1978 Profiles: Joe Ferguson and Bill Munson

JOE FERGUSON

Quarterback
No. 12
Arkansas
"Ranked 13th in AFC passing ... say it isn't so, Joe. He has had moments of greatness but has been an overall disappointment: 12 touchdowns and 24 interceptions last year. Without O.J. Simpson, Ferguson still led the AFC in passing yardage with 2,803. But he is a 50 per cent passer, nothing more. A streak passer, his career statistics are 52 touchdowns and 74 interceptions.
Born in Alvin, Texas, he grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana and attended the same high school as Terry Bradshaw. Ferguson fell off his last year at Arkansas, but the Bills drafted him third in 1973. He has been their starting quarterback since he was a rookie.
Joe wants to coach someday. He breeds and raises Arabian horses."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

"Joe set the Bills' passing mark for highest completion percentage in one game with 81.3%. It came when he hit on 13 of 16 passes against the Packers in 1974.
He made the UPI All-Rookie team in 1973 when he started every game.
Joe is involved in breeding and raising Arabian horses."

-1978 Topps, No. 339

Buffalo quarterback Joe Ferguson on his reputation as a quitter: "I don't care what people think. The rap has been on me as long as I can remember ... high school, college, pros. But it's a bunch of bull. I can play for any team in this league, and I know it. I'm as confident as any quarterback in the NFL. I do get angry at myself, and if I convey a lack of confidence, it sure isn't my true feeling."

-from Notes, Quotes & Comments (Football Digest, December 1978)

BILL MUNSON

Quarterback

No. 9

Utah State

"His ability to get rid of the ball quickly and surprising coolness under fire helped catapult Bill Munson to the top of the list of NFL rookie quarterbacks last season. Pressed into service as first-stringer for the first five games, due to Roman Gabriel's knee injury, Bill handled himself like a veteran. He wound up the year completing 108 passes in 223 attempts; he flung nine touchdown passes and one of them, a 95-yarder to Bucky Pope, was the longest completion of the season.

He was drafted No. 1 out of Utah State, after a brilliant college career."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965

"After a brilliant rookie campaign in 1964, Bill Munson was well on his way to an even better season last year, when he was suddenly upended by 49er defensive end Clark Miller and suffered torn knee ligaments. He missed the last four games of the season, winding up with an impressive 144 completions on 267 attempts, for 1,701 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He won the first-string job away from Roman Gabriel on his ability to set up and get rid of the ball more quickly. He has quicker, surer moves than the 6-3 Gabriel, and while he doesn't possess Gabe's long-bomb thrust, he's a good short passer who throws with accuracy.

But he's still learning. At Utah State, where he played his college football, Bill didn't get a chance to throw too much."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966

"Bill got his baptism by fire in his rookie year due to a serious injury to Roman Gabriel's knee in 1964. Bill played so well, he won a spot on the NFL All-Rookie team.

In '65, he was 13th in passing. He completed 144 out of 267, with 10 touchdowns."

-1966 Philadelphia No. 101

"He may have had to comb himself free of some cobwebs, but Bill Munson is overjoyed to drape himself in Lion blue. Bill's been on the inactive side the past couple of seasons, but he's a most proficient quarterback who seems certain to solve a nagging problem in Detroit.

He was the regular quarterback of the Rams until 49er defensive end Clark Miller crashed into him, wrecking his knee and causing him to miss the last four games of the 1965 season. By the time Bill was well enough to play again, Roman Gabriel had taken over the first-string job.

The Rams' No. 1 draft choice when he came out of Utah State, he was named to the NFL's All-Rookie team in 1964. He was even better in '65 when he completed 144 out of 267 passes for 1,701 yards, a 53.9 percentage and ten touchdowns.

He's always been known for his accuracy on short- and medium-range passes, but Bill can throw the bomb, too."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

"In his last couple of seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Bill Munson played backup man to Roman Gabriel at quarterback. But last season, his first with the Lions, he wound up ahead of Gabe in the NFL passing tables when he finished seventh with 181 completions out of 329 throws for 2,311 yards and a 55 percent completion average. His eight interceptions tied for the fewest in the league. All of which convinced the Lions of what Munson knew all along- that he could lead an offense.

Trouble was, he lost his regular job in LA to Gabriel when he sustained a knee injury several years ago. As the Lions' number one man, Bill had some outstanding days, such as striking for three touchdowns against the Bears and throwing 13 of 22 completions against the Packers- both in winning efforts.

Bill is an excellent medium-range passer, but he can heave the bomb, too. All he needs is for someone to go deep. The Lions gave up three players and a number one draft choice to get him."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969

"The Lions gave up Milt Plum, Pat Studstill and Tom Watkins to acquire this quarterback. The ex-Ram completed 27 passes in a 1965 game, the top mark by an L.A. quarterback in 14 years. Bill is strong-armed and accurate.

Bill was named the top back in the Senior Bowl in 1965."

-1969 Topps No. 11

"To a great extent, Detroit's hopes for a division title in 1970 rest on the shoulders of seven-year veteran Bill Munson.

The Los Angeles Rams' first draft pick in 1963, he went on to become a starter for them at times, until he was injured and eventually lost the number one job to Roman Gabriel. Bill played out his option and came to Detroit in a 1968 deal that involved Pat Studstill, Milt Plum, Tommy Watkins and a first-round draft choice. He completed 181 passes that season, the most in Lion history, and his 2,311 yards gained in the air was a personal high for him.

But last year, the 6-2, 210-pounder missed a good part of the season with a broken hand, and Greg Landry replaced him. Nevertheless, in eight games he completed 84 passes for over a thousand yards and seven touchdowns.

Munson, who commanded a running game at Utah State, was named Outstanding Back in the '63 Senior Bowl. His major strength is the quick, short pass, but he can unload the bomb when necessary."

-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970

"As a senior at Utah State in 1963, Bill led the NCAA in fewest interceptions with only three. He was voted the top back in the Senior Bowl and also starred in the East-West Shrine Game.

Bill has bounced back from numerous injuries. He was with the Rams for two seasons before a knee operation forced him out of the regular lineup. Traded to the Lions in '68, he was the NFL's seventh-ranked passer."

-1970 Topps No. 221

"During the first part of last season, most of the credit for the Lions' 5-1 record was contributed to the outstanding quarterbacking of Bill Munson. But then came three straight losses and Munson suddenly found himself picking up splinters on the bench.

When he was going strong, as against Chicago when he completed 13 of 19 for 229 yards, Bill was almost unstoppable. But when he cooled off, the pocket passer found problems hitting his deep receivers. He finished eighth in the conference.

An outstanding passer at Utah State, Munson led the nation by having only three passes intercepted in 1963. Then four years with the Rams- a knee operation in 1966 cost him his job when Roman Gabriel took over. In 1968, the Lions gave up three players plus draft choices to get Bill. In his first season with Detroit he set a team record of 181 completions, but a broken finger cost him half of the '69 campaign."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Used interchangeably with Greg Landry for the second year in a row, Bill completed 84 of 158 passes for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns. His specialty is the quick, short pass.

The No. 1 draft pick of Los Angeles in 1964, he was the Rams' No. 1 quarterback, until replaced by Roman Gabriel. He was traded to Detroit in 1968 in exchange for three veterans and the Lions' No. 1 draft choice.

In 1968, despite a shin operation and neck injuries, Bill completed 181 passes for a Lions' record. He had his biggest day completing 26 of 37 passes against Baltimore. A hard-luck player, he broke a finger on his throwing hand in 1969 and missed seven games.

Bill is a native of Sacramento, California, who attended Foothill Junior College before enrolling at Utah State. During the off-season, he's a steel salesman in the Detroit area."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"Bill had an outstanding day against the Colts in 1968, with 26 completions in 37 tries for 262 yards. He rewrote passing marks at Utah State. Bill was voted the outstanding back in the Senior Bowl."

-1974 Topps No. 173

"In seven seasons with the Lions, Bill has passed for 7,835 yards and 51 touchdowns. He has an accurate arm."

-1975 Topps No. 172