42. E.J. Junior

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With the Fifth Overall Pick in the 1981 Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals selected E.J. Junior, who was the second Linebacker taken behind someone you may have heard of; Lawrence Taylor.  Junior did not have Taylor’s career (who could?) but the Cardinals got a lot of good football from the eventual College Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Junior won the starting job during the season and, by the mid-80s, was one of the best interior Linebackers in the NFC.  His best season was in 1984 when he was a First Team All-Pro and began a two-year run of Pro Bowls.  From 183 to 1985, Junior had eight Interceptions and 19.0 Sacks, and though he tailed off afterward, he was still a solid NFL player.

He left the Cardinals behind in 1988, joining Miami as a Free Agent.  The Cardinals were not significant in the 1980s, but this does not detract from Junior's work in St.Louis/Phoenix.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Linebacker
  • Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 5th Overall in the NFL Draft 4/28/81.
  • Departed:

    Signed with the Miami Dolphins after the 1988 Season.
  • Games Played: 111
  • Notable Statistics:

    107 Games Started
    12 Interceptions
    186 Interception Return Yards
    6 Fumble Recoveries
    42 Fumble Recovery Yards
    1 Fumble Recovery Touchdown
    24.5 Quarterback Sacks
    62 Approximate Value

    1 Playoff Game
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    First Team All-Pro (1984)
    Pro Bowl (1984 & 1985)
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More in this category: « 41. Carson Palmer 43. Charley Johnson »

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