1978 Profiles: Lou Piccone and Larry Walton

LOU PICCONE

Wide Receiver
No. 89
West Liberty State

"Piccone returned more kickoffs for more yardage than any other specialist in the NFL in 1974. He brought back 39 kickoffs for 961 yards, good for a 24.6 average, third best in Jet history and the finest mark since 1966. His longest was a 46-yarder against New England. Lou also had a fumble recovery, against Miami; the recovery led to the Jets' first touchdown in a 17-14 upset of the Dolphins.

Lou has good speed and developed his moves as the season progressed. He spent two years in the minor leagues, one with the Youngstown Hardhats and one with the Bridgeport Jets, and was a regular at both spots. Lou signed with the Jets as a free agent.

Lou majored in health and physical education with a minor in speech. His hometown is Vineland, New Jersey."

-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook

"A versatile player who saw playing time on special teams and as a wide receiver in 1975, Lou returned 26 kickoffs for 637 yards, a 24.5 average, and returned 18 punts 74 yards, a 4.1 average.

Lou was involved in a training camp contract dispute and walked out of camp for seven days. He played in 13 of 14 regular-season games. He missed the second Baltimore game with a charley horse, and also suffered a preseason shoulder injury. Lou shared the wide receiver spot with Ed Bell at Buffalo and with Willie Brister at Minnesota while Jerome Barkum was nursing injuries. He returned a kick 53 yards against the Chiefs and [another] 42 yards against the Patriots. He captained the specialty teams for the majority of 1975. Piccone played out his option but re-signed for 1976. He may be tried in the defensive backfield.

Piccone returned more kickoffs for more yardage than any other specialist in the NFL in 1974. He brought back 39 kickoffs for 961 yards, good for a 24.6 average, third best in Jet history and the finest mark since 1966. Lou also had a fumble recovery, against Miami; the recovery led to the Jets' first touchdown in a 17-14 upset of the Dolphins.

He spent two seasons in the minor leagues, one with the Youngstown Hardhats and one with the Bridgeport Jets, and was a regular at both spots. Lou signed with the Jets as a free agent.

Lou played running back at West Liberty State for four years. He played on two championship teams and reached the NAIA semifinals in 1970 and 1971.

He majored in health and physical education with a minor in speech. His hometown is Vineland, New Jersey."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

"In 1976 Lou saw his most action since making the pros as a free agent in 1974. He played in all 14 games and started seven at wide receiver.

'He loves to play ... gives you 100 percent and is a great special teamer,' head coach Walt Michaels says. Last year Piccone caught 15 passes for 147 yards, a 12.3 average.

He once again led the team in punt and kickoff returns. Lou ran back 31 kickoffs for 788 yards for a 23.6 average, including a career longest 58 yards in the second New England game. He returned 21 punts 173 yards for an 8.2 average and broke a 60-yarder for a touchdown against Tampa Bay, the first Jet punt return for a touchdown since 1972 and the longest of Piccone's career. His 112 yards against the Buccaneers was the second-best punt return day in Jets history.

Piccone holds the club record for kickoff return yardage in a season (961 in 1974) and a career (2,386) as well as most career kickoff returns (96). He returned more kickoffs (39) for more yardage than any other specialist in the NFL in 1974, his rookie season. Lou returned five kickoffs for 157 yards against New England in '74, second-best in Jets annals. His career kickoff average is 24.9 and he has averaged 5.7 yards on 48 career punt returns.

He played out his option in 1975 but re-signed for 1976. Lou first signed with the Jets in '74 after spending two seasons in the minors with the Youngstown Hardhats and the Bridgeport Jets.

Lou excels as a tackler on punt returns and kickoff coverage. He's usually one of the first men downfield and is a reckless pursuer.

Lou played running back at West Liberty State for four years. He played on two championship teams and reached the NAIA semifinals in 1970 and 1971.

He majored in health and physical education with a minor in speech. His hometown is Vineland, New Jersey."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

"A valuable specialty teams performer in addition to being a superb wide receiver, Lou excels as a tackler on punt and kickoff return coverage. A reckless pursuer, he's usually one of the first men downfield.
Lou was a running back in college. He played minor league football in Youngstown and Bridgeport in 1972 and 1975."

-1978 Topps No. 448

LARRY WALTON

Wide Receiver

No. 49

Arizona State

"Larry had 158 yards and three touchdowns against the Browns in 1970, 103 yards against the Packers in 1971 and 101 yards against the Chargers in 1972. He has a good pair of hands.

Larry ran track in college."

-1974 Topps No. 76

"Larry enjoyed his most productive season for the Lions in 1974 as the club's third leading receiver, his longest gainer going for 48 yards. He was a star running back in college."

-1975 Topps No. 393

"Larry was injured and sat out 1975 but expects to be back in top form this season. He can catch in crowds."

-1976 Topps No. 108

"Larry came back strong last season after missing 1975 with a knee injury. A talented performer, he has also been used as a ball carrier and an option passer for the Lions. Larry caught eight passes in one game in 1973.

He was mainly a runner at Arizona State, with his biggest day being 125 yards and four touchdowns in 1967."

-1977 Topps No. 286

1978 Profiles: Merv Krakau and Tom Graham

MERV KRAKAU

Middle Linebacker
No. 52
Iowa State
"One of the most improved players on the Bills' squad, Merv was an effective specialty teams player before becoming a starter.
He was a defensive tackle at Iowa State and was Lineman of the Week for a 1972 performance against Nebraska."
Merv has ambitions to be a teacher after his playing career."

-1978 Topps, No. 369

TOM GRAHAM

Middle Linebacker

No. 58

Oregon

"Tom Graham, Oregon, at 232 has enough bulk to play in the middle and the pros think he's a good one."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972

"Another player who suffered a broken ankle in his senior year after having an outstanding junior year. Tom was All-Coast as a junior and had a standout sophomore year, too, making 20 tackles in his varsity debut. He was coached in college by Jerry Frei, now the Broncos' offensive line coach.

A sociology major, Tom is from  Harbor City, California."

-Jim Benagh, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1972 Edition)

"A very aggressive player, coaches feel Tom can become a great linebacker. In 1972, he became a starter for the Broncos in the sixth game of his rookie season.

Tom's cousin is former Oakland A's outfielder Bobby Brooks."

-1974 Topps No. 432

"A very aggressive player, Tom became the Broncos' middle linebacker in the sixth game of 1972, a game won by the Broncos over the Raiders, 30-23. A college teammate of Ahmad Rashad of the Bills, he was credited with 20 tackles against Utah in his college debut."

-1975 Topps No. 239

1978 Profile: Reuben Gant

Tight End
No. 88
Oklahoma State
"Reuben has improved his blocking tremendously and has become a very reliable player for the Bills.
He was a three-time honorable mention All-Big 8 at Oklahoma State and was considered to be the best downfield blocker on the offensive line.
Reuben's hobbies include horseback riding."

-1978 Topps, No. 212

1978 Profile: Willie Parker

Center
No. 61
North Texas State
"With versatility as his major asset, Willie became the Bills' regular center in 1977. He has the ability to play guard or center and has been used by the Bills as a snapper on punts and placement kicks.
A strong specialty teams player, he was drafted by the 49ers in 1971 and spent most of that campaign on the reserve squad. Willie was traded to the Bills by the Los Angeles Rams on September 10, 1973. He was All-Missouri Valley in college during the 1970 campaign.
Willie is in the insurance business."

-1978 Topps, No. 176