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Re: Obscure things remembered about somewhat obscure players
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 10:25 am
by Bryan
Teo wrote: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).
I think it would either be Albert or George Jakowenko of the 1974 Raiders. Albert's "career" started in Week 3 of the season, while Jakowenko's "career" didn't start until Week 9, so Albert is probably the first true kickoff specialist.
Re: Obscure things remembered about somewhat obscure players
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:41 am
by Jay Z
Jay Z wrote:Sonny9 wrote: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.
Following up on this, Gladieux got activated for a great game. The Patriots sacked Dolphins quarterbacks 8 times in a 27-14 victory. RBs Jim Nance and Carl Garrett helped Boston rush for 184 yards, a number that was not even close to being reached in the rest of the 1970 season. A 100 yard effort in a 45-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills was the only other team the team passed the century mark. Other than a 14-10 win in a return match with those Bills, and a two point loss to the Chargers, most of the Patriots' losses were by double digits. Joe Kapp's arrival did nothing to help the team. Forget about 40 for 60, Kapp had enough trouble leading the Patriots' 11 man offense to 3 or 6 points, or even the 10 yards for a first down. The Patriots' 149 points scored were the worst in the league, and that's not the only category that the Patriots finished dead last in.
Bob Gladieux managed 4 carries for 8 yards as a scrimmage back, and would get waived to Buffalo by coach John Mazur. The Bills then let him go and Bob returned, by which time Mazer had been fired and replaced by Clive Rush.
Re: Obscure things remembered about somewhat obscure players
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:18 pm
by Denis Crawford
Lars Tate of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was hit at the line of scrimmage, did a full somersault, managed to land on his feet, and ran for a 47-yard touchdown in a wild 30-24 loss to the Cardinals in 1988. Still one of the darndest runs I have ever seen, pulled off my a solid but unspectacular back.
https://www.bucpower.com/1988game3.htm
Re: Obscure things remembered about somewhat obscure players
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:11 pm
by Terry Baldshaw
I'm not sure if this would qualify but it illustrates the crazy vagaries of life. Manfred Moore was an outstanding special teams player with the 49ers in 1974-'75. In 1976 he endured an 0-13 start as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Waived after the thirteenth game he was signed for the last game by the Oakland Raiders and proceeded to win a Super Bowl. From the outhouse to the penthouse!
Re: Obscure things remembered about somewhat obscure players
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:33 pm
by JWL
Terry Baldshaw wrote:I'm not sure if this would qualify but it illustrates the crazy vagaries of life. Manfred Moore was an outstanding special teams player with the 49ers in 1974-'75. In 1976 he endured an 0-13 start as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Waived after the thirteenth game he was signed for the last game by the Oakland Raiders and proceeded to win a Super Bowl. From the outhouse to the penthouse!
That is like Steve McLendon of this past season. He was 0-9 with the Jets and then won the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.