winners and participants

[beveaux1]

You have it wrong. He punted, not FGs. Left footed punter, as I recall. Often credited as being the first who focused on height even if sacrificing distance, in order to minimize returns.

My favorite player after Hornung retired. He was a left footed punter, didn't kick it long, but was very hard to return because of the height of his punts. Good halfback. Real good as a receiver. I don't think his career continued after he slowed down and couldn't make it as a runner.

[KYPack]

My favorite player after Hornung retired. He was a left footed punter, didn't kick it long, but was very hard to return because of the height of his punts. Good halfback. Real good as a receiver. I don't think his career continued after he slowed down and couldn't make it as a runner.

Yer right about Donny being a real effective punter. In '67 he kicked 63 punts, only 13 were returned for a whopping 22 yards. He also held the GBP record for punts downed inside the 20 with 21 of em. He held that record until Tim Masthay had a number of punts inside the 20, breaking Donny's records. Tim holds the record now with 30 punts inside the 20. Kentucky Tim was an extremely effective punter from 2010 - 2015. In 2016, he fell off a cliff or something and was cut.

[Fritz]

So was Donny Anderson a winner or a participant?

I do have a vague memory of him playing when I was a kid. As I recall, he was one of the "Gold Dust Twins" along with . . . Jim Grabowski? - who were supposed to be the next Hornung/Taylor. Alas, it did not work out that way.

[Maxie the Taxi]

So was Donny Anderson a winner or a participant?

I do have a vague memory of him playing when I was a kid. As I recall, he was one of the "Gold Dust Twins" along with . . . Jim Grabowski? - who were supposed to be the next Hornung/Taylor. Alas, it did not work out that way.

Today they would be called the "Chump Change Twins." I think Anderson signed for a 3-year $600,000 deal, and Grabowski for $400,000. Still it was a lot of money then.

[texaspackerbacker]

People think Lombardi wasn't creative, but there was a weird play they ran a few times where it looked like punt formation but Bart Starr was in the up position and Anderson 15 yards back as if to punt. You could do a few things from that.

Maxie, it's been a long time, but I think Grabowski got $450,000 - that's from memory, I'll let somebody else look it up. The only time I saw Grabowski live was at Camp Randall when I was in college. His Illini beat the Badgers that day 51-0, and it was about zero degrees.

[woodbuck27]

And as a lone voice in the crowd, I wanna give props to my man Jeff Janis. He doesn't play much but yesterday made the most of his opportunities, even when I saw the hate come from the board when he hesitated on 1st kick off return. I want to note that on his last kickoff return, how close he was to breaking it. The boy is fast!

Janis is also a very decent Gunner on the Punt Team.

[pbmax]

Janis is also a very decent Gunner on the Punt Team.

He had a terrible streak stretching back to last year. He variously looked like he had lost the title of best Gunner to Banjo, Fackrell and Hawkins for a while.

He has been much stronger in the last month.

Maybe banged up?

[woodbuck27]

Today they would be called the "Chump Change Twins." I think Anderson signed for a 3-year $600,000 deal, and Grabowski for $400,000. Still it was a lot of money then.

NO. 33 Jim Grabowski:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Grabowski

** He finished as the all-time leader in rushing yards in Big Ten history.

** Grabowski is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1995. He was also inducted into the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. Additionally, Grabowski was named to the University of Illinois "All-Century" team, and is a member of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

** NFL DRAFT: 1966 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9 Green Bay Packers

AFL DRAFT : The first overall pick by the expansion Miami Dolphins

Grabowski played five seasons for the Packers, and was known as one of Green Bay's "Gold Dust Twins" (along with fellow rookie running back Donny Anderson) in the late Sixties.


Donnie Anderson NO. 44

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donny_Anderson

Despite being selected by the Packers in the 1965 Draft, Donnie Anderson returned for his senior season at Texas Tech in 1965 and led the Red Raiders to an 8-2 regular season and a berth in the Gator Bowl on the afternoon of New Year's Eve. As a senior, he ran for 705 yards with 10 TD and had 60 catches for 797 yards and 7 TD.

Selected the outstanding player for Texas Tech in a ten-point loss to Georgia Tech, Anderson signed his pro contract hours after the game. He selected the Packers over the reportedly higher offer from the Houston Oilers of the AFL. His contract was believed to be a then-record $600,000, exceeding Joe Namath's contract of the previous year.

Anderson began his NFL career in 1966 as #44 for the world champion Packers. Fellow All-American Jim Grabowski (wore NO. 33), a fullback from Illinois, was the Packers' first pick in the 1966 NFL Draft, and ninth overall. The well-paid pair were the projected successors of Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor, future hall of famers in their final season with Green Bay. The two rookies were on the College All-Star team that lost to the defending NFL champion Packers 38–0 on August 5 at Soldier Field in Chicago. They joined the Packers' training camp after the game, and were tabbed the "Gold Dust Twins."

** Donnie Anderson was more than a Running Back; he took on the duties of Punter. Anderson originated the concept of hang time in punting. Until Anderson, punters typically strove for maximum distance, with the NFL's leaders usually averaging 45 or more yards a punt. Punt returns varied, with an average of perhaps 5 yards per return. In 1967, the left-footed Anderson worked instead at punting the ball higher, shortening the distance traveled but increasing the ball's time in the air, allowing better coverage by his team on the punt return. Green Bay punted 66 times that year, 63 of them by Anderson; opponents were able to return only 13 of them for a total of 22 yards, or about 1/3 yard per punt.

** In February 1972, Anderson was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for MacArthur Lane.

[Fritz]

Today they would be called the "Chump Change Twins." I think Anderson signed for a 3-year $600,000 deal, and Grabowski for $400,000. Still it was a lot of money then.

Those $400,000 and $600,000 contracts were big, big, big money back in the mid-60's. Hell, the great Detroit Tiger Al Kaline did not break the $100,000 barrier until '72 or '73 (he actually turned one $100,000 a year contract down because he felt no player was worth that kind of money).

So those were two huge contracts. The AFL was good for professional players' salaries.

And both were top ten picks, which I did not know. I'm not sure how the Packers got those picks, but can you imagine the shitstorm Vince Lombardi would've faced in today's social media world with how those two picks worked out? (I believe at that point Lombardi was in charge of drafting.)

Two top-ten picks two years running, and you end up with a couple of "meh" players? Man, Lombardi would've gotten absolutely roasted. That's AJ Hawk territory, two years in a row. They were okay, but they were no Taylor/Hornung combo. Heck, the "highlight" in that video Maxie posted (thank you, by the way, Maxie, cool stuff) of Donny Anderson was him grabbing a screen, going about ten yards, and then getting easily ankle-tackled. Looked like Richard Rodgers.

There'd be a half-dozen "Fire Lombardi" threads going at a time, his imbecility held up for all to see.

Getting MacArthur Lane for Anderson was a good trade, though. Lane had a couple of pretty good years for Green Bay. I can't remember his running mate in the backfield, but they were good. I think it was post-Brockington. I do remember that Green Bay used to run what was called the halfback option. The Packers' excuse-for-a-QB at that time (Scott Hunter? Jerry Tagge? John Hadl?) would pitch it to Lane, who'd run like it was a sweep, then pull up and throw a spiral tighter than anything any Packer QB of the time could manage. And more accurately, too.

[Patler]

Those $400,000 and $600,000 contracts were big, big, big money back in the mid-60's. Hell, the great Detroit Tiger Al Kaline did not break the $100,000 barrier until '72 or '73 (he actually turned one $100,000 a year contract down because he felt no player was worth that kind of money).

So those were two huge contracts. The AFL was good for professional players' salaries.

And both were top ten picks, which I did not know. I'm not sure how the Packers got those picks, but can you imagine the shitstorm Vince Lombardi would've faced in today's social media world with how those two picks worked out? (I believe at that point Lombardi was in charge of drafting.)

Two top-ten picks two years running, and you end up with a couple of "meh" players? Man, Lombardi would've gotten absolutely roasted. That's AJ Hawk territory, two years in a row. They were okay, but they were no Taylor/Hornung combo. Heck, the "highlight" in that video Maxie posted (thank you, by the way, Maxie, cool stuff) of Donny Anderson was him grabbing a screen, going about ten yards, and then getting easily ankle-tackled. Looked like Richard Rodgers.

There'd be a half-dozen "Fire Lombardi" threads going at a time, his imbecility held up for all to see.

Getting MacArthur Lane for Anderson was a good trade, though. Lane had a couple of pretty good years for Green Bay. I can't remember his running mate in the backfield, but they were good. I think it was post-Brockington. I do remember that Green Bay used to run what was called the halfback option. The Packers' excuse-for-a-QB at that time (Scott Hunter? Jerry Tagge? John Hadl?) would pitch it to Lane, who'd run like it was a sweep, then pull up and throw a spiral tighter than anything any Packer QB of the time could manage. And more accurately, too.

While both were rookies in 1966, Anderson was drafted the year before as a "futures" pick, before his last year of college eligibility (he redshirted one year, which made him draftable.) He had the option of signing then, or playing his last year in college. Anderson stayed for his last season. Many thought it was a smart move, because salaries were going up dramatically, and by waiting he got more than Namath had. I think GB got the pick from the Eagles in the Jim Ringo and Earl Gros trade, that also brought them Leroy Caffey.

Grabowski was taken with the Lions first round pick, received in exchange for Ron Kramer.

Anderson was more than a "meh" player. He made some Pro Bowls, and his yardage totals were decent for those days. He is in the Packer HOF.

Grabowski looked real good as a runner early, then had his first knee injury. Back in those days, they sliced your knee open from top to bottom to fix it, which often ended careers. He never was the same after that. He had more knee problems, and didn't have a long career. I always liked Grabowski. He was a tough son of a gun.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Getting MacArthur Lane for Anderson was a good trade, though. Lane had a couple of pretty good years for Green Bay. I can't remember his running mate in the backfield, but they were good. I think it was post-Brockington.

Lane's running mate WAS Brockington. It was the highlight of the Devine years watching those two pound the pill. As an old schooler, I loved it!!

Here's a story about it: http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/p...153333955.html

Brockington rushed for 1,027 yards in 274 carries (3.7 avg.) and eight touchdowns, while Lane accumulated 821 yards in 177 attempts (4.6 avg.) and three touchdowns.

[Patler]

Lane's running mate WAS Brockington. It was the highlight of the Devine years watching those two pound the pill. As an old schooler, I loved it!!

Here's a story about it: http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/p...153333955.html

Yup! Lane was known as a tremendous blocker and very good receiver, as well as a strong, physical runner. It always seemed to me the Packers got the better end of that trade, although Lane was viewed as a malcontent in St. Louise.

[beveaux1]

While both were rookies in 1966, Anderson was drafted the year before as a "futures" pick, before his last year of college eligibility (he redshirted one year, which made him draftable.) He had the option of signing then, or playing his last year in college. Anderson stayed for his last season. Many thought it was a smart move, because salaries were going up dramatically, and by waiting he got more than Namath had. I think GB got the pick from the Eagles in the Jim Ringo and Earl Gros trade, that also brought them Leroy Caffey.

Grabowski was taken with the Lions first round pick, received in exchange for Ron Kramer.

Anderson was more than a "meh" player. He made some Pro Bowls, and his yardage totals were decent for those days. He is in the Packer HOF.

Grabowski looked real good as a runner early, then had his first knee injury. Back in those days, they sliced your knee open from top to bottom to fix it, which often ended careers. He never was the same after that. He had more knee problems, and didn't have a long career. I always liked Grabowski. He was a tough son of a gun.

Absolutely true. Anderson was very well thought of as a runner, receiver, and punter. He even threw the HB option on occasion. 1000 yard runners were very rare in the late 60s because every team used a 2 back set and both ran for considerable yardage. Lombardi would have been praised for this pick.

[KYPack]

While both were rookies in 1966, Anderson was drafted the year before as a "futures" pick, before his last year of college eligibility (he redshirted one year, which made him draftable.) He had the option of signing then, or playing his last year in college. Anderson stayed for his last season. Many thought it was a smart move, because salaries were going up dramatically, and by waiting he got more than Namath had. I think GB got the pick from the Eagles in the Jim Ringo and Earl Gros trade, that also brought them Leroy Caffey.

Grabowski was taken with the Lions first round pick, received in exchange for Ron Kramer.

Anderson was more than a "meh" player. He made some Pro Bowls, and his yardage totals were decent for those days. He is in the Packer HOF.

Grabowski looked real good as a runner early, then had his first knee injury. Back in those days, they sliced your knee open from top to bottom to fix it, which often ended careers. He never was the same after that. He had more knee problems, and didn't have a long career. I always liked Grabowski. He was a tough son of a gun.

In these days of specialization, I'm sure Donny will hold one "record". He's got to be the last (and maybe the only) player in NFL history to both be a punter and the teams punt return man.

Several years ago, I attended a Packer game in which Anderson and Grabowski were brought back as team captains for an old timers day or something. I lucked into getting into one of those hospitality tents in which both men did a meet and greet for the fans. it involved a Q&A session and both men were totally cool. It was a flashback to the time when sports stars were humble and self deprecating. they spoke for over an hour or so. The video max posted has a sample of what went down that morning. At one point, a question was asked about how the two guys were treated by the veteran Packers after singing those big money contracts. They both laughed and then both of them recounted how much static they got from many vets after they raked in those big bucks. Jim Taylor and Leroy Caffey were two guys who really heaped scorn on these two young guys and made their lives pretty miserable.

Donny then spoke about a turning point that came in the regular season. Lombardi was trying to work Anderson into the mix and get him game experience. In a close game (tied I believe) Anderson was attempting to get extra yardage and fumbled the ball which was recovered by the opposition. Lombardi yelled at Donny for giving up the ball and he sat by himself on the far end of the bench. He sat there alone, staring at his shoes. All he could think of was how miserable the plane ride home would be for him after costing the team the game. He began to think that maybe he didn't have what it takes to play for the Pack. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Fuzzy. Fuzz told him to "take it easy kid. You know what's going to happen? The defense will hold them and they'll punt it to us. Bart will lead us down and we'll kick a field goal to win the ball game. Then, we'll get on the plane and drink beer and party all the way home". And that's exactly what happened. After that, several of the veterans told the others to lighten up on the young players, they needed them to perform well to win. When asked if all the veterans lightened up on them, Anderson replied, "Well, not Taylor", which got a hearty laugh from Grabowski. I guess #31 was a pretty hard case.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Absolutely true. Anderson was very well thought of as a runner, receiver, and punter. He even threw the HB option on occasion. 1000 yard runners were very rare in the late 60s because every team used a 2 back set and both ran for considerable yardage. Lombardi would have been praised for this pick.

Another reason 1000-yard rushers were rare back in the day is that they didn't play as many games in the regular season. Can't say for sure when the switch to more games happened.