Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Hello all. I'm new here, but I'm not. Used to post on the original PFRA forum. It was a Lynn Dickey-related handle. Can't remember specifically what it was. Anyway, glad to be back. This place hasn't changed a bit.

I was reading through some of the threads and was searching for some players I enjoyed when I was a kid. Not obscure players, but ones that won't make the Hall Of Fame and would even be a long shot for the Hall Of Very Good.

I was/am a Packers fan (hence the original handle) and I'm fortunate in that my biggest hero as a kid, James Lofton, is in the HOF. Lynn Dickey was a big favorite obviously too.

However, I was thinking more about players on other teams. One that jumps to mind is St. Louis Cardinals receiver Pat Tilley.

I liked the Cardinals when I was a kid even though I began following the NFL in 1978 and they had faded badly from their mid-70s salad days. I didn't know that at the time though. The Packers rarely played them, I dug their helmets and they were the underdog against power teams like the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins. I bridged the Jim Hart-Mel Gray era to Neil Lomax-Roy Green period, but Tilley was part of the Cardinals for that entire period.

He was a good second receiver. Wouldn't have carried a team on his own, but was a fine complementary piece to the speed guys.

I think I liked him because I perceived him as small (5-foot-10) and I was a short kid. When I got older and understood the game better, I liked his dependability.

What are some of yours?

However, I was thinking more about players on other teams. One that jumps to mind is St. Louis Cardinals receiver Pat Tilley.

He was a good second receiver. Wouldn't have carried a team on his own, but was a fine complementary piece to the speed guys.

I think I liked him because I perceived him as small (5-foot-10) and I was a short kid. When I got older and understood the game better, I liked his dependability.

When I was in third grade, I had the NFL sticker book for that season. I remember that Pat was one of the stickers in the Cardinal section, along with edge rusher Curtis Greer. Tilley was a good WR who didn't get much play.

Welcome Back!

Ten Minute Ticker wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 2:09 am long shot for the Hall Of Very Good.

Tony Nathan

Ten Minute Ticker wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 2:09 am Not obscure players

You already took me down the road, so I'll give an obscure one anyway - Andra Franklin

I love the name 10-minute ticker! That is one of those great obscure things about watching the NFL that only is going to be known by those who watched in a certain era.

A lot of guys - but I have to say from the Packers (I grew up in Wis) it would be Terdell Middleton. On defense I'd say Chuck Cecil.

And we all imitated John Jefferson in the yard, especially when he was with the Chargers. He didn't have the same magic with the Packers. Billy White Shoes is another way up there. Two others would be Tony Hill and Billy Joe DuPree.

Arian Foster. What a beast that dude was. Also Fitzmagic.

Alfred Jenkins ... they showed alot of Falcons games on CBS during 79-85 and he always made big plays. Bartkowski could go deep with the best of 'em ...

Rob Carpenter

Mostly Earl Campbell's blocking back in Houston (I had his card in 1980), but still did some ball carrying. And then his tour de force season in '81 with the Giants; playoff win at Philly in-particular.

Tough as nails. Didn't take painkillers. Wanted to..."feel the pain"!

Rob Carpenter was awesome! Loved him on the Oilers. Good call on that one.

Alfred Jenkins was great, too. He and Wallace Francis both made the Falcons receiving corps fun to watch.