Vastly underappreciated throughout his 14-year career in the NFL, Henry Thomas is best known for the first half of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, the team that drafted him in 1987. Thomas was an All-Rookie at Defensive Tackle, and was equally adept at stopping the run as well as rushing the passer. Thomas was the league leader in Forced…
From Central Florida, Josh Sitton would win the starting Right Guard for the Green Bay Packers in his second season in the league and the year after he was a big reason why they would win Super Bowl XLV. Sitton would only improve from there going to the Pro Bowl in 2012 but he switched to Left Guard in 2013…
Debuting for the San Francisco 49ers as a Second Round Pick from UCLA in 1976, Randy Cross played his entire 13-year career with the Niners, where he would help them win three Super Bowls.
Bill Lee was a champion in college in 1934 at the University of Alabama, and five years later, he was a champion in the NFL in 1939 with the Green Bay Packers. Lee was named to the Pro Bowl that year and the 1930’s All-Decade Team as a Tackle. Prior to his stint with Green Bay, where he played for…
James Farrior was drafted 8th Overall by the New York Jets in 1997, and he did well for New York in the five years he played there, though it can be argued that he did not achieve what the Jets hoped for when they drafted him so high. He did, however, show some of that promise in his last year…
Rich Saul did not accomplish that much in the first half of his career, where he bounced around the Rams O-Line for the first five years, but there was definite value in the former Michigan State Spartan. Saul would be named the starting Center in 1975, and from 1976 to 1981, he would be named to the Pro Bowl and…
Chris Samuels was the Outland Trophy winner at the University of Alabama, and the Washington Redskins chose him 3rd Overall in 2000. It turned out to be an excellent choice, and Washington would be the only team that Samuels played for in his ten-year career.
Bud McFadin had an excellent career in pro football, yet when it comes to discussing him for the Hall of Fame, his name never comes up. Perhaps it should, but we get why it doesn't.
A First Round Pick from Washington State in 1984, Keith Millard made the team that drafted him (Minnesota) wait a year, as he went into the USFL for one season with the Jacksonville Bulls.
Derrick Johnson played all but his last season of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and the former 1stRound Pick from Texas would slowly work his way to the upper echelon of NFL Linebackers and he would be named to four Pro Bowls out of five from 2011 to 2015. Johnson, who was also named a First Team All-Pro in…
A multi-faceted offensive player at Tennessee, Stanley Morgan was taken by the New England Patriots in the First Round of the 1977 Draft and was a prime offensive threat for the Pats for over a decade. Originally used more as a returner as a rookie, the “Stanley Steamer” emerged as one of the top deep threats in football by his…
Drafted in the 3rd Round from Jackson State in 1973, Gray would join a not so good New England Patriots team. Gray won a starting job as a rookie and became a fixture at Left Tackle, where he showed steady improvement annually, much like the Pats themselves. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1976 and again in 1978,…
One of the best Place Kickers of his day, David Akers, had to wait for a little to prove his worth in the NFL. Akers was undrafted out of Louisville in 1997, and after trying out for the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, he was signed by the Washington Redskins but played only one game and missed both Field Goals…
Drafted in 1943 in the 14th Round from William & Mary, Buster Ramsey would not join the NFL until 1946 (due to World War II). He would play all six of seasons in the league with the Chicago Cardinals (the team that drafted him), and in 1947 he would help them win the NFL Championship. He was named an All-Pro…
Playing his college ball at the University of Tennessee, Beattie Feathers would have an incredible rookie season with the Chicago Bears where in 1934 he would become the first 1,000 Yard rusher (though there are some football historians who dispute the accuracy) and he would also lead the league in All-Purpose Yards and Yards from Scrimmage and was a First…
Russ Francis was the first Tight End drafted in 1975. The Oregon product went on to have two distinct careers in the NFL. Beginning his professional career with the New England Patriots, Francis's blocking ability, matched with his soft receiving hands, led him to three straight Pro Bowls (1976-78) and a Second-Team All-Pro in 1976 and 1978. This was a…
Carson Palmer was the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and the USC Quarterback was considered a can’t miss prospect in the NFL. Palmer would be drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals and the organization would take their time with the pivot as they did not play him in his rookie season choosing to start him in 2004 and in 2005…