SB Nation User Blog: Crazy Canton Cuts

Crazy Canton Cuts = Jack Butler

Crazy Canton Cuts — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:54:41 -0000

Jack Butler
6'1" 200
Safety
Pittsburgh Steelers
1951 - 1959
9 Seasons
103 Games
52 Interceptions
827 Yards
9 Touchdowns
10 Fumble Recoveries
5 Pro Bowls

Jack was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Steelers in 1951. Butler went to college at Saint Bonaventure University in New York. He is the last person to play in the NFL from Saint Bonaventure. In fact, the college dropped their football program after 1951.

He played with two college teammates on the Steelers; George Hays, a defensive end who scored one touchdown, from 1950 - 1952, and Ted Marchibroda. Marchibroda, a Quarterback, is the only NFL first round pick in the schools history. In fact, only two other Bonnies were ever drafted by the NFL, neither higher than the seventh round. Marchibroda was drafted in 1953 and was finished playing by 1957. He later became a successful head coach for the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts, then the Baltimore Ravens. George Kenneally is the only Bonnie to play as long in the NFL as Butler. Kenneally was Defensive End,for the Pottstown Maroons, Boston Bulldogs, Chicago Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles. The only other Bonnie Alumni to be named an All-Pro was Johnny Gildea for the 1938 New York Giants.

Butler joined the football team at the request of Bonnie athletic director, Father Dan Rooney, the brother of Steelers owner Art Rooney. He played on the varsity team all fours years in school. He played end on offense, and caught just one pass in his first two seasons. He also played defensive back on defense. Butler was named to the 1949 Honorable mention All Western New York College Football Team due to his defensive prowess. In 1950, Jack set a ECAC pass receiving record with 29 catches for 522 yards and five touchdowns. Butler then got a tryout with the Steelers due to the Rooney connection. Jack Butler is a member of the Saint Bonaventure University Hall Of Fame.

He started right away and had five interceptions for 142 yards and a touchdown in his rookie year. He followed that up with seven interceptions for a career high 168 yards. Jack also caught three passes for two touchdowns. In 1953, he caught two passes for a touchdown, and had nine interceptions for 147 yards and an NFL leading one touchdown. He also had a career high three fumble recoveries. Butler led the NFL in 1954 with two touchdowns off of his four interceptions. Butler was named to his first All-Pro team in 1955, despite it being the only season of his career where he did not record an interception.

He would be named an All-Pro until 1959, the year he retired. He recorded six interceptions for 113 yards in 1956, and returned a fumble for the last defensive touchdown of his career. He also caught the last pass of his career, a 10 yard touchdown reception. It was also the last touchdown of his career.

Butler led the NFL with ten interceptions in 1957. He followed that up with nine the next season. Though he only managed to play seven games due to a knee injury in 1959, he still had two interceptions. He retired after that season because of the injury.

His 52 interceptions in nine seasons were second most in NFL history when his career abruptly ended in 1959, and still ranks second in the Steelers history.

Butler was named to the NFL's Team of the Decade for the 1950s, and was selected as one of the top 300 players to play in the NFL at that time. In October 2008, Jack Butler was named as one of the 33 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time. The Steelers named those players to this team as part of their 75th anniversary season celebration. He is also a member of the Steelers 50th Anniversary All Time Team.

When he retired from playing, Butler became an NFL scout. He was the director of BLESTO for over 40 years until he retired at 80 years old in 2007. If you know the game, you realize how important BLESTO is to the NFL. Butler has helped start the career of innumerous scouts, player personnel directors, and geneneral managers in the NFL.

There is only two reasons I can see how the voters in Canton have overlooked Butler as a player. Winning and lack of knowledge when it comes to professional football. The Steelers didn't do a whole lot of winning until the 1970's, and I have long said in this series that the majority of voters are incompetent. Many do not know a thing about football, and get their insights from headlines...and maybe even kickbacks.

Butler was one of the hardest hitting defensive backs to have ever played the game. Yet he also had shut down ability, which is shown with his 52 thefts. Personally, I think Jack's contributions off the field make him worthy two different ways. But, sticking to just his play on the gridiron, there is no question that is is truly a disgrace that Jack Butler has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Notable Players Drafted In 1951 * Denote Hall Of Famer

1. Kyle Rote, End, NY Giants
5. Bob Gain, DT, Green Bay
6. Jerry Groom, MG, Chicago Cardinals
11. Bud McFadin, DT, LA Rams
12. Gene Schroeder, E, Chicago Bears
14. Ken Konz, DB, Cleveland
18. Don Joyce, DE, Chicago Cardinals
19. Dick Stanfel, G, Detroit
23. Bill George, LB, Chicago Bears *
25. Ray Krouse, DT, NY Giants
34. Mike McCormack, OT, New York Yanks *
54. Al Carapella, DT, San Francisco
55. Jim Doran, E, Detroit
58. Lavern Torgeson, LB, Detroit
61. Jack Stroud, G, NY Giants
65. John Martinkovic, DE, Washington
67. Dale Dodrill, MG, Pittsburgh
68. Ken Farragut, C, Philadelphia
69. Jack Christiansen, DB, Detroit *
81. Ray Matthews, HB, Pittsburgh
86. Walt Michaels, LB, Cleveland
90. Leo Sanford, LB, Chicago Cardinals
151. Volney Peters, DT, Chicago Cardinals
166. Bobby Walston, E, Philadelphia
196. Gene Brito, DE, Washington
198. Al Michalik, MG, San Francisco
217. Dick Daugherty, G, LA Rams
228. Andy Robustelli, DE, LA Rams *
235. Fred Wallner, LB, Chicago Cardinals
304. Johnny Williams, DB, Washington
311. Will Sherman, DB, NY Yanks

Year Of Hell : The Harry Newsome Story

Crazy Canton Cuts — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:06:00 -0000

When Harry Newsome was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the eighth round of the 1985 draft, he was being asked to replace the incumbent punter Craig Colquitt. It wasn't the first time that Newsome was facing an obstacle like this.

Newsome grew up in Cheraw, South Carolina, a town that held just 4,000 people. One of those people was Dale Hatcher, a man who would be drafted in the third round of the same draft by the Los Angeles Rams. The two friends would attend many of the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick competitions together as children.

It was Hatcher, while growing up together, who was lauded for his punting ability. Newsome, however, was an exceptional athlete in his own right. He played quarterback, strong safety, and place kicker in high school. He was also an excellent baseball player who got scholarship offers from such powerhouse programs like Arizona State University and Stanford University.

When it was time to go to college, Hatcher became an All-American punter at Clemson University while Newsome also chose to stay close to home by choosing Wake Forest University so that he could also play football.

Newsome would be named All-ACC three times in college, yet his friend Hatcher was a member of the 1981 National Championship Tigers. Hatcher is a member of Clemson's Centennial Team after becoming the only Tiger to average over 40 yards a punt in four seasons and lead the team in punting for four straight years.

While Newsome set records himself, the Deamon Deacons never qualified for a bowl game in his time at the school. He ranks third in career punting average, and holds the record for punting average by a junior.

Colquitt, part of a long line of Colquitt's to play for the University of Tennessee and the first of three to play in the NFL, was drafted in the third round of the 1978 draft to replace Steelers legend Bobby Walden. He was a member of the 1978 Super Bowl winning team and had just come off one of the better seasons of his career.

Newsome beat him out for a roster spot, and he would not return to the NFL again until 1987. He played one game that year and attempted three punts, including having one blocked the only time in his career, before being cut. Craig Colquitt never played in the NFL again.

The 1985 year was successful for both Newsome and Hatcher. Newsome was given the Joe Greene Performance Award, which names the Steelers Rookie Of the Year. Hatcher made his only Pro Bowl squad that year, yet he would be cut by the Rams after the 1991 season despite leadng the NFL in punting yards in 1987 in just 15 games played.

Hatcher returned to the NFL in 1993 with the Miami Dolphins, but his career ended after the season was completed. He is perhaps known by some for participating in the first game in NFL history to be decided by a safety. The Rams were facing the Minnesota Vikings, and former Steeler Mike Merriweather blocked Hatcher's punt through the end zone in overtime. Both of the Cheraw natives would have a punt blocked in their rookie years as well.

Though he was the holder on place kicks for Pittsburgh, Newsome also served as the emergency quarterback. During a game against the Chicago Bears in 1986, the Steelers lined up for a field goal attempt. The snap was bad, so he threw the ball 12 yards to tight end Preston Gothard for the only touchdown of his career.

Blocked punts became a theme for Newsome during his time in Pittsburgh. He had an NFL leading three punts blocked in that 1986 season. After having another one blocked the following season, he would then face a season in 1988 that no punter would ever want to encounter.

Hall Of Fame head coach Chuck Noll was known to many as one of the best coaches in NFL history, but special teams was one area that Noll did not have much interest in. He did not have his teams practice on special teams until Saturdays. Pittsburgh went through several long snappers during this time, but could not find a consistent player at the position. Six players tried to long snap for Pittsburgh during Newsome's time with them. Noll even used Hall Of Fame center Mike Webster, but Webster's bent up fingers from all of the games he had played prevented him to long snap well enough to help.

No season spotlighted the Steelers special teams problems more than 1988. They went through four long snappers that year, which caused major problems in the punting game. The "get away" time on punts were bad due to slow snaps to Newsome.

"A good total time of snapping the ball, handling the punt, then getting it away was 6.7 to 6.8 seconds.", recalled Newsome. "The handle time of the punter himself should be somewhere between 1.2 to 1.3 seconds. I spent my time in Pittsburgh always trying to hurry my punts because the ball took so long to get to me. I even went from a three step punter to two steps. It didn't help because the extra tenths of seconds on the snaps, along with protection problems, left us often exposed. It would amp up the opponents even more knowing this."

So exposed that Newsome had an NFL record six punts blocked that year. It wasn't like he wasn't punting well, despite all the constant pressure and blocks, because he was. He led the NFL with 45.4 yards per punts average on 65 attempts. What makes his accomplishment of leading the league in punting average more remarkable was because of the six punts that he had blocked.

Due to Noll's disinterest in special teams, the only real attempts at trying to fix the problem that year was trying a variety of players at long snapper. This continued into the 1989 season when Newsome had a punt blocked again. It was the 12th time in five years in Pittsburgh that he had a punt blocked.

He became a Plan B Free Agent after that year, and he found himself highly sought after by many teams. Though teams like the San Diego Chargers offered him the most money, he chose the Minnesota Vikings. A big part of his reason for joining the Vikings was because former Steelers coaches Tony Dungy and Tom Moore, along with Merriweather, were part of the team. They held bible study meetings, and Newsome was a part of it.

He had a punt blocked in his first season in Minnesota, but his fortunes began to change when the Vikings signed long snapper Mike Morris in 1991. " He was the best I ever saw do it, and easily the best I ever had snap me the ball.", Newsome says. It was the first season in his career he did not have a punt blocked, and he averaged a career best 45.5 yards per punt on 68 attempts.

The 1992 season saw him punt a ball a career long 84 yards, which led the league. It is the 13th longest punt in NFL history, and his teammates gave him the game ball. He also had another punt blocked, the last of his career, when a blocker fell while engaged with a defender.

After punting the ball a career high 90 times for 3,862 yards the next season, he developed knee problems, due to tendinitis, and chose to retire from the game. He returned home to Cheraw, where he still resides to this day. Hatcher lives in Gaffney, SC and the two remain friends. Newsome ranks Mel J. Gray as the best punt returner he ever faced.

Newsome grew up idolizing Oakland Raiders legend Ray Guy. Though he thinks place kickers get more respect than punters, because they account for scoring, he hopes Guy will be soon inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

"I don't think a punter will ever be inducted", he said, "If one ever does, it will be him."

He is currently ranked fourth on both the Steelers and Vikings in career punting yards, and his 45.5 punting average in 1991 ranks third best in Vikings history behind Chris Kluwe and Bobby Walden. His 45.4 average in 1988 ranks third in Steelers history by anyone with more than 11 attempts. He also is 50th in NFL history in punting attempts and yards.

The NFL records that Harry Newsome owns are what some fans may best remember him by in his nine year NFL career. His 14 blocked punts in his career is tied with Herman Weaver as the most ever. The other record is having those six punts blocked in 1988. That is a type season some punters may consider a year of hell.

The NFL Makes Sure The AFL Legacy Fades

Crazy Canton Cuts — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:23:41 -0000

The Pro Football Hall Of Fame voters once again that they are a suspect allotment of people who either have no clue about the game of professional football, or that they are in the pocket of the National Football League.

On November 28th, 2009, the Pro Football Hall Of Fame announced their list of the 25 finalists for induction into their halls located in Canton, Ohio.

Look at the list below, and there is the common theme that none of these men are associated with the American Football League that ran their operations from 1960 to 1970 before the NFL begrudgingly begged them to merge leagues.

Cliff Branch, WR - 1972-1985 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Tim Brown, WR/KR - 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cris Carter, WR - 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins

Don Coryell, Coach - 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers

Roger Craig, RB - 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings

Terrell Davis, RB - 1995-2001 Denver Broncos

Dermontti Dawson, C - 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers

Richard Dent, DE - 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Doleman, DE/LB - 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers

Kevin Greene, LB/DE - 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers

Russ Grimm, G - 1981-1991 Washington Redskins

Ray Guy, P - 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Charles Haley, DE/LB - 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys

Lester Hayes, CB - 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Rickey Jackson, LB - 1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers

Cortez Kennedy, DT - 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks

Art Modell, Owner - 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens

John Randle, DT - 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks

Andre Reed, WR - 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins

Jerry Rice, WR - 1985-2000 San Francisco 49ers, 2001-04 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Seattle Seahawks

Shannon Sharpe, TE - 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens

Emmitt Smith, RB - 1990-2002 Dallas Cowboys, 2003-04 Arizona Cardinals

Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner - 1989-2006 National Football League

Steve Tasker, Special Teams/WR - 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills

Aeneas Williams, CB/S - 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams

The AFL was referred to as a "mickey mouse league" for their years of existence. The players of the NFL were told by the league that AFL players were not on the same level in ability and skill. Many bought into this propaganda for years, even as the upstart league began to gain popularity and draw more fans as each year progressed.

The realization that the AFL was not inferior came upon the spotlight of national television on January 12th, 1969. The AFL champion New York Jets defeated the heavily favored NFL champion Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III. What made the story of the upset even more noteworthy was that Jets quarterback Joe Namath had famously predicted the win in the days that led up to the game.

This is the game that made the NFL panic and realize they had to merge with the AFL to keep their product on top. The AFL had already been a league that produced more excitement on offense than the NFL, and the critics who called the Jets win a fluke were dealt more reality when the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs dominated the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV the following year by the score of 23-7.

What has transpired since this merger has been a sort of payback by the NFL. Though the league is supposedly celebrating the AFL's 50th anniversary this season, the halls in Canton pays little tribute to the AFL to this day.

There are just 11 members of the American Football League's All-Time Team that are currently inducted, and it appears not many more will be given their respect as time passes on into the land of forgotten thought. This is what the NFL has striven for, and has seemingly accomplished.

Floyd Little, a member of the AFL Denver Broncos, is a running back who was with the team before, during, and after the merger. He retired in 1975 as the seventh leading rusher in pro football history. He had been a two-time AFL All-Star who led the league in all-purpose yards twice, and rushing yards per game once. He was also a three-time NFL Pro Bowl player who led the NFL in rushing attempts, yardage, rushing yards per game, and yards from scrimmage in the 1971 season.

Little is now an entry in the Seniors Committee alongside of current Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. LeBeau retired as a player in 1972 with 62 interceptions, which was second most in NFL history at the time. It still ranks seventh best. The former cornerback, who is called "Coach Dad" by the players he coaches, is worthy of entry as a coach, but should have been inducted as a player years ago.

The Canton classes are generally small, with typically no more than six people inducted each year since 1990. The lone exceptions are in 1990 and 2001, where seven men joined the ranks. One of the major criticisms has been these small induction classes that are chosen by voters who have little idea of how the game is played or what positions the players happened to actually compete at.

This will make Little's chances of induction even more slight. Though worthy for decades, the fact that he has had to wait this long shows the ulterior motives of the NFL and their hired voters. Little biggest chance of getting his overdue respect might be because of the AFL anniversary that is going on now. If he does get in, hopefully he will call on the voters to open the doors of Canton wider for his AFL brethren, because they were professional football players. The sign on the building in Canton clearly says Pro Football Hall Of Fame, as it does on the stationary and gift bags inside, not the NFL Hall Of Fame.

The idea of players already enshrined being part of the voting process has been bandied about for years. This is an idea that would work, because they are the people who know best who truly belongs in Canton. This is a brotherhood that will not be swayed by cash or politics like the voters are. They also know what position the players actually played, unlike the voters.

Most of the players that are in the classification of senior played in an era where telecommunications were just starting out. Many players waiting to get in are subject to voters who most likely saw them play just a handful of times throughout their entire careers. It basically comes down to a voter selecting his favorite player over a better player who is more deserving of induction. How else could one explain the 2008 induction of Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett and his four Pro Bowl honors, while fellow Redskins linebackers Maxie Baughn and Chris Hanburger are still not inducted, or even nominated, despite going to the Pro Bowl nine times in their careers.

Time passes on, and the NFL wants their fans to be quiet myrmidons who fail to see that the Pro Football Hall Of Fame has become the NFL Hall Of Fame.

For those of you who are wondering who I would like to see inducted this year, my voters ballot that does not count follows. Thinking that eight is a lucky number, and that Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are going in, I select these fine men. Please note that the last time eight men were inducted the same year was at the 1967 ceremonies.

Don Coryell : Every offense you see run in the NFL today is a wrinkle of his genius.

Ray Guy : He changed the game completely as a punter. There should be no questions to his worth.

John Randle : 7 Pro Bowls, 6 First Team All-Pro Teams, 137.5 sacks as a defensive tackle. Easy choice.

Tim Brown : 1,094 receptions, 9 Pro Bowls, great punt returner, led NFL in the one year he returned kickoffs.

Dick LeBeau : 62 interceptions and his contributions to the game make this a certain selection.

Floyd Little : A small player, but a giant on the gridiron. He's the reason the Broncos are still in Denver.

2009 NFL All-Rookie Team

Crazy Canton Cuts — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:46:10 -0000

It may be early still, but I am going to name my 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team.

Quarterback : Matthew Stafford - The Lions set a NFL rookie record with five touchdown passes in one game, which also tied a team record. He leads all rookie quarterbacks in attempts, completions, passing yards, touchdown passes, and passing yards per game.

Running Back : Knowshon Moreno - The Broncos first round draft pick leads all NFL rookies with 688 yards so far.

Running Back : LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia - The Eagles second round draft pick has 528 rushing yards while playing a part time role much of the season until recently.

Wide Receiver : Percy Harvin, Minnesota - The Vikings first round pick does a bit of everything. He has 42 receptions, 91 yards on 11 carries, and five touchdowns.

Wide Receiver : Austin Collie, Indianapolis - The Colts fourth round draft pick has been a huge help towards the Colts undefeated season. He leads all rookies with 43 catches and has four touchdowns already.

Tight End : Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit - Despite missing two games, the Lions second first round draft pick leads all rookie tight ends with 30 receptions and has two scores.

Tackle : Michael Oher, Baltimore - He has started in all games. Mostly at right tackle for Baltimore this year, and including a few at left tackle when incumbent Jared Gaither was hurt. He shut down All-Pro Jared Allen one game, and has been largely spectacular most of the season.

Tackle : Eben Britton, Jacksonville - The second round draft pick has started in every game he has played, missing one from injury. He and first round pick Eugene Monroe should bookend each other for a long time.

Guard : Louis Vasquez, San Diego - Despite missing weeks two and three from injury, this third round pick has started every game and is a big part of the Bolts resurgence.

Guard : Andy Levitre, Buffalo - The second round pick has started all games for the Bills, and recently showed his versatility by moving to left tackle to replace the injured Demetrius Bell for awhile. He and fellow rookie guard Eric Wood, the first round pick who started every game until he broke his leg week ten, should anchor the Bills trenches for years.

Center : Alex Mack, Cleveland - He has struggled at times, but his future appears bright. He has started every game for the Browns so far.

Defensive Tackle : Roy Miller, Tampa Bay - The third round pick has 25 tackles and two sacks so far.

Defensive Tackle : Terrance Knighton, Jacksonville - The Jags third round draft pick leads all rookie defensive linemen with 29 tackles.

Defensive End : Matt Shaughnessy, Oakland - The Raiders third round draft pick has 16 tackles and two sacks.

Defensive End : Everette Brown, Carolina - The first round draft choice has 15 tackes, two forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks.

Outside Linebacker : Brian Orakpo, Washington - The Redskins first round draft pick leads all rookies with seven sacks, which is also the 12th most in the league.

Outside Linebacker : Brian Cushing, Houston - The first round pick leads all rookies with 99 tackles, which is the fifth most in the league. He also has recorded a safety, three interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and defended 12 passes.

Middle Linebacker : James Laurinaitis, Saint Louis - The Rams second round draft pick is second amongst all rookies with 85 tackles, which is the 12th most overall. He also has two interceptions and a sack.

Safety : Louis Delmas, Detroit - The Lions second round pick is third in rookie tackles with 61 tackles, and he has a sack, interception, and touchdown off of a fumble recovery.

Safety : Jarius Byrd, Buffalo Bills - The Bills second round draft pick is leading the NFL with eight interceptions.

Cornerback : Jacob Lacey, Indianapolis - The undrafted free agent, along with third round pick Jerraud Powers, might be the most valuable rookies to the Colts. Both were thrown into the starting lineup after injuries decimated the secondary. He is fifth amongst rookies with 56 tackles, Powers is fourth with 58, and he has an interception and 11 passes defended.

Cornerback : Vontae Davis, Miami - The first round draft pick has two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and he and fellow rookie Dolphin CB Sean Smith appear to have the staring jobs locked up for years ahead.

Kick Returner : Percy Harvin - He has two touchdowns already, which leads the NFL, as does his 29.8 per return average.

Punt Returner : Quan Cosby, Cincinnati - The undrafted free agent is second in the NFL with 30 returns, and third with 335 yards. His 11.2 yards per return leads all rookies.

Kicker : Ryan Succop, Chiefs - The seventh round selection leads all rookies with 65 points, and has missed just four kicks, one from being blocked, all season.

Punter : Kevin Huber, Cincinnati - The Bengals fifth round choice leads all rookies with 54 punts for 2,453 yards, as well as 18 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Crazy Canton Cuts : Pat Fischer

Crazy Canton Cuts — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:27:38 -0000

PAT FISCHER
5'9" 170
Cornerback
1961 - 1977 ( 17 Seasons )
213 Games
56 Interceptions
941 Yards
4 Touchdowns
3 Pro Bowls

Patrick Fischer was a 17Th! round draft choice of the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1961. He was the 232nd! player picked overall. Fischer, a Omaha native, went to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln for college. Fischer was a three-time Letterman for Nebraska in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Fischer was a halfback and cornerback, but he also spent time as a quarterback during his senior season.

His 17 seasons of NFL service rank him amongst the longest-serving NFL veterans in Nebraska history, joining his Husker teammates Ron McDole (18 NFL seasons), Mick Tinglehoff (17 NFL seasons), and Irving Fryar (17 NFL seasons).

In 1958, Fischer tied for NU's team lead in touchdowns scored. He also led the Huskers in receiving that year. As a sophomore in 1958, Fischer led NU with 537 all-purpose yards. He averaged 33.7 yards per kickoff return with seven returns for 236 yards, including a touchdown. He added nine punt returns for 139 yards. He also had one punt for 65 yards. He also had his first of two career interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. As a senior, he led the Huskers in total offense. Fischer also led the Huskers in scoring.

Fischer was one of the most prolific return specialists in Nebraska history, leading NU in punt return yards, kickoff return yards and all-purpose yards in each of his three years on the field for the Huskers. In 1959, he led Nebraska with 737 all-purpose yards. In 1960, Fischer ranked second nationally by averaging 21.2 yards per punt return. That same season he added 13 kickoff returns for 296 yards (22.8 ypr). He finished 1960 with a team-leading 953 all-purpose yards, he also had one interception as a senior. Fischer led the Huskers in total offense and in scoring in 1960. He was the fourth Fischer brother to play for NU, joining Cletus, Ken and Rex.

Fischer returned a few punts and kick offs in his Cardinal career, as well as catching one pass for 22 yards in his rookie year. He made two Pro Bowls in 1964 and '65 for Saint Louis. He signed with Washington as a free agent in 1968.

He made the 1969 Pro Bowl team, and was the teams shut down cornerback on the 1972 Super Bowl team. NFL Films listed Fischer as the Redskins All-Time Neutralizer in the 1980's.

Fischer is still all over the Cardinals record books. fifth most interceptions with 29, fifth in interception return yardage with 529, third in interceptions returned for touchdowns with three, third in consecutive games with an interception by accumulating five, ninth longest for the longest interception return for a touchdown when he took it 69 yards in 1967. In 1964 he returned two interceptions for touchdowns, which ranks second in Cardinal history. Fischer also ranks third for most interceptions in a season for the Cardinals, when he snared 10 in 1964.

Fischer also ranks seventh all-time in Redskin history with 27 interceptions, and fourth all-time in interception return yardage with 412. When he retired, Fischer had played in a then-NFL record for games played by a cornerback with 213.

Fischer may appear small to those who never saw him play, but they do know better. His battles with Philadelphia Eagles 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael were legendary. Fisher often was also matched up againts Dallas Cowboys wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes, the fastest man in the world at one time.

Fischer was a rough "bump and run" style defender full of tricks. One common move he would use was, if an opponent had to catch a pass over his head, Fischer would punch him in the gut or jaw. He made many plays versus the pass, but also excelled in run support.

Teams would often work away from Fischer and Hall Of Fame safety Ken Houston, when passing, due to their propensity of returning interceptions for touchdowns. Pat Fischer played in an era where defenders had to work harder. The 10 yard chuck rule was not changed to five yards until the 1979. Wide receivers also had to work harder to get open in that era. The rushing attack was the primary weapon, and run support from defensive backs was a must in that era. Players like Deion Sanders may have been relegated to only punt return duty back then, possibly nickel back.

Fischer also excelled on special teams, which was a must for Hall Of Fame head coach George Allen and special teams coach Marv Levy, another Hall Of Famer.

Pat Fischer had an excellent career. Is it worthy of Canton? After seeing how long it took a superstar like Emmitt Thomas to get in, and how former great cornerbacks like Louis Wright, Ken Riley, and Lester Hayes are not in yet, it may be a longshot. Still, after looking at how his numbers compare with those cornerbacks that are inducted, there is no doubt in my mind that Pat Fischer should be in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Other notable players drafted in 1961 (*denotes Hall of Fame)

5. Mike Ditka, TE, Chicago *
6. Jimmy Johnson, DB, SF 49ers *
7. Tom Matte, RB, Baltimore Colts
9. Bernie Casey, DB, SF 49ers (notable actor)
11. Billy Kilmer, RB, SF 49ers
12. Herb Adderley, DB, Green Bay *
13. Bob Lilly, DT, Dallas *
29. Fran Tarkenton, QB, Minnesota *
46. Ben Davidson, DL, NY Giants
48. Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, DT, Chicago
50. Ron McDole, DE, Saint Louis
90. Dick Hoak, B, Pittsburgh
98. Irv Cross, DB, Philadelphia
110. Fred Cox, RB, Cleveland (later a longtime PK for the Vikings)
126. Wayne Fontes, RB, Philadelphia (Head coach of the Lions)
180. Elijah Pitts, DB, Green Bay
186. David "Deacon" Jones, DE, LA Rams *

The ALMOST All-Time Seattle Seahawks

Crazy Canton Cuts — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:49:28 -0000

This is a continuing series paying tribute to NFL legends who are not, and perhaps never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Quarterback : Dave Krieg

Kreig was an undrafted free agent rookie the Seahawks signed in 1980. He is the second and last player in the NFL to play college football at the now defunct Milton college. The first player was defensive end Dave Kraayeveld, who played with Seattle for 12 games in 1978.

Krieg spent the first four years of his career as a reserve, though he began to get more starts in 1983 when he started half of the season. He led the NFL with a touchdowns percentage of 7.4. With him at the helm, Seattle reached the AFC Championship after winning the first two playoff games ever in franchise history.

He was named the full time starter the next season, and he responded with his first Pro Bowl season. He tossed a career best 3,671 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also led the NFL with a career high 24 interceptions. Seattle won 12 games that year, a franchise record that stood until 2005.

Seattle won just eight games in 1985, and Krieg was sacked 52 times. The 455 yards he lost off of those sacks led the NFL. It was an NFL record then, and is still the fourth most yards lost ever.

He led the NFL in touchdowns percentage in 1987 and 1988. Though he missed seven games in 1988, he was named to the Pro Bowl. He would attain that Pro Bowl honor for the final time of his career in 1989.

Krieg threw more interceptions than touchdowns over the next two years, though he did lead the NFL with a career best 65.6 completion percentage. In 1990, he was sacked by Hall Of Famer Derrick Thomas a record seven times in one game. Seattle decided not to renew Krieg's contract when it expired at the end of the 1991 season.

He joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 1992, and started the whole season. He led the Chiefs to ten wins, but they lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Chiefs then brought n Hall Of Fame quarterback Joe Montana for the 1993 season, relegating Krieg to backup status. Montana was injured often that year, and Krieg started six games. He also had to come off the bench in each playoff game that Kansas City played, throwing a touchdown each time.

Krieg then joined the Detroit Lions for one year in 1994. He started in the last seven games of the year, and set Lions franchise records with a quarterback rating of 101.7, which was a career best, and throwing just three interceptions all year. He led the team to a playoff birth, but they lost in the first round.

Detroit would not commit to his being named starter, so Krieg joined the Arizona Cardinals for the 1995 season. The team struggled to only four wins, and Krieg led the NFL with 53 sacks for minus 380 yards. He left Arizona at the end of the year, then joined the Chicago Bears for the 1996 season. He started 12 games for the Bears, winning six.

He then joined the Tennessee Oilers to back up Steve McNair in 1997. He did not play much that year, attempting two passes. He attempted just 21 the next season, but did lead the Oilers to a comeback win after McNair was hurt in one game. He retired after the year was completed.

Dave Kreig is not only all over the Seahawks record books, he is all over the NFL record books. He ranks 12th all-time in NFL history in passing attempts, completions, and passing yards. He is tenth all-time is passing touchdowns.

He also has the most yards lost from sacks in NFL history, and was sacked the second most ever in league history. Krieg is also third all-time with the most fumbles ever, and second in fumble recoveries.

No other Seahawk quarterback has thrown for more yards, touchdowns, interceptions, or won more games than Dave Krieg, though Matt Hasselbeck may soon to surpass the passing yardage mark.

Jim Zorn deserves mention

Fullback : John L. Williams

Williams was a first round draft pick of the Seahawks in 1986, and was the 15th player chosen overall. Though the Seattle offense featured Pro Bowl running back Curt Warner, Williams offered them a versatile dimension the team was lacking.

He was starting right away, running for 538 yards and catching 33 passes in his rookie year. It was the only season of his career that he failed to score. He piled up 500 yards the next year, despite missing four games due to injury. He had career longs on a 48 yard run and 75 yards reception.

The 1988 season may have been his best. He gained a career high 877 yards rushing at a 4.6 yards per carry average, and had 651 yards on 58 receptions. His 1,528 yards from scrimmage that year was a career high total, as was the seven touchdowns he scored that year.

He scored seven times again the next year, and he also a career high 76 receptions. He had 71 catches the next year, gaining a career high 699 yards. He also rushed for 714 yards, and was given his first Pro Bowl nod.

The 1991 season was his second and last Pro Bowl season. He gained 741 yards and had 61 receptions. He was never the same running threat again after that year, but maintained his excellence in the passing attack.

After 132 receptions and six touchdowns over the next two years, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 1994 season. He was used mainly as a pass receiver by the Steelers in his two years, catching 51 balls his first year with the team. He showed signs of slowing down in 1995, having career lows of 24 receptions and 110 rushing yards.

The Steelers made it to Super Bowl XXX that year. Williams had scored on a run in their first round playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills. Pittsburgh lost in the Super Bowl, and Williams retired at the conclusion of the game.

He leads all Seahawks running backs with 471 receptions for 4,151 yards receptions and also 123 games played. His 76 catches in 1989 is the most ever by a Seattle running back, and he owns the top three slots for receiving years by a running back. His six touchdown reception in 1989 is the most ever by a Seahawks running back.

He currently ranks third on the franchise list in receptions, fourth in rushing yards, and sixth in receiving yards.

John L. Williams is not only the best pass catching back in Seahawks history, he may be the most complete running back who ever played for them. He easily is the best fullback they ever had.

Mack Strong, Dan Doornink and David Sims all deserve mention.

Halfback : Shaun Alexander

Alexander was the Seahawks first round draft pick in 2000, and he was the 19th player chosen overall. He sat on the bench most of his rookie year, gaining 313 rushing yards.

He was eventually anointed the starter the next year, and he led the NFL with 14 rushing touchdowns. He also ran for 1,318 yards and caught 44 balls. One run went for a career long 88 yards. He scored 18 times total the next year, including having a career high 59 receptions for 460 yards.

He was awarded his first Pro Bowl honor in 2003 after gaining 1,435 rushing yards and scoring 16 times. He went back to the Pro Bowl the next year after running for 1,696 yards and leading the NFL with 20 total touchdowns.

The best year of his career was in 2005. He led the NFL with a career high 370 carries for 1,880 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. His 28 total touchdowns led the league, and did his 117.5 rushing yards per game. He also averaged a career best 5.1 yards per carry.

He led the Seahawks into Super Bowl XL by running for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers. Seattle lost in the Super Bowl, even though Alexander gained 95 yards on 20 carries.

He was named Most Valuable Player of the NFL that year, and he is the only Seahawk to have ever won the award.

Seattle then signed him to the biggest contract in team history before the 2006 season. He was guaranteed $15.1 million on a eight year contract worth $62 million.He was injured that year and missed six games. He was still able to gain 896 yards in that short time. He was injured the next year again, and missed three games. Seattle, sensing he was done, then released him.

He signed with the Washington Redskins for four games in 2008, and ran for a career low 24 yards on 11 carries. Washington then cut him. Though Alexander has not officially retired, in hopes of latching on with another team, his football career appears over.

He is the franchise leader with 9,429 rushing yards, 2,176 carries, 100 rushing scores, longest run from scrimmage, rushing yards per game, total touchdowns in a career and season, rushing touchdowns in a season, rushing attempts in a season, and rushing yards in a season.

Shaun Alexander is perhaps the best running back the Seahawks ever employed.

Curt Warner, Chris Warren, Sherman Smith, and Ricky Watters deserve mention.

Wide Receiver : Brian Blades

Blades was second round draft pick by Seattle in 1988, and he was the 49th player chosen overall. He started seven games that year, but did catch a career best eight touchdowns on 40 receptions. He averaged a career high 17.1 yards per reception as well.

He started all but two games the next year, and caught 77 balls for 1,063 yards and five scores. He was given his only Pro Bowl nod that year as well.

After catching 119 balls over the next two years, he was injured in 1992 and was only able to play six games. He rebounded in 1993 by setting a then-team record of 80 receptions. He broke that record the next year with 81, as well as gaining a career best 1,086 yards. After getting 77 balls for 1,001 yards in 1995, his production began to drop off.

His next two years were bereft with injuries, and he missed five games in each year. He caught 73 balls over that time. One reception went for a career long 80 yards. He then caught a career low 15 passes the next year. It was also the only year he failed to reach the end zone. Seattle then cut him before the start of the 1999 season.

The 581 receptions for 7,620 yards that he had with Seattle is the second most ever in franchise history. His 34 receiving touchdowns ranks fifth best.

Brian Blades was a terrific possession receiver that several Seattle quarterbacks relied on yearly. After Hall Of Famer Steve Largent, he is the best receiver in Seahawks history.

Wide Receiver : Darrell Jackson

Jackson was drafted in the third round of the 2000 draft by Seattle, and was the 80th player picked overall. He ended up starting ten games that season, and caught 53 balls and six touchdowns.

Now firmly entrenched in the starting lineup, he caught 70 balls for 1,081 yards and eight scores. He had 62 catches the next year, then snagged 68 balls for 1,137 yards and nine scores in 2003. He also averaged a career best 16.7 yards per catch that year, which included a career long 80 yard catch.

His best season was in 2004. He set a team record with 87 receptions, which has now been surpassed, for a career best 1,199 yards. He also scored seven times. Jackson then got hurt in 2005, and was never quite the same again.

He caught 38 balls in the six games he played, helping Seattle reach Super Bowl XL. He tied a Super Bowl record with five receptions in the first quarter, but most Seahawks fans recall a suspect pass interference call on him in the end zone in the quarter that negated a score.

He missed three games the next year, but managed to catch a career high ten touchdown passed on 63 receptions. Seatle then traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for the 2007 season. He had 46 receptions for the 49ers that year, then was released. He signed on with the Denver Broncos 2008 season, and had a career low 12 receptions. He was released after the season, and is currently a free agent.

His 441 receptions as a Seahawk is the fourth most in team history. His 6,445 receiving yards is the third most, and his 47 touchdown receptions are the second most.

Though Seattle has had quite a few excellent receivers in their history, no one can dismiss Darrell Jackson's very productive seven years with the team. He is surely one of the best receivers to have played in Seattle.

Sam McCullum, Daryl Turner, Koren Robinson, Joey Galloway, and Bobby Engram deserve mention. Alex Bannister made the Pro Bowl as a special teams star in 2003.

Tight End : Itula Mili

Mili was drafted in the seventh round by Seattle in 1997, and he was the 174th player chosen overall. He played just seven games that year, but did manage a 20 yard reception.

Over the next three years, he was primarily a reserve. He had 41 receptions and six touchdowns over that time. He became more of a starter in 2002, when he started 12 games and had 43 receptions for a career best 508 yards. He started 12 games again the next year, and had a career best 46 receptions and four touchdowns.

He went back to being a reserve in 2004, but did start four games and have 23 receptions. He was hurt the next year, and recorded no statistics for the only time in his career. After playing ten games in 2006, catching ten balls, he was released by Seattle.

Mili's 1,743 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns are the most by any tight end in Seattle history. His 164 receptions is just two behind Christian Fauria as the most ever by a Seahawk tight end. His 46 receptions in 2003 was a team record for tight ends until it was surpassed by John Carlson in the 2008 season by nine. His four touchdown receptions in 2003 equaled a team record for tight ends set by Mike Tice in 1991 until it was surpassed by Jerramy Stephens five in 2005.

The Seahawks have mostly used the tight end as just a blocker in their 33 years of play, but no one has yet to surpass the numbers that Itula Mili put up for them.

Charle Young, Jerramy Stevens, Mike Tice, and Christian Fauria deserve mention.

Tackle : Steve August

August was the Seahawks first round draft pick in 1977, and he was the 14th player chosen overall. He spent his rookie year on the bench, seeing action in just six games.

He was named the teams starting right tackle in 1978, an honor he would hold onto the rest of his Seahawks career. He was responsible for protecting left handed quarterback Jim Zorn's blind side until 1981, and for most of 1982 and 1983.

One of the highlights of his career occurred in 1981. He caught a tipped pass and rambled nine yards before being tackles. Another highlight for him was the 1983 season, where he missed one game. The Seahawks won their first ever playoff game that year and reached the AFC Championship before losing to eventual NFL Champion Los Angeles Raiders.

After starting the first six games of 1984 for Seattle, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started one of the five games he suited up for the team. He then retired from the game.

Offensive linemen often get overlooked by fans, but their contributions are the primary reason offenses are successful. Seattle had an offense led by star running back Curt Warner and Hall Of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent, but it was because of men like Steve August that they were successful.

Tackle : Ron Essink

Essink was drafted in the tenth round of the 1980 draft, the 265th player chosen overall. He had went to college at Grand Valley State, where he was the first player from the school to be drafted and to play in the NFL.

He spent his rookie year primarily as a reserve, but he did start three times. He also caught a three yard pass for a touchdown on a tackle eligible play.

He was named a starter at left tackle the next year, and he would start in every game he played until he retired. During his time with Seattle, he helped the team win their first three playoff games. He was also an integral part of their 1984 team that won 12 games, which was the most wins in team history until they won 13 in 2005.

He was responsible for protecting right handed quarterback Dave Kreig's blindside for parts of 1980 to 1983, and in Kreig's Pro Bowl year in 1984. Essink played 12 games in 1985, but then got hurt and missed the rest of the year. He then retired from the game.

Ron Essink may be the second best left tackle in Seahawks history behind future Hall Of Famer Walter Jones.

Howard Ballard deserves mention.

Guard : Edwin Bailey

Bailey was a fifth round draft pick of the Seahawks in 1981, and he was the 114th player chosen overall. He earned a starting job right away with the team and held it until the 1983 season.

That year saw newly hired Seattle head coach Chuck Knox bring in Reggie McKenzie with him. McKenzie, a famed member of the Buffalo Bills "Electric Company", had played five years under Knox in Buffalo up until 1982.

McKenzie took over Bailey's left guard spot in 1983, but Edwin did start two games that year. Seattle ended up winning their first ever playoff games before losing in the AFC Championship to eventual NFL Champion Los Angeles Raiders.

Bailey played 12 games the next year, and started in eight. Seattle won 12 games that year, a franchise record until 2005, and won a playoff game before their season ended. McKenzie retired after that year, so Bailey was back in the starting lineup for good.

He started in every game that he played until he retired with Seattle. In 1986 he ran a ball for three yards. He ended up getting injured in 1990, and missed five games. After starting the first three games of 1991, he was injured again and missed the rest of the year. He then retired.

Edwin Bailey was a long time stalwart of the Seahawks for 11 seasons. He was a solid technician who helped lead running back Curt Warner have his best years. He is surely one of the best guards in the teams history.

Guard : Chris Gray

Gray was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1993 draft by the Miami Dolphins. He was the 132nd player chosen overall.

He got on the field for just five games as a rookie, but started in two of the 16 games he played the next year. He earned the starting job at right guard, but missed 11 games over two years. He then joined the Chicago Bears in 1997 for eight games.

Seattle picked him up in 1998, and he started 34 games at center over the next three years. He was then moved to guard for the 2001 season, where he would stay until his retirement.

The Seahawks won a franchise record 13 games in 2005, and captured their only AFC title. Gray was a key member of an offensive line that paved the way to seeing running back Shaun Alexander won the MVP Award that season.

He suffered a back injury in 2007, and decided to retire just before the 2008 season started. He had started in every game but one for Seattle since the 2000 season.

Chris Gray was known for much more than his dependability. He was extremely versatile, and played every position on the offensive line in a Seahawks uniform. His streak of 121consecutive starts at guard/ center is a club record. He certainly is one of the best to have played in Seattle.

Bob Newton, Bryan Millard, and Pete Kendall all deserve mention.

Center : Robbie Tobeck

Tobeck joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1994 as an undrafted free agent rookie. He got on the field for five games that year.

Atlanta started him at guard the next year, a job he would hold the next three years. He did catch two passes in 1996, including one for a 14 yard touchdown. He was moved to center in 1998, where he stayed the rest of his career.

He joined the Seahawks in 2000, but got on the field for just four games. He was inserted into the starting lineup the next season, and remained there the rest of his career.

The best year of his career was in 2005, when he was named to the Pro Bowl. He is the only center in Seahawks history to have achieved this honor. Seattle won a club record 13 games that year, and reached their first Super Bowl game.

After starting the first eight games of the 2006 season, he was injured in the eight game and missed the rest of the year. He then retired as probably the best center in Seattle history.

Blair Bush and John Yarno deserve mention.

Defensive Tackle : Cortez Kennedy

This selection may seem ludicrous because Kennedy is bound for Canton soon. At the time of this publication, he has yet to be, so he makes this team easily.

He was Seattle's first round draft pick in 1990, and was the third player chosen overall. He was brought along slowly in his rookie year, starting in just two if the 16 games he played., and he recorded a career low one sack. It was the only season in which he did not start in every game that he played. Now a full time starter in 1991, he made his first Pro Bowl after getting 6.5 sacks and 73 tackles.

Kennedy had the best year of his career in 1992. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press after setting career high marks of 14 sacks and 92 tackles. He was named to the Pro Bowl as well as First Team All-Pro.

He was named First Team All-Pro over the following two years, as well as to the Pro Bowl, getting 10.5 sacks and 131 tackles over that time. He continued to be named to the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 1996, getting 14.5 sacks and 91 tackles total in those two years.

He was injured in 1997, and was able to play just eight games. He still had two sacks. They were the first games he had missed in his career, and it seemed to have an effect on him for the rest of his career.

Kennedy did return to the Pro Bowl in 1998 despite getting just two sacks and 30 tackles in the 15 games he played. He also took a fumble 39 yards for the only touchdown of his career. He rebounded strong the next year with 6.5 sacks, 61 tackles, and two interceptions. He was named to his last Pro Bowl as well.

Though he started in all 16 games during the 2000 season, he matched his career low of one sack and had just 32 tackles. He also snagged the last interception of his career and chugged for a career long 14 yards. After sitting out the 2001 season, he announced his retirement.

There has been no defensive tackle in Seahawks history than him. His eight Pro Bowls and three First Team All-Pro nods are both the second most in team history. His 58 sacks are the most by any defensive tackle in team history, and fourth best ever overall. His 568 career tackles also ranks fourth best in team history, and is the second most by any Seattle defensive lineman.

Cortez Kennedy is a member of the Seahawks Ring Of Honor, and is on the first team of the NFL 1990's All-Decade Team. Expect him to be one day a member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame as well.

Defensive Tackle : Joe Nash

Nash was signed as an undrafted free agent rookie by the Seahawks before the 1982 season. He got one start that year, in the seven games that he played in the strike shortened season, and recorded a sack.

Seattle then had him start eight games the next year at nose tackle, splitting duties with Manu Tuiasosopo, and he had three sacks. Seattle won their first ever playoff game that year and eventually reached the AFC Championship before losing.

The Seahawks then decided to make him a full time starter. He responded with his only Pro Bowl season in 1984. He had seven sacks and a career best three fumble recoveries. One of the fumbles he recovered was taken in for a touchdown by him. He, along with cornerback Dave Brown and kicker Norm Johnson, made the Pro Bowl that year. It was just the third time in team history any player was given this honor.

Nash followed that up with nine sacks the next season, an excellent number for a nose tackle. He then had 10.5 sacks over the next three years, despite missing five games because on injuries.

Seattle ran their base 3-4 defense fot the last time in 1989. Nash had a stellar year, with eight sacks and a career best 92 tackles. The Seahawks then switched to the 4-3 defense in 1990 because they had just drafted defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy in the first round that year.

Now playing defensive tackle, Nash had just one sack. Seattle decided they wanted more of a pass rush the next year, so they moved defensive end Jeff Bryant into Nash's position and placed Tony Woods into Bryant's slot. It was the first year in Nash;'s career that he failed to record a sack. This experiment lasted just one year.

Defensive end Jacob Green left the team, so Bryant was inserted into his spot. Nash was starting again. He had 4.5 sacks that season. The 1993 season saw him record just half a sack, but he did intercept the only pass of his career and rumbled 13 yards for the last touchdown of his career.

After two sacks the next year, he had one in 1995. He also did not start in five games. He played in just eight games as a reserve the next season, then retired.

Joe Nash was the first defensive lineman in Seahawks history to be named to the Pro Bowl. His 218 games played in Seattle is a team record, and his 47.5 career sacks still ranks sixth best in franchise history. His 743 career tackles is the second most in team history, and the most ever by any Seahawks defensive lineman.

There has been no nose tackle in Seahawks history better than him. He was durable, strong, and an stellar sack master. He has 37.5 of his sacks playing nose tackle over seven years, which is a superb rate for the position. There is a reason the man was a fan favorite and lasted 15 years with the team. It was because he was excellent.

Sam Adams, Rocky Bernard, and John Randle deserve mention.

Defensive End : Jacob Green

Green was a first round draft pick of the Seahawks in 1980, and he was the tenth player chosen overall. He started in 13 of the 14 games he played as a rookie, then in all 16 games the following year. He had 18.5 sacks total during that time.

The NFL began keeping quarterback sacks as a statistic in the strike shortened season of 1982, and Green had three in the nine games he played that year. He had perhaps his best season the next year when he had a career high 16 sacks. He also intercepted a pass and took it a career long 79 yards for a touchdown. The Seahawks won their first ever playoff game that year and reached the AFC Championship before losing to eventual NFL Champion Los Angeles Raiders.

Teamed with 1982 first round draft pick Jeff Bryant, the two were fast becoming one of the best defensive end tandems in the league. The two would be paired up until 1992.

Green had 13 sacks and career high four fumble recoveries in 1984, then had 13.5 sacks the next year. He also scored two touchdowns. One came off a 19 yard interception return, and the other came off a 79 yard fumble recovery return. Both the touchdown off interception and fumble recovery led the NFL that year, as did his 79 yards off of fumble recoveries.

He was finally named to his first Pro Bowl in 1986 after having 12 sacks. He repeated that honor in the strike shortened 1987 season after getting 9.5 sacks in 12 games played. It would be the last time he made the Pro Bowl in his career.

Green scored the last touchdown of his career the next year, and also had nine sacks. Fans began to wonder if he was slowing down in 1997 after he had just three sacks, but he rebounded the next season with 12.5 sacks. He then had six sacks and the last interception of his career in the 1991 season.

It was also his last year in Seattle. He joined the San Francisco 49ers for the 1992 season, but suited up for two games and did not record any statistics. It is the only season of his career in which he failed to record a sack. He retired afterwards.

His 97.5 official sacks are the most in Seattle history, and was the third most at the time of his retirement. It still ranks 25th all-time. If all of his 118 career sacks counted, he would rank 14th on the all-time sacks list.

He was the first defensive end in Seahawks history to make the Pro Bowl, and his two appearances rank second most by any defensive end in team history. He is the only defensive lineman in team history with two touchdowns off of interceptions, and is tied for fifth most by and defender in franchise history. His three interceptions is tied with Cortez Kennedy as the most by any Seahawk lineman ever. His two touchdowns off of fumbles is tied with Michael Sinclair as the most ever by a Seattle defensive lineman, and is also the second most in franchise history.

Jacob Green is most likely the best defensive end that ever wore a Seahawks uniform.

Defensive End : Michael Sinclair

Sinclair was a sixth round draft pick by Seattle in 1991, and was the 155th player chosen overall. He spent his rookie year riding the bench mostly, but he did have one sack.

The next year saw him play just nine games, as he was used as pass rush specialist and had eight sacks. He had 4.5 sacks the next year in a reserve role again.

Seattle then inserted him into the starting lineup for the 1995 season, and he had 5.5 sacks. Business picked up for him the next year when he had 13 sacks and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He went back to the Pro Bowl in 1997 after getting 12 sacks and scored a touchdown off a fumble recovery.

The best year of his career may have been in 1998. He had a career best 16.5 sacks that led the NFL. He also had a career high 42 tackles.. He was named to the last Pro Bowl of his career that year as well.

He stayed with Seattle for three more years and had 13 total sacks over that time. He scored the last touchdown of his career in 2000 when he took one of his career high four fumble recoveries for a score. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for 2002, but played just four games. It was the only season he failed to record a sack. He then retired.

Michael Sinclair's 73.5 sacks with Seattle is the second most in franchise history. His three Pro Bowl appearances are the most by any defensive end in the teams history. He is certainly one of the best defensive ends the Seahawks ever had.

Jeff Bryant and Tony Woods deserve mentioning.

Outside Linebacker : Chad Brown

Brown was drafted in the second round of the 1993 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the 44th player chosen overall. Pittsburgh started him in nine of the 16 games he played as a rookie at inside linebacker in the Steelers 3-4 defense. He had 3 sacks.

He stayed there for the next two seasons, getting 14 sacks and an interception. Pittsburgh advanced to Super Bowl XXX after 1995, but lost. Brown had missed six games because of injury that year, but returned in time to help Pittsburgh capture the AFC crown.

Pittsburgh moved him to outside linebacker in 1996, and he responded with a Pro Bowl year with a career high 13 sacks in the 14 games he played. He also had two interceptions and was named First Team All-Pro.

He joined the Seahawks in 1997 and had 6.5 sacks. He also led the NFL with two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns. The 1998 season was the best of his career. Brown racked up a career best 117 tackles to go with 7.5 sacks and an interception. He was named to the Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro.

His last year as a Pro Bowler was in 1999. He had 5.5 sacks. The next year saw him score the last touchdown of his career, off a fumble recovery, and have six sacks. After 8.5 sacks in 2001, he missed eight games because of injuries the next year. He still managed six sacks in the eight games that he did play. After seven sacks and the last interception of his career in 14 games 2003, he was only able to suit up for seven games the next year, due to injury, and have one sack.

Brown signed with the New England Patriots in 2004 and started in five games before losing his starters job. He spent the rest of the year on special teams. He rejoined the Steelers the next year and had the last sack of his career after nine games before being injured for the rest of the year. He then rejoined the Patriots for two games in 2007 before being released.

Though some may remember Brown's early years in the famed "Blitzburgh" defense the Steelers ran, he had his most productive seasons in the eight years he spent with Seattle. His three touchdowns off fumbles is the most in team history, and is tied for the third most in NFL history.

He is still ranked third in franchise history in tackles and fumble recoveries, and is fifth in sacks. His 48 sacks is the most by any linebacker in team history. His two Pro Bowl years are the most by any Seattle outside linebacker, if you do not count Rufus Porter's Pro Bowl years as a special teams contributor.

Through all the fine outside linebackers in Seahawks history, Chad Brown is probably the best ever.

Middle Linebacker : Fredd Young

Young was drafted in the third round of the 1984 draft by Seattle, and was the 78th player chosen overall. He spent his rookie year as a reserve, yet recorded a sack. He was a special teams star for the Seahawks, and became the first player in AFC history to be named to the Pro Bowl as a special teams contributor.

He was inserted into the starting line up in the third game of the next year, and responded with another Pro Bowl season. He also contributed three sacks. He played in 15 games in 1986 and had six sacks. He was also named to the Pro Bowl yet again.

The strike shortened 1987 season was his last as a Pro Bowler. He was also named First Team All-Pro. He suited up for 12 games and had a career high nine sacks. He also had the first interception of his career, which he returned 50 yards for the only touchdown of his career.

He joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1988, and stayed with them for three mostly injury plagued years that saw him miss seven games and three starts. He contributed two sacks and two interceptions, then retired after the 1990 season.

Many Seahawks fans recall Young for more than his four Pro Bowls in his four years with the team. He was a ferocious hitter whose hits are still shown on NFL Films. His three Pro Bowl appearances as a middle linebacker are tied as the most in team history with Lofa Tatupu, and tied with Julian Peterson and Tatupu as the most by any linebacker in team history.

If you count the year he made it on special teams as a linebacker, which the league does, it is the most ever in Seahawks history. His 19 sacks are the most by any middle linebacker in team history as well.

Seattle has had quite a few good middle linebackers in their history, but perhaps none are better than Fredd Young.

Keith Butler, Shelton Robinson, and Dave Wyman all deserve mention.

Outside Linebacker : Rufus Porter

Porter joined Seattle as an undrafted free agent rookie in 1988. He saw limited action on defense that year, but soon became a star on special teams. He was named to the AFC Pro Bowl Team as a special teams contributor.

Chuck Knox, the Seahawks coach, knew he had to get Porter on the field more often. Knox started him three times at linebacker in 1989, but mostly used him as a pass rushing specialist. Porter came through with a career best 10.5 sacks that year. He kept starring on special teams and was named to his second, and last, Pro Bowl. He was also named First Team All-NFL and First Team All-AFC by Pro Football Weekly.

Seattle named him a starter in 1990, but Porter missed four games because of injury. He was able to contribute five sacks and a career high four fumble recoveries. He missed one game the next year, but piled up ten sacks and had his first interception of his career.

The 1992 season was the only year of his career that he played a full season as a starting linebacker, and he had 9.5 sacks. He started in six of the seven games he played in an injury plagued 1991, getting one sack and interception. After an interception and 1.5 sacks in 15 games the next year, he joined the New Orleans Saints.

His two years with the Saints saw him miss five games and start in just 21 games. He had three sacks his first year in New Orleans and none the next year. He found himself on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1997, where he had half a sack in the 11 games he played. He then retired.

Rufus Porter's place in Seahawks is secure, and his 37.5 sacks with the team are the second most ever by any Seahawks linebacker.

Julian Peterson, Bruce Scholtz, Terry Wooden, and Anthony Simmons all deserve mentioning.

Strong Safety : Ken Easley

Easley was the first round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1981, and was the fourth player chosen overall. Blessed with great speed and a 32-inch vertical jump, the Chicago Bulls drafted him in the tenth round of the 1981 NBA Draft as well.

Seattle started him immediately, and the move paid off handsomely. He started all 14 games he played, intercepting three passes for a career high 155 yards. One was returned for a career long 82 yard touchdown. He also recovered a career high four fumbles. United Press International named him AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The 1982 season in the NFL is most remembered for being shortened due to a players strike. It is also the first season Easley was named to the Pro Bowl, the second Seahawk to ever be named to a Pro Bowl in team history, after he had four interceptions and the first two sacks of his career. He would be named to the Pro Bowl for the next three seasons as well.

Not only was he awarded Pro Bowl honors over these three years, he was also named First Team All-Pro in each year. No other Seahawk defensive back has done this, and it ranks as the second most in franchise history still today. His four consecutive Pro Bowls was also a team record at the time.

The 1983 season saw Seattle hire Chuck Knox as their head coach. Easley intercepted the ball seven times and had a career best three sacks that season as the Seahawks made the playoffs for the first time ever.

The Seahawks won their first ever playoff game by walloping the Denver Broncos 31-7. Easley contributed a sack and helped stifle the Broncos all game. Seattle rode that momentum by reaching the AFC Championship before losing.

Easly had the best season of his career in 1984. He has a career high ten interceptions and two touchdowns, both of which led the NFL. Seattle also asked him to return punts that year, and he had a career high 18 returns for 194 yards. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

The Seahawks won 12 games that year. It was the highest win total for them until their 2005 team won 13 and reached the Super Bowl. They got revenge on the Raiders in the first round of the playoffs by winning 13-7. Easley provided a key interception that was returned 26 yards to help the team. Seattle would lose the next week to the Dolphins.

He missed three games the next year, yet had two interceptions and two sacks. Though he missed six games in 1986 because of an ankle injury, he still managed two interceptions and a sack. However, the ankle injury would come back to haunt him later on in his career.

He returned to the Pro Bowl in 1987 after getting four interceptions. The ankle was still bothering him, and he missed four games. He was also held out of the starting lineup for a game for the first time since his first game in college. Seattle made the playoffs,but lost. It was the last game he ever played again.

Seattle then traded him to the Phoenix Cardinals for the rights to quarterback Kelly Stouffer. Stouffer had been the sixth player overall drafted the season before, but sat out the entire season because he and the Cardinals were unable to agree to terms of a contact.

When Easley arrived for his physical in Phoenix, the Cardinals doctors found that he had a kidney disease. It was later determined his disease stemmed from taking too many Advils when he was attempting to play on his injured ankle, which was what the Seahawks medical staff had been advising him to do over that time.

Easley was forced to retire as a player. He later settled with the team out of court over the Advil fiasco that robbed him of his kidney and playing career. He would undergo a successful kidney transplant in 1990. He was jogging within four months of the surgery, then won a golf tournament within six months.

His 32 interceptions are the fourth most in team history, and his 538 yards returned off interceptions is the third most. The three touchdowns he scored off of interceptions is the second most, and his 11 fumble recoveries is the fifth most by any Seahawks defender. No other defensive back in Seahawks history has gone to the Pro Bowl more than him, and only three other players in team history have more appearances.

Kenny Easley is a member of the Seahawks Ring Of Honor, and is a member of the NFL 1980's All-Decade First Team. He is the only member of the unit to yet be inducted into Canton.

Easley is the not only the best strong safety of the 1980's, but he is the best safety in that decade and in Seahawks history.

Robert Blackmon deserves mention.

Free Safety : John Harris

Harris was drafted in the seventh round by the Seahawks in 1978, and was the 178th player chosen overall.

He won the starting job right away and had four interceptions in his rookie year, His second season was plagued by injuries, as he was only able to start in six of the 14 games he played that year. He never missed a game or start again while he was in Seattle. He still managed two interceptions.

Following six interceptions in 1980, he had the best year of his career in 1981 while teamed with rookie Kenny Easley at safety. Harris set career highs with ten interceptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. One interception was returned a career long 42 yards. He also recovered a career high three fumbles.

After four interceptions in 1982, he matched his career high mark of three fumble recoveries the next year, returning them for a career best 62 yards. He also had two interceptions. The Seahawks won their first ever playoff game that year and eventually reached the AFC Championship before losing

The 1984 season saw him have six interceptions and record the only quarterback sack of his career. Seattle won 12 games that year. It was the highest win total for them until their 2005 team won 13 and reached the Super Bowl. They won in the first round of the playoffs, then lost the next week.

After intercepting seven passes in 1985, he joined the Minnesota Vikings the next year. He had three interceptions but missed one start in the 16 games he played. It was the first time he had missed a start since 1979. He then started in all 12 games he played in the strike shortened 1987 season, yet he still had three interceptions.

Harris picked off three balls the next year, but missed his first three games since 1979. He also missed a start in one of those games. He retired at the conclusion of the season.

He had at least two interceptions in all of his 11 seasons in the league, and ended up with 50 in his career. His 41 interceptions in Seattle is the third most in franchise history.

John Harris teamed with Easley to give the Seahawks perhaps the best safety tandem in the league for many years, and he might be the best free safety to have ever played for the team.

Eugene Robinson and Darryl Williams also were excellent, and surely deserve mention.

Cornerback : Dave Brown

Brown was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 1975 draft, and was the 26th player chosen overall.

He played sparingly at defensive back for the powerhouse Steelers at defensive back, but helped as a return specialist. He returned 22 punts for 217 yards, both are career highs, and returned the only six kickoffs of his career for 126 yards. Pittsburgh would go on to win Super Bowl X that season.

He was then picked in the 1976 Expansion Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Though he started right away at cornerback and intercepted four balls, he also returned the last 11 punts of his career for 74 yards. He also recorded the only safety of his career.

He had four more swipes the next season, including scoring the first touchdown of his career. After 14 interceptions over the next three years, he missed his first six games of his Seattle career in 1981 after getting two interceptions. They would be the only games he missed with the Seahawks.

His best season was in 1984, which happened to be his only Pro Bowl year. It was the first time a Seahawk cornerback had been named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro. He, along with nose tackle Joe Nash and kicker Norm Johnson, made the Pro Bowl that year. It was just the third time in team history any player was given this honor.

He had a career highs with eight interceptions for 179 yards and an NFL leading two touchdowns that came in one game.

Brown tied an NFL record with two interceptions returned for touchdowns during their November 4th, 1984 victory over the Chiefs, including a career long return of 90 yards.

Over the next two years, he had 11 interceptions and score a touchdown in each year. He was also named All-Pro in 1985. He then opted to sign with the Green Bay Packers in 1987. He missed his first four games that year for the first time since 1981, but still managed three interceptions. After three more the next year, he had six interceptions in 1989. He then retired.

Brown is seventh all-time in NFL history with 62 career interceptions. His 50 INTs as a Seahawk still stands as the team record. His five career touchdowns are the most ever by any Seattle defender.

In 1992, Brown was inducted into the Seattle's Ring of Honor.

Dave Brown may never get inducted into Canton, but his stats are certainly worthy of induction. He was solid and steady. I consider him more spectacular than flashy, even though he did score five touchdowns and have an amazing total of 62 interceptions. He always got the job done.

Cornerback : Keith Simpson

Simpson was the Seahawks first draft pick in 1978, and he was the ninth player chosen overall. Seattle used him as an extra defensive back for 13 games in his rookie year, yet he was able to intercept two balls. One was returned 40 yards for a touchdown.

He was put at strong safety the next year, and ended up staring in 11 of the 15 games he played. He swiped a career best four balls that year. His 1980 season saw him play 16 games the only time in his career, and he picked off three more passes.

Seattle was looking to upgrade their secondary and decided to move Simpson to cornerback and draft Ken Easley to play strong safety. The move was a good one for the team, and Simpson had two picks that year.

After no turnovers in the strike shortened season of 1982, Simpson had four interceptions in 1983 despite being injured much of year. He missed two games, and started just six. Seattle would go on to play the AFC Championship Game, but lose.

His best season was in 1984. He matched his career high of four interceptions, and had a career best 138 yards gained from the interceptions. He led the NFL with two touchdowns scored off of interceptions, including a career long return of 76 yards.

He lost his starting job to Terry Taylor, who was a first round draft pick in 1984, so he played as an extra defender. He failed to accrue a turnover for just the second time in his career, but he did contribute a career high three quarterback sacks. When the season was over, he retired.

Keith Simpson's 19 career interceptions still rank seventh best in Seahawk history, and his six sacks are the most recorded by any cornerback who has played in Seattle. His three touchdowns off of interceptions are the second most in team history.

His versatility and big play ability has him remembered as one of the best Seahawks defensive backs ever.

Patrick Hunter, Willie Williams, Terry Taylor, Dwayne Harper, and Shawn Springs deserve mention.

Kicker : Norm Johnson

Johnson was signed as a free agent rookie in 1982 by the Seahawks. Though he had just 43 points in the strike shortened season that was nine games long, he did complete the only pass of his career for 27 yards.

After scoring 103 the next season, he had one of the best years of his career in 1984. He scored 110 points and was named First Team All-Pro. He is still the only placekicker in Seahawks history to be named to the Pro Bowl. He, along with cornerback Dave Brown and nose tackle Joe Nash, made the Pro Bowl that year, which was just the third time in team history any player was given this honor.. His two field goals against the Los Angeles Raiders in the AFC Wildcard Game was the difference in Seattle's 13-7 victory. It was the first playoff win in the franchises history.

The 1986 season was his first that he did not miss an extra point attempt, for he had missed once in each of the four years. He also made a career best five field goals of 50 yards or longer that year on seven attempts, which led the NFL. It is also the third most by any player in NFL history.

Though the 1987 season was know for being a strike year for NFL players, Johnson sat out just two games. He then scored 177 points over the next two years, including 105 points scored in 1988.

The 1990 season was his last in Seattle, and the year he would miss an extra point attempt in his career. He made 301 consecutive extra point attempts over the next nine years, which is the third best streak in NFL history. It was also the fifth season he scored over 100 points in his nine years with the team.

He joined the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 1991. He scored 95 points, and ounted for the first time in his career with a 27 yard attempt. He had his last career punt attemp the next year, which went 37 yards. He also scored 93 points.

The 1993 year was his best as a Falcon, and it was the last time he would go to the Pro Bowl in his career. Johnson led the NFL in field goal percentage after missing just once in 27 attempts.After a solid 1994 year, he left the Falcons for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The timing of the signing could not have worked out better for Pittsburgh. Johnson led the NFL with 34 field goals on 41 attempts, both of which are career best totals. He also had a career high 141 points that season, which was second behind Dallas Cowboys Hall Of Famer Emmitt Smith's 150 points. His 141 points is ranked 27th as the most points scored in a season in NFL history.

Pittsburgh would go to play in Super Bowl XXX that year, as Johnson made seven field goals in the post-season. The Steelers would lose to the Dallas Cowboys 27-17 in the game.

Johnson missed just eleven field goal attempts over the next three years, making 71 of them. Pittsburgh decided to release Johnson after 1998, when they drafted Kris Brown. The Philadelphia Eagles then signed Johnson to a contract for the 1999 season.

He was the placekicking specialist that year, while second year pro David Akers was used as a kickoff specialist. Johnson played in 15 games that year, scoring 79 points, before relinquishing his duties to Akers. He then retired.

The 810 points that Norm Johnson scored with the Seahawks is the most in franchise history. Five of his seasons are amongst the top 18 greatest scoring years in Seattle history, and his 1984 season is still ninth best.

Johnson attempted 477 field goals in his career, which is the 12th most ever in NFL history. His 366 made field goals in the tenth most ever. His 638 extra point conversions are the sixth most ever, as is his 644 extra point attempts. He ranks 21st all-time in extra point percentage, and 48th all-time in field goal percentage. It is easy to see why he was dubbed "Mr. Automatic" by Seahawks fans.

His 1,736 points is still the eight most in NFL history, though John Kasay has a chance to pass his this year. Norm Johnson spent half of his 18 year career as a Seahawk, and is the best placekicker they ever had.

Todd Peterson and Josh Brown deserve mention.

Punter : Rick Tuten

Tuten was signed as a free agent rookie by the Philadelphia Eagles for two games in the 1989 season. The Eagles used four different players that year as a punter. Tuten punted the ball seven times that year, and averaged a career low 36.6 yards per attempt. He was then released by Philadelphia.

He was signed by the Buffalo Bills two games into the season the next year. The Bills had drafted John Nies in the sixth round that year, but were unhappy with his production. They carried Tuten on the roster for a few more weeks before deciding to cut Nies. Tuten then was the punter the rest of the year, and averaged 39.8 yards on 53 attempts. Buffalo would go on to play in Super Bowl XXV that year, but would lose to the New York Giants 20-19.

Chris Mohr would replace Tuten on the Bills next year, and spend ten seasons with the team. Now a free agent again, Tuten waited for a team to give him a shot. The Seahawks 1991 season saw them already use two punters in six games, and head coach Chuck Knox was not pleased with either. Seattle then signed Tuten for the rest of the year. He averaged 43 yards on 49 punt attempts.

The Seahawks then used him a lot in 1992. He punted the ball an NFL leading 108 times, which is the fourth most in NFL history. His 4,760 yards also led the NFL, and is still the third most punting yards in a single season in NFL history.

He led the NFL in punting yards again in 1993 with 4007 yards on 90 punts. He also had the first punt of his career blocked that season.

Tuten made his only Pro Bowl squad in 1994 after punting 91 times for 3,905 yards. Tuten also scored on a two point conversion that year. He is the only punter in Seahawks history to be given a Pro Bowl honor.

He followed it up with perhaps the best season of his career in 1995. He led the NFL with a career high 45 yards per punt on 83 attempts. He also led the NFL with a career long 73 yard punt.

After having the last punt blocked of his career in 1996, Tuten was injured after 11 games the next season. The Seahawks then signed veteran Jeff Feagles during the offseason, and released Tuten. He then signed with the Saint Louis Rams for the 1998 season and punted the ball 95 times for the 4-12 Rams.

Saint Louis had a dramatic rebound in 1999, winning 16 games. Tuten was injured in the eighth game, and spent the rest of the year on injured reserve. The Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV, thus giving Tuten a ring for being a member of the team. He then retired after the season.

His 554 punts for 24,266 yards are the best in Seahawks history, as is his 73 yard punt. His Seahawks career average of 43.8 y

Redskins Legends to Remember

Crazy Canton Cuts — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:07:38 -0000

The Washington Redskins have a long and storied tradition in the National Football League. The countless number of players who have suited up for the team has helped make the story much more full and rich in the history of the franchise.

This is the first of a continuing series that will pay homage to these legends that some may or may not remember. There will also be players included who briefly played with the team before finding success elsewhere on the gridiron.

Stan Humphries

Stan came in a backup behind a young starter in Mark Rypien. Rypien then had his first Pro Bowl season.

Humphries got his chance in his second year when Rypien got injured. He played in seven games and tossed 10 interceptions versus three touchdowns.

Stan didn't play in his third year with the 'Skins but got a Super Bowl ring after the Redskins won Super Bowl XXVI.

He was traded in the following offseason to San Diego after the Chargers' starter, John Friesz, went down with an injury. Humphries ended up throwing the fifth highest total in yards that year.

He also helped San Diego win a playoff game, despite playing with a separated shoulder.

Friesz and Humphries split time in 1993, but Humphries ended up winning the job at the end.

Friesz, having now lost his starting job, went on to play for Washington the following season. That year, 1994, saw Humphries lead the Bolts to the franchise's only Super Bowl.

He led the Chargers to one more playoff appearance before having to retire in 1997 from having suffered too many concussions.

Mike Thomas

One of my personal favorites.

Mike came into Washington as a fifth round draft choice. He earned a roster spot and ended up starting after a few injuries to others. He rushed for 919 yards, caught 40 passes, and scored seven times in his 14 games.

Thomas was one of the few rookies to ever start for Hall of Fame coach George Allen when he started eight games that year.

He was then named the 1975 NFL Rookie of the Year, becoming just the second Redskin ever to garner that award.

Mike followed that up with the best season of his career in 1976. Thomas gained 1,101 yards and scored nine times in 13 games.

Thomas helped the Redskins clinch a playoff berth by gaining 195 yards on 31 carries. He was named to his only Pro Bowl that year.

Thomas gained 806 yards and scored five times the next year, despite dealing with nagging injuries. Thomas was unable to stay healthy in 1978 but did catch 35 balls and gain 533 yards to go with five touchdowns.

He was then dealt to the San Diego Chargers and played two more seasons before retiring. He was, at that time, the second leading rusher in Redskins history.

R.C. Thielemann

R.C. is best remembered for his years as an Atlanta Falcon from 1977 to 1984. Teamed with greats like Jeff Van Note and Mike Kenn, R.C. went to three Pro Bowls from 1981 to 1983.

Thielemann ended up with the Redskins in 1985. He only played three games that year. R.C. started 13 games in 1986, then 12 in 1987.

That year, he earned a Super Bowl ring when the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII and set eight Super Bowl records. Thielemann started eight games the following year, then retired.

R.C. may have had his best years in Atlanta, but he was an integral part of the Redskins' 1987 Super Bowl season.

Coy Bacon

Coy is a Crazy Canton Cuts subject whose story you can find crazycantoncuts.blogspot.com.

He had an amazing career! He started out in the Continental Football League and then joined the Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams.

He worked his way into the starting lineup by his second season. Bacon then had 11.5 sacks in 1971, which earned him his first Pro Bowl trip.

He was then traded to the San Diego Chargers for All-Pro Quarterback John Hadl in 1973. He took an interception for a touchdown that year.

In 1976, Bacon was traded to Cincinnati for Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner. Bacon had 21.5 sacks that year and earned another trip to the Pro Bowl. Coy then went to his last Pro Bowl in 1977.

The Redskins attained his services in 1978, and he responded with 15 sacks. He then followed that up with 11 sacks in 1980.

Bacon retired after the 1981 season but was coaxed out of retirement by the Washington Federals in the 1983 inaugural season of the fledgling USFL.

Sacks weren't counted back then, but historians credit him with over 130.

Rich Milot

Milot is one of those guys who flew under the radar his entire nine years with the Redskins.

He came from Linebacker University, known to others as Penn State. He quickly earned playing time as a rookie. He had a career-high four interceptions in 1980, his second year.

He was known for being a complete linebacker and helped the Redskins win Super Bowls XVII and XXII. He ended up with 13 interceptions and had 14.5 sacks (a stat not kept by the NFL until his fourth season) in his career.

Milot was a dependable player that defensive coordinator Rich Petitbon kept on the field every down.

Barry Wilburn

Barry was an eighth round pick of the Redskins in 1985. He started out as an extra defensive back for much of his first two seasons and had three picks during that time. He had earned a starting job late into his second season.

Playing opposite Hall of Famer Darrell Green, Wilburn exploded in 1987. He had nine interceptions for 135 yards despite missing four games. He took one interception 100 yards for the only touchdown of his career.

He helped the Redskins win Super Bowl XXII when he intercepted two passes.

Wilburn was injured much of 1988, playing in 10 games. He still managed four interceptions. He then managed to swipe three picks in just nine games the following year.

He then alternated seasons in the CFL and NFL until 1996. He played six games with Cleveland in 1992 and 23 games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 96. He also played with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, British Columbia Lions, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Wilburn had one interception in the NFL, with the Eagles, after leaving the Redskins.

Many Redskin fans remember Wilburn for being solid when he was healthy enough to get on the field. His 1987 season is certainly one of the better seasons for a cornerback in Redskins history.

Nick Lowery

This hometown hero lived in Washington D.C. most of his childhood and tried out with the Redskins. He got cut.

After a season with the New England Patriots in 1978, the Kansas City Chiefs picked him up in 1980. Nick went on to be a seven-time All-Pro in 18 seasons.

When Lowery retired in 1996, he was first in field goal percentage and most field goals made in NFL history. He is currently ranked ninth on the NFL's list of all-time scoring leaders.

He is also the first pro athlete to graduate from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Heisman Busts Usually Bring NFL Flops

Crazy Canton Cuts — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:22:19 -0000

Since the Heisman Trophy has started being awarded in 1935, the long line of players who were flops at the professional football level has begun.

It took 14 Heisman winners before one had a professional career worthy of induction into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

There are only eight Heisman Trophy winners to have been inducted into Canton in the 74 years the award has been given out.

The decades of the 1970's and 1980's are the best the award has seen. Of the 19 men who won the award, 13 of them had careers in the NFL that saw them get at least one Pro Bowl nod.

Just five players have been to the Pro Bowl from the list of Heisman winners since the 1990 season.

The 2009 Heisman Watch has not been the most exciting competition in recent memory, but there are several candidates to consider.

Here is a list of the top candidates for 2009.

There will be a brief synapse of some players NFL prospects as well.

That list will be followed by a anthology of some of the biggest flops in Heisman history.

Tim Tebow

Tebow has had a college football career that can only best be described as legendary, yet he still has a few games to go before it is over. He owns several school and NCAA records, most that have come from his ability to run the ball.

The one issue that critics have pointed out is his inability to throw a ball consistently or with much accuracy. He reminds many of a bigger and stronger Eric Crouch, the 2001 Heisman winner. Draft experts have him being selected anywhere from the first to third round in 2010.

Whomever picks him will have to hope they can develop him into a professional quarterback. He works hard, is a team leader, is charitable, and does things the right way without shortcuts. Betting against him seems a bad idea, because he has overcome many obstacles before.

He is not an NFL quarterback in my opinion. His game best fits the CFL, but he will be on a roster. There is a very good chance he is out of the league like Crouch was, yet he could surprise all. Again.

Toby Gerhart

What Gerhart has done the last seven games is nothing short of amazing. It isn't just because he has run for over 100 yards in each of those games, it is how he has done it. He cemented his candidacy last week with another extraordinary performance, and even threw a touchdown pass that helped seal the win against Notre Dame.

Factor in his 1,736 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, and one can see why Gerhart is my pick for the Heisman this year.

He is not blazing fast, but he is exceptionally intelligent. He has an innate feel for finding the right hole to hit and get positive yardage. He also always falls forward.

Gerhart has a very good chance of being a first round draft choice, as well as one of the first running backs selected. He also happens to excel at baseball, so he has that option as well.

Teams needing a plugger should get him (Philadelphia Eagles are you listening?), and he appears to have good hands in the passing game on the very few chances he was given. He has the ability to be a 1,000 yard rusher in the NFL. At the very least, he will be a versatile player who adds quality depth.

Colt McCoy

All McCoy has done is break virtually every school passing record there is in his four years at Texas University. He is also a four year starter who has had everything, including the kitchen sink, thrown at him while leading the Longhorns to win after win.

He won the 2008 Walter Camp Award and Associated Press 2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Award, and almost won the Heisman last year as well. He is more than a winner on the field, he is a hard worker who is a true student of the game.

McCoy is expected to be a first round draft pick by many in 2010, but the knock of lacking a strong throwing arm will drop him under a few other quarterbacks. He is the type of player who needs to be drafted into the right system. The West Coast offense seems to fit his game best. If he finds himself on the right team, he could have a very good career in a league that caters to quarterbacks.

Ndamukong Suh

I know.

He has NO CHANCE at winning the Heisman. Right?

No defensive players do unless they return kicks and play a little offense, like 1997 winner Charles Woodson did. Woodson is the only player to have won the award from primarily playing defense.

The Heisman Trophy states the award goes to the "most outstanding college football player ". If this is true, then Suh should win the award running away. Yet, we have come to realize the Heisman goes to the most outstanding OFFENSIVE college football player instead. It is easier for the casual fan to love the guy with the ball over the guy in the trenches trying to stop him.

Suh has been a force all year, and is a front runner to win the 2009 Outland Trophy. He led the Nebraska Cornhuskers in tackles in 2008, becoming the first lineman to lead the team in tackles since the 1973 season. He is leading the team in tackles again this season.

The best honor bestowed on him, in my opinion, was being compared to the legendary Alan Page. Page is in both the college and pro football Hall Of Fame's, and is considered one of the best to have ever played defensive tackle.

Suh fits best in a 4-3 system, where he can use his incredible strength and quickness to penetrate immediately. He is also capable of being a great defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. Though he is more than able to play nose tackle, his career would most likely get shortened playing the hardest position in football.

He will be a top ten draft pick, and very likely a top five selection. If he has a healthy career, he could be the best player of the 2009 draft when all is said and done.

Case Keenum

Keenum is just a junior at the University of Houston, so expect him to be back in the thick for the 2010 Heisman Award.

If last year wasn't an indicator of his abilities, when he became the second Cougar quarterback ever to throw for over 5,000 yards, all he has done this year is toss the ball for over 4,900 yards so far. He will soon become the only Cougar quarterback so exceed 5,000 yards two years, and he has a good chance of doing it again in 2010.

Since Andre Ware won the Heisman in 1989, Houston has had David Klingler and Kevin Kolb have record setting careers that led them to the NFL as well. None stood out in the pros, though Kolb still appears to have a bright future. Keenum appears to be the best out of all these legends in arm strength, intelligence, and pocket awareness.

Though he might not win the Heisman this year, he has a very good chance at winning the Davey O'Brien Award.

Mark Ingram

Ingram is a favorite of many to win the award, even if he has over 300 yards less rushing yards, as well as 11 less touchdowns, than Gerhart. Ingram averages almost one yard better per carry than Gerhart.

Ingram has helped keep the University of Alabama undefeated all year, and very much in the race for a National Championship. A huge game by him in the SEC Championship Game against Florida University could put him near the head of the pack for the Heisman.

He is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram Sr., and his 28 receptions are second on the team. Ingram is a complete player who can do a little bit of everything well. He does not have amazing speed, but he is able to hit the big play often due to excellent vision and intelligence.

I expect Gerhart to win the Heisman and Doak Walker Awards this year, but I am not saying Ingram isn't worthy of either honor. He is just a sophomore, so many Crimson Tide fans expect him to be back the next few years to get the award. Ingram is not a big back, so fans best hope Nick Saban doesn't wear him or those knees out.

The Heisman Flops

Gary Beban

Beban, who won the award in 1967, received the most voters points in 12 years when he won. The UCLA product was then drafted in the second round by the local Los Angeles Rams, which was the Rams first pick in the draft that year.

Roman Gabriel was the starter at quarterback then, and was in his prime. He would make the Pro Bowl that year. The Rams needed a backup, and hoped Beban could be that. They were so unimpressed, they decided to keep fading veteran Milt Plum as the reserve. Plum was out of football after 1969.

The Rams traded Beban to the Washington Redskins before he suited up for the Rams, and he sat on the bench for two years behind Hall Of Famer Sonny Jurgensen. He was cut after the 1969 season, having appeared in five games. He caught one pass for 12 yards, and threw one incompletion in that time.

Though there are many flops in Heisman lore as big as Beban, he can hold claim to being the only player in UCLA history to have won the award.

Danny Wuerffel

Only three players since 1990, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, and Eric Crouch, received less voter points than Wuerffel.

He was drafted in the fourth round in 1997 by the New Orleans Saints. He started six games over three years with them, winning twice, before he was cut. He joined the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2000, where he had his most success at the professional level. His team won the championship that year, and he was named MVP of the game.

He appeared in one game each over the next two years for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears before being reunited with his with his college coach Steve Spurrier in 2002. Spurrier, who was a Heisman winner himself in 1966, had just left the University of Florida to coach the Washington Redskins. Wuerffel started four games, which he won two of them, before he was cut.

Still, many Heisman winners had pro careers even worse than him.

Jason White

White will always head most lists when it comes to Heisman flops.

He won the award in 2003, after hurting his knee the two seasons before. Many observers felt Pittsburgh University wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald should have won the award instead.

His NFL prospects were so low that he applied for an extra senior year, which he was granted, at Oklahoma University. He had another good year and finished third in the Heisman voting. He found that no NFL team was interested in him still, and he went undrafted. The Tennessee Titans put him on their practice squad a few weeks before cutting him, thus ending his football career.

He is the only Heisman winner to never be drafted by the NFL.

Billy Vessels

Vessels was the first player from Oklahoma University to win the Heisman, which he did in 1952, and no other winner has received less voters points than he did since.

He was the second player drafted in 1953, by the Baltimore Colts, but he decided to play for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Interprovincial Football Union. He led that league in rushing that year, and became the first player ever to win the Schenley Award. He left the team after that year.

He resurfaced with the Colts in 1956 and scored three touchdowns. He then retired from football because of a leg injury.

Chris Weinke

Weinke won the Heisman in 2000, and was drafted in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers in 2001.

He started in 15 games as a rookie, and won just once. He lost 14 straight, which is an NFL record by a quarterback.

He was benched after that for the next three years with the team. He did start four more times, and won once. He was then cut after the 2006 season, so he joined the San Francisco 49ers for the next year. His career was over after that.

Most fans will remember him being the oldest Heisman winner ever at 28 years old.

Eric Crouch

When Crouch won the Heisman in 2001, he had the lowest voter points total in 39 years. Terry Baker, who easily could have made this list, had fewer than him in 1962.

He was drafted in the third round by the Saint Louis Rams, but the Rams wanted the athletic Crouch to play wide receiver because he did not have the height nor arm strength to play quarterback in the NFL. Crouch tried it for a short time, but quit after a hard tackle during training camp.

He went to NFL Europe in 2005 and played safety, but he still wanted to play quarterback. He decided to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL as a fourth string quarterback in 2006. He got to play half of one game, and threw a 94 yard completion as his lone highlight as a quarterback at the professional level. He was then cut from the team in 2007.

Crouch signed with the fledgling All-American Football League in 2008, but the league has postponed their debut and hopes to open in 2010.

Gino Torretta

Torretta won the 1992 Heisman after leading the Miami Hurricanes to a National Championship.

He was drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings, but accumulated no statistics in the lone season he played there. After sitting on the bench for the Detroit Lions the next year, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 1995. He then joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1996.

He got his only NFL action in one game that year. He threw a touchdown pass off of five completions for 41 yards on 16 attempts. He also threw an interception, ran for 12 yards on two attempts, and took three sacks. The Seahawks won the game with him at the helm.

He was cut early into the 1997 season, and then joined the Indianapolis Colts for a few games before retiring. Though Gino Torretta heads a lot of peoples lists of Heisman flops, he did get to at least taste victory in the only game he ever played in the NFL.

Crazy Canton Cuts : Jerry Smith

Crazy Canton Cuts — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:49:47 -0000

Jerry Smith
6'3" 208
Tight End
Washington Redskins
1965- 1977
13 Seasons
168 Games Played
421 Receptions
5,496 Yards Receiving
60 Touchdowns
2 Pro Bowls

Gerald "Jerry" Smith was a ninth round draft choice of the Redskins in 1965. He was the 118th player picked overall. The AFL's Kansas City Chiefs also drafted him in the 18th round, 141st overall in the AFL draft that year. Jerry went to Arizona State for college. He didn't play varsity football until his junior year. That year he caught nine passes for two touchdowns. He came into his own in his senior year, when he snagged 42 catches for 618 yards and five touchdowns. He is a member of the ASU All Time roster, as is Redskin Hall of Fame WR Charley Taylor.

Jerry wasn't used much by the head coach, Otto Graham, in his rookie year. He caught 19 passes for two touchdowns that year. Charley Taylor, then a halfback, was the primary weapon (Taylor was an All Pro from '64 - '67 who was in the NFL Top 10 in rushing TD's and receptions until an injury forced him to WR. Taylor is among the league’s all time top 50 in receptions, receiving yards, yards from scrimmage, and rushing and receiving touchdowns). Jerry was a back up WR initially, but with two Hall of Famers (Taylor and Bobby Mitchell) as the primary targets of the newly acquired Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen, Graham decided to move Smith to tight end.
Jerry was used much like you now have seen Sterling Sharpe or Antonio Gates used. This was a trend setting move that allowed Smith to explode onto the NFL scene. In his second season, Smith caught 54 balls for 686 yards and six TD's. In his third season, Smith had his best season as a pro. He caught 67 passes for 849 yards and 12 TD's. Smith then caught 45, 54, and 43 passes the next three years to go with 24 TD's.
Smith was hurt early in 1971 and only managed 16 catches with one TD. He was never quite the same again. In the Redskins Super Bowl year of 1972, Smith did catch seven touchdowns on only 21 receptions. The following year he did not get into the end zone on 19 catches. Finally showing signs of health in 1974, Smith caught 44 passes for 554 yards with three TD's from Billy Kilmer (who never threw to the TE much). The next year Smith caught 31 balls for 391 yards and three TD's.
Injuries besieged Smith's final two years, and with newly acquired Jean Fugett now starting, Smith managed eight catches for two touchdowns. Smith retired with a then NFL record 60 touch down catches for tight ends. He finished second in NFL history behind Mike Ditka for receptions and yards receiving.
To this day, he ranks tops in Washington Redskin history for tight ends in catches, yards receiving and touchdowns. He is also tied with three others with 12 TD's caught in a season, and tied with ten others with three TD's in one game (something he did twice). His team record 67 catches (in 14 games) for a tight end in a single season was surpassed by Chris Cooley (in 16 games) in 2005. Smith still ranks third in Redskin history in touchdown catches, and fourth in receptions.

While Smiths statistics may pale in today's modern game, one must remember that the NFL "chuck" rule was ten yards in his playing days. It was a much rougher game as well back then. Clotheslines were frequent, as were players diving at each others knees. If Smith had the luxury of only a five yard chuck rule, the statistics surely would have increased.

Smith may never be inducted into Canton. He died at the age of 43 in 1986 of AIDS. He never had told anyone that he was a homosexual, but was outed by former teammate and lover, running back David Kopay (the first NFL player to announce his being gay) shortly after Smiths death. Kopay has asserted the NFL's homophobia in those days was so prevalant, that once he had announced he was gay, several coaching offers were rescinded.
Not that much has changed nowadays, as Jeremy Shockeys comments on the Howard Stern show revealed a few years ago, but there is a hope that the NFL Senior Committee can look past the mans lifestyle and the politics involved. Smith retired with superior stats comparatively to Hall Of Fame tight ends such as John Mackey. He retired only six catches short of Ditka's NFL record for tight end receptions as well.

Jerry Smith may be a controversial subject to some. Even after everything that can be said for, or against him, his statistics tell a steadfast story. Smith was lauded by Sports Illustrated as a top pass catching tight end during his era. His legend on the gridiron still shines bright today, 33 years after his retirement. Maybe some will say he is on the fringe for induction, or that I'm being biased due to the Redskins being my favorite team as well.
Maybe these things are true. Still, in my eyes, Jerry Smith belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Notable players drafted in 1965 by draft number( * denotes Hall of Famer):

2. Ken Willard, RB, 49ERS
3. Dick Butkus, LB, Chicago *
4. Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago *
5. Craig Morton, QB, Dallas
12. Joe Namath, QB, St. Louis *
14. Mike Curtis, LB, Baltimore
45. Jim Nance, RB, Chicago
54. Johnny Roland, RB, St. Louis
89. Brig Owens, QB, Dallas
145. Jethro Pugh, DT, Dallas
203. Otis Taylor, WR, Philadelphia
245. Chris Hanburger, LB, Washington

Chris Hanburger

Redskins Nation Mourns The Passing Of Abe Pollin

Crazy Canton Cuts — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:45:48 -0000

Thank You Abe Pollin For Caring About Us

Today is a sad day for the Pollin family, the city of Washington D.C., the world of sports, and mankind itself, because Abe Pollin passed away at the age of 85 earlier this evening.

He was much more than the owner of the NBA's Washington Wizards or the longest tenured NBA owner to millions of people. Mr. Pollin was a beacon of courage and hope for all. His impact on the Washington Metropolitan Area for the past 46 years will be felt for countless future years ahead. He was a philanthropist whose generosity has donated countless millions of dollars that fed, clothed, housed, and educated many of the misfortunate dwellers of our Nation's Capitol.

He moved into the area in 1931 at the age of eight years old, and stayed in the area for the rest of his life. He attended George Washington University at a time when future NBA Legend Red Auerbach was a star player on the basketball team. After graduating, he went into the construction business and prospered. Pollin then made a business move in 1964 that changed the landscape of the area forever.

There had not been a professional basketball team since the Washington Capitols went defunct in 1951. Ironically, Auerbach had coached that team for three years and set records that still stand today. Pollin bought the Chicago Zephyrs for $1.1 million, which was a record at the time. He then moved the team to the city of Baltimore and named them the Bullets. The team moved to the Washington D.C. area in 1973, and has been here since.

His teams quickly became a force in the league, and helped the NBA from being a regional marketed game to the global entity is is today. The Bullets went to the Western Conference Finals in 1965, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The Bullets then later became a consistent winner a few years later after drafting two of the greatest players in NBA history, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Wes Unseld, in two consecutive years on 1967 and 1968.

From 1969 to 1979, the Bullets won seven division titles, including five straight at one point. They also won Eastern Conference crown four times in the era, and won the NBA Championship in 1978. The franchise has failed to achieve any of these accolades since, though there have been several excellent teams that have competed over the last thirty seasons.

Thirty years ago, he had his Bullets travel overseas to play basketball in China to serve as an ambassador to the game and help spread the game into the global market. This was an important move, because several international players have played in the NBA since. The NBA commemorated this trip earlier in the year, and sent another team to play in China. Antawn Jamison and Randy Foye represented Pollin's Wizards in the games.

Another of Pollin's contributions to the city was bringing in the game of professional hockey in 1974, when the Washington Capitals were born. He has just built a huge arena in Landover, Maryland called the Capital Centre, and it was the first arena ever to have luxury box seating and a large screen television that stood in the middle of the arena suspended above the field of play.

The Capitals struggled for decades as the fourth most popular team in the area, behind the Redskins, Bullets, and the neighboring Baltimore Orioles. Many years the team struggled to make the playoffs, though their fortunes began to turn for the better in the 1980's. The Capitals even made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998, but Pollin still lost over $20 million that season on the team. He then sold the team to current owner Ted Leonsis.

Pollin also brought the city women's professional basketball in 1998, when he founded the Washingtom Mystics just before the second year of the WNBA. The teams mostly struggled on the court, though they did reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002. What the Mystics did attain, however, was a huge following. They led the WNBA in attendance in six of the seven years Pollin owned the team. He sold the team to Leonsis just before the 2005 season.

One common theme he had with his ownership was a family run atmosphere. He was fiercely loyal to his players and teams. He would often voice his displeasure to media members who had spoken negatively of his teams, which he viewed as his family. His loyalty was legendary to the people of Washington D.C. especially.

When he changed the teams name from the Bullets to the Wizards in 1995, he gave his reasons as to being uncomfortable with the names connotation of violence in the wake of the areas high crime and murder rate. When his close friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated, he felt further compelled to hasten the move. Some fans note the lack of success the team has had since this moment, since the Wizards have mostly struggled.

It is almost fitting that his Wizards faced their long time rival Philadelphia 76ers today in D.C., a game he had planned on attending. The 76ers are coached by local legend Eddie Jordan, who was fired one year ago today by the Wizards after a stint of just over five years with the team. Jordan, like many other Wizard employees, probably stayed on longer than he deserved because of Pollin's loyalty.

Sometimes this loyalty was met with the chagrin of fans. This was echoed today by Bullets legend Unseld, the face of the franchise, when he said, "He saw the big picture. He had an answer for everything. He kept me on longer with the team than I should have been, and longer than perhaps I wanted to be at times. He knew what was best for the team and community."

Pollin always put the community first. This can be seen throughout the history of his ownership. He would often fire a star player if he felt that person was having a negative impact. The list of greats he cut ties with is long, and includes such players like Chris Webber, Rasheed Wallace, and Michael Jordan.

Though he often lamented the escalating salaries of players over the years, he knew how much impact they had on society. He was the man who demanded, and brought in, the rule of player conduct on the current labor agreement of the league. "You may or may not want to be role models, but you are role models. If you don't want to be role models, you should get out of this business and go do something else."

He was a role model himself. He saved a historic synagogue from being turned into a dance club a few blocks from his offices, even though it cost millions of dollars to refurbish. He gave every school in the city working computers so children could use them. He established a program called "Abe's Table", where his team would go door to door and give food to the needy. Today the program was out giving food when he passed away.

A mere hours before he died today, he spoke with his assistant on the phone. He told the assistant to make sure everyone employed by his Washington Sports & Entertainment Company went home early tomorrow to beat the holiday traffic. That truly epitomizes what type of character he had. As he stood on deaths doorstep, he was thinking of others.

The contribution that Pollin gave to the city that may be most remembered was when he built the Verizon Center in 1997 with his own money. He spent over $200 million on the building in his effort to revitalize a part of town that had not yet fully recovered from being torched to the ground during the 1968 riots. "I wanted to build a beautiful arena and one that served as a catalyst to turn things around downtown. I'm proud to say we succeeded in both scores."

That part of town is now immensely popular in the city, and is chock full of restaurants and other businesses. Every person who partakes in this areas enjoyment can thank Pollin for this, and can be reminded of his impact on the street named after him by the arena known to locals as, "The Phone Booth".

This year had been both mixed with pain and pleasure for Pollin. He was diagnosed with a rare disease called progressive supranuclear palsy. The disease impairs movement and balance, and left Pollin wheelchair bound in his final months. The disease and wheelchair did not slow him down, however, as Pollin could often be seen around his team so he could continue to stay close with his players.

Earlier this year, his Alma mater George Washington University inducted him into their School of Business Sports Executives Hall of Fame. At his induction he told fans that he wanted to win another championship, and that the team would not ever move so as long as he owned the team. "I've contracted a very rare disease, but it's not going to keep me from winning a championship. Until then I'm not going to quit, and I'm going to do whatever I can to win a championship for this town, for me, and for the fans."

Leonsis, his longtime business partner, is expected to take ownership of the Wizards and Washington Sports & Entertainment Company as agreed upon by the two men several years ago. Fans of the team are relieved at this thought, and expect the Wizards to be in the area for many more years to come.

All Abe Pollin wanted was for his teams to win. He did not own the Wizards for the money he made alone. He was a competitor, and it showed by his actions both with the team and community. Most of the fans of the team, especially the older ones who had been along with Abe on the fun journey, knew this.

As a life long fan of the team myself, I hope the Wizards rally and win a championship for him this season. Pollin would want them to win it all for the town, fans, and themselves first. As the Wizards would play with a heavy heart tonight against the 76ers, they showed a lot of energy and brotherhood in their hard fought 108 - 107 victory despite being short handed due to injuries.

They did for Abe. As team captain Antawn Jamison said, "It is tough. I love him. He had a lot of faith in me, and I am just trying to walk in the shoes he expected me to wear. It won't be the same without him with his pumping us up and wanting us to do our best. He loved the game of basketball, but is in a better place now. He saw us win tonight."

The real winners were us for having been blessed to have known and to have lived alongside him. Thank you Abe Pollin. Rest In Peace.

Abe And Irene Pollin

Abe And Wes Hug After Winning The Title

Abe Carries The Championship Trophy To The Fans

Your 1978 NBA Champion Washington Bullets

Abe And His Family In China

Abe And Michael Jordan

Abe And Gilbert Arenas

Abe And Antawn Jamison

Abe And Irene