Obscure things remembered about somewhat obscure players...

[rhickok1109]

Bob Forte, a linebacker for the Packers in 1950 and 1951, was also their emergency QB. He compiled a 95.8 passer rating, completing all 4 of his passes for 28 yards, with 0 TDs and 0 INTs.

[Sonny9]

Bob Gladieux 1969-1972 Patriots and Bills

Gladiuex was waived by the Patriots on the week of the first game of the year.

"I did what any reasonable man would do," he remembered. "I went on a three-day tear."

Despite a massive hangover, he decided to accompany a friend to the season opener against the Dolphins. They drove to Harvard Stadium, passing a bottle of home-made port between them in the front seat. Upon arriving, Harpo was able to talk his way past the ticket collector only after borrowing a programme from a fan and pointing out his picture in the programme.

His pal was charged with the obligatory trip to the concession stand, while Harpo made his way to the men's room. It was on his way back that he heard his name being paged by the PA announcer.

Unbeknownst to them, another mini-drama had been in progress in the Patriots' locker-room. Two Boston players, John Outlaw and Larry Carwell, had not formally signed their contracts, and the team's penurious management had presented them with "take it or leave it" offers moments before the game. When they balked, Charles and Carwell were cut on the spot.

This left the team two players short, and with an eye towards filling out the roster with special teams fodder, somebody had remembered that Gladieux had said he might attend the game. When he answered the page and arrived at the locker-room door he was hastily re-signed to a contract and issued a uniform.

His buddy, in the meantime, had returned from the concession stand to his seat, where he nervously balanced one large cup of beer on each knee as he looked around wondering what could be keeping Gladieux. Then came the opening kick-off. Harpo ran right over his old Notre Dame team-mate Bob Kuechenberg and nailed the Miami ball carrier.

When the PA announcer boomed out "tackle by Bob Gladieux", the friend in the stands was so shocked that both beers, his own and Harpo's, ended up in his lap.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/harpo- ... h-1.213732

[JuggernautJ]

Not somewhat obscure but rather about as obscure as it can get...
But I have had this stuck in my head for years... right after I got Total Football and read it (pretty much) from cover to cover.

"Arrowhead" (real and/or full name unknown) played four games at End, scoring two TDs for the Oorang Indians in 1923.
https://www.nfl.com/players/Arrowhead/stats/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowhead ... _football)

Anyone know anything else about this player?

[JWL]

Kerry Rhodes appeared in the video for Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi".

[Gary Najman]

Here in Mexico, one of the most controversional soccer commentators of the past 30 years is Carlos Albert. His younger brother Sergio Albert was the kickoff specialist for the 1974 Cardinals (I don´t know if he was the first true kickoff specialist).

[Ronfitch]

Bob Gladieux 1969-1972 Patriots and Bills

Gladiuex was waived by the Patriots on the week of the first game of the year.

"I did what any reasonable man would do," he remembered. "I went on a three-day tear."

Despite a massive hangover, he decided to accompany a friend to the season opener against the Dolphins. They drove to Harvard Stadium, passing a bottle of home-made port between them in the front seat. Upon arriving, Harpo was able to talk his way past the ticket collector only after borrowing a programme from a fan and pointing out his picture in the programme.

His pal was charged with the obligatory trip to the concession stand, while Harpo made his way to the men's room. It was on his way back that he heard his name being paged by the PA announcer.

Unbeknownst to them, another mini-drama had been in progress in the Patriots' locker-room. Two Boston players, John Outlaw and Larry Carwell, had not formally signed their contracts, and the team's penurious management had presented them with "take it or leave it" offers moments before the game. When they balked, Charles and Carwell were cut on the spot.

This left the team two players short, and with an eye towards filling out the roster with special teams fodder, somebody had remembered that Gladieux had said he might attend the game. When he answered the page and arrived at the locker-room door he was hastily re-signed to a contract and issued a uniform.

His buddy, in the meantime, had returned from the concession stand to his seat, where he nervously balanced one large cup of beer on each knee as he looked around wondering what could be keeping Gladieux. Then came the opening kick-off. Harpo ran right over his old Notre Dame team-mate Bob Kuechenberg and nailed the Miami ball carrier.

When the PA announcer boomed out "tackle by Bob Gladieux", the friend in the stands was so shocked that both beers, his own and Harpo's, ended up in his lap.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/harpo- ... h-1.213732

The Billy Sullivan years. Tom Beer’s book offers some great stories of the Pats at that time.

[Retro Rider]

Remembering Mirro Roder, an ex-Bears/Bucs kicker from the Czech Republic. The pudgy Roder played the 1973 & 1974 seasons in Chicago and the first 3 games of 1976 with Tampa Bay. The television commentators would often mention that he was a brick layer by trade. I came across his 1975 Topps football card recently. In this video he gets needled by Dick Butkus during a 1973 exhibition game at Buffalo (at the 8:26 mark):

https://youtu.be/58MwcmS6JUk

[Jay Z]

Bob Gladieux 1969-1972 Patriots and Bills

Gladiuex was waived by the Patriots on the week of the first game of the year.

"I did what any reasonable man would do," he remembered. "I went on a three-day tear."

Despite a massive hangover, he decided to accompany a friend to the season opener against the Dolphins. They drove to Harvard Stadium, passing a bottle of home-made port between them in the front seat. Upon arriving, Harpo was able to talk his way past the ticket collector only after borrowing a programme from a fan and pointing out his picture in the programme.

His pal was charged with the obligatory trip to the concession stand, while Harpo made his way to the men's room. It was on his way back that he heard his name being paged by the PA announcer.

Unbeknownst to them, another mini-drama had been in progress in the Patriots' locker-room. Two Boston players, John Outlaw and Larry Carwell, had not formally signed their contracts, and the team's penurious management had presented them with "take it or leave it" offers moments before the game. When they balked, Charles and Carwell were cut on the spot.

This left the team two players short, and with an eye towards filling out the roster with special teams fodder, somebody had remembered that Gladieux had said he might attend the game. When he answered the page and arrived at the locker-room door he was hastily re-signed to a contract and issued a uniform.

His buddy, in the meantime, had returned from the concession stand to his seat, where he nervously balanced one large cup of beer on each knee as he looked around wondering what could be keeping Gladieux. Then came the opening kick-off. Harpo ran right over his old Notre Dame team-mate Bob Kuechenberg and nailed the Miami ball carrier.

When the PA announcer boomed out "tackle by Bob Gladieux", the friend in the stands was so shocked that both beers, his own and Harpo's, ended up in his lap.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/harpo- ... h-1.213732

It was John Charles who was "cut" and Johnny Outlaw the other player brought back. Don't know if Outlaw was in the stands as well or how they got hold of him. Maybe Outlaw and Gladieux had been told to "stand by" for just such an occasion. Charles and Carwell were not really cut, despite being dismissed from the locker room; they were placed on the move list and activated later in the season.

Gladieux was also notable for being included in the 1973 Topps Football set as a member of the Patriots, despite no longer being with the Patriots or any NFL team. Gladieux had been cut by the Patriots late in the 1972 season.

[Todd Pence]

San Diego running back Don Woods had been a quarterback for New Mexico in college. During his senior season with the Lobos, he rushed for 971 yards while passing for just 124.

[Citizen]

Similar to Gladieux, DE Jim DeLisle was in the L.A. Coliseum press box enjoying a hot dog when he found out the Packers had activated him for that day's game against the Rams -- which was due to start in about 30 minutes.