Did Hall of Famer Bobby Bell was with the Raiders in 1976?

[Gary Najman]

http://www.steelers.com/assets/images/i ... _94669.pdf

Searching for the gamebook of the famous 1976 opening day game between Pittsburgh and Oakland (above) I found that Bobby Bell (yes, the Kansas City Hall of Fame LB) was in the Raiders roster with #53 assigned to him. Did he suited for that game or any other game in the season or preseason?

[JohnTurney]

http://www.steelers.com/assets/images/i ... _94669.pdf

Searching for the gamebook of the famous 1976 opening day game between Pittsburgh and Oakland (above) I found that Bobby Bell (yes, the Kansas City Hall of Fame LB) was in the Raiders roster with #53 assigned to him. Did he suited for that game or any other game in the season or preseason?

In the Raiders files there is a shot of Bell in that jersey and also one of Leroy Kelly (may have been 1975 for him) who was signed, but never played for Raiders. Also, Herb Adderly was with Rams in camp in August, 1973. Somewhere there is a shot of him.

I,too, have alwasy wondered if Bell or Kelly suited up for a preseason game, Adderly, too....and others.

[BD Sullivan]

The Browns expected Kelly to retire after the '73 season, so when he didn't, they waived him and the Raiders claimed him. They released him in the last cut, though this being Al Davis' team, they never bothered to actually list him as being cut. The reporters covering the team had to determine that he wasn't practicing with the team prior to their 1974 opener. Kelly did catch on with the WFL's Chicago Fire to finish his football career.

[Citizen]

I,too, have alwasy wondered if Bell or Kelly suited up for a preseason game, Adderly, too....and others.

I'm pretty sure Adderley didn't. Once traded to L.A., he either retired or was cut for refusing to report (accounts vary) on Aug. 7, just after the start of the pre-season.

[TodMaher]

http://www.steelers.com/assets/images/i ... _94669.pdf

Searching for the gamebook of the famous 1976 opening day game between Pittsburgh and Oakland (above) I found that Bobby Bell (yes, the Kansas City Hall of Fame LB) was in the Raiders roster with #53 assigned to him. Did he suited for that game or any other game in the season or preseason?

He was cut before the start of the season. It was "announced" by Raiders on September 9, though I'm pretty sure it happened on the 6th - the final cutdown date. The Raiders had a tendency to delay publicly announcing transactions.

[Citizen]

For anyone feeling ambitious, it would be interesting to list Hall-of-Famers who either started (Kurt Warner) or ended (Bell) their careers in the training camp of a team for which they never made a gameday roster.

[L.C. Greenwood]

For anyone feeling ambitious, it would be interesting to list Hall-of-Famers who either started (Kurt Warner) or ended (Bell) their careers in the training camp of a team for which they never made a gameday roster.

Anthony Munoz came out of retirement to play for the Bucs, and played in an exhibition game for them. However, he was injured, and retired for good. Duane Thomas had HOF potential with the Cowboys, and I remember him getting cut by the Packers in 1977 or 1978. I'm really surprised about the Bobby Bell news, had always assumed he quit for keeps with the Chiefs.

Brent Jones and Dwaine Board were Steelers cuts who really helped the 49ers.

[BD Sullivan]

For anyone feeling ambitious, it would be interesting to list Hall-of-Famers who either started (Kurt Warner) or ended (Bell) their careers in the training camp of a team for which they never made a gameday roster.

Anthony Munoz came out of retirement to play for the Bucs, and played in an exhibition game for them. However, he was injured, and retired for good. Duane Thomas had HOF potential with the Cowboys, and I remember him getting cut by the Packers in 1977 or 1978. I'm really surprised about the Bobby Bell news, had always assumed he quit for keeps with the Chiefs.

Brent Jones and Dwaine Board were Steelers cuts who really helped the 49ers.

I believe Willie Lanier was in the Colts camp before retiring.

The Dwaine Board signing was Bill Walsh (in his first season) astutely figuring out that Board got caught in a numbers game at Pittsburgh on their still powerful DL.