Bounty Bowl

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The Bounty Bowl was the name given to two notorious NFL games held in 1989 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia swept the series.

The first, the 1989 Thanksgiving Classic game in Dallas was most noted for allegations that the Philadelphia Eagles put a $200 bounty on Dallas Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas, cut by Philadelphia earlier that season.

The second was a highly touted rematch between the two teams that was held two weeks later in Philadelphia, noted for the rowdy behavior of fans attending the game.

A third game in the rivalry known as the "Porkchop Bowl" was held in 1990.

[edit] Bounty Bowl I: The 1989 Thanksgiving Classic

See also: Thanksgiving Classic

On November 23, 1989, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan found himself at the center of yet another controversy. The Eagles put on a 27-0 whitewashing of Dallas that was not merely the worst defeat ever suffered by Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, but the only shutout it's ever suffered on the holiday. During the lopsided game, vitriol came to the surface from time to time on the field as the rivals got into several skirmishes; most notably when Dallas placekicker Luis Zendajas left the game with a concussion following a hard tackle by linebacker Jessie Small after a kickoff.

Following the game, Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Ryan had taken out a "bounty" on two of his players, then-current Dallas (and former Philadelphia) kicker Luis Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman. Johnson said

Zendejas claimed that when he was with the Eagles, a player had once received $200 - $100 each for hits on a punter and kicker. This is what led his coach Jimmy Johnson to make the accusation that a bounty had existed in this game as well.^{[citation needed]}

Buddy Ryan responded to Johnson's accusations with his typical charismatic bravado. "I resent that," Ryan retorted a day later. "I've been on a diet, lost a couple of pounds. I thought I was looking good."

This game also marked the first time a most valuable player would be picked for a Thanksgiving game, as John Madden handed out the first "Turkey Leg Award," which resulted in an annual tradition among CBS and Fox for giving out an MVP award for their Thanksgiving coverage. Reggie White earned the distinction.

This seemingly theatrical series of events set the stage for the scheduled rematch two weeks later in Philadelphia, dubbed "Bounty Bowl II."

[edit] Bounty Bowl II

After rumors spread that Eagles coach Buddy Ryan had put a bounty out on Dallas kicker Luis Zendejas during the teams' first meeting two weeks prior, the notoriously raucous Eagles fans were more than rowdy when the rematch was held in Philadelphia.

CBS Sports touted the game as "Bounty Bowl II," complete with wanted posters and the offending players, with the bounty posted, as part of the network's pre-game opening, and it lived up to its expectations as a media event. With NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue in attendance on gameday December 10, 1989, the Veterans Stadium crew didn't bother removing the snow that had piled up for several days. The volatile mix of beer, plentiful snow, the "bounty" and the intense hatred for "America's Team" (who finished a dismal 1-15 that season) led to fans throwing everything within reach. Notable targets included back judge Al Jury, who was knocked to the ground by a barrage of snowballs; Cowboys punter Mike Saxon, who was targeted in the end zone; and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, who was bombarded mercilessly with snowballs, ice, and beer as he was hastily escorted off the field by Philadelphia Police. Johnson later called the fans "thugs".

Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw worked the game for CBS, and they spent the afternoon denouncing Eagles fans and dodging snowballs aimed at the broadcast booth (broadcast booths are traditionally open during broadcasts). Even the Eagles' players were not immune to the constant salvo of projectiles. As Eagles defensive lineman Jerome Brown stood on the players' sideline seats pleading for the fans to halt their reckless pandemonium, he merely became another raised target amidst the fans' crossfire.

Future Pennsylvania governor and fanatical Eagles fan Edward Rendell got caught up in the fallout from that game when he admitted to a reporter that he was involved in the bedlam. The then-former Philadelphia district attorney and future mayor and governor had bet another fan $20 that the fan couldn't reach the field with a snowball; Rendell lost. ^[1] As a result of the chaotic melee, the team added security and banned beer sales for their last remaining home game of the regular season.

The Eagles won the game 20-10.

[edit] Porkchop Bowl

A third game in the heated rivalry took place the next season, known as the "Porkchop Bowl." Philadelphia won this game as well, 21-20.

Main article: 1990 Dallas Cowboys season#Porkchop Bowl

After the Porkchop Bowl, the series rivalry "died down" to the usual level between division rivals. Dallas would finally beat Philadelphia, but not until Week 16 the 1991 NFL season.

Philadelphia would not play another Thanksgiving game until the 2008 NFL season.

[edit] References

1. ^ Meet Ed Rendell - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

[edit] External links

• 1989: BOUNTY BOWL
• Eagles-Cowboys rivalry reaches a new intensity
• Coach's Perspective of Bounty Bowl
• Bounty Bowl II Information