Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Other 1961 Bill Profiles

JOHNNY GREEN
Quarterback
No. 18
Chattanooga
"None of the '61 rookie hopefuls at the Bills' training camp carried quarterback credentials, enough evidence to tab veteran Johnny Green as No. 1 at the T job. The 24-year-old Riviera Beach (California) rifle came from the Steelers early in '60 and went on to top all Bill aerialists, tossing 10 TD bombs and gaining 228 yards."

-1961 Pro Football Handbook

"He can throw and he can run. That's what coaches dream of in a quarterback, and that's what Green has to offer. With the height and weight to take a chance at running the ball, he worries would-be rushers because of his accuracy on the long throw.
A three-year regular at Chattanooga, Green broke into pro ball with the Toronto Argonauts, then switched to the Pittsburgh Steelers."

-1961 Fleer No. 133


JOE KULBACKI
Halfback
No. 43
Purdue
"Keeping busy fielding punts and kickoffs in '60 was Joe Kulbacki, team leader in both departments. The 23-year-old Irvine (Pennsylvania) speedster gained 226 yards on 13 kickoffs and added 100 yards with 12 punts, many of which of which he refused to play 'safe' with a fair catch signal.
An all-purpose performer, Joe can also turn in a dependable defensive job."

-1961 Pro Football Handbook


DEWEY BOHLING
Halfback
No. 26
Hardin-Simmons
"The best of all Titans on the ground was Dewey Bohling, the 24-year-old halfback out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A disciple of Baugh's while at Hardin-Simmons, Dewey dashed off 438 yards in 1960, 12th best in the AFL. He also caught 30 passes for 268 yards, converting four of them into touchdowns.
Dewey had a previous trial with the Steelers."

-1961 Pro Football Handbook

"When a coach takes over a new team, he likes to have players he knows around him. So Sammy Baugh went after a four-year veteran of his college teams at Hardin-Simmons, a man he knew was a bouncy, jolting runner. Bohling had carried the mail and the fight for Baugh well in college, and he did exactly that for his old coach during their debut year in New York."

-1961 Fleer No. 214


ART BAKER
Fullback
No. 33
Syracuse
"Art signed with the NFL Bills in preference to the NFL Eagles, who made him a No. 1 draft pick. Speedy and powerful, he has run 100 yards in 10.1 seconds."

-1961 Topps No. 163


PERRY RICHARDS
Split End
No. 84
Detroit
"Playing with the Detroit Lions and the St. Louis Cardinals, Perry has shown flashes of fine talent as an offensive end. When Detroit rocketed to the championship in '57, he gave them valuable assistance as a rookie receiver.
He's got good size and sure hands, and now after four years of playing pro he should be in a position to lend a valuable lift to a brand new organization."

-1961 Fleer No. 130


TOM RYCHLEC
Tight End
No. 81
American International
"A mighty big man from a small school, Rychlec was an All-New England, All-East and Little All-American selection while in college. In 1956, he led the nation's collegians in pass catching, with 45. After the 1957 College All-Star Game in Chicago, he was signed by the Detroit Lions.
This outstanding end was high on coach Buster Ramsey's 'must get' list when the Bills were formed."

-1961 Fleer No. 137

"One of the few pro ends who was equally outstanding as a blocker and pass-catcher, Tom is fast and aggressive. He led the Bills in 1960 by catching 44 passes."

-1961 Topps No. 164


PHIL BLAZER
Guard
No. 60
North Carolina
"Fast, intelligent and mobile, this excellent blocking lineman was the only Atlantic Coast Conference gridder selected for the 1959 College All-Star squad. Captain of the Tar Heels, he played in the North-South Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl, where his powerful play as an offensive guard caught the eye of professional scouts for both leagues.
His gentle, handsome features make it hard to believe he's such a rugged competitor on the field."

-1961 Fleer No. 139


BILLY SHAW
Guard
2nd Round
Georgia Tech
Coach Ramsey is confident this young man out of Georgia Tech can be the type of tough and mobile guard who can fortify Buffalo's offensive line. Whether leading the way on a running play or protecting the quarterback on a passing play, Billy is a former All-American tackle ready to become an outstanding pro guard for many years to come.


KEN RICE
Offensive Tackle
1st Round
Auburn
"This huge, agile tackle was everyone's All-American in 1960. Ken was the first draft choice of both the AFL Bills and the NFL St. Louis Cardinals."

-1961 Topps No. 162


STEW BARBER
Offensive Tackle
4th Round
Penn State
This 250-pounder out of Penn State is known to scouts for the excellent pass-blocking he provides for quarterbacks. Stardom is predicted for Stew, who always works extremely hard to improve his performance.


GENE GRABOSKY
Defensive Tackle
No. 78
Syracuse
"Sidelined early in the season with an unfortunate knee injury, Gene came back strongly for the last two games and did an excellent job on defense. However, the knee continued to bother him and minor surgery was undertaken this winter which has corrected the condition.
He is looked to this year as an important factor in strengthening the Bills' defense which is already one of the best in the league."

-1961 Fleer No. 143


MACK YOHO
Defensive End
No. 71
Miami-Ohio
"Canadian professional fans have reason to remember Yoho. His toe won the 1959 playoff game between Ottawa and Montreal. Mack was picked up by Ottawa coach Frank Clair after starring for Ara Parseghian at Miami, where he earned All-Mid-Atlantic Conference honors as an offensive tackle and defensive end.
The Bills used him exclusively at defensive end last year."

-1961 Fleer No. 138

"Mack is one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the league. Especially good at rushing opposing passers, he is a mobile, powerful tackler."

-1961 Topps No. 165


JOE SCHAFFER
Linebacker
No. 67
Tennessee
A rugged competitor who played every game last year, Joe returned an interception 19 yards. His intense desire inspires Buffalo's linebacking corps.
Joe was an outstanding tackle at Tennessee. Captain of the Volunteers in 1959, he was selected All-Southeastern Conference that year.


RALPH FELTON
Linebacker
No. 57
Maryland
"Ralph keeps on the move during a game. He switches back and forth as he figures out the plays and usually is a thorn in the side of quarterbacks who look to outwit him. Ralph is also deadly on pass defense."

-1960 Topps No. 129

"The Redskins traded this proficient linebacker to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1958. Released just after the start of the season, Ralph migrated right back to Washington.
He has become the anchor of the Skin linebacking corps. Bad knees threatened to end his career a couple of seasons ago.
At Maryland, the seven-year veteran was known primarily for his offensive play at fullback."

-1961 Fleer No. 115


RICHIE MCCABE
Cornerback
No. 45
Pittsburgh
"Richie has the greatest top-level experience in the league. The 27-year-old Pittsburgher, one of the lightest men in football at 168, played five years in the NFL with the Steelers and the Redskins. As a kid, he was a water boy for the Steelers, and owner Art Rooney remembered this when Richie finished his schooling at Pitt. Normally introverted, he talks constantly to his opponents during the game to divert them from concentrating on pass catching."

-Murray Olderman, Sports All-Stars 1961 Pro Football

PRO'S PRO
"As a kid around Pittsburgh, McCabe used to carry the water bucket for the Steelers, so it was only natural he should wind up as one of their defensive halfbacks when he finished his football career at Pitt. He also played with the Redskins in his five-year tenure in the NFL.
Still young and spry at 27, Richie is the studious type, slim and bespectacled (off the field), with a gift for diagnosing opposition plays. He's a teacher in the off-season."

-Murray Olderman, All-Pro 1961 Football

"Richie got his first pro football lessons as a waterboy for the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of the top pass defenders in the loop, he was voted an AFL All-Star."

-1961 Topps No. 161


BILLY KINARD
Cornerback
No. 24
Mississippi
Billy is a dependable veteran who can run with the fastest offensive ends while rarely making a mistake. Playing in every game last year, this 1956 second round pick was a respected defensive back with both Cleveland and Green Bay before joining the new league. Billy was a rookie standout returning kicks, including one for 56 yards, averaging 28.0 yards.
Lettering four years at Ole Miss, he played in the Sugar Bowl in '53 and '55 as well as the '56 Cotton Bowl. Billy is the brother pro football stalwarts Bruiser Kinard and George Kinard.


JIM WAGSTAFF
Safety
No. 22
Idaho State
"Jim Wagstaff's previous exposure to coach Buster Ramsey got him a job with Buffalo. He went to Idaho State, where his finest achievement was breaking the Rocky Moutain Conference pole vault record; he topped 14 feet consistently. The leaping ability impressed the Detroit Lions, who had reached into the Rockies for such other great defenders as Jack Christiansen and Jim David, and they drafted him in 1958.
An injury spoiled his rookie season and in 1959 he was shipped to the Cardinals- just for decoration, it turned out. He became a free agent last fall after the Bills were in camp. Ramsey remembered the kid from Idaho with steel springs in his legs and picked him up. Among the rewards for the Bills was a 38-yard touchdown jaunt with a stolen pass that broke a second-quarter tie with the Patriots and sparked Buffalo to a win in their December meeting.
Jim teaches school back home in Idaho to help support his growing family- three little ones. He also goes in strong for hunting and fishing in the Rockies."

-Murray Olderman, Sports All-Stars 1961 Pro Football


BILL SHOCKLEY
Place Kicker-Halfback
No. 29
West Chester
1960
Bill was the biggest football star at small West Chester during his collegiate career. He's the kind of man teams from the new league are looking to from little-known sources of campus gridiron talent.
A bruising halfback, the Titans will most likely utilize Bill's ability as a place kicker. Every club needs those successful kickoffs, field goal attempts and conversions for a winning season. Bill can also serve with distinction on the other side of the field with daring and with blazing speed on punt and kickoff returns. And he still can be called on for halfback duty.

"Bill Shockley was the big man at small West Chester Teachers and shows promise of doing major things in the AFL. He was No. 4 in total points, scoring 86, and was first in points after touchdown, notching 47. A bruising halfback and forceful runner, he averaged 4.2 yards. Now 23, the Malverne (Pennsylvania) marvel also was among the most active at returning kickoffs, taking back 17 for 411 yards."

-1961 Pro Football Handbook

"This Little All-America star holds all his school's scoring records, including 15 touchdowns in a season, 42 points after touchdowns in a season, and 132 points in a season. Bill was an all-around star, sought also by big league baseball teams.
Despite his size, Bill does one of the heavy jobs in pro ball: kicking off, conversions and field goals. He was fourth among Titan ball carriers in ground gained and led the scorers with 86 points."

-1961 Fleer No. 213

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