Decline of the 'Iron Man' Era

[Bob Gill]

In my research of Benny Friedman, I saw where he was still drop kicking field goals and points for his semi pro Cedarhurst Wolverines team, in the late 1930s and early 40s. With presumably the modern skinnier ball. I have always presumed he was the last of the drop-kicker triple threats (in the NFL). (Ken Strong was a placekicker)...

I think Dutch Clark was the last real dropkicker (though he probably used a holder sometimes too), and his last season as a full-time player was 1937, several years after Friedman left. I'd say he was also a better kicker than Friedman.

[Bryan]

Who was the last starter/mostly starter at any position to kick or punt regularly? Danny White, for punting?

It was White for punting and Jim O'Brien for placekicking, IIRC.

[rhickok1109]

In my research of Benny Friedman, I saw where he was still drop kicking field goals and points for his semi pro Cedarhurst Wolverines team, in the late 1930s and early 40s. With presumably the modern skinnier ball. I have always presumed he was the last of the drop-kicker triple threats (in the NFL). (Ken Strong was a placekicker)...

I think Dutch Clark was the last real dropkicker (though he probably used a holder sometimes too), and his last season as a full-time player was 1937, several years after Friedman left. I'd say he was also a better kicker than Friedman.

Scooter McLean was still drop-kicking in 1940 and 1941 and perhaps later, I'm not sure.

[Bob Gill]

McLean didn't do any kicking that counted in 1940 or '41, though. His whole kicking "career" until about 1947 was a single extra point. Then in 1947 he kicked 44 of them, but he couldn't have been dropkicking at that point. Clark, on the other hand, was a regular kicker who led the league in scoring a couple of times, so I think he still owns the title of the last dropkicker. Counting McLean would be like counting Doug Flutie.

[Reaser]

Counting McLean would be like counting Doug Flutie.

Both better than Drew Brees in the Pro Bowl

[rhickok1109]

McLean didn't do any kicking that counted in 1940 or '41, though. His whole kicking "career" until about 1947 was a single extra point. Then in 1947 he kicked 44 of them, but he couldn't have been dropkicking at that point. Clark, on the other hand, was a regular kicker who led the league in scoring a couple of times, so I think he still owns the title of the last dropkicker. Counting McLean would be like counting Doug Flutie.

He did kick one PAT in 1940 and missed one in 1941. I thought he did a lot more kicking than that.

[rhickok1109]

It's interesting that guys like Butkus, Nitschke, and Schmidt were all FBs as well as LBs in college. What if the Bears had decided to play Butkus at FB? Or if Lombardi had done it with Nitschke, or the Lions with Schmidt (who was the fastest of the three and quite likely the best runner)? For that matter, Jimmy Taylor was also an LB in college. Jim Brown played a kind of "monster" position at Syracuse, an LB in running situations and a DB in passing situations. Hornung was considered by many the best DB in the nation in 1956.

Just to mention a couple other guys who played for Lombardi: Ron Kramer might have been a terror at defensive end and Forrest Gregg might well have been an All-Pro as a defensive tackle with his strength and quickness off the ball.

[Gary Najman]

Pat McInally (WR) and Bob Parsons (TE) and Jeff West (TE) were also punters that also played other positions in the 70s and 80s.

[Gary Najman]

In 1996 Deion Sanders played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys while also starring at cornerback. In 1981 Roy Green of the St. Louis Cardinals did the same, but he was moved to WR full time next season (also, his number was changed ftom 25 to 81).

[SixtiesFan]

It's interesting that guys like Butkus, Nitschke, and Schmidt were all FBs as well as LBs in college. What if the Bears had decided to play Butkus at FB? Or if Lombardi had done it with Nitschke, or the Lions with Schmidt (who was the fastest of the three and quite likely the best runner)? For that matter, Jimmy Taylor was also an LB in college. Jim Brown played a kind of "monster" position at Syracuse, an LB in running situations and a DB in passing situations. Hornung was considered by many the best DB in the nation in 1956.

Just to mention a couple other guys who played for Lombardi: Ron Kramer might have been a terror at defensive end and Forrest Gregg might well have been an All-Pro as a defensive tackle with his strength and quickness off the ball.

When Nitschke, Taylor, Brown, and Hornung were in college, they played both ways under the rules of the time. Butkus played both center and linebacker at Illinois in 1962-63. The colleges went back to offensive and defensive teams in 1964 and Butkus played MLB.

I recall the January 1,1964 Rose Bowl on TV. Illinois was close to the goal line and the announcer said "Dick Butkus is being sent in at center to clear the way."