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We can officially commence the countdown to the start of the Arizona Cardinals' regular season. Today, Tuesday, June 9, is 96 days away from the Arizona Cardinals' regular-season opener on Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With 96 days until Week 1, let's look back at the 1996 season for the Cardinals.
The 1996 season was the first for Vince Tobin as head coach, after Buddy Ryan was fired. Statistically, they weren't very good. They were 22nd in the league in scoring, averaging only 18.8 points per game, and the defense was 26th, allowing 24.8 points per game. However, they went 7-9 and won four games in the division (then the NFC East).
The season at quarterback was split between Boomer Esiason and Kent Graham. Both started eight games apiece. Esiason was benched before he could have earned $350,000 in incentives.
Esiason, in an overtime win over the then-Washington Redskins, set the single-game passing yards record for the Cardinals with 522.
Esiason was 3-5 as a starter, completing 56% of his passes for 2,293 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Graham went 4-4 and completed 53.3% of his passes for 1,624 yards, 12 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
LeShon Johnson was the team's leading rusher with 634 yards, but 214 of those yards came in one game, which set the team's single-game rushing record (later broken by Beanie Wells). Larry Centers was next with 425 yards.
Centers led the team with 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns. Rob Moore had the most receiving yards with 1,013 on 58 receptions and four scores, while Frank Sanders caught 69 passes for 813 yards and four touchdowns.
Centers was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler at fullback.
Simeon Rice, their first-round pick, was the Defensive Rookie of the Year with 12.5 sacks to lead the team.
Defensive tackle Eric Swann was a Pro Bowler with five sacks and 81 tackles. Seth Joyner also had five sacks, but nobody else had more than one sack. Aeneas Williams made the Pro Bowl at cornerback. He had 77 tackles and six interceptions.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 96 days till Arizona Cardinals' opener: Remembering the 1996 season
Continue reading...
With 96 days until Week 1, let's look back at the 1996 season for the Cardinals.
A look back at the 1996 season for the Cardinals
The 1996 season was the first for Vince Tobin as head coach, after Buddy Ryan was fired. Statistically, they weren't very good. They were 22nd in the league in scoring, averaging only 18.8 points per game, and the defense was 26th, allowing 24.8 points per game. However, they went 7-9 and won four games in the division (then the NFC East).
The season at quarterback was split between Boomer Esiason and Kent Graham. Both started eight games apiece. Esiason was benched before he could have earned $350,000 in incentives.
Esiason, in an overtime win over the then-Washington Redskins, set the single-game passing yards record for the Cardinals with 522.
1996 offensive leaders
Esiason was 3-5 as a starter, completing 56% of his passes for 2,293 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Graham went 4-4 and completed 53.3% of his passes for 1,624 yards, 12 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
LeShon Johnson was the team's leading rusher with 634 yards, but 214 of those yards came in one game, which set the team's single-game rushing record (later broken by Beanie Wells). Larry Centers was next with 425 yards.
Centers led the team with 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns. Rob Moore had the most receiving yards with 1,013 on 58 receptions and four scores, while Frank Sanders caught 69 passes for 813 yards and four touchdowns.
Centers was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler at fullback.
1996 defensive leaders
Simeon Rice, their first-round pick, was the Defensive Rookie of the Year with 12.5 sacks to lead the team.
Defensive tackle Eric Swann was a Pro Bowler with five sacks and 81 tackles. Seth Joyner also had five sacks, but nobody else had more than one sack. Aeneas Williams made the Pro Bowl at cornerback. He had 77 tackles and six interceptions.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 96 days till Arizona Cardinals' opener: Remembering the 1996 season
Continue reading...
