1977 NAFL season (Jayverse)

The 1977 North American Football League Season was the 18th Regular Season of the North American Football League

Major Rule Changes

 * The head slap is outlawed. This change is referred to as the "Deacon Jones Rule"; the British Columbia Cardinals' defensive end frequently used this technique.
 * Any shoe worn by a player with an artificial limb must have a kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe. Informally referred to as the "Tom Dempsey Rule." Dempsey is a record-breaking placekicker whose modified shoe (having a flattened and enlarged toe area) on his deformed kicking foot generated controversy during his career.
 * Defenders are only permitted to make contact with receivers once.
 * Defenders are not allowed to make contact with an opponent above the shoulders with the palms of their hands, except to ward him off the line.
 * Offensive linemen are not allowed to thrust their hands to a defender’s neck, face, or head.
 * Wide receivers are not allowed to clip defenders.
 * This was the first season when the statistic for time of possession began to be recorded.

New Referees
Tommy Bell retired after the 1976 season. His line judge, Jerry Markbreit, was named his successor. Bell worked in two World Series of Pro Football Games.

Draft
The 1977 NAFL Draft was Held following the NAFL All-Star Game at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, NY however Miami Dolphins get the first pick to get Bob Baumhower (DT) from Alabama, The Cincinnati Bengals took their 2nd pick to draft DE Eddie Edwards from Miami (FL) while the Boston Patriots get TCU FS Raymond Clayborn, Other selections in the draft are


 * Montreal Alouettes draft Hector Pothier (DT - St. Mary's (Halifax)
 * Detroit Lions draft Rod Martin (LB - USC)
 * Saskatchewan Roughriders draft Preston Young (FS - Simon Fraser)
 * Salt Lake City Pioneers draft Lyall Woznesensky (DE - Simon Fraser)
 * Houston Oilers draft Jimmie Giles (TE - Alcorn State)
 * Toronto Argonauts draft Paul Bennett (CB - Wilfrid Laurier)
 * Atlanta Falcons draft Warren Bryant (T - Kentucky)
 * Los Angeles Rams draft Bob Brudzinski (LB - Ohio State)
 * Pittsburgh Steelers draft Robin Cole (LB - New Mexico)
 * Green Bay Packers draft Ezra Johnson (DE - Morris Brown)
 * New York Empire draft Marvin Powell (T - USC)
 * British Columbia Cardinals draft John Blain (G - San Jose State)
 * Chicago Bears draft Ted Albrecht (T - California)
 * Dallas Cowboys draft Tony Dorsett (RB - Pittsburgh)
 * Edmonton Eskimos draft Leon Lyszkiewicz (DT - Alberta)
 * Winnipeg Blue Bombers draft Wilbert Montgomery (RB - Abilene Christian)
 * Memphis Grizzlies draft Stanley Morgan (WR - Tennessee)
 * San Francisco 49ers draft Tony Hill (WR - Stanford)
 * Sacramento Raiders draft Wesley Walker (WR - California)
 * Calgary Stampeders draft John Malinowsky (T - Michigan State)
 * Minnesota Vikings draft Tommy Kramer (QB - Rice)
 * New York Giants draft Gary Jeter (DE - USC)
 * Ottawa Northmen draft Mike Murphy (FB - Colorado State)
 * Los Angeles Chargers draft Rick Sowieta (LB - Richmond)
 * Miami Dolphins draft A. J. Duhe (LB - LSU)
 * Boston Patriots draft Mark Murphy (CB - Colgate)
 * Houston Oilers draft George Reihner (G - Penn State)
 * Atlanta Falcons draft R. C. Thielemann (G - Arkansas)
 * Los Angeles Rams draft Nolan Cromwell (CB - Kansas)
 * Pittsburgh Steelers draft Sidney Thornton (RB - Northwest State LA)
 * Sacramento Raiders draft Lester Hayes (CB - Texas A&M)
 * Denver Broncos draft Joe Klecko (DT - Temple)

Final Standings
NFC East: Washington Redskins (12-6), Philadelphia Eagles (9-9), Baltimore Colts (9-9), New York Giants (6-12), Montreal Alouettes (3-15)

NFC Central: Pittsburgh Steelers (11-7), Chicago Bears (8-10), Green Bay Packers (8-10), Cleveland Browns (8-10), Minnesota Vikings (5-13)

NFC Mountain: Saskatchewan Roughriders (15-3), Denver Broncos (9-9), Calgary Stampeders (8-10), Edmonton Eskimos (6-12), Salt Lake City Pioneers (3-15)

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers (15-3), Los Angeles Rams (15-3), Portland Loggers (9-9), Las Vegas Gambers (8-10), Dallas Cowboys (7-11)

CFC East: Halifax Schooners (14-4), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (13-5), Ottawa Northmen (13-5), Boston Patriots (6-12), New York Empire (4-14)

CFC Central: Toronto Argonauts (14-4), Detroit Lions (11-7), Buffalo Bills (10-8), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-10), Cincinnati Bengals (3-15)

CFC South: Miami Dolphins (13-5), Memphis Grizzlies (10-8), Birmingham Vulcans (9-9), Atlanta Falcons (9-9), Houston Oilers (5-13)

CFC West: Seattle Jets (15-3), Los Angeles Chargers (10-8), British Columbia Cardinals (8-10), Phoenix Firebirds (6-12), Sacramento Raiders (5-13)

Playoffs
Halas Cup Quarterfinals

Washington Redskins 48, Portland Loggers 34

San Francisco 49ers 33, Pittsburgh Steelers 21

Grey Cup Quarterfinals

Ottawa Northmen 31, Halifax Schooners 28

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30, Miami Dolphins 27

Halas Cup Semi-Finals

Washington Redskins 30, Saskatchewan Roughriders 27

San Francisco 49ers 31, Los Angeles Rams 24

Grey Cup Semi-Finals

Ottawa Northmen 35, Toronto Argonauts 33

Seattle Jets 45, Hamilton Tiger-Cats 31

Halas Cup Final

Washington Redskins 28, San Francisco 49ers 21

Grey Cup Final

Seattle Jets 48, Ottawa Northmen 28

18th World Series of Football (at the Kingdome in Seattle, WA)

Seattle Jets 23, Washington Redskins 17

NAFL All-Star Game (Also took place at the Kingdome in Seattle, WA)

Continental All-Stars 35, National All-Stars 26

Awards
League MVP: Bob Griese (QB - San Francisco 49ers)

Playoff MVP: Derek Jackson (QB - Seattle Jets)

Offensive POTY: Bob Griese (QB - San Francisco 49ers)

Defensive POTY: Richie Cromer (FS - Sacramento Raiders)

Offensive ROTY: Pete Johnson (RB - Washington Redskins)

Defensive POTY: Robin Cole (LB - Pittsburgh Steelers)