Datone Jones, Best Rookie Pass Rusher?

[pbmax]

You're right, pb. But I think it all began with Fred "The Hammer" Williamson. He was a less than average player who made a name for himself and a movie career out of boasting how he'd lay "The Hammer" on Green Bay's receivers in the Super Bowl. Needless to say, Green Bay's receivers smoked him. His boasts were all self-generated hype ala "The Boz."

Its a fair point about Williamson. His celebrity outside football might outstrip his contributions on the field as well. However, he might simply be one of the new wave of self-promoters that appeared in that era.

Does anyone remember him outside of the Super Bowl game? Could he back up that talk and play (and tackle) well?

[KYPack]

Its a fair point about Williamson. His celebrity outside football might outstrip his contributions on the field as well. However, he might simply be one of the new wave of self-promoters that appeared in that era.

Does anyone remember him outside of the Super Bowl game? Could he back up that talk and play (and tackle) well?

Freddie was an excellent corner. Huge guy who could really run. He was 6'3" and 220. Good cover guy and a real ball hawk. One of the better force men in his time. Packer fans all think he sucked bc of SBI, where he shot his mouth off and Donny nailed him with the knee. Freddie now claims he wasn't knocked out, he was just showboating for the last bit of TV time. I dunno about that shit, Fred.

Freddie was 3 times AFL All Star, twice All-Pro. He was the first Big time Raider to be traded for a KC Chief star. The Raiders traded Williamson to the Chiefs for fellow All Star CB Dave Grayson.

Fred only played one more season with the Chiefs. His replacement was Emmitt Thomas, a HOF CB.

3 times an All Star, traded for an All Star, and replaced by a HOFer?

Freddie was a very solid player with a historical image problem.

[Fritz]

Freddie was an excellent corner. Huge guy who could really run. He was 6'3" and 220. Good cover guy and a real ball hawk. One of the better force men in his time. Packer fans all think he sucked bc of SBI, where he shot his mouth off and Donny nailed him with the knee. Freddie now claims he wasn't knocked out, he was just showboating for the last bit of TV time. I dunno about that shit, Fred.

Freddie was 3 times AFL All Star, twice All-Pro. He was the first Big time Raider to be traded for a KC Chief star. The Raiders traded Williamson to the Chiefs for fellow All Star CB Dave Grayson.

Fred only played one more season with the Chiefs. His replacement was Emmitt Thomas, a HOF CB.

3 times an All Star, traded for an All Star, and replaced by a HOFer?

Freddie was a very solid player with a historical image problem.

One of the things that lifted the NFL back then was the rivalry between certain clubs. I have good memories, as a kid, of watching KC and Oakland go at it. Daryl Lamonica vs. Kenny Stabler. Guys like Jan Stenerud, Fred Bilitnekoff, Ray Guy.

Ray Guy. Still maybe the greatest punter ever, and for sure the first truly great, great punter. Though I think KC had a guy names Jerrel Wilson who was quite good. I think that was his name.

A great rivalry, back in the early to mid- 70's.

[Patler]

Though I think KC had a guy names Jerrel Wilson who was quite good. I think that was his name.

Yup. "Thunderfoot".

[Fritz]

It was Len Dawson who was the Chiefs' QB. Oops.

Lamonica was a Raider - I think he came just before "The Snake."

But those teams matched up at every position, it seemed. Some great names. Banaszak. Otis Taylor. Jim Otto, I think.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Packers actually drafted Lamonica.