Welcome to another entry of the What If? Fantasy Football edition. This is where I look back at a season long before fantasy football became prominent among us in our society as figure how the fantasy numbers would look if the fantasy game existed then. Today, we look back at the 1990 season for Philadelphia Eagles star Randall Cunningham. I'm using the default scoring systems for Sporting News and Yahoo! to calculate the point totals.
Here's the point scale for SN(default configuration):
60 points for every touchdown
2 points for every rushing, receiving, and punt return yard gained
1 point for every kickoff return yard gained
2 points for every reception
1 point for every passing yard
-10 points for every kickoff return attempt
-45 points for lost fumble and interception
-2 points for incomplete pass
Here's the point scale for Yahoo!(default configuration):
6 points for every rushing, receiving, and return touchdown
4 points for passing touchdown
1 point for every 10 rushing and receiving yards
1 point for every 25 passing yards
2 points for every two-point conversion
-1 point for every interception
-2 points for every fumble
No points are given for receptions or return yardage in the default configuration.
Here are the stats for Randall Cunningham in 1990 and fantasy points for the SN games:
Passing yards: 3,466 = 3,466 points
Passing touchdowns: 30 = 1,800 points
Incomplete passes: 194 = -388 points
Interceptions: 13 = -585 points
Rushing yards: 942 = 1,884 points
Rushing touchdowns: 5 = 300 points
Receptions: NA = NA
Receiving yards: NA = NA
Receiving touchdowns: NA = NA
Fumbles Lost: 6 = -270 points
Total points: 6,207 points
Total points per game: 387.93
Here are the stats for Randall Cunningham in 1990 and fantasy points for the Yahoo! game:
Passing yards: 3,466 = 138 points
Passing touchdowns: 30 = 120 points
Interceptions: 13 = -13 points
Rushing yards: 942 = 94 points
Rushing touchdowns: 5 = 30 points
Receiving yards: NA = NA
Receiving touchdowns: NA = NA
Fumbles Lost: 6 = -12 points
Total points: 357 points
Total points per game: 22.31
Statistical source: pro-football reference
Cunningham's MVP season was one of the best and memorable years in NFL history. The Eagles got out to a slow start with only two wins in their first six games, but Cunningham's 4th quarter touchdown pass to Calvin Williams led the Eagles to a 21-20 win in Dallas in Week 8. Cunningham picked up right where he left off in that game with his strongest performance of the season in Week 9.
Against the New England Patriots at home, Cunningham threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles won 48-20 which included his career-high 52-yard run in that game.
The Eagles won five games in a row on the shoulders of their star quarterback, and the streak was snapped against the Buffalo Bills in a 30-23 loss in Week 13. However, Cunningham provided one of the most memorable plays in NFL history in that game.
The Eagles were trailing 24-9 in the second quarter with the ball on their own 5-yard line, Cunningham narrowly avoided a sack by Bruce Smith in the end zone when he ducked then threw a pass about 60 yards in the air to receiver Fred Barnett resulting in 95-yard touchdown pass. This was Cunningham's longest touchdown pass of his career.
The Eagles finished the season with a 10-6 mark which included winning three in a row as they made the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Eagles only managed two early field goals against the Redskins as they lost 20-6 in the Wild Card round. Cunningham did have 80 rushing yards and 205 passing yards in that game.
Philadelphia's offensive line was a problem for the team after Cunningham was sacked the most times of any quarterback in the league which he led the league on five occasions in his career. But his ability to improvise and make plays with his feet gave the Eagles fighting chance in most games. His 942 rushing yards in the 1990 season ranks third all-time for quarterbacks.
Cunningham would win Comeback Player of the Year in 1992 after coming off a year in which he was hurt after the first game of the season. He would stay with the Eagles until 1995. After being out of football for a year, Cunningham signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 1997.
In 1998, Cunningham had his best passing season as Minnesota set a then-record for the most points in a season with 556 as he threw for over 3,700 yards and 34 touchdowns. His play earned him All-Pro honors. He retired after the 2001 season, but not before signing with the team he started with to make it official.
Cunningham threw for 29,979 yards, 207 touchdowns, and 134 interceptions in 161 total games played. He was 82-52-1 as a starter as well. He also rushed for a record 4,928 yards and 35 touchdowns with a 6.4 ypc in his career. He was sparingly used as a punter in his career, and he even excelled at that, too. He averaged 44.7 yards per attempt in 20 tries which included two that were 80 yards or longer.
He was a three-time Bert Bell Award winner in 1988, 1990, and 1998. He won the PFWA MVP in 1990.
These days, he is a minister Remnant Ministries in Las Vegas.
Cunningham was one of the best athletes to step on the field in recent memory as evidenced by his all-around ability. He was a nominee for this past year's Pro Football Hall of Fame class. I think the only thing that hurts him is the lack of games played over the last ten years of his career. Also, he played most of his career in an era that included Dan Marino, John Elway, and others. However, he ranks first in rushing yards and is third all-time in rushing average. His record as a starter is impressive. Only time will tell if his name will be called, but this was one of the most exicting and gifted players I've seen in football.
Also for the record, him averaging nearly 400 points a game in the SN fantasy game is extremely impressive. Even I didn't think he would average that when I first calculated the numbers. His Yahoo! numbers are great, too.
If anyone wants to suggest a past player, then you can do so in the comments section. The only thing I ask is that the player and year be before 1990 because fantasy football wasn't as prominent then.
Past What If? posts:
Walter Payton's 1977 season
Gale Sayers' 1965 season
Eric Dickerson's 1983 season
Jim Brown's 1963 season
Dan Marino's 1984 season
Jerry Rice's 1987 season
O.J. Simpson's 1975 season
Johnny Unitas' 1959 season
Sid Luckman's 1943 season
Sammy Baugh's 1947 season
Beattie Feathers' 1934 season
Charley Hennigan's 1961 season
Timmy Brown's 1963 season
Rolland Lawrence's 1977 season
Dan Fouts' 1981 season
Don Hutson's 1942 season
Earl Campbell's 1980 season
Bronko Nagurski's 1934 season
11/19/2008 10:20:00 AM
David Funk
8 comments:
Cunningham threw one of the prettiest deep balls ever. When he paired up with Randy Moss, that was an awesome combination.
That game against the Giants where he bounces off of a would be tackler, puts his hand on the ground and then fires the ball into the end zone is a great memory. I guess this is what the Falcons thought they were getting in Vick.
And he could punt!!
Great post Dave, for a very underrated QB/Athelete
That was an amazing season. He was so athletic. Could kill you in the air and on the ground.
He was the reason I used the Eagles in Tecmo football.
rad- Yeah, him and Moss were just unbelieveable together in 1998. The man was just so dangerous, and he could even throw the nice deep ball on the run, too. The guy was just scary good on the football field.
Lester- I knew that season was impressive, but I had little idea just how good it would have been in fantasy football!
LOL at Tecmo Bowl! I liked playing as the Raiders in that game with Bo Jackson! It would have been something to have them on the same team!
Thanks for the replies gentleman!
I didn't know you guys were gamers. Bo Jackson was pretty ridiculous in Tecmo Bowl, loved that game.
rad- Yeah, but not like I used to be. That was one of my favorite games of all-time, too.
Randall C. Who Vick wanted to be, but got dogged...
(I know that was bad).
randall was always a fave!
Madman- LOL! That's accurate though.
Cindy- I always appreciated Cunningham. A great athlete and player, and he has a great head on his shoulders, too.
Thanks for the replies!
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