Glossary

AFC- The American Football Conference. 16 of the 32 teams in the NFL are in the AFC, while the other half are in the NFC (see NFC).

AFC Title Game- The AFC Title game determines which team from the AFC will play in the Super Bowl.

Behind Center- This is another term for where the Quarterback plays; directly behind the Center.

Blitz- A tactic used by a Defense when a higher than usual number of defensive players rush the quarterback, trying to tackle him or make him fumble the ball.

BYE Week- Each team gets one week each season where they don't play a game; their BYE week. This week is usually used to help any players who are nursing an injury, giving the team more preparation, and give the team a break from the action.

Cap Space- In professional sports, a salary cap (or wage cap) is an agreement or rule that places a limit on the amount of money that a team can spend on players' salaries. It exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both. The NFL uses a hard cap, meaning that no team is allowed to exceed the cap limit for any reason. Cap Space is how much money a team has left before they hit their hard cap. 

Completion- When the Quarterback throws the ball and another player catches it. 

CPOY- Comeback Player of the Year. Each season the NFL names a player who had a great comeback year, usually someone who was hurt the previous year or wasn't as productive. 

Deflection- An incomplete pass that is broken up by a defender; also called a Pass Breakup

DPOY- Defensive Player of the Year. After the season, the NFL will name a player who was voted the best defensive player for the season.

DROY- Defensive Rookie of the Year. This player is voted the best defensive player who has only played in the league for one year. 

End Zone- The scoring area at each end of the field between the goal line and the end line; for a touchdown to be scored, the player must have possession of the ball in this area; see Touchdown

Extra Point (PAT)- Also known as the PAT (point after touchdown), an extra point is the act of lining up to attempt a one-point field goal from the opponent's 2 yard line, immediately following a touchdown. If the kick goes through the uprights, the team is awarded 1 point

Field Goal- A three-point goal made by place-kicking the ball between the opponent's goalposts above the crossbar. 

First Down- The first of a series of usually four downs in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball; see also; Fourth Down- The fourth down in a series that has a maximum of four downs; often used to punt the ball downfield or attempt a field goal (If not punted or converted, the opposing team takes possession wherever the ball is). see also; Fourth Down Conversion- When instead of punting the ball or attempting a field goal, the team tried to get another First Down. see also; Three and out- When a team, after starting an offensive possession, executes three plays, fails to get a first down, and then punts.

Flag/Penalty- A sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules. Usually results in the moving of the football. A penalty is indicated by the referee throwing a Flag.

Goal Line- The chalked or painted line dividing the end zone from the field of play 

Hail Mary- A very long forward pass, typically made in desperation, as time is running low on the clock. 

Heisman Trophy- An annual award given to the most outstanding NCAA (college) Football Player.

Interception (INT)- When a quarterback throws a pass that is unintentionally caught by someone on the opposite team.

In the Slot- A term used to describe when an offensive player, usually a Wide Receiver or Tight End, lines up in the area between the last offensive lineman on either side of the center and the wide receiver on that side. 

Injured Reserve (IR)- A designation used for player who are injured and temporarily unable to play. see also; PUP

Kick Off- A method of starting a drive. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team".

Lateral- Occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to a teammate in a direction parallel to or away from the opponents' goal line.

Line of Scrimmage- An imaginary transverse line (across the width of the field) beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun; the NFL set distance of the Line of Scrimmage between the offense and the defense is 11 inches, the length of the football.

MVP- Most Valuable Player. Each season, the NFL chooses an all around outstanding player to win the award.

Neutral Zone- Similar to the Line of Scrimmage, the length of the football (11 inches) from one tip to the other when it is spotted (i.e. placed on a certain spot) on the field prior to the snap of the ball during a scrimmage down. 

NFC- The National Football Conference. 16 of the 32 teams in the NFL are in the NFC, while the other half are in the AFC (see AFC).

NFC Title Game- The NFC Title game determines which team from the NFC will play in the Super Bowl.

NFL Draft- The annual event that serves as the NFL's most common form of new player recruitment. Made up of multiple rounds, each round is complete once each team either makes a player selection or trades their pick with another team.

Onside Kick- A kick off deliberately kicked short. In an onside kick, the kicking team kicks short in hopes of regaining possession of the ball before the receiving team can control it. The ball must travel 10 yards for the kicking team to retain possession.

OPOY- Offensive Player of the Year. After the season, the NFL will name a player who was voted the best offensive player for the season.

OROY- Offensive Rookie of the Year. This player is voted the best offensive player who has only played in the league for one year. 

OTA- Organized Team Activities. Many teams use the OTAs to help develop players and make them better. The OTAs are the only practices between the end of the previous season and the start of training camp.

Pick 6- When a Quarterback throws an interception and the defensive team runs it back to score a touchdown.

Play Action- Play Action starts with what appears to be a running play, but turns out to be a pass play. 

Pocket- The area in the backfield created on a passing play where the offensive line forms a wall of protection around the quarterback. This allows him adequate time to find an open receiver and to pass the ball.

Post Season- Another word for playoffs; after the regular season is over, a small group of teams competes in the post season to see who will be crowned the Champions of that season.

Practice Squad- A group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. These players are there in case a member of the teams main squad is injured and cannot play. 

Pro Bowl- Played after the regular season is over, the Pro Bowl is the All Star game for the National Football League. 

Punt- A kick performed by dropping the ball from the hands and then kicking the ball before it hits the ground.

PUP List- Physically Unable to Perform list. A list for players who suffered injuries during football-related activities prior to the start of training camp.

Rebuilding Year- A term used when a team takes a group of veteran o mediocre players, and trades them for younger, unproven players, in the hope that the younger players will collectively "grow" into something better than what you started out with.

Red Zone- The area of the field between the 20-yard line and the goal line.

Sack- When a defender tackles the quarterback of the opposing team before he can throw the ball. 

Safety- When the offense commits a foul in its own end zone or; when a mistake by a team sends the ball behind its own goal line, and the ball is dead in the end zone in its possession or the ball is out of bounds behind the goal line. A safety is worth two points for the opposing team.

Secondary- The name for the group of players who make up the defensive backfield.

Snap- The backwards passing of the ball at the start of play from scrimmage.

Spike- When a player intentional throws the football into the ground, either out of celebration or to stop the clock.

Super Bowl- When the best team from the AFC plays the best team in the NFC to determine the World Champion.

Taking a Knee- When the quarterback drops to one knee immediately after receiving the snap, automatically ending the play. Quarterback will often do this when they are winning and there is very limited time left on the clock.

Timeout- In the NFL, each team gets three timeouts per half. So, each team gets six timeouts total, but if a team doesn't use each of its three timeouts in the first half they do not carry over to the second half. For each half, a team has a maximum of three timeouts.

Touchback- A ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead on or behind a team's own goal line 

Touchdown- An act or instance of scoring six points by being in possession of the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line; worth 6 points

Turnover- fumble, punch out/strip, muffed punt, loss of downs

Two Minute Warning- The two-minute warning is given when two minutes of game time remain on the game clock in each half of a game or overtime, i.e. near the end of the second and fourth quarters. It acts as an additional time out. 

Two Point Conversion- A play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point conversion immediately after it scores a touchdown. ... If the team succeeds, it earns two additional points on top of the six points for the touchdown, for a total of eight points.

Veteran Player- A player who has been in the league longer than one season.

Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year Award- The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. The award was established in 1970. It was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton. Each season, every team designates a nominee. The winner is then voted on by fans.