1983 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1983 NAFL season was the 84th Regular Season of the North American Football League.

Rebranding San Antonio
In 1983, Oil Magnate Clinton Manges purchased the San Antonio Wings and rebranded the team into the San Antonio Gunslingers

Major Rule Changes

 * In the last 30 seconds of a half (but not overtime), with the defensive team behind with no more time outs, a defensive foul cannot prevent the half to end except for the normal options that are available to the offensive team.
 * Pass interference will not be called if there was incidental contact, or if when players make simultaneous attempts to catch, tip, block, or bat the ball.
 * Players may not use a helmet, that is no longer worn by anyone, as a weapon to strike or hit an opponent; they risk disqualification if they do.

Draft
The 1983 NAFL Draft Occured and the Baltimore Colts took the first pick to draft T Blake Nill from the University of British Columbia, The Pittsburgh Steelers went to pick next to draft DT Gabe Rivera from Texas Tech, The Los Angeles Rams went 3rd to acquire SMU RB Eric Dickerson, The 4th Pick went to the Miami Dolphins and selected QB Dan Marino from Pittsburgh, The Detroit Lions round out the Top 5 to select FB James Jones from Florida

Other Picks Selected in the '83 NAFL Draft

Atlanta Falcons draft Dave Lutz (T)

Green Bay Packers draft Tim Lewis (CB)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft Mike Pitts (DE)

Minnesota Vikings draft Joey Browner (FS)

Winnipeg Bombers draft Jason Riley (G)

New York Jets draft Ken O'Brien (QB)

Montreal Beavers draft Chris Hinton (T)

Ottawa Canadians draft Richard Dent (DE)

Denver Broncos draft Demetrious Johnson (CB)

Boston Patriots draft Tony Eason (QB)

Seattle Orcas draft Curt Warner (RB)

Indianapolis Racers draft Karl Mecklenburg (LB)

New York GIants draft Terry Kinard (FS)

Southern California Sun draft Ray Horton (CB)

Honolulu Raiders draft Don Mosebar (C)

Las Vegas Gamblers draft Wymon Henderson (CB)

Washington Sentinels draft Darrell Green (FS)

Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Scott Redl (DE)

Portland Storm draft Mike Walter (LB)

New Orleans Saints draft Steve Korte (C)

Cincinnati Chargers draft Dave Rimington (C)

Philadelphia Eagles draft Michael Haddix (RB)

Brooklyn Barons draft John Elway (QB)

San Francisco 49ers draft Gill Byrd (CB)

Houston Oilers draft Bruce Matthews (G)

Calgary Stampeders draft Greg Vavra (QB)

Dallas Texans draft Jim Jeffcoat (DE)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Randy Grimes (C)

Edmonton Elks draft Blake Dermott (T)

Vancouver Lumberjacks draft Jim Mills (T)

St. Louis Gunners draft Leonard Smith (CB)

Jacksonville Sharks draft Henry Ellard (WR)

San Diego Destroyers draft Billy Ray Smith (LB)

Memphis Steamers draft Steve Moore (T)

Cleveland Browns draft Ron Brown (WR)

Chicago Bears draft Jimbo Covert (T)

Sacramento Condors draft Glen Young (WR)

Kansas City Chiefs draft Todd Blackledge (QB)

Kentucky Bourbons draft Mark Clayton (WR)

Birmingham Vulcans draft Reggie Collier (QB)

Buffalo Bills draft Tony Hunter (TE)

Final Standings
NFC East: New York Giants (12-4), Baltimore Colts (10-6), Montreal Alouettes (9-7), Philadelphia Eagles (7-9), New Jersey Generals (1-15)

NFC Central: Green Bay Packers (10-6), Minnesota Vikings (10-6), Cleveland Browns (9-7), Dallas Cowboys (8-8), Pittsburgh Steelers (5-11), Green Bay Packers (5-11)

NFC Mountain: Calgary Stampeders (12-4), Denver Broncos (10-6), Boise Steelheads (9-7), Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-8), Salt Lake City Pioneers (8-8), Edmonton Eskimos (4-12)

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams (14-2), San Francisco 49ers (9-7), Honolulu Hawaiians (9-7), Portland Loggers (9-7), Las Vegas Gamblers (8-8), Reno Rhinos (5-11), Tokyo Samurai (2-14)

CFC East: New York Empire (11-5), Halifax Schooners (10-6), Ottawa Northmen (10-6), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9), London Monarchs (6-10), Boston Patriots (5-11)

CFC Central: Toronto Argonauts (9-7), Detroit Lions (8-8), Cincinnati Bengals (7-9), Indianapolis Checkers (6-10), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-10), Buffalo Bills (5-11)

CFC South: Houston Oilers (11-5), Birmingham Vulcans (9-7), Atlanta Falcons (9-7), New Orleans Breakers (8-8), Miami Dolphins (4-12), Memphis Grizzlies (4-12)

CFC West: San Diego Chargers (15-1), Phoenix Firebirds (12-4), Los Angeles Express (10-6), British Columbia Cardinals (9-7), Oakland Invaders (9-7), Sacramento Raiders (6-10), Seattle Jets (4-12)

Playoffs
Halas Cup Quarterfinal

Denver Broncos 42, Calgary Stampeders 35

Baltimore Colts 38, Green Bay Packers 31

Grey Cup Quarterfinal

Halifax Schooners 31, Houston Oilers 17

Toronto Argonauts 34, Phoenix Firebirds 14

Halas Cup Semi-Final

New York Giants 28, Denver Broncos 18

Baltimore Colts 45, Los Angeles Rams 21

Grey Cup Semi-Final

Halifax Schooners 52, New York Expire 28

Toronto Argonauts 24, San Diego Chargers 14

Halas Cup Final

Baltimore Colts 37, New York Giants 24

Grey Cup Final

Halifax Schooners 27, Toronto Argonauts 24

24th World Series of Pro Football (at John Ryerson Stadium in Halifax, NS)

Halifax Schooners 38, Baltimore Colts 7

NAFL All-Star Game (at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA)

National All-Stars 27, Continental All-Stars 13

Awards
League MVP: Dan Marino (QB - Honolulu Hawaiians)

Playoff MVP: Marcus Allen (RB - Halifax Schooners)

Offensive POTY: John Elway (QB - Denver Broncos)

Defensive POTY: Frank LeMaster (LB - Salt Lake City Pioneers)

Offensive ROTY: Dan Marino (QB - Honolulu Hawaiians)

Defensive ROTY: Mike Wilcher (LB - New Jersey Generals)