Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The latest issue of "The Coffin Corner" is now available for immediate download from the Members Only section of the PFRA website. This issue includes:

PFRA-ternizing. The 2021 convention at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is on for June 24–27 this year and organizer George Bozeka gives us an update on the hotel, speakers and activities planned. Announcements are also made on the next book in the PFRA’s Great Teams series and the promotion of Denis Crawford to managing editor of the Coffin Corner.

The Hall of Very Good Class of 2020 by Matt Keddie, Jeff Miller, Andy Piascik and Jay Thomas, with illustrations by John Richards. Career highlights of last year's class are included for Ottis Anderson, Jay Hilgenberg, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Ron McDole, Karl Mecklenburg, Richie Petitbon, Sterling Sharpe, and Buddy Young.

Tom Watkins: From College All-American to Stellar NFL Halfback by Jim Sargent. A short biography of the Iowa State great—and member of the famed 1959 ‘Dirty Thirty’ Cyclones team—who went on to pro football, playing for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He also starred as a return specialist, leading the NFL in punt returns and yardage in 1963.”

A Case of Identity Theft, WFL-Style by Mark Speck. The curious case of George Myers (a.k.a. John Meeger), a linebacker/con artist who fast-talked his way onto the roster of the Word Football League’s San Antonio Wings, was then fired, and drove out of town in a vehicle fraudulently purchased from a car dealer. After trying the same trick with the NFL's Falcons, Broncos, and 49ers, he was finally tracked down in Atlanta by the FBI.

The Last Ride of the 1970s Super Steelers by Jimmy Grant. A recounting of the 1982 Pittsburgh team that played strong in a strike-shortened season, entered the so-called Super Bowl Tournament with high hopes, only to lose in the first round against the San Diego Chargers, unofficially marking the end of their Seventies dynasty.

By the way, thanks to the hard work of Richard Bak, there is a Coffin Corner Index on the website. You can access it from any Coffin Corner page.

Ken Crippen wrote:By the way, thanks to the hard work of Richard Bak, there is a Coffin Corner Index on the website. You can access it from any Coffin Corner page.

Wow, that's an impressive piece of work -- even has pretty detailed summaries for each article. Terrific job!

Ken Crippen wrote:The latest issue of "The Coffin Corner" is now available for immediate download from the Members Only section of the PFRA website. This issue includes:

PFRA-ternizing. The 2021 convention at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is on for June 24–27 this year and organizer George Bozeka gives us an update on the hotel, speakers and activities planned. Announcements are also made on the next book in the PFRA’s Great Teams series and the promotion of Denis Crawford to managing editor of the Coffin Corner.

The Hall of Very Good Class of 2020 by Matt Keddie, Jeff Miller, Andy Piascik and Jay Thomas, with illustrations by John Richards. Career highlights of last year's class are included for Ottis Anderson, Jay Hilgenberg, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Ron McDole, Karl Mecklenburg, Richie Petitbon, Sterling Sharpe, and Buddy Young.

Tom Watkins: From College All-American to Stellar NFL Halfback by Jim Sargent. A short biography of the Iowa State great—and member of the famed 1959 ‘Dirty Thirty’ Cyclones team—who went on to pro football, playing for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He also starred as a return specialist, leading the NFL in punt returns and yardage in 1963.”

A Case of Identity Theft, WFL-Style by Mark Speck. The curious case of George Myers (a.k.a. John Meeger), a linebacker/con artist who fast-talked his way onto the roster of the Word Football League’s San Antonio Wings, was then fired, and drove out of town in a vehicle fraudulently purchased from a car dealer. After trying the same trick with the NFL's Falcons, Broncos, and 49ers, he was finally tracked down in Atlanta by the FBI.

The Last Ride of the 1970s Super Steelers by Jimmy Grant. A recounting of the 1982 Pittsburgh team that played strong in a strike-shortened season, entered the so-called Super Bowl Tournament with high hopes, only to lose in the first round against the San Diego Chargers, unofficially marking the end of their Seventies dynasty.

I actually watched highlights of that game recently. I'd completely forgotten that it ever took place. As I recall the Steelers lost to the Raiders in the playoffs the next year (the Raiders were convinced that the Steelers were lying, ahead of time, about Terry Bradshaw not being able to play in that game but. . .they weren't), and, of course, made it to the A.F.C. title game in 1984. I read something interesting about that, once: that Pittsburgh brass was lured into thinking that their team was better than it really was as a result of that trip to the conference title game and because they didn't take proper measures to bolster whatever talent they had left is why after 1984 no one really saw much out of the Steelers for several years.

Ken Crippen wrote:The latest issue of "The Coffin Corner" is now available for immediate download from the Members Only section of the PFRA website. This issue includes:

PFRA-ternizing. The 2021 convention at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is on for June 24–27 this year and organizer George Bozeka gives us an update on the hotel, speakers and activities planned. Announcements are also made on the next book in the PFRA’s Great Teams series and the promotion of Denis Crawford to managing editor of the Coffin Corner.

The Hall of Very Good Class of 2020 by Matt Keddie, Jeff Miller, Andy Piascik and Jay Thomas, with illustrations by John Richards. Career highlights of last year's class are included for Ottis Anderson, Jay Hilgenberg, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Ron McDole, Karl Mecklenburg, Richie Petitbon, Sterling Sharpe, and Buddy Young.

Tom Watkins: From College All-American to Stellar NFL Halfback by Jim Sargent. A short biography of the Iowa State great—and member of the famed 1959 ‘Dirty Thirty’ Cyclones team—who went on to pro football, playing for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He also starred as a return specialist, leading the NFL in punt returns and yardage in 1963.”

A Case of Identity Theft, WFL-Style by Mark Speck. The curious case of George Myers (a.k.a. John Meeger), a linebacker/con artist who fast-talked his way onto the roster of the Word Football League’s San Antonio Wings, was then fired, and drove out of town in a vehicle fraudulently purchased from a car dealer. After trying the same trick with the NFL's Falcons, Broncos, and 49ers, he was finally tracked down in Atlanta by the FBI.

The Last Ride of the 1970s Super Steelers by Jimmy Grant. A recounting of the 1982 Pittsburgh team that played strong in a strike-shortened season, entered the so-called Super Bowl Tournament with high hopes, only to lose in the first round against the San Diego Chargers, unofficially marking the end of their Seventies dynasty.

I know somebody who is a fan of both New York teams who's glad that the Giants acquired Ottis Anderson after the Cardinals apparently felt they no longer had any use for him. I don't remember much about him but I did a little research on him a few years ago and it really does seem like he's one of these guys who was quite good but who is mostly forgotten - probably because his first pro team wasn't very good when he was playing for it and by the time he got to his second he was banged up and was more of a role player. Yes?

Anderson got injured in 1985 and lost some quickness and speed as he was an excellent big back who could run and catch. Though mostly a role player for the Giants, he was the first back to cross 10,000 rushing yards without making the HOF. I feel he is deserving, with SB MVP and ROTY honors on his resume ... not to mention Comeback player of the year.

I like that Anderson's career had a second act. Not many running backs have success after 30. We'll need a Giants fan or someone who remembers better than me to fill in the details, but I recall him being the lead back for a couple seasons with the Giants including his SB MVP season. I think he stepped into the role due to injury, possibly to Joe Morris who was their lead back in the SB they had won a few years prior.

I agree. They did over-evaluate the 1984 team. A bigger mistake may have been bypassing Marino in 1983. Bradshaw was near the end before his injury. However, Marino rumors and a prior history may have turned the Steelers off.

My memory is the Giants acquired Ottis Anderson in October 1986 to backup Joe Morris, I think OJ scored a touchdown in January 1987 against the Broncos late in Super Bowl XXI, then he did not play a lot in 1987 and 1988. Joe Morris broke a foot in 1989 preseason, and Parcells and Ron Ehrhart (sp) used the bigger Anderson in a power rushing attack with great effectiveness in 1989 and 1990. I am pleased OJ is in the Hall of the Very Good - he definitely deserves it. He had great years in three different decades, no small feat.

Being a fan of the Cowboys those years, I feared Anderson and WR Roy Green for the Cards because they could break a play at any time and Anderson was off and running before the 82 strike-shortened season slowed his momentum. If you take away that season and the injury-plagued years in 85 and 86 out of the equation, he would have easily gotten over 12,000 career yards rushing but like someone mentioned, his second act with the Giants allowed him to be a two-time champion ...

The 1980-1984 Steelers had their chances to win more but just couldnt win the big games to do it. Very close divisional races but I believe had they gotten Marino in 83, Noll would have won another championship with him. Marino would beat the Steelers with the Dolphins the first four games he played against them ...