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
Monday, May 30, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
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
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
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
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
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
Thursday, May 19, 2016
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
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
Friday, May 13, 2016
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
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
Sunday, May 8, 2016
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
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
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
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
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
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