1979 Profiles: Ken Jones and Rockne Freitas

KEN JONES

Offensive Tackle
No. 72
Arkansas State
Very quick and agile, Ken is the unsung stalwart who completes the offensive line of the Bills. He played all 16 games, starting 15, after playing all 14 games in 1977.
Ken was a first-team All-American who as a guard paved the way for the top rushing offense in college football. He was a two-year starter who returned after an appendectomy in his sophomore year.
Ken, a member of the Bills' basketball team, also likes to play racquetball.

ROCKNE FREITAS

Offensive Tackle

No. 78

Oregon State

"After an outstanding prep career in Hawaii, Rockne enjoyed a fine college career at Oregon State. Picked for the College All-Star Game at Chicago and the Coaches' All-America Game at Atlanta, he was first drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Acquired by Detroit in 1967, he spent that season as a member of the Lion taxi squad. In 1968 he came on strong in the limited duty he saw. Given a chance in 1969,  he broke into the starting lineup. He has good charge and speed and is still learning.

Rockne was named after legendary coach Knute Rockne."

-1970 Topps No. 96

"Moving rapidly toward becoming one of the finest tackles in the NFL, Rockne was put into a starting slot by the Lions late in the 1968 campaign and has been a regular ever since. Acquired by the Lions from Steelers for a draft choice in 1968, he played in the 1966 College All-Star Game in Chicago and Coaches' All-America Game in Atlanta. Rockne possesses fine moves and agility for a big man and he's very aggressive. He was born in Hawaii."

-1972 Topps No. 94

"Considered by many observers to be the most underrated offensive tackle in pro football, Rockne possesses great mobility for his size.

He has been an outstanding starter for Detroit ever since he moved into the regular lineup late in the 1968 season. Rockne was acquired by the Lions for a draft choice in a deal with Pittsburgh in 1967."

-1973 Topps No. 351

"Rockne has developed into one of the league's finest tackles since moving into the starting lineup for the Lions late in the 1968 season. At Oregon State he was picked for the 1967 College All-Star Game, the Hula Bowl and the Coaches' All-America Game.

Rockne is one of Hawaii's best known athletes."

-1974 Topps No. 497

"Rockne came to the Lions in his rookie season from the Steelers. He spent all of 1967 and part of 1968 on the taxi squad before moving into the starting lineup. He has started every game for the Lions beginning with the final eight games of 1968.

Named Lions MVP for 1972, he played in the College All-Star Game, the Hula Bowl and the Coaches' All-America Game. He played prep ball in his native Hawaii."

-1975 Topps No. 102

"A gigantic offensive tackle who has been a fixture on the right side of the Lions' line for the past seven seasons, Rockne has started 99 consecutive games since taking over in the final game of the 1968 season. Voted the Lions' Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1972, he was selected to the Pro Bowl squad after the 1972 season. A center in college, Rockne played in the 1965 Rose Bowl against Michigan.

He's extremely strong."

-1976 Topps No. 314

R.I.P. Billy Kinard

An Original Bill

R.I.P. Al Meltzer

Forever a Voice of the Bills

1979 Profile: Joe Devlin

Offensive Tackle
No. 70
Iowa
In 1975 the Bills traded former number one draft choice Walt Patulski to the Cardinals for a second-round draft choice that was used to draft Joe Devlin. Known as the other Joe D. of the Bills' offensive line, he started the last two games of his rookie season in 1976, every game in '77 and every game in '78 until sidelined late in the season, 30 straight starts.
Joe is a strong and athletic offensive lineman who was a three-year starter at Iowa at both guard and tackle. In 1975 he was a first-team Sporting News All-American, an honorable mention UPI All-American and first-team All-Big Ten.

1979 Profile: Frank Lewis

FRANK LEWIS

Wide Receiver

No. 82

Grambling

Drafted out of Grambling in the first round by the Steelers in 1971, Frank was a starting wide receiver for Pittsburgh's back-to-back Super Bowl-winning teams of 1974 and 1975. In '74 he led the club with 30 receptions.

In his first season in Buffalo last year, his 92-yard reception was the year's longest in the NFL.

1979 Buffalo Bills Rookie Profiles

TOM COUSINEAU
Linebacker
1st Round
Ohio State
"In 1977 and 1978 the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers, respectively, drafted instant success in the form of running backs Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell. Dorsett helped the Cowpokes win Super Bowl XII and Campbell led an Oiler rush to the playoffs and a quarterfinal playoff win.
The scenario was different last May at the 44th annual NFL draft held in New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, however, when this season's first choice, Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, was selected by the Buffalo Bills. Cousineau is properly rated as the number one pro prospect in the country, but neither he nor his teammates are playoff bound.
'All we know,' said Buffalo head coach Chuck Knox, 'is that Cousineau can become an All-Pro.'
Cousineau is only the second linebacker ever honored as number one in the lottery, the other being Tommy Nobis, the Atlanta Falcons' 1966 selection, who more than made the pick stand up.
'My idol has always been Dick Butkus,' said Cousineau, who wears a diamond in his left earlobe, a leather scapular medal around his neck and a shark tattoo on his right calf. 'Buffalo seemed to need defense last year. I expect to start and I feel I will contribute.' Cousineau hopes to follow in the footsteps of the NFL's best inside linebacker- Denver's Randy Gradishar, another Ohio State grad and Woody Hayes player.
Cousineau is 6'3" and 230 pounds of filet mignon on the hoof, but like most draft picks his selection cannot be assessed for several years. The Bills needed defense and he was the best athlete available."

-Norm MacLean, Football Forecast 1979


JERRY BUTLER
Wide Receiver
1st Round
Clemson
A first-team All-American last year, his statistics were the most impressive of any pass-catcher in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His 58 receptions and 908 yards both topped the conference and his 15.7 average was good for second, as were his three receiving touchdowns. This followed a 1977 season in which Jerry topped the ACC both with 824 yards and a 17.7 average, and a '76 season which earned him the most Heisman votes of any underclassman in the country.
In 1977, Jerry set the Clemson record for most receiving yards in one game (163) against Georgia Tech. In his best game of the '78 season, against North Carolina, he caught six passes for 124 yards.

FRED SMERLAS

Nose Tackle

2nd Round

Boston College

A fine combination of strength and aggressiveness, Smerlas was an Associated Press and Sporting News honorable mention All-American in 1978 and United Press International All-New England in 1977 and '78. He was a starter the last three seasons and was a captain of the Eagles last year. He distinguished himself in the 1979 Senior Bowl.

Fred was a star athlete at Waltham (Mass.) High School. He was an outstanding wrestler, winning the New England championship in the heavyweight class in consecutive years.

JIM HASLETT

Linebacker

2nd Round

Indiana (Pennsylvania)

In his last three years at Indiana, Haslett was named to numerous college division All-America teams. He made 144 tackles in 10 games during the 1978 season.

He was also the team's punter with 60 punts for 2,489 yards (41.5 average). Jim booted a 73-yarder in a game, punting four times that day for a 61.3-yard average.

Scouts describe Jim a a super competitor.

1979 Profile: Lou Piccone

Wide Receiver
No. 89
West Liberty State
"One of the Bills' most versatile players, Lou excels on specialty team duty. He set Jets' season and career records for kickoff return yardage during the 1974 campaign.
Lou majored in speech at West Liberty State."

-1979 Topps No. 148