Sports stats



AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

20 Greatest Teams in AFL history revealed

May 17, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The 20 Greatest Teams in AFL history, as chosen by the 20th Season Historical Committee, were revealed today and the 2002 San Jose SaberCats, who had a 13-1 regular-season record and won ArenaBowl XVI, were voted No. 1.

RANK TEAM POINTS
1 2002 San Jose SaberCats 114 (2)
2t 1996 Tampa Bay Storm 97 (1)
2t 1997 Arizona Rattlers 97
4 1993 Tampa Bay Storm 83 (1)
5 1999 Albany Firebirds 75
6 1992 Detroit Drive 72
7 1995 Tampa Bay Storm 63 (1)
8 2003 Tampa Bay Storm 59
9 2004 San Jose SaberCats 56
10t 1992 Orlando Predators 54 (1)
10t 2000 Orlando Predators 54
12 2001 Grand Rapids Rampage 52
13t 1988 Detroit Drive 41
13t 1994 Arizona Rattlers 41
15t 1994 Orlando Predators 40
15t 1994 Albany Firebirds 40
15t 2005 Colorado Crush 40
18 1996 Iowa Barnstormers 38
19 1989 Detroit Drive 37 (1)
20 1991 Tampa Bay Storm 34

*Seven of the eight Historical Committee members voted; first-place votes in parenthesis; a team received 20 points for one first-place vote, 19 points for one second-place vote, etc.

NOTE: Still photos of AFL players, teams and events are available through WireImage (www.wireimage.com). Please contact Mike Klein of WireImage at 212-909-2444 with questions.

Video footage is available through AFL Images. Please contact Michelle McNamara of Phoenix Communications at 201-807-0888 x426.

1. 2002 San Jose SaberCats - ArenaBowl XVI Champion, 13-1 Regular-Season Record

Good teams may possess a great offense or a great defense. But the best team in Arena Football history - the 2002 San Jose SaberCats -- possessed both and used them to dominate the League like no team ever has.

The 2002 'Cats became the first team to begin the season 12-0, lost only one game by a single touchdown and executed the most dominating win in ArenaBowl history, 52-14, over the Arizona Rattlers despite the loss of their starting quarterback for the season in Week 13. They were also the first team to score at least 50 points in every game and the defense held seven of its final eight opponents to under 50 points.

"What a magical season," said SaberCats head coach DARREN ARBET, who continues to coach the team. "We won a few close games early in the year then just steamrolled everyone until that Arizona game when (QB) MARK GRIEB got hurt."

San Jose and Arizona, who finished the regular season with the League's second-best record at 11-3, played three benchmark games in 2002. The first was game one of the season, which was clawed out by the SaberCats at home, 52-51.

San Jose cruised through their schedule until their second game against the Rattlers at the infamous "Snake Pit" in Week 13. The SaberCats entered 12-0 amid whispers of an undefeated season. But Arizona overcame a 17-point deficit in the first half and used an 11-yard scoring run by OS CHRIS HORN with 43 seconds left in the game to hand San Jose their first loss, 59-52. San Jose also lost Grieb, who would go on to win league Offensive Player of the Year honors, for the season in the third quarter when he suffered a broken collarbone.

"He was having such a great season and to see him go down on a play like that really hurt," said Arbet. "But J.D. (QB JOHN DUTTON) stepped in and really took control."

Dutton took the reigns and won three games, including two postseason contests, to set up San Jose's third and climactic meeting of the year with Arizona in ArenaBowl XVI. With revenge on their minds and in front of 16,942 fans at the sold-out Compaq Center in San Jose, the SaberCats jumped out to an absurd 45-0 lead and held the Rattlers scoreless for three quarters. Dutton was named game MVP after throwing for five touchdowns and 236 yards. The 52-14 win was the culmination of the most dominating season in AFL history by its greatest team.

San Jose would go on to win a second ArenaBowl title in 2004, and that team is ranked ninth among the 20 Greatest Teams. Two teams tied as the second-greatest - the 1996 Tampa Bay Storm and the 1997 Arizona Rattlers. Both defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in their respective ArenaBowls. Tampa Bay beat Iowa in ArenaBowl X, which earlier this year was voted the greatest game in AFL history. All five of Tampa Bay's ArenaBowl championship teams are listed in the top 20, including four of the top eight teams.

The 1996 Barnstormers (#18) were one of four teams listed that did not win an ArenaBowl. The other three were the 1992 Orlando Predators (tie 10), 1994 Orlando Predators (tie 15), and 1994 Albany Firebirds (tie 15).

DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE REMAINING 20 GREATEST TEAMS

2t. 1996 Tampa Bay Storm - ArenaBowl X Champion; 12-2; Southern Division Champion; Won 17 consecutive games including playoffs from 1995-96. QB JAY GRUDEN played final game for Storm and retired as all-time AFL leader in every passing category.

2t. 1997 Arizona Rattlers - ArenaBowl XI Champion; 12-2; Western Division Champion; GENE NUDO named Executive of Year. Team overcame injury to QB SHERDRICK BONNER in Semifinals to win title.

4. 1993 Tampa Bay Storm - ArenaBowl VII Champion; 9-3; Second championship in three seasons. QB JAY GRUDEN was named ArenaBowl MVP. FB/LB ANDRE BOWDEN led AFL in rushing (308).

5. 1999 Albany Firebirds - ArenaBowl XIII Champion; 11-3; Head Coach MIKE DAILEY named Coach of the Year. OS EDDIE BROWN set then-AFL records for catches (138) and receiving touchdowns (45) and was named Offensive Player of the Year.

6. 1992 Detroit Drive - ArenaBowl VI Champion; 8-2; Northern Division Champion; OS GEORGE LAFRANCE led AFL in all-purpose yards (1,762) and was named ArenaBowl MVP. FB/LB ALVIN RETTIG named to All-Arena First Team.

7. 1995 Tampa Bay Storm - ArenaBowl IX Champion; 10-2; Southern Division Champion; Newly-hired Head Coach TIM MARCUM led Tampa Bay to ArenaBowl. OS GEORGE LAFRANCE became only player to win ArenaBowl MVP three times.

8. 2003 Tampa Bay Storm - ArenaBowl XVII Champion; 12-4; Tied for Southern Division Championship; WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS first player to be named ArenaBowl Offensive Player and Ironman of the Game.

9. 2004 San Jose SaberCats - ArenaBowl XVIII Champion; 11-5; Tied for Western Division Championship; Set record for most points scored in an ArenaBowl (69). Tied for best regular-season record in League at 11-5.

10t. 1992 Orlando Predators - ArenaBowl VI runner-up; 9-1; Tied for Southern Division Championship; WR/DB BARRY WAGNER won first of six consecutive Ironman of the Year awards. Wagner led Orlando to victory over Detroit with "The Miracle Minute."

10t. 2000 Orlando Predators - ArenaBowl XIV Champion; 11-3; Southern Division Champion; Second-fastest start in franchise history (7-0). K DAVID COOL became first player to kick game-winning field goal in an ArenaBowl.

12. 2001 Grand Rapids Rampage - ArenaBowl XV Champion; 11-3; Central Division Champion; OS TERRILL SHAW joined team as an unheralded mid-season, free-agent addition and went on to win ArenaBowl MVP. Team won six games in last minute or OT.

13t. 1988 Detroit Drive - ArenaBowl II Champion; 9-3; WR/LB DWAYNE DIXON led AFL in catches (79) and receiving yards (1,007) and was named Ironman of the Year. Rookie WR/DB GEORGE LAFRANCE began his career. Team won first of four ArenaBowls.

13t. 1994 Arizona Rattlers - ArenaBowl VIII Champion; 8-4; QB SHERDRICK BONNER became full-time starter winning ArenaBowl MVP in 36-31 upset over Orlando. Championship was not only first in franchise history, but also first in history of Arizona.

15t. 1994 Orlando Predators - ArenaBowl VIII runner-up; 11-1; National Conference Division Champion; Came within 17 seconds of recording AFL's first perfect regular season. Upset by Arizona (36-31) in ArenaBowl, who they beat twice in regular season.

15t. 1994 Albany Firebirds - Lost in Semifinals to Arizona; 10-2; American Conference Division Champion; Rookie OS EDDIE BROWN was named League MVP. Offense led AFL in scoring (53.5 points per game).

15t. 2005 Colorado Crush - ArenaBowl XIX Champion; 10-6; Central Division Champion; OS DAMIAN HARRELL named Offensive Player of the Year. K CLAY RUSH wins ArenaBowl with a last-second kick over Georgia.

18. 1996 Iowa Barnstormers - ArenaBowl X runner-up; 12-2; Central Division Champion; First-ever ArenaBowl appearance. QB KURT WARNER led team to title game and fell short of the endzone, losing to Tampa Bay in what was recently voted the greatest game in AFL history.

19. 1989 Detroit Drive - ArenaBowl III Champion; 3-1; WR/DB GEORGE LAFRANCE named League and ArenaBowl MVP and led AFL in scoring (66 points), receiving yards (335), and all-purpose yards (821). Season was played with a shortened schedule.

20. 1991 Tampa Bay Storm - ArenaBowl V Champion; 8-2; First season in Tampa Bay. War on I-4 with Orlando was born, resulting in only home loss of season. OS STEVIE THOMAS named MVP of franchise's first ArenaBowl victory.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 17, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central