Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

While doing research for a project, I stumbled upon an occurrence I doubt we will ever see again in the NFL.

On 11-5-72 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bill Bradley of the Eagles punted on 4th-and-4 in the second quarter. The next play was a Tim Van Galder pass that was intercepted by Bradley. The punt and pick brought the Eagles from a 4th-and-4 at their 25 to a 1st-and-10 at their 26.

Four plays prior to punting, Bradley fielded a punt. The next three plays were offensive plays for the Eagles. It is highly unlikely Bradley was on the field for those three plays.

Fielding a punt, punting and intercepting a pass on three consecutive plays for a particular player doesn't have a particularly decent chance of ever happening again.

JWL wrote:Fielding a punt, punting and intercepting a pass on three consecutive plays for a particular player doesn't have a particularly decent chance of ever happening again.

Interesting, good stuff.

Definitely not happening again anytime soon. I can't remember exactly how you phrased it - it was years ago - but you said something along the lines of players play positions now instead of being football players (e.g. a WR is just a WR) ... I agreed, and I don't like it. It'll keep going further in that direction than back the other way, though. Keep expanding rosters, maybe 10 years from now every team will have a designated 3rd down left tackle ...

That is interesting, and I agree, unlikely to happen again. Even Slinging Sammy Baugh probably never accomplished that on three consecutive appearances.

Reaser wrote:

JWL wrote:Fielding a punt, punting and intercepting a pass on three consecutive plays for a particular player doesn't have a particularly decent chance of ever happening again.

Interesting, good stuff.

Definitely not happening again anytime soon. I can't remember exactly how you phrased it - it was years ago - but you said something along the lines of players play positions now instead of being football players (e.g. a WR is just a WR) ... I agreed, and I don't like it. It'll keep going further in that direction than back the other way, though. Keep expanding rosters, maybe 10 years from now every team will have a designated 3rd down left tackle ...

Yeah, I made some sort of comment like that. It would be cool to see a true two-way player again. Deion Sanders did it briefly. Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson maybe could have done it. Brandon Moore could have done it because if I remember right he was a defensive linemen in college. There are many other linemen who could play both ways.

Then there are guys like Darrelle Revis. He was a dynamic punt returner in college but fear of injuries kept him from returning punts in the NFL. Revis was just a little bit more of a football player in college. In the NFL, he is a cornerback.

JWL wrote:

Reaser wrote:

JWL wrote:Fielding a punt, punting and intercepting a pass on three consecutive plays for a particular player doesn't have a particularly decent chance of ever happening again.

Interesting, good stuff.

Definitely not happening again anytime soon. I can't remember exactly how you phrased it - it was years ago - but you said something along the lines of players play positions now instead of being football players (e.g. a WR is just a WR) ... I agreed, and I don't like it. It'll keep going further in that direction than back the other way, though. Keep expanding rosters, maybe 10 years from now every team will have a designated 3rd down left tackle ...

Yeah, I made some sort of comment like that. It would be cool to see a true two-way player again. Deion Sanders did it briefly. Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson maybe could have done it. Brandon Moore could have done it because if I remember right he was a defensive linemen in college. There are many other linemen who could play both ways.

Then there are guys like Darrelle Revis. He was a dynamic punt returner in college but fear of injuries kept him from returning punts in the NFL. Revis was just a little bit more of a football player in college. In the NFL, he is a cornerback.

Troy Brown.