BUTCH BYRD
Cornerback
No. 42
Boston University
Last September in Buffalo against Miami, Butch returned an intercepted pass 60 yards for a touchdown (the 5th longest interception return in the AFL in '66) in the first quarter. Later that quarter, he returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown (the 4th longest punt return of '66), with his two scores increasing Buffalo's lead from 7-0 to 21-0, thus blazing a trail for what would be a 58-24 Bills rout of the Dolphins.
Over the course of the '66 season, Butch returned 23 punts (2nd in the AFL) for 186 yards (4th) and an 8.1 average (4th) and made six interceptions (6th) for 110 yards (8th). He was an AFL All-Star for the second straight year and was named All-AFL by the AFL players, AP and UPI.
TOM JANIK
Cornerback
No. 27
Texas A & I
"Which player led the Bills in pass interceptions in 1966? Tom Janik."
-1967 Topps No. 17
"Which player led the league in 1966 in returning interceptions for touchdowns? Tom Janik"
-1967 Topps No. 25
Tom's third quarter 34-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Oilers at Rice Stadium gave the Bills a 28-13 lead in an eventual 42-20 Buffalo win. In the regular season finale in Buffalo against Denver, he made two interceptions for 47 yards returned, including one returned 25 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter in a 38-21 Bills win.
Tom's 1966 total of eight interceptions, including three games of two interceptions, was third in the AFL, as was his 136 yards on interception returns.
GEORGE SAIMES
Safety
No. 26
Michigan State
"Thinking-man's football player George Saimes is a composite of many splendid little gifts sportswriters like to call intangibles. As an individual, he's concerned with what goes in the world outside the football stadium.
As a football player, he was barely big enough to play fullback at Michigan State, where he was a unanimous All-America. In the pros, he was converted into a safetyman and has become one of the league's best - again despite his size. Last year, his fourth in the league, he was voted to the All-AFL team, even though he didn't make one interception. At 5-11 and 186 pounds, he's not so small his fellow players can't see all the good plays he makes."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"With cat-like quickness, George seems to be around the ball on every play. Although slightly built as football players go, George is a strong tackler for his size."
-1967 Topps No. 26
HAGOOD CLARKE
Safety
No. 45
Florida
Against the Raiders in Buffalo last September, Hagood returned a fourth-quarter interception 66 yards for a touchdown for the final score in a 27-20 Bills win. It was the third longest interception return in the AFL last year. In the November rematch in Oakland, he made two more interceptions for 48 yards returned.
Hagood's season total of five interceptions was 10th in the league and his 118 yards on returns was sixth. He was named AP second-team All-AFL.
CHARLEY WARNER
Kick Returner-Defensive Back-Flanker
No. 22
Prairie View
"Who holds the longest return run on record for the Bills? Charley Warner- 102 yards."
-1967 Topps No. 23
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