Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Jim Taylor with the Saints

Doug Atkins and Ken Stabler - also with the Saints.

It should be noted that in a number of these cases the team sought the player hoping there was something left in the tank or,
as in the Namath and Simpson cases, here they are in la la land, folks.

Amazingly, the Saints retired Taylor and Atkins numbers.

L.C. Greenwood wrote:
Thanks, I completely missed this story, even though I definitely remember the attempted comeback by Duane Thomas with the Packers in the preseason not long after Bell's attempt. Is gamebooks accessible at the NFL website, or is there another website I should be checking?

the PFRA memebrs only. Has Raider gamebooks

zachary stephen wrote:Doug Atkins and Ken Stabler - also with the Saints.

It should be noted that in a number of these cases the team sought the player hoping there was something left in the tank or,
as in the Namath and Simpson cases, here they are in la la land, folks.

Atkins was very good for Saints. Was 2nd team All-Pro in 1968 and 8½ sacks in 1969. He went out with a bang

JohnTurney wrote:

L.C. Greenwood wrote:
Thanks, I completely missed this story, even though I definitely remember the attempted comeback by Duane Thomas with the Packers in the preseason not long after Bell's attempt. Is gamebooks accessible at the NFL website, or is there another website I should be checking?

the PFRA memebrs only. Has Raider gamebooks

Not so; it is here for anyone.

https://www.raiders.com/media/media-guides

zachary stephen wrote:

JohnTurney wrote:

L.C. Greenwood wrote:
Thanks, I completely missed this story, even though I definitely remember the attempted comeback by Duane Thomas with the Packers in the preseason not long after Bell's attempt. Is gamebooks accessible at the NFL website, or is there another website I should be checking?

the PFRA memebrs only. Has Raider gamebooks

Not so; it is here for anyone.

https://www.raiders.com/media/media-guides

I don't think those go back to 1976. I could be wrong, but we were talking about Bobby Bell with the Raiders in 1976. Only place I know to get 1976 Raiders gamebooks is PFRA members only section.

JohnTurney wrote: Lance Alworth, 1972 Cowboys 15 Catches

Randy Moss 2012, 49ers 28 catches

But Alworth was the second WR on the 1971 Cowboys, who won the Super Bowl.
So he did have something left in the tank, post-Chargers.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... woLa00.htm

I read somewhere, somewhen that Landry turned Alworth into an excellent blocker in his years with the Cowboys.
John, have you seen film evidence to support or contradict that?

And Moss, despite a less than mediocre season was the WR2 (or maybe 3) on a 49er team that suffered a disappointing, heart-rending, agonizing... er, loss in Super Bowl XLVII.
Did I mention that one hurt?

[quote="JuggernautJ"
the tank, post-Chargers.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... woLa00.htm

I read somewhere, somewhen that Landry turned Alworth into an excellent blocker in his years with the Cowboys.
John, have you seen film evidence to support or contradict that?

[/quote]
Not seen enough to know one way or another.

A great source for this type of info were the old Sporting News season review books. They listed notable players on training camp rosters for the upcoming season.

Injury caused this terrific player to bow out with a whimper. I'm talking about Stump Mitchell of the Chiefs, who I believe was having a strong camp with KC, but a knee injury on on kickoff return officially ended his NFL career.