1977 Rookie Profile: Mike Nelms

Cornerback
7th Round
Baylor
"A two-year starter, Mike set a school record in 1975 with three interceptions in one game against Rice. He had five interceptions for 107 yards in 1975 and added an interception in 1976.
Nelms transferred from Sam Houston State where he won All-Conference honors. He played in the 1976 North-South Shrine Game in Detroit. He has high jumped 6-7.
An art and business communications major, Mike is interested in a radio and television career. He enjoys table tennis and photography."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Rookie Profile: Greg Morton

Linebacker
8th Round
Michigan
"A three-year starter with the Wolverines, Morton was an All-Big Ten selection in 1975 and 1976 and an Honorable Mention selection of the Associated Press, United Press International and Football News in 1976. He was the second leading tackle on the Michigan squad last year with 131 tackles (77 unassisted) and was involved in 336 career tackles, including 22 sacks. With excellent quickness, Greg will be converted to linebacker.
Greg was a pre-law history major. He is interested in growing plants."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Rookie Profile: John Kimbrough

Wide Receiver
3rd Round
St. Cloud State
"An Associated Press Second Team Little All-American and three-time All-Conference performer, Kimbrough led St. Cloud in receiving and scoring in 1975 and in receiving and kickoff returns in 1976. He caught 88 passes for 15 touchdowns and a 19.1-yard average in his final two college seasons. Kimbrough caught eight passes for 101 yards in the Senior Bowl and also played in the Blue-Grey Game.
He has been timed in 9.4 seconds in the 100-yard dash. He accounted for over 4,600 total yards in receiving and kick returns in his four-year career.
John was an recreation and special education major. His hobbies include swimming and fishing."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Rookie Profile: Nate Jackson

Running Back
11th Round
Tennessee State
"Jackson was a four-year regular at Tennessee State where he accumulated over 1,600 yards rushing and scored 12 touchdowns. His best season was 1976 when he rushed for 794 yards on 188 carries and scored four touchdowns.
Jackson is a hard runner with a style similar to Jim Braxton's."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Free Agent Profile: Willie Houston

Wide Receiver
Free Agent
Jackson State
"Houston was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 and had a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks last year.
He transferred to Jackson State from North West."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Free Agent Profile: Thom Gossoms

Wide Receiver
Free Agent
Auburn
"Gossoms played with Birmingham of the World Football League. He was a mass communications major at Auburn."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Rookie Profile: Phil Dokes

Defensive End
1st Round
Oklahoma State
"From Oklahoma State, he was a first round draft pick of the Bills. He is rated better than ex-teammate Jim White, who was a first round choice last year."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"A two-time All-Big Eight defensive lineman, as a sophomore and a senior, Dokes totalled 214 tackles in three years (87 solo and 127 assists). He had 11 quarterback sacks in 1975 alone and nine career fumble recoveries.
His honors include: Outstanding Defensive Player in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl, Big Eight Academic Team (1975), Football News Third Team All-America, NEA Second Team and UPI Honorable Mention.
Phil was High School Athlete of the Year in Arkansas."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Rookie Profile: Jimmy Dean

Defensive Tackle
4th Round
Texas A&M
"From Texas A&M, he could win a spot on a team desperate for stronger defense. He is 6-3, 250 and ranked from sixth to tenth when scouts made up lists of top defensive tackles."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"An All-Southwest Conference tackle in 1975, Jimmy earned honorable All-American honors from United Press International, the Associated Press and Football News in 1976. He was a four-time letter winner with the Aggies. Engineering technology was his college major."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Rookie Profile: Curtis Brown

Running Back
3rd Round
Missouri
"Brown was the leading rusher for Missouri in 1976 when he earned Football News Honorable Mention All-American honors. He rushed for 876 yards and a 5.0 average in 1976, and in 1975 backed up Tony Galbreath and gained 636 yards for a 5.6 average. A tri-captain, Brown's best game was 153 yards (20 carries) against Oklahoma in 1975. He returned five kickoffs last year for a 35.0 average and had a 95-yard kickoff return.
He transferred to Missouri from Ft. Scott JC where he once rushed for 375 yards in one game. A parks and recreation major, Brown's idol is O.J. Simpson."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Rookie Profile: Fred Besana

Quarterback
5th Round
California
"Besana was a backup quarterback to Joe Roth at California for two years. Despite working in the background, he's considered a top pro prospect, needing experience. He completed 54 percent of his passes in two years, completing 92 of 168 attempts. Fred transferred to California from Sierra Junior College.
His college major was physical education. His hobbies include fishing, golf and basketball."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Ben Williams

Defensive End
No. 77
Mississippi
"One of the promising rookies of 1976 for the Bills, Ben played in 13 games, seven in a starting role at left end. He had 30 unassisted tackles and 12 assists and was credited with four quarterback sacks, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery. He used his quickness to his advantage and showed vast improvement over the season. His experience will be an asset in his bid for a starting berth in 1977.
A first team All-Southeastern Conference selection of both UPI and AP, Williams also made the UPI and AP honorable mention All-America lists and played in the Senior Bowl. He was the preseason favorite of the Birmingham News as the outstanding defensive lineman in the SEC. Ben was a lightning quick nose guard in college."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Sherman White

Defensive End
No. 83
California
"He's living proof you don't bad-mouth Paul Brown and get to smile about it. White complained about his lack of recognition in Cincinnati and blamed Brown's star-less system. He demanded a trade last year, so Brown exiled him to the cellar, where Buffalo roams.
The Bills surrendered a first round draft choice, one of the earliest picks in the entire draft, to get him. They paid too much. White had the fewest tackles of any starting Buffalo defensive lineman last year.
White has excellent quickness and could give the Bills the pass rush they need if he played up to his potential. An intelligent player, he has the knack for flashy plays.
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, White didn't play high school football but was a unanimous All-American at the University of California. He was the second player taken in the 1972 draft."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"White came to the Bills from Cincinnati in exchange for a number one draft pick in July of 1976. He started and played in 13 games with the Bills last year at defensive right end; he missed the San Diego game with a back injury. White was credited with 23 unassisted tackles along with 11 assists and four quarterback sacks.
A four-year starter with the Bengals, Sherman was the second player picked in the 1972 college draft when Cincinnati made him their opening choice, following Buffalo's selection of Walt Patulski.
White was a consensus All-American at the University of California and lettered three years for the Golden Bears. Co-captain and MVP of the Bears, he would switch sides [on the line] to meet an opponent's strength. White played in the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game.
A business administration major at California, he had participated in just two games of organized football prior to entering college. He was primarily a basketball player in high school.
Sherman has worked with Bay Area disadvantaged youth through his 'Pros of Oakland' organization, which he formed with several other professional athletes from the San Francisco vicinity."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook

1977 Profile: Marty Smith

Defensive Tackle
No. 79
Louisville
"Smith was signed prior to the season as a free agent and won a starting berth in the Bills' defensive line. He appeared in all 14 games, starting 12 times, and was the second leading tackler among the defensive linemen with 45 unassisted tackles and 29 assists. Smith was also number two in sacks with four and a half and was credited with a fumble recovery.
Drafted in the 15th round by Pittsburgh in 1975, Smith was released by the Steelers that preseason. He played with the Charlotte Hornets in the World Football League in 1975 and was signed as a free agent by Dallas, but was released.
Smith was a three-year regular at Louisville where he earned second team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 1974. He was the team leader in tackles his senior year and played in the All-America Bowl.
A business major, Smith now lives in Cleveland."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: John Skorupan

Linebacker
No. 55
Penn State
"Skorupan was a regular at outside linebacker again in 1976, starting all 14 games. He finished the season as the team's fourth leading tackler, with 54 unassisted and 31 assists, and was also credited with a sack and seven passes deflected. He started all 14 games in 1975 after coming back from knee surgery that knocked him out of the final eight games of the 1974 season. John had the first pass interception of his career in a Monday Night game against the New York Giants in 1975 and added another interception against the Patriots last fall, setting up a last-second first half field goal. The Bills' sixth round draft choice in 1973, he made the UPI All-Rookie team that year.
John was one of the outstanding defensive players in the East as a senior at Penn State and a consensus All-America selection. He was voted AP Lineman of the Week after the Nittany Lions' 1972 victory over Navy; he had 15 unassisted tackles, three sacks of the quarterback and returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown against the Midshipmen. John was on Penn State's Sugar and Cotton Bowl elevens, and a member of the Hula Bowl and College All-Star squads.
John worked last winter for the Department of Commerce's National Alliance of Business program in Buffalo. He had worked in real estate the previous year. Golf and skiing are among his hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: O.J. Simpson

Running Back
No. 32
USC
"Now 30 years old, he says he will retire after two more seasons. 'I'll never forget seeing a boyhood idol, Willie Mays, falling down while running the bases for the Mets because he stayed around one year too long. I don't want anybody seeing me fall down. I don't want to be remembered that way."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"Watergate ... and a Vice-President and a President resign ... James Taylor sings sweetly and Mick Jagger and rocks and roars ... denim becomes the trademark of a generation ... the energy crisis and cars lineup up for gas ... Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ... and a blur called 'The Juice' rockets out of the slums of San Francisco to carry a football not only 1,000 yards in one season, the goal of every running back, but an astonishing 2,000 yards. He is bigger and faster than Thorpe, shiftier than Grange, fleeter than McAfee, stronger than Brown and more punishing than Taylor. Put it all together and what you have is the 6-foot-2, 220-pound O.J. Simpson.
The Buffalo Bills are playing the New York Jets on a freezing 1973 day in New York, the stadium lights piercing the December dusk. The ball sits on the Jet 20. The Bill quarterback takes the snap, spins, hands the ball to O.J., who slithers, squirms and struggles through a crack in the Jet line for seven yards. The crowd of more than 60,000 stands and roars.
O.J. has just broken a statistical barrier. He had gained the 2,003 yards of this season, breaking the record of 1,863 set by Jim Brown in 1963. The Bills hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him off the field.
Minutes later the game ended, the Bills 32-14 victors, and O.J. walked into a room crowded with reporters. Television lights glared. O.J. raised a hand to silence the din. He had brought him all the members of the offensive line. 'These,' he said waving at his blockers, 'are the cats who did the job all year.' The press applauded.
The always unpredictable O.J. grew up in a San Francisco neighborhood where kids stole cars and had to keep glancing over their shoulders to see if the cops were coming. One day O.J. and his pals drove a stolen car into a ditch and were chased a cop who came within inches of collaring O.J., who began to look down the road that he and his friends were traveling. He heard the sound of the slammer in his future and he changed his course in life. Always the best athlete on the block- 'in everything' he says with that proud toss of his large head- he began to run footballs for his high school team, then for a junior college. That got him a scholarship to USC, where he led the nation in rushing in 1967, and in 1968 he won the Heisman Trophy.
For $600,000- about 600 times what all the teams in the NFL were worth in 1920- he agreed to play for the Bills. After a slow start behind clumsy blocking, he led the NFL in rushing in three of the four years from 1972 to 1975. One day he could flash by Jim Brown's 12,312 [career] yards- the Juice now has more than 9,000- to become the greatest ground-gainer of all time.
Or he may quit football to give all of his time to his flourishing career as a TV announcer and movie actor."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977


"For the 'ordinary' ball carrier, a 100-yard game in the National Football League is a helluva day. For O.J. Simpson it is routine.
The standards the Juice has set for himself since he turned pro in 1969 are so high now that it takes a sensational game for O.J. to rise above his norm. But he has enough of those sensational days to remain consistently in the headlines.
When he lines up to start the 1977 season, he will trail only the great Jim Brown in career ground gaining. Brown ran for 12,312 yards. O.J. has 9,626 yards.
With two more years left in his career, Simpson will undoubtedly have more great games. But up to now, these are nine of his best:
October 29, 1972 ... War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo:
What to do? The Bills are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers with Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood and other defensive stars. Buffalo's only lineman of quality is rookie guard Reggie McKenzie.
Coach Lou Saban's answer is to use an unbalanced line, a rarity in pro football. It works. O.J. gets 189 yards, including the longest run from scrimmage in the NFL in the last 26 years, a 94-yard touchdown.
But a Steeler rookie named Franco Harris is almost as good and Pittsburgh wins, 38-21. [O.J. goes on to win] his first NFL rushing title with 1,251 yards.
September 16, 1973 ... Schaefer Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.:
Buffalo, which hasn't had a winning season since 1966, finished the preseason with a winless record, 0-6. But Coach Lou Saban kept telling his players, 'Don't worry, we're building a running attack that will get us victories.'
This is the test, the season opener.
Early in the first quarter, guard Reggie McKenzie leads a sweep. He blocks a linebacker and Simpson cuts outside the block and runs 80 yards for a touchdown. It sets the tone of the afternoon.
Simpson carries 29 times for 250 yards, breaking Willie Ellison's NFL single-game record by three yards. The Bills win, 31-13, and also break their team record for rushing with 360 yards as the Pats are so concerned with stopping O.J. that fullback Larry Watkins gains 105 yards, mostly on counter plays.
December 9, 1973 ... Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.:
Five minutes before kickoff the snow starts and doesn't stop for a half hour. Few can see. Few can hold their footing.
O.J. Simpson can still run.
He averages 10 yards on 22 carries for his second 200-yard game of the season, 219 to be exact, against New England as the Bills win, 37-13. The only thing that stops him from gaining more are a couple of slippery spots in which he falls after long runs.
December 16, 1973 ... Shea Stadium, Queens, N.Y.:
It's just a week after his 219-yard day against the Pats. He's just 61 yards away from Jim Brown's single-season NFL record, 1,863 yards, set in 1963.
The record falls on Simpson's eighth carry of the day, a six-yard cut through the muddy, soggy turf of Shea. It doesn't stop there. He carries 34 times for 200 yards to become the first 2,000-yard runner in history and the Bills end the season on a winning note.
September 28, 1975 ... Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh:
These are the World Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. No one runs on them, right? The week before, they opened the season by allowing San Diego to come no closer than the Steelers' 42-yard line.
O.J. Simpson destroys them. He slips through their middle, he turns their end. He bounces off a pileup, fakes All-Pro linebacker Jack Ham off his feet and races 88 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
When the final gun sounds, he has 227 yards and Buffalo has a 30-21 upset victory.
October 12, 1975 ... Memorial Stadium, Baltimore:
The Juice has had games in which he gained more ground. This day he finishes with 159. But some of that was the toughest of the day when he carries seven times in the winning touchdown drive as Buffalo wins a wild game, 38-31.
November 17, 1975 ... Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati:
It's Ken Anderson, the brilliant Cincinnati quarterback, vs. O.J. on Monday night football. The Bills' pass defense can't stop Anderson. The Bengals' rush defense can't stop Simpson.
O.J. carries only 17 times for 197 yards. Late in the game, when Cincinnati leads, 30-24, the Bills abandon Simpson for almost a full quarter in effort to catch up via the pass. The abandonment costs the Juice Jim Brown's record for most 200-yard games in a season- and possibly costs the Bills the game as they lose, 30-24.
November 25, 1976 ... The Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich.:
It's Thanksgiving Day, a traditional football feast in the Detroit area. The Lions lead the NFL in defense. Only one runner pierced them for 100 yards all season.
The Bills, who are battered and injured, have only one offensive cannon- Simpson. They fire it.
The Lions are stacked in what amounts a seven-man front against a team it knows can't throw the football. Still, Simpson rips them. He almost breaks free on a 36-yard run. Then he does break free for a 48-yard touchdown gallop. Suddenly he has his fifth 200-yard game, an all-time NFL record.
Even the Lions' fans cheer for him as he takes aim at his own record. He gets it, and more, finishing with 273 yards in 29 carries, even through his team is never close to winning the contest.
December 5, 1976 ... Orange Bowl, Miami
The Dolphins have defeated the Bills 13 consecutive times, and they will make it 14 today. For a brief moment, though, O.J. gives Buffalo hope, racing 75 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. At halftime, Miami is back on top, but the Juice, who has 121 yards at intermission, roars for 19, 9, 16. He's almost ignored by his own play-callers in the last quarter, but he still finishes with his sixth 200-yard game.
And remember, he's got two more seasons to play. Don't tune out yet."

-Larry Felser, Pro Football 1977

"Just fair as a pass receiver and doesn't block much, but is the best runner in the league today and probably the greatest of all time. But even when he runs for 273 yards, the Bills can't win. The team's best move would be to trade him for three or four young players who could help rebuild.
Simpson was born in San Francisco on July 9, 1947, but last year the Buffalo P.R. Department listed his birth date as 1948 in an attempt to keep him eternally under 30. Held under 40 yards four times last year, he still had 1,503 for the third best total of his career. He had plastic surgery on his movie star face after getting cut by Burgess Owens' helmet.
Hertz business went up 36 percent in two years after Simpson started running through airports. He plans to play two of three more years before becoming a full-time actor. The NFL's nicest superstar is also the highest-paid, at $2.5 million for a three-year contract."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

GREATEST PLAYER
"O.J., in case you didn't know, stands for Oh, Jeez, as in 'Oh, Jeez, there he goes again.'
O.J. Simpson has done a lot of going again in his eight years with the Buffalo Bills- 9,626 yards worth. He needs another 2,686 yards to surpass Jim Brown as pro football's No. 1 ground gainer, and barring injury he should make it within the next two years.
This kind of greatness was predicted for Simpson after the Bills made him the No. 1 pick in the 1969 draft. After a spectacular two-year career at Southern Cal that got him voted 'College Athlete of the Decade,' Simpson has led Buffalo in rushing every year, and has been the No. 1 foot soldier in the world four of the past five years. His best game came last Thanksgiving Day, when he rolled up an incredible 273 yards against Detroit. His career has been free of serious injuries, and he has been remarkably able to avoid the minor hurts that usually sideline runners.
He's a second cousin of baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and seems destined to share an unwelcome reputation with his relative: a great player, in fact one of the greatest, but one who never played on a championship team."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"O.J. is the NFL's second leading rusher of all-time- he now trails career rushing leader Jim Brown by just 2,686 yards. Brown's nine-year total was 12,312 yards compared to Simpson's 9,626 in eight seasons. Simpson has said he will play two more seasons in an effort to overtake Brown.
He passed Jim Taylor (8,597) and Joe Perry (8,378) on the rushing list last fall. O.J. is within range of three milestones in 1977: 2,000 career carries (needs three); 10,000 career rushing yards (needs 374); 60 career touchdowns rushing (needs three); 75 career touchdowns (needs five); 175 career receptions (needs 16); and 2,000 career carries (needs three).
Simpson accumulated the third best rushing total (1,503 yards) of his career in 1976, marking only the sixth time a pro back has exceeded 1,500 yards on the ground. Brown did it three times and Simpson has now matched him. O.J. is the first, however, to put 1,500-yard seasons back-to-back.
He missed all of last year's training camp while an effort was made to accommodate his request for a West Coast trade. He rejoined the team on the eve of the opening game against Miami. O.J. carried only five times (for 28 yards) against the Dolphins, the lowest single game total of his career, but caught a 43-yard pass in that same game.
He added seven more 100-yard rushing afternoons in 1976 pushing his lifetime total to 39, second only to Brown's 58. Simpson established all-time superiority in 200-yard games with two last fall, including a record 273 against Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, breaking his own record of 250 against New England in 1973. He now has six 200-yard afternoons lifetime.
O.J. collected only 105 yards in the first three games of 1976 but roared back to amass 647 in the final three. He overtook Walter Payton, who had a nine-yard lead, with 171 yards in the season finale at Baltimore to win his fourth NFL rushing title in the past five years. Simpson was a consensus All-Pro and All-Conference choice in 1976 for the fifth year in a row.
His rushing and receiving yardage a year ago totaled 1,762. His career combined net yardage (rushing receiving, returns) now stands at 12,403.
O.J. owns ten different National Football League records and 23 different single game, season and career Buffalo Bills standards. He hasn't returned a kick since 1972 but still ranks as the NFL's active leader. The Buffalo all-time scoring leader with 420 points, Simpson ranks fifth, just four catches away from third, on the Bills career receiving list. He has gained more yards (1,514) and scored more touchdowns (14) against New England than any other team. His statistics in 53 home games are 4,589 yards and a 4.42 average, and 5,067 yards and a 5.45 average in 52 away games.
In 1975 O.J. broke the league record for touchdowns in a single season with 23 and had a combined yardage total of 2,243- the best of his career. He had the only four touchdown day of his career against New England on November 23. His effectiveness in 1974 was limited due to an ankle sprain suffered in the Oakland opener.
Simpson was the first player picked in 1969 college draft. His career scoring total includes a 95-yard touchdown on a kickoff return against the Jets on October 4, 1970. O.J. missed one game in his rookie season and sat out the final six games of 1970 with an injury. His poorest day as a pro came against Baltimore on October 10, 1971 when he wound up with minus 10 yards rushing on seven tries. O.J. must also be feared as a pass receiver and option passer; he threw a touchdown pass (two yards) to J.D. Hill against the Jets on September 17, 1972.
His honors in 1973, when he broke Jim Brown's record, included the AP and UPI awards as the league's Most Valuable Player, AP Male Athlete of the Year, the Hickock Belt as professional athlete of the year by the largest landslide in the history of the balloting, Maxwell Club Bert Bell Award, Sporting News Man of the Year, the Dunlop Pro-Am prize as pro athlete of the year
O.J. averaged 161 attempts and 642 yards in his first three pro seasons. In five seasons since, his average figures are 303 carries and 1,540 yards. He has been offensive captain of the Bills four times in the last five years.
He has appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowl games, gaining 356 yards in 68 tries. He holds Pro Bowl records for most attempts (19) and most rushing yards (112) in a single game. Simpson was the game's top rusher last January with 56 yards (12 attempts) and was MVP of the 1973 Pro Bowl.
Simpson was voted College Athlete of the Decade. A brilliant halfback for John McKay's USC Trojans, he destroyed 13 Southern California records in an abbreviated two-year varsity career. He gained 3,423 rushing yards for USC on 674 carries and established an NCAA rushing record in his senior season with 1,709 yards. O.J. averaged 164.4 yards per appearance in 19 regular season games as a collegian.
He carried a record 47 times (for 220 yards and three touchdowns) in USC's 1968 win over Stanford. He gained 299 yards in two Rose Bowl appearances. Simpson more than doubled the vote of runner-up Leroy Keyes in the 1968 Heisman Trophy balloting and was a unanimous two-time All-America choice. He ran sprints for the USC track team and was a member of SC's world record 440-yard relay team (38.6 seconds) in 1967. He majored in public administration as an undergraduate.
Simpson attended the City College of San Francisco for two seasons before enrolling at Southern California. He rolled up 54 touchdowns and 2,445 rushing yards (on 259 carries) in junior college and was a two-time junior college All-American. He went to Galileo High School in his native San Francisco.
He worked during the off-season as a weekend commentator on ABC-TV's Wide World of Sports and an analyst on several Superstars segments, the Coaches All-America Game and the Hula Bowl. O.J. won $54,000 and the title of 'Superstar, 1975' in the popular ABC Television sports competition but has been forced, by movie obligations, to pass up subsequent competitions.
O.J.'s next theatrical release will be 'Capricorn One' in which he plays an astronaut and co-stars with James Brolin, Elliot Gould, Hal Holbrook, Karen Black and Brenda Vaccaro. His previous films include 'The Cassandra Crossing' with Sophia Loren, Burt Lancaster and Richard Harris; 'Killer Force' with Telly Savalas and Peter Fonda; 'The Klansman' starring Richard Burton and Lee Marvin; and 'The Towering Inferno.'
O.J. is an advertising spokesman for Hertz Corporation, Spotbilt shoes, Dingo Boots and Treesweet Products. He runs his own corporate offices, O.J. Simpson Enterprises, Inc.
He is a past chairman of the New York State Cancer Crusade and is an active participant in the national and local effort to conquer cancer. O.J. has appeared on lists of America's 'Best Dressed' and 'Most Watchable' men. A Ladies Home Journal 1976 Poll of fifth graders throughout the country listed O.J. number one among the students' top 50 heroes.
O.J.'s name is Orenthal James and he has a brother and two sisters. He and his wife, Marquirite, have two children- a daughter, Arnelle, and a son, Jason- and are expecting a third this fall. O.J. moved into a new home in Los Angeles during the off-season, but lives in the Williamsville section of Buffalo during the season. His hobbies include collecting antique cars, listening to music, reading, playing cards and tennis."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Paul Seymour

Tight End
No. 87
Michigan
"Seymour was the third leading receiver with the Bills in 1976, catching 16 passes for 169 yards. His receiving statistics improve every year, but his value to the team is more as a strong, devastating blocker.
He has started 55 of 56 games at tight end for the Bills after being converted from tackle. A consistent performer week in and week out, Paul missed one game in 1976 with an ankle injury. He was the Bills' top draft choice in 1973.
Paul started his college career at tight end and moved to tackle in his junior season. He won All-Big Ten and All-America honors in 1972 and was selected to participate in the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and College All-Star Game.
Physical education and history were his areas of concentration as an undergraduate. His brother, Jim, was an All-America at Notre Dame who later played professionally with the Chicago Bears. Paul is a guitar player, and music and reading are his hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Tom Ruud

Linebacker
No. 54
Nebraska
"Ruud appeared in 14 games in 1976 as a backup outside linebacker and special team player. He returned six short kickoffs 68 yards, an 11.3 average. Tom was credited with 26 tackles (19 unassisted) and one fumble recovery last year.
The Bills' top draft choice in 1975, Ruud started three games in 1975 after arriving late at training camp due to contractual problems. He appeared in all 14 games that year.
A unanimous All-Big Eight selection in 1974, Tom also earned Associated Press All-American honorable mention. He led the Cornhuskers with 104 tackles that fall while adding three fumble recoveries and two pass interceptions. Tom was an All-Academic Big Eight choice in both 1973 and 1974 and finished his career with 209 tackles. He played in the Senior Bowl.
A business major interested in banking and public relations, Tom lists music, hunting, fishing and skiing as his hobbies. He has five sisters and a brother."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Darnell Powell

Running Back
No. 35
Chattanooga
"The first running back taken by the Bills in the 1976 college draft, Powell appeared in 11 games before injuring his elbow, which required corrective surgery. He was used on special teams and as a backup at both fullback and halfback. Powell had a nifty 20-yard run against the Houston Oilers. He will be given a good shot at fullback this year.'
Powell rushed for over 1,500 yards in three years at Chattanooga. He led the team with 618 yards as a junior when he was also the top kickoff returner with 482 yards in 20 returns, including a 90-yarder for a touchdown. His total offense for three years neared 2,400 yards."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook

1977 Profile: Bob Patton

Center-Long Snapper
No. 65
Delaware
"Bob appeared in 12 games last fall, joining the Bills squad after Willie Parker was injured. He was used as a backup center and was the snapper on punts and placement kicks. He impressed the coaches with his aggressiveness and with his improvement during training camp and was one of the final cuts. He re-signed as a free agent.
The mainstay of a strong Delaware offensive line, Patton played at both guard and center before starting all games at center in 1975. He lettered for three years and consistently graded very high with his quickness and agility, two big assets. He can center the ball for punts and field goals.
Bob won eight letters in high school."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Willie Parker

Long Snapper-Center
No. 61
North Texas State
"Parker missed the final 12 games of the 1976 season with a knee injury after appearances in 30 straight games with the Bills. His versatility is a major asset- he can play guard or center and is used as a snapper on punts and placement kicks and is a strong special teams player.
He was drafted third by San Francisco in 1971 and spent most of that season on the 49ers reserve squad. He was on the LA reserve list for a full year before being picked up by Buffalo for a future draft choice in September 1973.
Parker was a second team All-Missouri Valley Conference choice as a junior and a first team selection as a senior.
He went back to Texas last winter after spending the two previous off-seasons in Orchard Park. He has passed his insurance examination."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Bob Nelson

Middle Linebacker
No. 56
Nebraska
"Nelson appeared in 14 games last year, mostly on special teams and as a backup middle linebacker. He was involved in 19 tackles and credited with one sack.
He missed most of the 1975 season with a leg injury, being placed on injured reserve after three games. He will challenge for a starting spot in the middle this fall.
Nelson was a teammate, classmate and roommate of Tom Ruud, the Bills' first round pick in the 1975 draft. A second team All-Big Eight selection his last year and a standout performer in the Senior Bowl, he was involved in 198 tackles while picking up three varsity letters. Bob had a pair of fumble recoveries and a pass interception during his career.
A business education major interested in coaching, Bob has worked summers in a family ice cream plant."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Keith Moody

Cornerback-Punt Returner
No. 46
Syracuse
"One of the pleasant surprises of the 1976 season. A 10th round pick, Keith ended up leading the Bills in punt returns and kickoff returns and was second on the club with three pass interceptions for 63 yards. He appeared in all 14 games, started twice and was the number one backup at cornerback.
His 67-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Jets tied the game for the Bills and was the Bills' first touchdown on a punt return in three years. Keith was among the AFC leaders in returns in 1976, accumulating 687 return yards. He's quick and aggressive with a bright future.
Moody was an ECAC first team selection in 1975 as the top Syracuse defensive back and punt returner. He picked off six passes in '75 and returned 28 punts for an 8.1 yard average. He earned three letters and played in the American Bowl in 1975, but sat out the 1974 season.
A physical education major interested in counseling and public relations work, his college nickname is 'Juice.'"

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Mike Montler

Center
No. 53
Colorado
"Montler put together another outstanding season in 1976, anchoring the offensive line. He now has started 49 straight games since moving in midway though the 1973 season to replace the injured Bruce Jarvis. Montler had a painful leg injury in 1974 but did not miss a start.
A steady, consistent player with a sense of humor that keeps the squad loose, Mike came to Buffalo from New England as a tackle but easily made the switch to center. He was involved in the trade that brought Jim Cheyunski and Halvor Hagen to the Bills. A second round draft choice of the Pats in 1969, Mike was a starter on the Patriots' offensive line for four years. He's the oldest man on the Bills' roster.
He won All-America and All-Big Eight honors as a tackle for Eddie Crowder at Colorado. Captain of the Buffaloes as a senior, he captured the Ernie Davis Memorial Award in the 1969 Coaches' All-America Game. Mike was a member of the Blue-Grey, Hula and Senior Bowl squads and the College All-Star team.
Mike played service football during a four-year tour in the Marine Corps. His duty stations included San Diego and Okinawa. His undergraduate major at Colorado was business with a minor in journalism. He's worked in the off-season with a Sheriff's department and in the PR departments of both a bank and a real estate firm. Mike is one of the squad's better racquetball players."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Reggie McKenzie

Guard
No. 67
Michigan
"McKenzie has now started 71 straight games with the Bills over the past five seasons. He continues to refine the skills which earned him All-Pro and All-Conference honors in 1973 and 1974, and the Wisconsin Pro Football Writers' award as the NFL's top blocking lineman in 1973. An intense competitor with pride in the accomplishments of the Bills' line as a unit, Reggie has outstanding speed and the ability to get out in front of a play. He has outstanding leadership traits and is the Bills' player representative.
He was a consensus All-American for Bo Schembechler at Michigan and a member of two Michigan Rose Bowl teams (1970, 1972). A two-time All-Big Ten choice, Reggie won invitations to the Hula Bowl and to the College All-Star Game.
Reggie won his B.S. degree in physical education and has hopes of eventually earning his law degree. Active in the public service area, where he has worked for the United Way, he has worked in public relations for a local hotel. Music, reading and racquetball are Reggie's hobbies.
He has four brothers and three sisters is married to Gthellean Hicks, Miss Massachusetts of 1974."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Gary Marangi

Quarterback
No. 17
Boston College
"Marangi accounted for over 1,200 yards in passing and rushing in 1976 after replacing the injured Joe Ferguson midway through the season. He was the third leading rusher on the team with 230 yards and a 5.9-yard average- it was the second best rushing performance by a Bills quarterback ever, topped only by Daryle Lamonica's 289-yard total in 1964.
He had a pair of touchdown passes in the Jets game and against the Dolphins in Miami. Gary appeared in a total of nine games in 1976 after playing in five games in 1975. He underwent minor surgery this winter.
Marangi threw three touchdown passes in 1975, including the 64-yard completion to O.J. Simpson that marked the Juice's record breaking 23rd touchdown of the season. His first pro pass was a 44-yard touchdown bomb to J.D. Hill [in 1974] when Marangi came off the bench in the fourth quarter in Miami to spark a Buffalo comeback effort.
BC's starting quarterback for two seasons, Marangi finished as the Eagles' third leading passer of all time with 2,739 yards on 235 completions. A running threat as well from the BC wishbone, he was captain of the Eagles as a senior. An All-East and All-New England selection, Gary received the coaches award as BC's outstanding player. He played in both the East-West Shrine Game and the American Bowl.
Gary was a marketing major. He works in the winter training horses and has part ownership in a horse. His hobbies include all sports and his two Great Danes."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Jeff Lloyd

Defensive Tackle
No. 75
West Texas State
"Jeff appeared in nine games with the Bills in 1976 as a backup defensive tackle and was involved in four tackles. Signed as a free agent early in the season, he had been with the Bills for a short time at the end of the preseason, but was dropped when Donnie Green and O.J. Simpson returned. Jeff was a third round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 1976 college draft.
He was first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference as a tight end in 1975 and earned similar honors as a tackle in 1974. He entered school as a running back. Jeff was a three-sport letterman at Cameron County High School in Emprorium, Pennsylvania."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook

1977 Profile: Merv Krakau

Middle Linebacker
No. 52
Iowa State
"Probably the most improved player on the Bills' squad in 1976, Krakau started every game at middle linebacker and was far and away the team leader in tackles. He had 94 unassisted tackles and 38 assists and was also involved in two and a half sacks and defensed three passes. He was credited with six fumble recoveries, giving him nine the past two seasons.
Krakau has had one pass interception in each of the past three years. He started nine games in the middle in 1975. He appeared in 11 games in 1974, along with a starting role in the first game of 1973. Merv's rapid development in 1973 made him a real sleeper in that year's draft when he was chosen 14th. He has been a very strong special teams player although last year with his starting status, he saw little special teams action.
A defensive tackle for Johnny Majors at Iowa State, Krakau made the All-Big Eight squad and was a third team All-America choice of the Associated Press. He was Iowa State's outstanding defensive player in the Liberty Bowl game and a member of the Senior Bowl squad. Merv was named National Lineman of the Week for his performance against Nebraska in 1972; his defensive effort against the Cornhuskers included two fumble recoveries, two fumbles caused, three pass deflections, two sacks of the quarterback and 11 unassisted tackles.
Merv was a physical education major at Iowa State and has ambitions to be a coach and teacher after his playing career. Bowling, hunting and fishing are his hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Jeff Kinney

Running Back
No. 36
Nebraska
"Jeff enjoyed his best season as a pro last year while playing in 12 games with Buffalo. He was the Bills' second leading rusher, gaining 475 yards in 116 carries; his previous best year was 304 yards in 85 carries in 1975 with Kansas City. Jeff also caught 14 passes.
He started seven games and had his best effort in a 114-yard (17 carries) performance against his old teammates. Kinney had a strong performance against Dallas with 77 yards on 15 carries.
His best game as a Chief was a 124-yard game against Oakland in 1974. A first round pick of the Chiefs in 1972, he was used mostly as a backup running back with Kansas City where he accumulated 803 yards in four seasons.
Kinney was the leading rusher in Nebraska history with 2,321 yards. He scored four touchdowns and rushed for 171 yards in Nebraska's historic 35-31 win over Oklahoma in 1971.
Active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jeff's hobbies include hunting, fishing and golf."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Mike Kadish

Defensive Tackle
No. 71
Notre Dame
"Kadish has had seven sacks in each of the past three years, but could be even better if his linemates did their share more often. Buffalo's best defensive lineman, the Bills got him cheap in a 1973 trade with Miami for Irv Goode. Dolphins had made him their No. 1 draft choice but decided he was fat and lazy, trading him after one year- it was Miami's mistake.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kadish is one of the few Notre Dame defensive linemen in recent years who hasn't been an NFL bust. Each year he leads Buffalo's defensive line in tackles and had 54 tackles and 41 assists last year."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Kadish was Buffalo's most consistent defensive lineman in 1976 and led the linemen in tackles despite being double teamed often. He was credited with 54 unassisted tackles and 41 assists and also had a fumble recovery. Kadish has started every game for the past two years.
He realized a lineman's dream in 1975 when he scored a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, taking a lateral from Earl Edwards and running 22 yards to the end zone. Mike led the defensive line in 1974 with 60 individual tackles and 33 assists, and also had seven quarterback sacks. The Bills sent veteran offensive lineman Irv Goode to Miami in exchange for Kadish in August 1973, and he started nine games that year and every game since. He was the top draft choice of the Dolphins in 1972 when he spent the entire campaign on the Miami taxi squad.
Mike was an All-America defensive tackle at Notre Dame. He led the Irish in tackles with 97 including eight quarterback sacks for 40 yards in losses and played in the Senior Bowl. He's an avid golfer."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Ken Jones

Defensive End
No. 69
Arkansas State
"Jones started seven games at defensive end last year and played in 12 outings. He was credited with 29 tackles, half a sack and two fumble recoveries.
In 1977 he will be switched back to the offensive line, where he excelled in college. Jones is very quick, agile and aggressive with all the tools to be a top offensive lineman.
Jones was a first team All-America selection of the Football Writers and the Sporting News, and also a third team AP pick. He was a two-year starter at guard where he led the top rushing offense in college football in 1975. Ken played nose guard as a freshman and earned All-Conference honors. He missed most of his sophomore year with an appendectomy but played three games as a fullback and a tight end. Ken played in the East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl.
He is a physical education major. His brother Rodney plays football for Arkansas State."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Doug Jones

Strong Safety
No. 24
San Fernando Valley State
"Jones made a strong comeback last year after missing the entire 1975 season with a knee injury. He started all 14 games at strong safety and finished with three interceptions for five yards. Jones was the fifth leading tackler on the team with 44 solos and 31 assists for 75 tackles. He was also credited with a sack, a fumble recovery and eight passes defensed.
A knee injury in a preseason game against Atlanta in Tampa knocked him out of the 1975 season. Doug was acquired by Buffalo in a preseason trade with Kansas City. He played behind Jim Kearney as a backup safety with the Chiefs, playing in 14 games with Kansas City in 1974, mostly on special teams. He had one interception for 13 yards with the Chiefs.
Jones was a two-year starter at San Fernando Valley State at both cornerback and safety and played two years at San Diego City College. He was a championship hurdler in college. Doug remains interested in track and worked as an assistant track coach in California."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook

1977 Profile: Mark Johnson

Linebacker
No. 50
Missouri
"Johnson appeared in 13 games last year, mostly on special teams. He started the San Diego game (November 21) at defensive end when injuries had wiped out two Bills starters. Mark was credited with 14 tackles last year. He saw action in 11 games in 1975, starting twice at outside linebacker. A strong, vicious tackler, he's a leader on the special units.
He earned All-Big Eight honorable mention honors in 1974 after recovering from spring knee surgery. He led Missouri in total tackles in 1973 and 1974, totaling 198 tackles in two years, and had 16 quarterback sacks plus a fumble recovery in 1974. Mark played in the 1975 Hula Bowl.
Mark is a physical education major who enjoys horseback riding, basketball and movies. He's nicknamed 'Country.'"

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Dan Jilek

Linebacker
No. 51
Michigan
"This guy makes you wonder about the Bills' scouting department. The Bills have blown some first- and second-round draft choices on linebacking mistakes the past few years, but got a good one when they stumbled onto Jilek in the fourth round a year ago. Buffalo's most pleasant surprise of 1976, he made the mistakes you would expect from a rookie linebacker, but could become an excellent one. He's an opportunistic player, although more weight would help.
A defensive end at Michigan and twice an All-Big Ten choice, Jilek still has a lot to learn about his new position. He was the second-busiest Bill defender last year with 60 tackles and 39 assists and intercepted two passes.
Jilek was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His father is a high school football coach in Detroit."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Jilek started all 14 games at outside linebacker in 1976 and earned a berth on the NFL All-Rookie team. He was the second leading tackler on the squad with 60 solos and 39 assists, and had two pass interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack. Dan moved into the starting lineup midway through training camp and continued to improve all year.
He has excellent reactions with an instinct for the ball and could develop into a top NFL linebacker.
Jilek was a two-time All-Big Ten selection of both AP and UPI at defensive end. An honorable mention All-America, he played in the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl and was a candidate for Academic All-America honors. Dan ranked sixth on the Michigan squad last year with 99 tackles, including 70 solo stops, and also had a pass interception. He was involved in 80 tackles as a junior, including 10 for losses of 53 yards.
A speech and political science major, Dan's father is the football and basketball coach at Henry Ford High School in Detroit."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Robert James

Cornerback
No. 20
Fisk
"A knee injury suffered in a preseason game against Los Angeles in 1975 has kept him out of action for two full seasons. Robert's slow rehabilitation process finally made significant gains over the winter and he has now has hopes for a comeback in 1977. His return would be a big plus in the defensive secondary.
Robert was a unanimous All-NFL choice at cornerback in 1973 and 1974, and a consensus All-AFC selection and member of the AFC Pro Bowl squad in 1972, 1973 and 1974. He shares with O.J. Simpson the distinction of being the senior member of the Bills. Robert was originally signed as a free agent out of Fisk University. He won a starting role at cornerback in 1970 after playing mainly on special teams. He wears contact lenses on the field.
A linebacker and defensive end for Fisk and an All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference choice, Robert is the first Fisk University product to gain prominence in pro ball. He was Fisk's most valuable gridder in 1968, and also conference champion in the 60-yard high hurdles and the 120-yard intermediate hurdles. His top collegiate hurdle times were 7.5 in the 60's and 14.5 in the 120's.
Robert earned his Bachelor's degree in physical education. He's active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was once saluted by his hometown in 'Robert James Day' ceremonies. He would like to pursue a teaching career following his playing days."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: George Jakowenko

Place Kicker
No. 5
Syracuse
"George was the Bills' kicker for 11 games last year, finishing with the highest field goal percentage in Buffalo history (12-for-17, .706). He now has a string of four straight field goals, and needs one more to tie the Bills mark for consecutive successful field goals.
He finished third in the AFC kicker rankings. His longest field goal was 49 yards and he hit 4-for-4 inside the 30, 4-for-6 from 30-40 and 4-for-7 from 40 on out.
In 1974 Jakowenko played in six regular season and two playoff games with the Oakland Raiders. He began his professional career as a free agent with St. Louis in 1971.
Jakowenko scored 129 points in his three-year career at Syracuse. He connected of 21 of 51 field goals and 66 of 76 extra points. His career field goals and extra points are both records at Syracuse.
He has a B.S. degree in management data systems and worked for an accounting firm in the off-season. George migrated to the U.S. from Belgium in 1955. He speaks Russian, French and Dutch."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Roland Hooks

Running Back
No. 25
North Carolina State
"A competent backup for O.J. Simpson and valuable kick return man, Roland was a versatile performer for the Bills last year. He was second in both kickoff and punt returns and was the squad's fourth leading rusher. Roland had the longest kickoff return of the year, a 79-yarder against Miami. His best rushing day was against New England when he carried 18 times for 80 yards after O.J. was ejected for fighting. He also caught six passes last year. Roland's combined offensive yardage last year was 754 yards. He missed the entire 1975 season with illness and injury.
Roland was a versatile performer at North Carolina State where he established a record for average yards per rush (5.6 yards, 1,368 yards on 246 carries). He led the Wolfpack with 850 yards and a 6.3-yard average in 1974 while scoring 17 touchdowns. He also holds the N.C. State record of 981 kickoff return yards. In his first varsity game he returned a kickoff 80 yards.
Roland is a history major who enjoys handball."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Ron Holliday

Wide Receiver
No. 82
Pittsburgh
"Ron injured his knee in the first preseason game last year and missed the entire season. He played 11 games with the San Diego Chargers in 1973, catching 14 passes for 182 yards.
In 1974 and 1975 Ron played in the World Football League with the Philadelphia Bell. Prior to joining the Chargers he had stints with Montreal in the CFL and with the Pennsylvania Firebirds and Norfolk Neptunes in the Atlantic Coast League.
Ron did not play football in college. He was a marketing major at Pittsburgh where he excelled in baseball; at one time he was in the New York Yankees' farm system. Ron's hobby is riding motorcycles."

-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: John Holland

Wide Receiver
No. 80
Tennessee State
"Holland had a big yardage day as a Buffalo receiver in 1976 when he caught two Joe Ferguson touchdown passes in the Monday Night opener against Miami. The passes were 58 and 53 yards, and his 111-yard total was the biggest day for a Bill last year. He finished the season with 15 catches for 299 yards. Holland also scored a touchdown in the San Diego game when he recovered a Charger bad punt snap in the end zone.
He appeared in 13 games last year, eight as a starting wide receiver. John's biggest day as a pro came in 1975 when he stepped in for the injured Bob Chandler against the Colts and caught six passes for 121 yards, including a 63-yard hookup with Ferguson. He appeared in 12 games in 1975 and saw duty as a kickoff and punt return man. A second round draft choice of the Vikings in 1974, the Bills took him off the waiver wire.
John set a Tennessee State record as a senior with 53 catches for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named a Little All-America. He also played baseball and was drafted by Philadelphia.
John lived in Buffalo during the off-season and played on the Bills' basketball team."

-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Dwight Harrison

Cornerback
No. 28
Texas A & I
"Buffalo's elevator man- up one week, down the next. Harrison has tremendous potential, but doesn't get what he should from his ability. The fastest Bill, the ran the 100 in 9.5 in college. Teammates call him 'Ripper.'
A slow healer, Harrison is subject to nagging injuries. The Bills are still hoping to solve the puzzle of how to get him to play consistently. The second leading interceptor in the league two years ago with eight, he had just one last year but knocked down 17 passes.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, Harrison doubled as defensive back and receiver at Texas A&I. The Broncos made him their second round draft pick and played him at wide receiver. He was traded to Buffalo for Haven Moses early in his second season.
An outdoorsman, Harrison plays the clarinet and the piano."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Dwight started 12 games last year, missing two with a leg injury. He had an interception, increasing his career total with the Bills to 15 and placing him in a tie for seventh place on the all-time Buffalo list. Dwight was credited with 17 passes defensed and 29 tackles last year.
He led the Bills in interceptions in 1975 with eight, the second best total in the AFC. Harrison has played cornerback for four years after being shifted from wide receiver at the beginning of the 1973 season. He tied a Bills record with interceptions in four straight games in 1975.
Dwight led the Bills in interceptions in 1973 with five. He had a 31-yard return of a Marty Domres pass against the Colts that year that gave Buffalo a 24-17 victory in the final minute. The longest interception return of his career was a 40-yarder against the Patriots in '75. Dwight came from Denver in exchange for Haven Moses in October 1972 after being a second round draft choice of the Broncos in 1971.
He was a standout defensive back and receiver at Texas A & I, 'Flanker of the Decade' in the Lone Star conference, All-Conference and a Kodak All-America selection. Harrison played in the Oil Bowl game and was Texas A & I's most valuable player. A cornerstone of the track squad, he once turned in a 9.5 for the 100-yard dash, a 6-8 high jump and a 24-10 long jump.
Business management was his college major, and forestry and conservation are his career interests. Dwight plays both the clarinet and piano and hunting and fishing are his hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Tony Greene

Free Safety
No. 43
Maryland
"Greene led the Bills in interceptions in 1976 with five thefts for 135 yards. He set a Buffalo record with a 101-yard return for a touchdown against Kansas City on October 3, the longest interception return of the year in the NFL. He started all 14 games at free safety where he earned All-Pro honors in 1974. Greene moved into a second place tie with Booker Edgerson on the Bills' all-time interception list with 24, trailing only Butch Byrd. He was involved in 59 tackles in 1976, credited with two fumble recoveries and knocked down 10 passes.
He started nine games at cornerback in 1975, replacing the injured Robert James. Tony earned All-Pro honors in 1974 despite missing the final two games with a knee injury that required surgery. He was voted by teammates as the Bills' MVP on defense [that year].
Tony ranked second in the NFL with nine interceptions in '74 and tied a Bills record with interceptions in four straight games. Elected permanent defensive captain the last three years, he has 20 interceptions in the last three years. Tony once had a 105-yard interception return against Miami wiped out by a penalty.
He saw action at both cornerback and safety in 1973 after earning a starting berth the previous year. He was used as a kick returner in 1972 and 1973.
Greene was a defensive back and captain of Maryland's 1970 squad and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in interceptions. He was voted as the Terrapins' outstanding defensive back as both a junior and a senior. A sprinter for the Maryland track team, he set records in the 50 (5.3 seconds), 60 (6.0) and 100 (9.5).
He majored in physical education at Maryland. He worked for two years in the off-season for the Commerce Department's Business Management Fellowship Program in Buffalo. Tony was the 1976 winner of the Dodge Man of the Year balloting in Buffalo. He enjoys music and dancing."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Van Green

Strong Safety
No. 21
Shaw
"Van appeared in five games last year, seeing special teams duty before being sidelined with a knee injury. Torn cartilage required surgery and he was placed on he Injured Reserve list.
An eighth round draft pick of the Browns in 1973, Green saw action at just about every defensive backfield position with the Cleveland Browns, starting at free safety, strong safety and right cornerback. He had two interceptions in 1974, including one for a touchdown (36 yards), and added another interception in 1975. He is also credited with four fumble recoveries.
Green was a standout at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Donnie Green

Offensive Tackle
No. 74
Purdue
"Green started 11 games in 1976 in played in all 14 after sitting out the preseason with contractual difficulties. He reported to the Bills the day before the opening regular season game, and played in the first game against Miami.
He started every game at tackle in 1975 and had perhaps the best season of his career after reporting to training camp 20 pounds lighter than ever. Donnie missed four starts in 1974 due to an appendectomy, but has been a starter for six straight seasons with Buffalo, longer than any other offensive lineman. He was the unlikely receiver of a deflected pass against Miami in 1974 (no gain). He's one of the biggest men on the Buffalo roster.
Green was listed as honorable mention on AP and UPI's 1970 college All-America teams. He was captain of the Purdue squad as a senior and won an invitation to the American Bowl game in Tampa. Donnie once set a Boilermaker freshman record in the shot put with a throw of 49-7.
He took a physical education course at Purdue and is interested in social work. One of his hobbies is singing."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Reuben Gant

Tight End
No. 88
Oklahoma State
"Reuben continued his improved play in 1976, appearing in all 14 games, and starting seven games when Buffalo used a double tight end alignment. He led all Bills receivers with a 21.9-yard per catch average. He caught 12 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns, his touchdown pass against Tampa Bay (15 yards) providing the winning margin for the Bills. Other touchdowns were against Dallas (27 yards) and Miami (11 yards). Gant improved his blocking tremendously and became a very reliable performer.
He appeared in all 14 games in 1975, alternating with Paul Seymour at tight end and bringing in plays. Reuben saw action in 13 games in 1974 after missing all of the preseason with a shoulder injury suffered in the Hall of Fame game in Canton. He was Buffalo's number one draft choice in 1974.
Gant was a three-time honorable mention All-Big Eight and played both tight end and wide receiver at Oklahoma State. His career statistics were 35 receptions for 779 yards and 10 touchdowns. Considered the best downfield blocker on the Cowboys' offensive line, Reuben earned an invitation to the College All-Star Game in Lubbock, Texas. He also collected two college letters in basketball.
Reuben's Oklahoma State major was radio-TV, film and public relations and he looks toward a career in broadcasting. He comes from a family of eight children. His hobbies include jazz music, horseback riding and hunting."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Steve Freeman

Free Safety
No. 22
Mississippi State
"Freeman appeared in all 14 Buffalo games for the second straight year in 1976. His duty last year was primarily on special teams. He was also used as the Bills' fifth defensive back in special passing situations.
He started the opening two games of the 1975 season at free safety. Steve had two pass interceptions including one against Miami that he returned 22 yards for a touchdown in the opening minute of play. A hard hitter and strong special teams player, he came to the Bills during the 1975 preseason after being waived by the Patriots.
A three-year starter at Mississippi State, Freeman led the team in interceptions his final two years and is a co-holder of the interception record with 10. He also served as a punt return man with 12 returns for 101 yards as a senior. Steve played in the North-South and Senior Bowl games. He was also a track letterman.
Steve's college major was agriculture economics. He is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Dave Foley

Offensive Tackle
No. 78
Ohio State
"Foley has put together two very strong, consistent seasons as the Bills' starting left tackle. He has been a regular member of the Bills' offensive line for five seasons and has started every game for the past four years. An exceptionally strong, driving run blocker, Dave has worked hard to improve his pass blocking. He was picked as a member of the AFC Pro Bowl squad in 1974.
He reached Buffalo on waivers from the Jets just prior to the beginning of the 1972 season and started 12 games that year. A number one draft pick of the Jets in 1969 and a regular there in 1970, he injured a knee against Buffalo as a rookie.
Foley was an All-America and an All-Big Ten tackle on Ohio State's 1968 National Champions when the Buckeyes defeated USC, led by O.J. Simpson, in the 1969 Rose Bowl game. An Academic All-America choice, he played in the College All-Star Game against the New York Jets. Dave also won three OSU letters in track.
He earned his B.S. in industrial engineering. Dave works in the off-season as a life insurance agent and also owns and runs a big farm in Ohio. Active in many Ohio State alumni affairs, he donated his off-season speaking fees to the Springfield, Ohio YMCA for the purchase of a Nautilus machine. His hobbies include handball, fishing and golf."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Joe Ferguson

Quarterback
No. 12
Arkansas
"Always looks like he needs a good meal. Not usually listed among the league's best quarterbacks, but he gets the job done. Ferguson ranked third in AFC passing last behind Ken Stabler and Bert Jones.
Injured in the seventh game last year, he paid the price for scrambling when Patriot linebackers Sam Hunt, Steve Nelson and Steve Zabel converged on his back. The result was fractured transverse processes in his lower back. When he and Bert Jones were seniors at neighboring Lousiana high schools, Ferguson was the more highly recruited. A good ole country boy, he was born in Shreveport. The high school successor to Terry Bradshaw, Ferguson was Southwest Conference MVP at Arkansas.
He benefits from defenses keying on O.J. and not thinking Ferguson is a fine quarterback."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Despite missing the final seven games of the 1976 season, Joe set two National Football League records: fewest interceptions (1) and lowest percentage of interceptions (0.66- one interception in 151 attempts). He threw for nine touchdowns in seven games last year. The injury he suffered in the New England game was four fractured transverse processes in his lower back; Ferguson is expected to be at full strength again in 1977. In his last 21 games, he has thrown 34 touchdown passes.
In 1975 Ferguson set two Bills passing marks: most touchdown passes in a season (25) and most consecutive games throwing a touchdown pass (12). He also tied a Buffalo record with four touchdown passes against New England on November 23. Joe holds the Bills' passing mark for the highest completion percentage in one game (81.3), set when he hit on 13 of 16 passes against Green Bay in 1974.
His career statistics include 6,039 passing yards (third on the all-time Bills' list) and 50 touchdown passes (second only to Jack Kemp on the Buffalo career list). He had started 49 consecutive games before his injury. Ferguson made the UPI All-Rookie team in 1973 when he was the only first-year player in the NFL to start every game at quarterback.
An All-America quarterback at Arkansas, Ferguson was voted MVP in the Southwest Conference and a member of the All-Conference team as a junior. He set a number of Razorback passing records for Coach Frank Broyles and was named to the North-South Shrine Game, Hula Bowl and College All-Star squads.
Joe was a physical education major who hopes to someday be a coach. He has worked in the last two off-seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern Louisiana State University. Hunting and fishing are his favorite hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Emmett Edwards

Wide Receiver
No. 86
Kansas
"Emmett appeared in six games in 1976, starting one. He caught just two passes, but his first was a diving grab of a 46-yard Joe Ferguson bomb against Kansas City. He came to the Bills in a trade with the Houston Oilers on September 28. Edwards was a second round choice of the Oilers in the 1975 draft and caught two passes as a rookie.
He was the all-time leading receiver at Kansas with 105 catches for 1,808 yards and eight touchdowns for a 16.7 average. Edwards led the Big Eight in receiving in both 1973 and 1974. He also ran on Kansas' NCAA Champion 440-relay team."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Bill Dunstan

Defensive Tackle
No. 76
Utah State
''House Mover' to his teammates because of his incredible strength, Dunstan is built and moves like The Hulk.
In an interesting conversion process, he was drafted 14th by the 49ers in 1971 as a 214-pound linebacker, then drifted out of football. He built his weight up to his present size, tried out with the Eagles and stuck. He is the type who doesn't look like he'll hang on one more year, but does.
Dunstan was born in Oakland, and his father Elwyn 'Moose' Dunstan played for the Rams and Cardinals. Moose Jr. weight lifts like others breathe, and uses the Kung Fu agility program. He lumbered 46 yards for a touchdown in 1974; the ball was instantly retired."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Bill was picked up from the Eagles in exchange for a future draft choice in April 1977. He appeared in 14 games for Philadelphia in 1976, was involved in 24 tackles and had three sacks.
He started all 14 games in 1975 and led the Eagles in total tackles and had five quarterback sacks. Bill returned a fumble for a 46-yard touchdown against San Diego in 1974.
He came to the Eagles as a free agent in 1973 after spending time on the taxi squads of the Jets and 49ers. He was a 14th round pick of San Francisco in 1971.
Bill was a three-year letterman as a 205-pound defensive end at Utah State where he was captain. He was an education major.
He used weight training and built himself up, and is a proponent of the Kung Fu agility program. His father, Elwyn, played in the NFL with the Cardinals and Rams from 1938-42."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Joe Devlin

Offensive Tackle
No. 70
Iowa
"A very promising second-year player who appeared in all 14 games last year, mostly on special teams, but started the final two games of the season at right tackle and played very well opposite Bill Stanfill of Miami and Fred Cook of Baltimore. Joe developed very well as the 1976 season progressed and will be a prime candidate for a starting berth this year. He has excellent athletic ability and body strength.
Devlin was a first team All-America selection of the Sporting News, an honorable mention UPI All-America and first team All-Big Ten in 1975. He was a three-year starter at Iowa, playing at both guard and tackle, and was invited to the 1975 Blue-Gray Game.
He is a liberal arts major interested in conservation and forestry management. His brother, Robert, plays basketball at Maryland and another brother, Mark, plays football at Penn State. Joe's hobbies include hunting, camping, fishing, music and boxing."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Joe DeLamielleure

Guard
No. 68
Michigan State
"He was on the All-Pro team for the second time. O.J. calls Joe and fellow guard Reggie McKenzie 'my main men.'
Joe has a degree in criminal justice from Michigan State."

-John Devaney, Pro Football Guide 1977

"Sportswriters wish he'd change his name to Joe D. Defensive tackles wish he'd find another line of work. Joe is extremely durable and a tremendous straight-ahead blocker. A Pro Bowler the past two years and regarded as one of the best guards in the NFL, he's responsible for a lot of those big bucks in O.J.'s pocket.
Born in Detroit and one of ten children, Joe learned to be competitive at an early age. He was three times an All-Big Ten choice and his major at Michigan State was criminal law. A first round draft choice in 1973, Joe has been the starter since the first game of his rookie year and has lived up to expectations."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"For the second year in a row, Joe was the Bills' most honored lineman. He was a consensus All-Pro selection, and for the second year in a row, picked to play in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, this year as a starter. Joe was selected by the Wisconsin Pro Football Writers as the Offensive Lineman of the Year. Two years of honors make him the most recognized Buffalo lineman since Billy Shaw.
In four straight years he has started every game and now ranks as one of the top guards in the NFL. Named to the NFL All-Rookie team by UPI in 1973, Joe was one of two number one draft choices [for Buffalo] in 1973.
Joe was an offensive guard and a tackle for Duffy Daugherty at Michigan State. He was three times an All-Big 10 choice and made the All-America team as a senior. Selected UPI Lineman of the Week following the 1972 Michigan State-Purdue game, Joe earned invitations to the North-South Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.
Joe's Michigan State major was criminal justice and he spent one winter working with the Erie County Sheriff's Department. In the last two years he has worked in the off-season with a bank. He's one of the best raquetball players on the squad and also enjoys golf. Joe comes from a family of 10 children."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Bo Cornell

Linebacker
No. 30
Washington
"Bo appeared in all 14 games in 1976 and started one game (against Baltimore) when the Bills began with the 3-4 defensive alignment. He was credited with nine tackles, mostly on special teams.
He started 11 games at outside linebacker in 1975 when Buffalo used the 3-4 exclusively. He was switched from fullback to linebacker during the 1973 season. Very effective on special teams, Bo was special teams captain during the 1974 season. A second round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1971, the Bills gave up a draft choice to acquire him in May 1973.
Bo was a fullback at the University of Washington. He was chosen second team All-Coast and All-Pacific 8 Conference, and was an honorable mention All-America. His postseason appearances included the East-West Shrine Game and the Coaches All-America Game.
An economics major at Washington, Bo has traveled to Luxembourg and Mexico in the off-season. Last winter he was popular on the banquet circuit around Western New York. Skiing is one of his hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Fred Coleman

Tight End
No. 84
Northeast Louisiana
"Fred appeared in seven games in 1976, mostly on special teams, before injuring his knee and being placed on the injured list for the final three games of the season. He was impressive during preseason training camp with both his blocking and receiving skills.
He was an honorable mention AP All-America in 1975 after earning second team AP All-America college division honors as a junior. Coleman caught 43 passes for 580 yards that year to lead Northeast Louisiana in receiving. He earned Offensive Player of the Week honors in 1974 after his 22-yard touchdown catch helped beat Eastern Michigan. He's a strong blocker with 76 career receptions.
Fred is a social work major who is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Music and reading are his hobbies and he is interested in social welfare."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Mario Clark

Cornerback
No. 29
Oregon
"An architecture and real estate major in college, he enjoys reupholstering furniture. The Bills are using him as a centerpiece to reupholster their defense. Next to O.J., he's probably the best athlete on the Buffalo roster.
A first round draft pick last year, Clark had a good rookie year, but it could have been even better if the Bills had a pass rush. A regular at left corner, he led the Bill secondary with 18 pass knockdowns and intercepted two. Not a flashy type, but he could develop into one of the best in the league.
Born in Pasadena, Clark was an All-Pac 8 choice at Oregon and was Defensive Player of the Game in the Senior Bowl. He was burned occasionally as a rookie, but the overall indication was of a bright future."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Mario started 14 games at left cornerback last year and became a very reliable performer, improving with every game. Named to the NFL All-Rookie team, he lived up to his billing as a No. 1 draft choice.
He had a pair of pass interceptions, recovered a fumble and was credited with defensing 18 passes. He was involved in 63 tackles, including 44 solo efforts.
Clark was an All-Pacific Eight selection of both AP and UPI, and an honorable mention AP All-America. He was a four-year letterman with 13 career interceptions, and the first freshman in Pacific Eight history to be named National Player of the Week when he was honored after making two interceptions in Oregon's 15-13 upset of Stanford in 1972. Mario appeared in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl and was named defensive player of the game in the Senior Bowl.
Mario is an architecture and real estate major whose hobbies include music and re-upholstering furniture."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Radio-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Bob Chandler

Wide Receiver
No. 81
USC
"The most underrated wide receiver in the NFL. No other NFL receiver caught as many as he did last year.  Buffalo's one-man receiving corps, Chandler had 61 catches last year- the next best total on the team was 22- and caught 10 of Buffalo's 16 touchdown passes. Not fast, but he has excellent hands and runs good patterns. The players voted him the Bills MVP last year. A seventh round draft choice in 1971, Chandler has 117 receptions the last two years.
Born in Long Beach, California, he was the team captain at Southern Cal. He's an off-season law student at Western State (CA) and is a good golfer. Chandler is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"Chandler led all wide receivers in the NFL in 1976 with 61 catches for 824 yards. His 10 touchdown receptions tied a Buffalo record set by Elbert Dubenion in 1964. His reception total was the second best in Buffalo history (Bill Miller caught 69 passes in 1963) and his yardage total was the best since 1970 when Marlin Briscoe caught passes good for 1,063 yards.
He currently ranks second on the Bills all-time receiving list with 191 catches, 2,673 yards and 25 touchdowns. Bob has caught 116 passes in the last two years, more than anyone in the NFL.
Bob caught three touchdown passes in the Kansas City game, all in the first half, to tie another Buffalo mark. He had the longest catch of his career in 1976, a 58-yard touchdown pass in the Tampa Bay game.
He caught 55 passes in 1975 despite missing a game with a rib injury. He was slowed most of the 1974 season with a knee injury which was corrected by surgery in the off-season. Chandler led the Bills in receiving in 1973.
He runs precise patterns and relies on his quickness, his moves and his sure hands. He's the holder on conversions and field goal tries.
Bob was captain and an All-Pacific Eight flanker for the USC Trojans. He was Player of the Game in Southern California's 1970 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan, and played in the East-West Shrine game. Bob caught eight passes for 115 yards and one touchdown in his first game as a USC starter.
He led USC in pass receptions in each of his three varsity seasons. A member of the USC track team, his events were the long jump, the high jump and the triple jump.
During the off-season Bob attends law school and will soon have a law degree. He has been active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program and is a talented golfer. He was a finance major at USC with a minor in physical education."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Cliff Brooks

Cornerback
No. 23
Tennessee State
"Brooks appeared in one game last year after being signed as a free agent. A second round pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 1972 NFL draft, he was a part-time starter with the Browns before being traded to Philadelphia in the 1975 preseason for a fourth round draft choice. Cliff played in all 14 games with the Eagles in 1975.
A Little All-America defensive back in 1971, Cliff returned an interception for a touchdown. He played in the Blue-Gray, Grantland Rice and Senior Bowl games.
Cliff was a business administration major. He was an all-state quarterback at Dunbar (Texas) High School."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Jim Braxton

Running Back
No. 34
West Virginia
"Could get off-season work as a tugboat. Like everybody else in the world, Braxton thinks he's underpaid and could play out his option. He rumbled for 823 yards, seventh in the league in 1975, but missed all of last year after wrecking his knee in the season opener.
Born in Vanderbilt, PA, Braxton looks like he was born to be a bodyguard, but he's a nice guy. He's known as Bubby to his buddies and also as Pillsbury Doughboy. A devastating blocker, he has been fumble prone. Almost all of his yardage has become between the guards.
One of the most respected players on the team, Braxton is an off-season employee of the West Virginia Board of Education, trying to discourage dropouts. He was a 225-pound safetyman in high school, then an All-American runner at West Virginia."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"He missed most of the season with a knee injury but was around long enough to have an angry clash with owner Ralph Wilson after O.J. Simpson signed a $2 million contract. Braxton told Wilson he wanted more money. Wilson said that the club policy was not to renegotiate contracts- Simpson being the exception. But Wilson promised to be 'generous' with a new contract at season's end.
Braxton claimed Wilson's generosity came to an $8,500 raise. Braxton is said to be asking $1 million."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"After leading the Bills in 1976 preseason rushing statistics, Braxton was injured on his first regular season rushing attempt, suffering torn ligaments, placing him on the injured reserve list for the season.
1975 was the best all-around campaign of Braxton's career. His rushing total (823 yards) would have led 14 other teams. He had three 100-yard rushing games (17-for-102 against Denver, 23-for-101 against New England and 34-for-165 against St. Louis).
Jim has scored three touchdowns in four different games. His current career rushing total of 2,387 yards ranks him fourth among all-time Buffalo rushers. His first start for Buffalo was in the second game of the 1972 season. He missed the first half of the 1973 season with a back injury.
Considered one of the best all-around fullbacks in the NFL, Jim is a strong runner and a clever receiver, but his blocking may be the strongest part of his game. He was sorely missed in 1976 and his return is [important] to the Bills' offensive plans this year.
A first-team All-America selection in 1970 as a fullback for Bobby Bowden's West Virginia Moutaineers, Braxton won an invitation to the East-West Shrine game. In a statewide vote, he was chosen as West Virginia's Most Outstanding Amateur Athlete. He was a discus thrower for the WVU track team.
One of nine children, Jim's college major was physical education and social studies. He works during the off-season with the West Virginia Board of Education and the Governor's Manpower Office. His duties include speaking around the state to groups of young people, working particularly in the areas of vocational education and dropout prevention. His hobbies are cards, music and coin collecting."

-1977 Buffalo Bills Press-TV-Radio Yearbook

1977 Profile: Eddie Bell

Wide Receiver
No. 27
Idaho State
"Eddie had six solid season with the New York Jets from 1970-75 when he totaled 118 pass receptions for 1,774 yards and 12 touchdowns. His best season was 1972 when he grabbed 35 passes for 629 yards. Eddie is the co-holder of the Jets record for most receptions in a game (12 against Baltimore in 1970).
He saw limited action with San Diego last year and was picked up by the Bills on waivers in the off-season. Eddie was a ninth round draft pick by the Jets in 1970.
Eddie set three national small college receiving records as a senior with 96 catches for 1,522 yards and 20 touchdowns. A transfer from Compton JC, he set seven Big Sky and nine Idaho State records.
Eddie majored in speech pathology and audiology. He has attended drama school in the off-season and played the lead role in an off-Broadway play."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Marv Bateman

Punter
No. 7
Utah
"The NFL's leading punter last season, he averaged 42 yards a kick and put 17 of his 86 punts inside the 20-yard line- the 'coffin corner' area. From Salt Lake City, he attended the University of Utah."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"The leading punter in the NFL in 1976 with a 42.8-yard average on 86 punts, Bateman also had the longest kick of the season in the NFL, a 78-yard punt against Houston, tying a Bills record. He tied another Buffalo record with 11 punts in one game against Dallas. His 86 punts last year were the most since Paul Maguire had 100 during the 1968 season. Bateman was the second leading punter in the AFC in 1975 with a 41.6-yard average, with two kicks blocked.
Marv was signed by the Bills as a free agent in November 1974 and averaged nearly 44 yards per kick in the final five games of the '74 season. He was a third round choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1972 college draft. Marv's career average of 42.6 with the Bills is the best ever, and his overall career average of 41.1 (with Dallas and Buffalo) ranks him among the top active AFC punters.
One of the great collegiate punters, Bateman led the nation in both 1970 and 1971, averaging 48.1 as a senior at Utah. He was selected to the Sporting News All-America team.
Marv is interested in residential property sales."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Bill Adams

Guard
No. 60
Holy Cross
"Adams started the opening game of the 1976 season at tackle for the Bills and appeared in 11 games last year. He started every preseason game at tackle due to the absence of Donnie Green. He saw action on special teams and as a backup at guard and tackle.
He played in six games in 1975 as a backup to both Joe DeLamielleure and Reggie McKenzie. Bill appeared in eight games in 1974 after spending the entire 1973 season on the Bills' free agent roster. He played in the final six games of the 1972 season after being activated from the taxi squad.
Bill is one of the strongest men on the squad and never quits working. His versatility and hustle are assets and he could start for many teams in the NFL. He was signed as a free agent out of Holy Cross.
An offensive guard and a tackle in college, Adams was tri-captain of the Crusaders and an All-New England choice. He won two letters in track and three in wrestling as an undergraduate.
He has a B.A. degree in economics with a minor in history. He's interested in a career as a CPA, teacher or business management specialist. Golf and movies are his hobbies."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Tony Marchitte

Equipment Manager
"One of the essential people behind the scenes in the Bills' football operation is equipment manager Tony Marchitte. His responsibilities include maintaining the large stockpile of gear required to outfit the Buffalo squad.
Marchitte has been with the Bills almost as long as they've been in business, first joining the organization in 1961. Born in Buffalo, he's a life-long resident of Western New York. Tony's easy manner and pleasant personality make him a popular member of the staff."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Joe Murry

Physical Coordinator
"Physical coordinator Joe Murry has responsibility for developing the club's strength program. He joined the Buffalo organization in March of 1973.
Joe holds a Master's degree in physical education from Southeastern Louisiana. As an undergraduate at Southwestern Louisiana, he won acclaim as National Collegiate heavyweight weightlifting champion. He set four national records in his specialty and placed fourth in the heavyweight division of the 1968 Olympic trials, narrowly missing a spot on the United States team.
Prior to accepting a position with the Bills, Murry taught at Metarie (Louisiana) Park Country Day School and was an assistant football coach at several Metarie high schools."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Guide

1977 Profile: Bud Tice

Trainer
"Joining the Bills' training staff this year is Bud Tice, who fills the vacancy created when Bob Reese departed to become head trainer of the New York Jets. Tice, 31, worked for the past two seasons as football trainer at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.
A native of Hart, Michigan, Tice is a 1968 graduate of Indiana State University. He began his training career as an undergraduate there and, after a two-year interruption for military service in Vietnam, won his Master's degree from Eastern Michigan in 1970. Tice was head trainer at Northwest Missouri State University just prior just prior to accepting his position at West Virginia."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Eddie Abramoski

Trainer
"Since their formation in 1960, the Buffalo Bills have had only one trainer- Eddie Abramoski. An outstanding high school guard in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, Abramoski went to Purdue on a football scholarship. A back injury, which required surgery, wrote an early end to his playing career and led to an interest in becoming an athletic trainer.
Following graduation, Eddie landed his first training job at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. He later moved to the University of Detroit as head trainer. While in Detroit, he moonlighted as a trainer with the Lions. He struck up an acquaintance with Detroit assistant coach Buster Ramsey, who took Abe with him to Buffalo when he was named the first head coach of the Bills in 1960."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Yearbook

1977 Profile: Tom Sherman

College Scout
"Former Penn State quarterback Tom Sherman, who played briefly for the Bills during the 1969 season, takes over the college scouting position left vacant by Stew Barber's promotion to assistant general manager. Sherman, 32, spent the 1976 season as starting quarterback for the CFL Calgary Stampeders.
As a Penn State senior, Sherman was one of the NCAA's total offense leaders and was voted MVP of the 1967 Gator Bowl. He was signed as a free agent by the Boston Patriots and started the Pats' final seven games of 1968, completing 90 passes for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns. Picked by the Bills on waivers late in 1969, he appeared in one game for Buffalo (San Diego) and threw a touchdown pass.
Sherman joined the ACFL Hartford Knights in 1970 after receiving his release from the Bills. He played four seasons in Hartford, helping the Knights to the 1972 ACFL championship. Signed by the WFL New York Stars in 1974, he spent two seasons in the World League, moving to Charlotte with the franchise before it finally folded."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Elbert Dubenion

College Scout
"The Bills' career leader in every pass receiving category is Elbert 'Golden Wheels' Dubenion, one of the most popular players ever to wear a Buffalo uniform. Dubenion, a member of the 1960 club, retired as a player midway through the 1968 season to accept a full-time position with the scouting department. He was the last remaining member of the original Bills.
In his eight seasons as a player, Dubenion caught 296 passes for 5,304 yards and 35 touchdowns. All are Buffalo lifetime highs as are his marks of touchdown receptions in five consecutive games and pass receptions in 42 straight appearances. Duby is third in the all-time standings in Bills' career scoring but ranks as the club's leader in touchdowns with 39.
A Little All-America at Bluffton College in 1958, Dubenion set a school record with 53 touchdowns in his four varsity seasons. He signed with the Browns in 1959 but was injured at the College All-Star camp. He was an instant success with the fledgling Bills in 1960, winning MVP honors his first season."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Marvin Bass

Pro Scout
"A veteran football man with more than 30 years of coaching and administrative experience, Mavin heads up the youthful Buffalo pro scouting operation. He worked in the pro scouting area, added to the Bills' personnel setup two years ago, part-time last fall and also helped out as an assistant coach. Marvin was with Buffalo once previously as line coach from 1968-71.
A graduate of William & Mary, where he was a teammate of ex-Buffalo coaches Buster Ramsey and Harvey Johnson, Bass was a three-time All-Conference and two-time All-American tackle. He passed up a pro playing career to coach, starting at his alma mater as line coach in 1944.
In the years since, Bass has twice been a head coach in college- at William & Mary (1951) and South Carolina (1962-65)- and directed the fortunes of two pro teams- the Continental League Montreal Beavers (1966-67) and the WFL Birmingham Vulcans (1975). His 1951 William & Mary team went 7-3 and won the Southern Conference championship. He had a share of an ACC crown at South Carolina.
Bass served as an assistant at a number of colleges, including William & Mary (1944-48), North Carolina twice (1949-50, 1953-56), South Carolina (1957-60), Georgia Tech (1961) and Richmond (1972-73). He also was line coach of the Washington Redskins in 1952 and defensive coordinator of the World League champion Birmingham Americans for a year (1974) before becoming skipper of the reorganized Vulcans a year later."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook

1977 Profile: Harvey Johnson

Special Super Scout
"New responsibilities are old hat to Harvey Johnson, who has served the Bills as an assistant and head coach, director of player personnel and, now, as a super scout. Under the recent reorganization of the personnel department, owner Ralph C. Wilson outlined new duties for Johnson, who will follow the top 150 collegiate players regardless of position.
A part of the Buffalo organization since the first days of the franchise, Johnson was the Bills' defensive backfield mentor in 1960-61. He was appointed Director of Player Personnel in 1962, succeeding Lou Saban when Lou took over as head coach. Harvey was Buffalo's head coach for 12 games of the 1968 season, following the abrupt dismissal of Joe Collier, and for the entire 1971 campaign.
A product of William & Mary, Johnson played for the Bainbridge Naval Training Center from 1943-45. A draft choice of the All-America Conference New York Yankees, Johnson played regularly in the pros as a defensive back but earned his principal recognition as a placement specialist, once stringing together 146 consecutive conversions.
Harvey remained with the New York franchise when it joined the NFL in 1950 but retired as a player in 1953 to take an assistant coaching job with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. He became head coach of the Kitchener team (Rugby Football Union) in 1954 and guided them to four titles in as many years. He left Kitchener to coach with the Montreal Alouettes from 1958-59."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

1977 Profile: Ray Wietecha

Offensive Line Coach
"The game's No. 1 offensive center, Ray was an All-Pro unanimous choice. He played four positions as a rookie in '53 after coming out of Northwestern U.
Ray lives in East Chicago, Indiana."

-Pro Football Handbook 1959

"Ray Wietecha could commiserate with Jim Ringo about toiling in obscurity if it were a matter of misery. The New York Giants' ultra-fine center only lately in his seven-year pro career has been granted a piece of the spotlight.
New York never thinks in terms of having to play two centers, a natural thought in any camp. Ray's ruggedness, willingness and versatility have prompted the Giants to dismiss thoughts about backup help there. Wietecha (29, 6-1, 225) comes from good football country, East Chicago, Indiana, and from a tough football conference, the Big Ten, where he played for Northwestern. The former Wildcat brought such versatility to the Giants that in his rookie season he performed variously as center, linebacker, defensive halfback, and end.
Ray's versatility extended into another field. He had also starred in baseball at Northwestern and was signed as a bonus outfielder in the Washington Senators chain before switching to football. Before the Giants finally got him, he saw service in the Marine Corps as a commissioned officer.
There was a moment in a New York-Cleveland game late last fall when the spotlight did shine on Ray Wietecha, not because he was in open field with his jersey number exposed, but because his own tremendous drive showed through.
A Giant back had carried the ball deep into Brown territory in the tight game being played at fever pitch on a miserably cold day. He was tackled and fumbled. The ball bounded crazily forward into the midst of no fewer than five Browns.
Down on the ground, involved in a blocking attempt with two of those Browns, was Wietecha, entangled between the pair. The ball cartwheeled tantalizingly near them. The Brown on one side of Wietecha was only an arm's length away from the ball, blocking out Ray; in fact, he had Ray pinned to the ground.
Wietecha didn't figure to have a chance, but in a flash of sheer determination he raised himself, despite being partially anchored, and simply reached around the body of the Brown, snatched the ball, drew it past his opponent to his chest and held on incontestably. It was the supreme effort that kept the Giant rally alive, enabling them to go on to victory over Cleveland and force the division playoff that eventually sent them into the championship game with Baltimore.
The effort also greatly increased public recognition of the corps offensive centers- the Jim Ringos, the Ray Wietechas, the Larry Stricklands (Chicago Bears) and the Jim Schraders (Washington Redskins)- who have to make reputations the hard way."

Murray Olderman, Sports All-Stars 1959 Pro Football

"The fellow who is most responsible for the protection of Charlie Conerly is Ray Wietecha. When it comes to prying open an enemy line or tossing downfield blocks, Ray is tops."

-1959 Topps No. 99

1960
Although recognized as an All-Pro Center every year since 1956, Ray distinguished himself late in the 1958 season when his extraordinary effort and gritty determination allowed him to recover a Giant fumble deep in Brown territory. This kept a New York rally alive, thus allowing the Giants to win the game that would put them into a division playoff against the Browns and a chance at the NFL championship game.
An All-Big Ten selection at Northwestern, Ray was a bonus outfielder in the Washington Senators chain and a Marine Corps officer before joining the Giants. He has started every game since 1954.

"One reason why the New York Giants were able to punt 49 times last season without being blocked is the presence of Northwestern's Ray Wietecha in the center position. When it comes to snapping the ball back 14 yards to the kicker with the needed speed and accuracy that will give him as much time as possible to get off the punt, Wietecha has no equal. Standing six-foot-one and weighing 225 pounds, Wietecha is virtually the immovable object to charging linemen.
On offensive power plays up the middle, the Giant center packs the speed and wallop of an 'up front fullback' as he paves the way for ripping gains. Wietecha starts his eighth season with the New Yorkers, and expectations are that he will be chosen all-star center once again."

-Who's Who in Pro Football (1961 Edition)

"Ray flips the ball to Charlie Conerly, then barrels forward to help take out the opposition. He's fast as lightning and tough as nails."

-1961 Topps No. 89

1962
A Pro Bowl selection as recently as 1960, Ray was last year named All-Conference by the Sporting News. Considered by many to be the best in the league at blocking the middle linebacker out of a play, he's just as adept at giving protection on passing plays.
All-Big Ten in college, Ray saw action as a Giant rookie at end, linebacker and defensive back before settling in at center, where he has started every game since 1954.

"The highly respected aide returns for his fourth season as offensive line coach and is the only holdover from the previous staff. A No. 12 'future pick' of the Giants in 1950 out of Northwestern, Ray joined the Giants in 1953 after a season of minor league baseball in the Washington Senators' farm system and two years in the Marines as a Captain.
He was a center, linebacker and even defensive back in his rookie year, and then went on to become a star for 10 seasons, winning All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors five times, appearing with five Eastern Division title winners and the NFL championship team of 1956.
Wietecha joined the Los Angeles Rams as an assistant coach in 1963, then moved on to the Green Bay Packers under Vince Lombardi from 1965 through 1970 where he was offensive line and running game coach with the championship Packers of that era. He was a Giant scout in 1971, then became offensive line coach in 1972.
Ray was born in East Chicago, Indiana and starred at Roosevelt High School in that city. At Northwestern, he was an All-Big 10 choice at center, winning three letters in both football and baseball."

-1976 New York Giants Media Guide

"In the middle 1950s the two most honored centers in professional football were Jim Ringo of Green Bay and Ray Wietecha of the New York Giants. If Wietecha didn't make the All-Pro team, it was because Ringo did and vice versa. It came as no surprise, therefore, that when Jim Ringo went looking for a successor as offensive line coach, he chose Ray Wietecha.
The Giants' starting center for 10 seasons, Ray won All-NFL honors in 1958 and was a member of the Pro Bowl squad in 1955, 1958, 1960 and 1962. He played on five Eastern Conference title winners and the 1956 NFL Championship team, 47-7 winners over the Chicago Bears. He was also involved in the famous 'sudden death' Championship game between the Giants and the Colts at Yankee Stadium in 1958.
A 'future' pick of the Giants in the 12th round of the 1950 college draft, Ray had a distinguished college career at Northwestern, winning All-Big 10 honors. The start of his NFL career was delayed by a season of minor league baseball in the Washington Senators system and two years in the Marine Corps.
Pro coaching beckoned at the end of his playing days and Wietecha accepted his first job with the Rams. After two years in LA (1963-64) he moved to Green Bay where, under the legendary Vince Lombardi, he was charged with the offensive line and the Packer running game. In five seasons (1965-70) Green Bay teams Wietecha was associated with won a total of 51 games, three NFL Championships and two Super Bowl crowns.
He rejoined the Giants as a scout in 1971 and became the offensive coach a year later. He was with the New York team through the 1976 season."

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-Radio-TV Yearbook