Running Back
No. 47
Missouri
"Rundown Brown. What happened to Curtis a year ago? The same thing that happened to Terry Miller, we can only guess. Brown rushed for 574 yards (3.3) and only one touchdown. He showed more promise the year before with 591 yards (4.6) and four touchdowns.
Maybe he was tired from the extra pass-catching. Brown finished third on the club with 39 receptions, including one for 84 yards.
Born in St. Louis, Brown rushed for 375 yards in one game for Scott JC (Kansas). He transferred to Missouri where he bruised Oklahoma one afternoon with 20 carries for 153 yards."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
"A powerful runner, Curtis' quickness and strength make him extremely difficult to bring down. He scored a touchdown on a 102-yard kickoff return against the Colts in 1978."
-1980 Topps No. 443
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Sunday, June 2, 2019
1980 Profile: Fred Smerlas
Nose Tackle
No. 76
Boston College
"Another of the Bills' rookie wave. A second-round pick a year ago, he challenged Mike Kadish for the middle guard position until a knee injury finished the big rookie with three games to go. Smerlas and Kadish shared the job last year and may have the same arrangement this autumn, unless Smerlas suddenly comes on like the next Curley Culp.
Smerlas is a tough, aggressive player who certainly has size and strength. Born in Waltham, Mass., he was a three-year starter at Boston College and a two-time New England heavyweight wrestling champion in high school.
Smerlas enjoys weightlifting and camping. Together. He once bench pressed a 1,500-pound Grizzly 10 times in succession."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
No. 76
Boston College
"Another of the Bills' rookie wave. A second-round pick a year ago, he challenged Mike Kadish for the middle guard position until a knee injury finished the big rookie with three games to go. Smerlas and Kadish shared the job last year and may have the same arrangement this autumn, unless Smerlas suddenly comes on like the next Curley Culp.
Smerlas is a tough, aggressive player who certainly has size and strength. Born in Waltham, Mass., he was a three-year starter at Boston College and a two-time New England heavyweight wrestling champion in high school.
Smerlas enjoys weightlifting and camping. Together. He once bench pressed a 1,500-pound Grizzly 10 times in succession."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
1980 Profile: Jeff Nixon
Free Safety
No. 38
Richmond
"Wolfgang Amadeus Nixon? Not really. His mother actually is a descendant of Johan Sebastian Bach. Jeff was born in Germany, is an accomplished guitarist and has written some music. He's the Bills' Renaissance Man, except that he can also play football.
Nixon was a fourth-round draft pick of the Bills. He led the team with six interceptions last year as a rookie, beating out veteran Tony Greene over the last four games.
Born in Fursten Feldbruck, Germany, he set Richmond University interception and punt return records. He had 25 tackles in a game against North Carolina. He now lives in Glendale, Arizona- Jeff sure gets around."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
No. 38
Richmond
"Wolfgang Amadeus Nixon? Not really. His mother actually is a descendant of Johan Sebastian Bach. Jeff was born in Germany, is an accomplished guitarist and has written some music. He's the Bills' Renaissance Man, except that he can also play football.
Nixon was a fourth-round draft pick of the Bills. He led the team with six interceptions last year as a rookie, beating out veteran Tony Greene over the last four games.
Born in Fursten Feldbruck, Germany, he set Richmond University interception and punt return records. He had 25 tackles in a game against North Carolina. He now lives in Glendale, Arizona- Jeff sure gets around."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
Saturday, May 4, 2019
1980 Profile: Jim Haslett
Linebacker
No. 55
Indiana (PA)
"Tom who? While the Bills mourned the loss of top draft pick Tom Cousineau to Canada, some kid named Haslett came along and was voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's Jim Haslett and it's a great story.
He's from Indiana University. Not the Hoosiers. Indiana U. of Pennsylvania. He's a second-round pick who finished second on the Bills in tackles (124) besides intercepting two passes, recovering two fumbles, forcing two more and getting a sack.
Born in Pittsburgh, Haslett made numerous College Division All-American teams at Indiana, Pa. He punted for a 41.5-yard average, including 61.3 on four punts against Lock Haven, when he boomed one 73 yards."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
No. 55
Indiana (PA)
"Tom who? While the Bills mourned the loss of top draft pick Tom Cousineau to Canada, some kid named Haslett came along and was voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's Jim Haslett and it's a great story.
He's from Indiana University. Not the Hoosiers. Indiana U. of Pennsylvania. He's a second-round pick who finished second on the Bills in tackles (124) besides intercepting two passes, recovering two fumbles, forcing two more and getting a sack.
Born in Pittsburgh, Haslett made numerous College Division All-American teams at Indiana, Pa. He punted for a 41.5-yard average, including 61.3 on four punts against Lock Haven, when he boomed one 73 yards."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
Friday, April 26, 2019
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
1980 Profile: Reggie McKenzie
Guard
No. 67
Michigan
"Last of the Electric Company, along with DeLamielleure. The Juice's main man at one time, McKenzie hasn't lost the ability that has made him one of football's better guards. He just doesn't have Simpson behind him anymore.
Born in Detroit, McKenzie was an All-American at Michigan and has a physical education degree. He was All-Pro his first two seasons after the Bills drafted him second in 1972. The Bills' player representative from 1973-77, he's married to the former Ethellean Hicks, Miss Massachusetts of 1974. Mac helped make Terry Miller a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie, although Miller fell off last year."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
"Teaming with Joe DeLamielleure to give the Bills one of the most feared guard combinations in the National Football League, Reggie has now played in 117 consecutive regular season games for the club. He earned All-Pro and All-AFC honors in 1973 and 1974 and he hasn't missed a game since his rookie campaign on 1972. Reggie was a consensus All-American."
-1980 Topps No. 218
No. 67
Michigan
"Last of the Electric Company, along with DeLamielleure. The Juice's main man at one time, McKenzie hasn't lost the ability that has made him one of football's better guards. He just doesn't have Simpson behind him anymore.
Born in Detroit, McKenzie was an All-American at Michigan and has a physical education degree. He was All-Pro his first two seasons after the Bills drafted him second in 1972. The Bills' player representative from 1973-77, he's married to the former Ethellean Hicks, Miss Massachusetts of 1974. Mac helped make Terry Miller a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie, although Miller fell off last year."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1980 Edition
"Teaming with Joe DeLamielleure to give the Bills one of the most feared guard combinations in the National Football League, Reggie has now played in 117 consecutive regular season games for the club. He earned All-Pro and All-AFC honors in 1973 and 1974 and he hasn't missed a game since his rookie campaign on 1972. Reggie was a consensus All-American."
-1980 Topps No. 218
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