired that offseason and Bill Belichick left to coach the Cleveland Browns. Playing on both offense and defense (and thus playing all sixty minutes of the game); is sometimes applied generally to any player that does this. They will probably know Dan Marino was a number #13 for the Dolphins and be forced to guess such, even if they think Marino never won a Super Bowl. Before the Orange Crush's arrival, Denver had only seen two winning teams in 16 seasons and had never played in a playoff game. His passion, intelligence, and vocal leadership: self-bestowed, His ability to step up at critical moments and make big plays; possibly self-bestowed. In Super Bowl IX, it shut out Minnesota's offense while holding the Vikings to 102 total yards. Tag them with a great nickname and they become a legendary unit. Reference to his incredible speed-won two gold medals and set, A contraction of "bumblebee," based on his aunt's thick southern accent (common to many others in the Phillips family including his son. Borne mostly from a still-legendary 1991 recruiting class and led by a center a year older, the O-line from the perfect 12-0 season can be overlooked amid 1994's abundance of offensive riches. That was probably true, as only one member of that defense -- linebacker Nick Buoniconti -- is in the Hall of Fame. Drafted as a wide receiver by the Minnesota Vikings, on Brett Favre's insistence Joe Webb was signed to the team as a back-up QB. With the the second ranked defense in the NFL, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl. The nickname was earned for accomplishments on the field. The Sweeps. Was plagued by concussions and injuries, referencing his presumed fragility, His similarity in appearance and demeanor to the character in the movie. Originally known as the Fab Five, the group opted for an adjective change after Jalen Rose of the famous Michigan basketball Fab Five complained. Pro Football Reference also views the Cowboys' offensive line as an elite unit, especially in the running game . After starting off the 1969 season 18-23, the Mets caught fire, winning 82 of their final 121 games including 24 of their last 32. The nickname, which was originally given to the University of Chicago's football team, was unofficially transferred to George Halas' Bears after the school dropped their football program. The unit, which was led by linebackers Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar, held opponents to 10.6 points per game. The Trades Union. The 1985 Bears defense ranked first in yards allowed and fewest points allowed. The '82 unit, a group that included Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby and Mark May, powered an offense that featured ageless fullback John Riggins. Jones wants to drop nickname", "George "Papa Bear" Halas honored with 'Hometown Hall of Fame', "argonauts.ca - Michael "Pinball" Clemons", "Michael Irvin: 2007 Hall of Fame enshrinement speech", "Yes, Poop Johnson is a real player in the CFL", "The Jets Cabinet: Who Fits Into The Room? 1. It's pressure also contributed to three interceptions, as Pittsburgh won its second of four Super Bowls during the decade. 16, page 23, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, played multiple offensive and defensive positions, Tuesday Morning Quarterback#"TMQ" team nicknames, Football Nicknames: Over 7,400 Listed by Terry Pruyne, "Beneath Brown Bags, Saints Had Loyal Fans", "A look back at the many New York Giant handles, aliases, and nicknames", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the NY Giants", "NFL Beat: Rhodes' Warriors need a nickname", "Why Patriots defensive players nicknamed themselves 'The Boogeymen', "Scary-good Patriots 'Boogeymen' lead NFL's top D", "Boston TE party: Gronkowski unstoppable for Patriots", "Boston's TE Party: Patriots' Gronkowski & Hernandez Key to Offensive Juggernaut", "Tank Younger, 73, First Star From Black College to Play in N.F.L., Dies", "NFL Playoffs Begin with Wild Card Weekend", "Reebok Detroit Lions Cardiac Cats T-shirt", "No Lions comeback this time: Cardiac Cats rest easy", "Leftwich, Cardiac Jags Stun Kansas City", "New England Deflatriots? The Jets' defensive line of Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam was among the NFL's best in the early 1980s. Lindros also earned the Hart Memorial trophy in 1995 as league MVP. ", "Brady rule: Steps taken to protect QBs' knees", "Rules of the Name, or How the Emmitt Rule Became the Emmitt Rule", "NFL.com Laying down the Law in New England", "New Orleans Saints have a chance at the "Bird Gauntlet", "Go Deep! While the entire unit has been hailed the Steel Curtain, the nickname -- the greatest for a unit in league annals -- was created initially for Pittsburgh's dominant defensive front. The Giants continued to play strong defensive ball throughout the late 1980s, and in 1990 the Giants defense again led them to the promised land. Inspired from his mentor Deion "Prime Time" Sanders. Washington had a winning record in each of Allen's seven seasons and reached the 1973 Super Bowl (losing 14-7 to Miami). March 2, 2023 9:59 pm ET. But . Flame brain. Few gave the Giants much of a chance against the Bills no-huddle, quick strike offense. They were part of a unit that allowed this to. No. Sports Nicknames: 20,000 Professionals Worldwide by Terry W. Pruyne, National Football League Players Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_NFL_nicknames&oldid=1142337263, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with dead external links from May 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2013, Pages using navbox columns without the first column, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, How he was as difficult to tackle as a freight train; "A" is a reference to his surname initial. Some consider that lineup to be the best lineup ever. The Dome Patrol never won a playoff game, but they certainly gave New Orleans a measure of respect when it came to football. The Boston TE Party: Gronk and Hernandez Area 51: Redskins safeties Sean Taylor and Laron Landry had jersey numbers that added up to 51 The Law Firm: Lawyer Milloy and Ty Law of the late 90s/early 00s Patriots This thread is archived Named after the brand of pacifier he enjoyed as a baby. The nickname is credited to former Saints Head Coach Hank Stram. Led by linemen Bob Lilly and Larry Cole, linebackers Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan, and defensive backs Mel Renfro, Herb Adderley and Cliff Harris, the Cowboys held the Dolphins to a mere three points in their Super Bowl VI victory. Gastineau's 22 sacks in 1984 was the NFL record until Michael Strahan bettered it in 2001. Top-Rated offensive line Nicknames offensive lines Offensive lineman O line Creative offensive lineup offensive linesman Crimson Kohler big offensive lines playoffensive line groffensive line offensive linehan popoffensive line offensive lined runoffensive line offensive liners payoffensive line joffensive line woodroffensive line The unit may never have been better than in the 1972 title run. The '77 Falcons offense was horridly bad. Because they were part of the Guard & thought to be better fed than the Line. For his defensive coordinator Bennett hired Jerry Glanville. A year later they nearly returned the Jets to the Super Bowl, but came up short in the AFC Championship game. 54: 1982 @Redskins, @SuperBowl XVII Champions #HTTR: #NFL100 Greatest Teams on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/pHZUq8wlc4. Unfortunately for them, the Cowboys' defense was historically good that day, as Dallas forced eight turnovers in a 17-point win. By that time, Doomsday added several new stars that included Randy White and Harvey Martin, who shared MVP honors in Dallas' Super Bowl win over Denver. College Football News Preview 2022 preseason unit rankings . Bestowed in childhood by his grandmother, who surmised he changed directions more often than the. crimecon 2022 speakers. Sadly, they never won a Super Bowl, losing in each of their four appearances. Hall of Famers and Other Honors After a 1989 change in FIBA laws opened the doors for professional basketball players to compete in the Olympics, the "Dream Team" was promptly assembled for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The group was led by Alan Page, the first defensive player to win league MVP. Kuenn earned the Manager of the Year award for his work. Alvin Garrett (5-7), Virgil "Papa Smurf" Seay (5-8) and Charlie Brown (5-10) helped Washington reach two Super Bowls (winning one) in their time together. Page, Eller and Marshall played in four Super Bowls together, but the trio came up short in each game. The front line of the Vikings racked up 19 Pro Bowl appearances from 1968-1976. ttarr the Vendel Crow: So given because after he was slain in a battle at Vendill, his body was eaten by crows. Ainge first acquired Seattle SuperSonics sharpshooter Ray Allen with a draft night deal, and then procured 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The duo is largely responsible for the Vikings fielding such a stiff run defense, and they make it nearly impossible for the opposition to consistently gain yardage between the tackles. A nickname coined by his teammates on the Washington Redskins after peeing himself constantly during his career. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. Because of his physical tackling, and apparent resemblance to the cartoon character. The nickname for the offensive line was a reference to O.J. Reference to Colston's shyness and ability to make big plays. NFL coaches, scouts, execs pick most memorable pre-draft workouts Visit Us 4201 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203 glentunnel to christchurch FREE QUOTE. The aggressive defense continued in a 10-3 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. All great NFL defenses strike fear into the hearts of their offensive counterparts. But the "Monsters of the Midway" moniker didn't allude to a particular unit during that point in time. His quickness, technique and anchor allow him to handle any type of pass-rusher. One of the most dominant doubles teams ever, the Australian duo of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde won 61 tournaments in their careers (a record since broken by the Bryan brothers), including 11 Grand Slam titles and a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. As well as his flying tackles. Also referred to as 'Kamtrack' and 'Kam Chancellor the Touchdown Canceller'. This year, they're returning four of five starters. The Dome Patrol and head coach Jim Mora, helped the Saints achieve four consecutive playoff appearances, including their first ever in 1987. Their awe-inspiring jams earned the squad a nickname that combined college Greek life with the slam dunk. Glanville actually had a play named "Sticky Sam" which called for a nine man blitz. Players banned included first baseman Arnold "Chick" Gandil, pitcher Eddie Cicotte and outfielder Shoeless Joe Jackson (whose involvement has been disputed). The unit also had historical cultural significance, as the quartet was featured on the cover of Time magazine. As time evolved the Cowboys continued their defensive excellence and the Doomsday name continued to stick with them. For his speed, and his spectacular and graceful moves. A part-time job he once held delivering ice in his hometown of, His choice of footwear at a time when most players wore black cleats. Five members of the Steel Curtain defense eventually made their way to Canton. Unlike many other defenses on this list, the Doomsday Defense featured many different players over a 20 year span, from approximately 1965-1983. The New York Mets franchise got off to an inauspicious start, finishing no better than ninth in the 10-team National League during their first seven seasons on play. Maybe I'll take from my "what should we name our secondary thread" to call our Offensive Line "The Electric Fence." EDIT: Didn't realize this was a previous response for the idea. Riggins ran for 168 yards on a Super Bowl record 38 carries in the victory over the Dolphins. For his devastatingly big hitting ability. If nothing, the Big Blue Wrecking Crew should be remembered for this innovation. The Giants triumphed 20-19 in what many consider the greatest Super Bowl ever played. They also know that the quarterback is the captain of the unit, the one who gets most of the credit for success and most of the blame for failure. Denver's defense put up impressive performances over the Steelers and Raiders -- offenses that featured a combined 12 future Hall of Famers -- in the playoffs before holding their own against the Cowboys' prolific offense in Super Bowl XII. A nickname that really hasn't faded over time. An alliterative play on his last name and his speed; White, who led the league in rushing in his short three-year NFL career, was dismayed to find the nickname stuck with him well into his legal career (eventually ending up a Supreme Court Justice). The Cougars, featuring Akeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, also suffered one of the NCAA tournament's biggest upsets: a 62-60 loss to Jim Valvano's N.C. State team in the 1983 championship game. The offensive unit is primarily responsible for trying to score points. In 1981 the foursome lead the NFL in sacks. In 1991 and 1992, the Dome Patrol led the league in fewest points allowed. The '82 unit, a group that included Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby and Mark May, powered an offense that featured ageless fullback John Riggins. The Steel Curtain obliged, sort of, yielding 17 rushing yards on21 carries. Send suggestions to siwriters@simail.com, 2023 ABG-SI LLC. First Cowboy to be drafted and in the hall of fame, To his homeland as well as to the difficulty he posed to defenses. Mark Gasineau, Marty Lyons, Joe Klecko and Adbul Salaam constituted the Sack Exchange. Nicknamed after Sheb Wooley's 1958 hit song, the line primarily featured Alan Page, Carl Eller (both Hall of Famers), Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen. True or not, the name "Doomsday" evokes a sense of fear and dread in most. A subset of the Wild Bunch, the Smurfs were a group of diminutive wide receivers for the Redskins in the 1980s. Football people finally started to notice that something amazing was happening in Atlanta, at least on the defensive side of ball. The quote was from Vikings Pro Bowl running back Chuck Foreman during Super Bowl IX. The 11 players on an offensive unit are split into five categories of players: Quarterback ", Fitzpatrick has had brief spurts of resounding success, notable examples include when he played with the. Neither the free agents nor the many draft picks helped the Vikings form a good offensive line. From his mother. They followed up their regular season by allowing only three points in the NFC playoffs. He's your laziest friend. The unit, despite losing Salaam after the '83 season, led the Jets to back-to-back playoff appearances in 1985-86. The Giants cruised to Super Bowl XXI. USC rode its rowdy defense to the 1970 Rose Bowl victory. Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Del Ennis, Granny Hamner, Willie Jones and Curt Simmons excited the Phillies' fans by jumping out to a seven-game lead with 11 games to play. Our win rate metics stack the best run-blocking, run-stopping, pass-protecting and pass-rushing players and teams in the game for the 2022 season. The Black Sox scandal involved Chicago players throwing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers. He's your most boring friend. Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson were all among the nation's top-100 recruits (and all but Jackson was ranked in the top nine). Baltimore Sun". Pro Football Focus' Ben Linsey ranked the best . The '77 Cowboys defense also included the 6-foot-9 Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, who in 2019 declared Doomsday the greatest defensive unit of all time. Side note for humor: If you ever want to fool a novice football fan, ask them what #13 won a Super Bowl MVP for the Miami Dolphins. 's Ironhead, Is Dead at 39", "One of league's best cornerbacks only goes by 'Jackrabbit', "Joe Burrow's nicknames, explained: From 'Joey Franchise' to 'Joe Shiesty,' all of Bengals' QB's monikers", "5 Things to Know about 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk", "Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Joe DeLamielleure (#8)", A journeyman on the field but always a 'King' off of it, "BenJarvus Green-Ellis' agent in touch with teams", "On Brink of Retirement, Emotions Fly High for Malcom Floyd", "Where Are They Now / Daryle Lamonica / 'The Mad Bomber' / Quarterback guided Raiders' long-ball attack", "Ted Hendricks Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "By any name, 'Marion the Barbarian' a vital part of Cowboys offense", CJohnson, Sproles, Hester among most explosive, "Julian Edelman has a new nickname: Minitron", "Former Chicago Bears Steve "Mongo" McMichael said he's running for mayor - ESPN Chicago", "Top 10 Best Draft Picks of the Jerry Jones Era - Dallas - Sports - Sportatorium", "Sean Payton: Taysom Hill runs like Fred Flintstone", "Seahawks/NFL: 'Mudbone' embodied Hawks' grit", "Friend who stuck Doug Martin with 'Muscle Hamster' label: Too late to change", "Chad Ochocinco changes his name back to Johnson", "Alexander The Face Of Roster Versatility", "No more Pacman? Glanville installed a swarming, attacking, blitzing defense which came after the quarterback on every single play. The Warriors' high-scoring trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin took a nickname inspired by the rap group Run-D.M.C. Accompanied by Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier the Rams defense line became known as the Fearsome Foursome. Their run blocking will literally maul you, pulverizing you into dust. 1. Led by Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman (all pictured here tackling Knowshow Moreno), Seattle lowered the boom on Denver 43-8 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in history. Nickname given for his affinity for having comeback wins during his career. Well known for calling his own plays at the line of scrimmage and hurry-up offense. The 1976 Steelers were even better, allowing only 138 points in 14 games. New Orleans Saints Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. The Dolphin defense was the first to not allow their opposing offense to score in a Super Bowl. From 1972 to 1979, the Steel Curtain never finished below seventh in total defense. I bet you're kind of surprised that I didn't make. New York Jetsfront four, early 1980s; Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. Some said the Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s played dirty. A confluence of the letter B gave rise to a topical nickname for the 1982 Miami Dolphin defense. Led by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the Americans were so dominant that their closest match -- the gold medal final -- was won by 32 points over Croatia. A play on his last name and famed Western character, In March 2019, Oliver posted a picture on. The Purple People Eaters coined the phrase, "Meet at the Quarterback," and many a QB feared their hunger. The nickname came after the four rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in November 1981. In 1969 all four members started for the NFL in the Pro Bowl, but the Purple People Eaters were more than their front four. In 1973, he broke the single-game rushing record and became the first player to total 2,000 yards in a season. In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they ranked all 32 offensive line units in the NFL heading into the 2021 season.Amidst all the uncertainty, the Raiders finished at No. Rated by NFL Network as the No. The most iconic version of the Hogs was the unit that was first given the nickname. Nevertheless, if they can get healthy, they could be a top-10 unit in the second half of the season. Because of his short legs, he appeared to waddle like a duck. The early '40s Bears were dominant, and the nickname certainly added to their fame. . 1 linebacker corps of all time, the New Orleans Saints "Dome Patrol" featured the only linebacker unit to have all four members elected to the same Pro Bowl. Lovingly called Spiderman, due to his last name. The name is an allusion to a, A play on the initials he had used as his. He used this term to describe himself during an interview; afterward, fans continued to use the term. Given due to his ability to make big plays. ", "Steelers' Troy Polamalu: The Samoan Headhunter", "Fred Taylor retiring after 13 seasons, 1 Pro Bowl", "The Eagles' Mitchell Is Ready for Another Close-Up", "B.J Raji TD vs Bears and funny celebration-NFC Championship", "Top Dallas Cowboys nicknames on the 2015 roster", "Top ten wide receivers in Bills history", "Boston TE party: Gronkowski unstoppable for Patriots - NFL.com", "Report: Rob Gronkowski 50/50 to Play for Patriots Against Buccaneers on Sunday", "Seahawks 'Hausch Money' helps kick some money over to local charity for children", "K Stephen Hauschka is a major part of the Bills recent success", MLB's nickname gimmick won't solve baseball's mounting age issues, "Former Lion Hopalong Cassady passes away at 85", "Oliver: "I just want to come in and compete", "Huerta Keeps Foot On The Clutch For 'canes", Idec, Keith. Belichick's defensive game plan can be viewed in the Hall of Fame (along with his nearly identical one from Super Bowl XXXVI). Olsen is flanked in Canton by Jones, who tallied 173.5 sacks during his legendary career. Stanford's answer to USC's Wild Bunch was the name of a motorcycle gang in Montana: the Thunderchickens. The name stuck thanks in part to a student publicity aide who posed the players atop four horses, in full uniform. Nickname given due to his long hair and thick beard resembling a common depiction of, Bestowed in 1980, well after his (very brief) NFL playing career ended, when Parcells was an assistant with the, Tupa took advantage of the legalization of the, Orton bore a resemblance to Uncle Rico, a washed-up former high school backup quarterback in the movie. St. Louis won 95 games and took the World Series over Detroit. They slipped slightly in 1987 and 1988, finishing second both years. Please read his brilliant analysis. That much most people know. Offensive line coach Cincinnati (1981-1982) Offensive line coach Kansas (1983-1985) Offensive line coach Pittsburgh (1986) Offensive coordinator & offensive line coach Dallas. Ryan benefited from the presence of standout defense players such as Wilbur Marshall, William 'The Fridge" Perry, Steve McMichael, Dan Hampton, Leslie Frazier, Otis Wilson, team captain Mike Singletary, and Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent. The Dolphins wore their seemingly insulting nickname as a badge of honor for their team concept of defense. A self-assigned nickname given during the December 18th, 2022 game between Lawrence's. Jim Kelly was perhaps best known for running the Bills' "No-Huddle Offense", which was fast-paced and denied opposing defenses the opportunity to make timely substitutions, establishing the Buffalo Bills as one of the NFL's most successful and dangerous offenses. A week later, it limited the Raiders' powerful offense to 29 yards rushing. One of the most dominant defenses in NFL history, the Steel Curtain was the nickname of the Pittsburgh defensive line in the 1970s. Self-bestowed nickname Smart used on the back of his jersey during his time in the. The 1934 Cardinals took the field in unwashed uniforms and earned their nickname from the unpleasant smell. Belichick and Parcells instructed their defense to attack and intimidate Buffalo receivers with relentless physical punishment on every play. Doomsday linebacker Chuck Howley holds the unique distinction of being the only Super Bowl losing player to be named its MVP. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. Buffalo made the playoffs in all but one of the trio's seasons together. It has been used for Joe Flacco for his cool demeanor, especially during the postseason. His immense size in comparison to other defensive linemen. That changed for awhile in the early 80s with the arrival of the New York Sack Exchange. Through the NFL's first 102 seasons, several units were so memorable that a nickname was bestowed upon them. follow. Ed "Too Tall" Jones gave the Cowboys a menacing front four. NFL finds Patriots deflated 11 balls in 'Deflategate' AFC title game: report", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Atlanta Falcons", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Dallas Cowboys", "Don Shula on Patriots: 'the Spygate Thing Has Diminished What They've Accomplished', "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the LA Rams", "Sam Darnold said 'I'm seeing ghosts' during awful MNF performance and fans crushed him", "FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT: RAMS: Just Call Him 'Air Chuck', "Patriots 4-1 at bye; return to action Oct. 22", "Nickname for the Jaguars' secondary? During that season, the line combined for an unofficial total of 66 sacks (which didn't become an official NFL statistic until the following season). pennsylvania supreme court judges; 4618 forthbridge drive houston, tx; lincoln memorial events; chemerinsky, constitutional law syllabus The Oreo : 2006/2007 Saints had an all black defensive line, all white linebacking core, and all black secondary. The unit has been mostly bad in pass protection, allowing a league-high 20 sacks, which is five fewer than the team gave up in all of 2020. Nicknames for entire teams, or whole offensive or defensive units. Regardless of the exact makeup, the Killer Bs intimidated opposing pitchers with Craig Biggio's knack for getting on base and roping doubles while Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman bombed homers. While playing for the University of Miami, the tall, thin Hendricks gained the nickname The Mad Stork., Combination of maple (due to his Canadian heritage) and Megatron (due to the similarities to, Because of his physical running style and reputation for repeatedly breaking tackles, Prolific Miami Dolphins wide receiver duo of the 1980s who shared the same first name (also a reference to the, In reference to Matt Ryan's ability to have long game-winning drives under pressure (and pejoratively for Ryan's tendency to go "ice cold" during playoff games); also a play on "Natty Ice", a low-end beer brewed by, A reference to his large frame, comparing him to a, A reference to his Christian ministry as an ordained, While not many would draw comparisons between the diminutive, Given to him in reference to his big-time corner play, Given to him by Cowboys backup quarterback. Nicknames of British Units during the Napoleonic Wars. During the 1978-79 season, Pittsburgh allowed the third-fewest points in NFL history, giving up only 195 in 16 games.