The NFL Was Raided By The WFL In 1974

NFL teams were mad the world Football League was signing some of their best players in 1974 and there was excitement being generated [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] the Dolphins were the team hit the hardest by the wfl player raid Larry zanka Jim kick and Paul Warfield all signed Futures contracts to play for the Memphis southman for their 1975 season zanka had just completed his third straight 1,000 rushing yard season in 1973 as well as making the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight year and all pro for the third time [Music] [Music] [Music] although Jim kick was named at the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969 he only rushed for 257 yards in 1973 and appeared to be wearing down [Music] oh [Music] [Music] wide receiver Paul Warfield however made his sixth straight Pro Bowl in 1973 in his third straight All Pro season [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] h [Music] quarterback Danny White was the Dallas Cowboys third round draft pick in 1974 out of Arizona State but he signed with the southman instead Lucius Selman was a second team All-American defensive lineman out of Oklahoma in 1972 and made unanimous first team All-American status in 1973 he was the oldest of the three smon brothers who also started together on Oklahoma's defensive line Birmingham Americans hit it big with some key signings too they plan to fill Legion Field with local product Ken Stabler who was born in Foley Alabama and played for Paul Bear Bryant at Alabama the Americans signed him to a Futures Contract for the 1976 season he [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] just think if the world Football League had been successful and stayed operable through the 1976 season Ken Stabler wouldn't have been the Raiders starting quarterback darl Monica wouldn't have been in Oakland either and old man George Blanda was retired by then the Raiders won their Super Bowl for the 1976 season but it's highly doubtful that they do if the world football league is successful Birmingham signed quarterback George Myra to play until Stabler arrived he had last played for Miami in 1971 and had only started eight games in seven NFL seasons running back Charlie heray was an excellent compliment to backfield mate Larry Brown but he had played eight NFL years and was getting long in the tooth at age 30 in 1974 wide receiver Ron Jessie was a legitimate deep threat that was signed to a Futures Contract for the 1975 season the Hawaiians played their home games at Honolulu stadium in 1974 and they moved to Aloha Stadium in 1975 they signed Vikings wide receiver John gilam during the prime of his career to a 19 1975 Futures Contract he never played for the Hawaiians however instead he played for the Chicago winds in 1975 until they folded after five regular season games he returned to play for the Vikings just in time for the start of their regular season so he played 19 regular season games in 1975 [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the Hawaiians also signed 6'4 in 230 lb running back Kelvin Hill to a 1975 Futures Contract he was a 5ye veteran who had won the 1969 offensive Rookie of the Year award but he only played three games and scored one touchdown in 1975 [Music] oh [Music] Ted kallik was a pro bowl tight end from 1971 through 1973 when he caught 52 40 and 47 passes huge numbers for a tight end back then quarterback Randy Johnson started 11 games for the 1966 expansion Falcons but he was aged 30 in 1974 after he played with the Giants from 1971 through 1973 the Houston Texans called The Eighth Wonder of the world the Astrodome their home and they made a big splash by signing Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton to a 1975 Futures Contract a [Music] [Music] [Music] perhaps Hing to drum up some interest from nearby Louisiana the Texans signed What I Call The French Connection running back Hil gr J last played in 1972 and only rushed for a total of 125 yards during his last three NFL seasons Chuck lurette was a jack of all trades of sort as he punted played defensive back and returned punts and kicks he excelled in the return game which allowed him to lead the NFL in all purpose yards in 1968 with 1,597 Garland Boyette was a former pro bowl player but he last played in 1972 and was aged 34 in 1974 the Florida Blazers had an odd helmet logo and they played their home games at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando they signed wide receiver Gary Collins despite his last NFL season being in 1971 he had 70 career receiving touchdowns but he was aged 34 in 1974 and he was finished [Music] pap [Music] [Music] will Bergie was a huge 6'4 245b middle linebacker who was the 1969 Defensive Rookie of the Year known for hitting like a Mac Truck he was also a very agile pass Defender [Music] Jacksonville Sharks had a cool helmet logo and played their home games at the 70,000 seat Gator Bowl they signed quarterback John stoa nicknamed the original Bingle because he started seven games for the 1968 expansion Bengals he had last played for the 1970 Dolphins when he threw 53 passes he was aged 32 in 1974 and was toast the shark signed players with some peculiar [Music] names the southern California son called Anaheim Stadium home and they had a couple of big signings even though quarterback darl am Monica lost his starting job to Ken Stabler during the 1973 season he had been a pro bowl player as recently as 1972 And he was a two-time AFL Player of the Year Award winner he signed a 1975 Futures Contract he [Music] he [Music] the son also signed big bad curly Culp to a name 1975 Futures Contract the New York Stars signed old New York players and played in quaint Downing stadium that only held 27,000 fans wide receiver Homer Jones was a pro bowl player in 1967 and 1968 but he last played for the Browns in 1970 when he only caught 10 passes he was 33 years old in 1974 and this signing made no sense even though at one time he was a major big play receiver [Music] [Music] [Music] Le receiver George SAU was another former star signing that made no sense as he last played in 1970 prior to that he was an outstanding receiver [Music] he [Music] the star signed pass Jets players defensive in Gary filin and defensive tackle John Elliott but they were both well past their prime years the Chicago Fire had a handful of signings that they hoped to help pack Soldier Field they hoped that quarterback Virgil Carter who last played for Cincinnati in 1972 would return to form when he led the NFL with a 62.2 completion percentage in 1971 Rudy cinberg was a strange signing because he last played in 1971 for Atlanta and had only started 10 games in five NFL seasons his brother Bob had a far more successful career the fire signed tackle Bob McCade to a 1975 Futures Contract the Detroit Wheels had a unique helmet logo and they played their home games at tiny reiners stadium that only held 24,000 patrons the wheels signed the flea Warren McVey who did not play in 1972 and only rushed four times in 1973 prior to those Seasons he was a fast Shifty Runner [Music] down [Music] you [Music] Portland Storm's general manager was future Hall of Famer Ron Mi and he had a couple of questionable signings wide receiver Gail cogdal was aged 37 in 1974 and he last played for Atlanta in 1970 defensive tackle Ron Billingsley was a huge man at 6'8 290 lb but he last played for the Oilers in 1972 the team that made the smallest signing Splash was the Philadelphia Bell who played at the expansive John F Kennedy Stadium which held 990,000 fans Canadian football Leaguers Rudy Sims and Wally Dempsey were supposed to Aid the defense while wide receiver Lindsey Cole was to be a scoring threat although he only caught 35 passes in three NFL seasons from 1970 through 1972

Channel: SportsStatsNGab

Views: 42,244

Keywords: nfl, highlights, football, wfl, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, larrycsonka, paulwarfield, kenstabler, frantarkenton, joenamath, darylelamonica, calvinhill, johngilliam, minnesotavikings, miamidolphins, dallascowboys, newyorkjets, oaklandraiders, kansascitychiefs, clevelandbrowns, cincinnatibengals, bobgriese, craigmorton

Id: K0qZ2hPh5dU

Length: 23min 59sec (1439 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 05 2024