Day 7 of 36: Short Player Nicknames

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. On day seven, I breakdown the seven best short player nicknames!

7 – Running Back - Lavon Albert Mitchell or “Stump”

6 – Running Back - Lionell “Little Train” James

3 – Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco – Return Specialist and Running Back - Nolan “Super Gnat” Smith

5 – Wide Receiver - Jerome “Ice Cube” McNeil

4 – Miami Dolphins - Running Back - Don Nottingham or “The Human Bowling Ball”

2 – Half Back – Jack “Soupy” Shapiro – 5-foot-1/2” – World record holder for being the shortest player in league history

1 – Carolina Panthers - Middle Linebacker - Sam Mills or the “Field Mouse” – What the heck does a field mouse have to do with a football player anyways?

Up Next: Tomorrow I will break down one of the toughest quarterbacks in league history. His name is legendary and his words were even more valuable. He threw for 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in the season just before he won the Super Bowl. His team asked him to throw less. Can you guess who it is?

Day 6 of 36: The True Mayor of Title Town

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. Day six goes back in time as we briefly look at the storied history of the Green Bay Packers and the true mayor of Title Town.

When 6-foot-1, 205-pound Herb Adderley first arrived in Green Bay, he had the unfortunate realization that he was going to have to compete against future Hall-of-Famers Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor for a spot in the Packers offensive backfield.

Yet that didn’t stop the Michigan State star running back from making the team, or the starting lineup. Legendary Head Coach Vince Lombardi saw Adderley’s raw talent and knew he needed to have it – that much was evident when he picked the Philadelphia, Pa. native with the 12th overall selection in the 1961 draft. In college, Adderley not only led his team in rushing in 1959, but he also led his team in receptions – from the running back position!

With excellent speed and strong hands, Adderley’s athleticism was on full display early in the 1961 season as he started fourteen games and picked off his first pass of his storied career. The very next year – after fully adapting to the position and the speed of the pro game – Adderley showed what he could do. He picked off a career-high seven passes and returned one for a touchdown.  

According to packers.com, Lombardi once said, “I was too stubborn to switch him to defense until I had to. Now when I think of what Adderley means to our defense, it scares me to think of how I almost mishandled him.”

Adderley also excelled in returning kicks, averaging nearly 28 yards per return in his second season. Over the course of nine seasons, he racked up 3,080 career kickoff return yards, which is still the third best total in team history, behind only Steve Odom (4,124) and Al Carmichael (3,907). Packers.com also states, “His career average of 25.67 yards per return is also among the upper echelon of Packers greats, as is his 103-yard kickoff return against the Baltimore Colts in 1962.”

In his fifth season in the green and gold, Adderley collected six interceptions returning three for scores – a career best. Two years later, he added to his resume by intercepting a pass from Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl II before returning it 60 yards for a touchdown to seal the win.

In 1970, just two years after he helped the Packers seal their second Super Bowl victory and third-straight NFL Title, Adderley packed his bags and went to play for the Cowboys.

Following the 1972 season with the Cowboys, Adderley retired. In his career, he played in five NFL title games and two NFC title games, winning all seven. His only Super Bowl loss in four tries was with the Cowboys in Super Bowl V.

For ten straight seasons, Adderley intercepted at least three touchdown passes and finished his career with 39 total picks. In all, he attended five Pro Bowls (1963-67) and earned Associated Press All-Pro honors ('62-67, 69) seven times. He was a consensus All-Pro in 1965 and in 1966.

For his efforts, Adderley is thought of by many as the best cover corner of the 1960s. With six championship rings choked around his fingers, even the naïve football fan can admit that Adderley was simply a winner – a winner in the true sense of the word.

Day 5 of 36: Cutler and Marshall are a Match Made in Heaven

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. On day five, I will try to mix it up a little bit and talk about a different team. The Chicago Bears have a storied history, one which includes a terrifyingly-good 1985 team and a multitude of great players like "Sweetness" himself Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, Brian Urlacher, "The Fridge" William Perry and Dick Butkus. Today, I will talk about a current duo - Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall.

I am familiar with Brandon Marshall from his playing days in Miami, but he was never really able to break out in South Beach. There is no doubt he has the talent, but he needs a strong-armed quarterback to get him the ball. And that's just what he has in Chicago with Jay Cutler.

Although last year was a disappointment for the Bears - missing the playoffs despite a 10-6 record - there are many who think that the combination of Cutler and Marshall can be deadly in the NFL this upcoming year, and they should.

Last year Cutler was reunited with Jermey Bates - a former coach for the Broncos - who stepped in as the quarterbacks coach and allowed Cutler some mobility in play-calling. For the first time since joining the Bears in 2009, Cutler was able to audible at the line of scrimmage and it paid dividends.

With the Vanderbilt product under center the Bears were 10-5 - Cutler ultimately missed a game due to an injury, but was still able to throw for 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. The bad news was, he was sacked 38 times - the second highest total in his career.

This year with added depth throughout the offensive line, Cutler should be able to get more time to throw to his favorite target.

Catching 41-percent of your team's passes is a ridiculous stat in itself. Marshall accomplished that feat last year while setting franchise records in receiving yards (1,508) and total catches (118). Those were also career-highs for Marshall and he set a career high in touchdown receptions with 11. Marshall's 118 catches was also 89 more than the next best receiver on the team - Earl Bennett (29).

Marshall also became just the fourth wideout ever to have at least four 100-catch seasons in a career joining greats Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison and Wes Welker. He was named to the Pro Bowl last season marking the first Bears' receiver to earn that accomplishment since 2002 and just the second since 1971.

After establishing their chemistry in Denver for many years, Cutler and Marshall have become Chicago's match made in football heaven and 2013 should be fun to watch for Bears' fans.

Day 4 of 36: FOUR BURNING QUESTIONS

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. In Day four, I break down four major questions I had coming into Sunday night’s Hall of Fame Game featuring the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys.

Although I would love to start this segment out with questions about newly-acquired Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace and his new found bromance with Ryan Tannehill or Tony Romo and his hefty contract, that’s sadly not an option. That’s because the biggest question facing either squad lies in their offensive lines.  

Question #1: How will Jonathan Martin fair at the left tackle position?

Martin had a good start on Sunday night. You know that because his name wasn’t mentioned for the first handful of plays. Yet as soon as NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth mentioned Martin and all the question marks surrounding his play, Martin gave up too much ground and the outside edge to the Cowboys pass rush on a busted screen play. Despite the ultimate result of an incomplete pass, the play highlighted Martin’s inability to solidify the blindside for his second year quarterback.

The harsher reality for the Dolphins is the lack of depth on the outside of the offensive line. Dallas Thomas was too inconsistent to even be considered a possible starter, getting beat around the edge in pass rush situations and getting pushed into the backfield in running situations. It’s no wonder the Dolphins sought out a multitude of O-linemen in the offseason, before failing to sign a new left tackle.

Looking back at Martin, the potential seems to be there with his size and strength and maybe with even more experience over the next four weeks he will improve, but don’t tell the media that.

They’re skeptical on the whole situation. Cris Collinsworth was the last to say it stating, “Maybe if they sure up the offensive line, the Dolphins will be contenders this year.” Earlier this week, the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero reported that Martin was manhandled and “owned” by pass rusher and teammate Olivier Vernon among others and his post-game comments on Sunday were similar.

Miami Head Coach Joe Philbin said he thought Martin wasn’t doing too badly during practice. “I think his sets have been good,” Philbin said. “The thing an offensive lineman consistently has to work on is the timing of the punch, kind of like a boxer. It’s more like a jab. That consistency in the punch is something we have to have him continue to work on.”

Question #2: Because it’s way too early to judge the Cowboys recent contract negotiation and fat contract given to quarterback Tony Romo, I will stick to talking about the impressive play of rookie center Travis Frederick.

I can see what the Cowboys liked so much in rookie center Travis Frederick to move up to draft him near the end of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Against the Dolphins, Frederick was very solid in run blocking, even opening up freight-train like holes in the middle of Miami’s defense at times.

What’s more, he sounds like the smartest center in the game today, and he’s a rookie! Frederick was a double-major in college and now he’s making calls that are surprising teammates like Jason Witten who said, “I’ve never seen a rookie do that.”

Tony Romo also commented on the rookie’s ability to help the offense as he told Trey Wingo of ESPN that Frederick “is blowing people away in camp. [We] like everything about him.”

Frederick also saw some action at guard, which highlights his versatility – something very important on the Cowboys offensive line.

Question #3: How healthy does Mike Wallace look and how much chemistry does he have with Ryan Tannehill?

I had to sneak this one in here no matter what, so here it is.

In accordance with reports from the Miami Herald earlier this week, Wallace told reporters he’s battling a groin injury, but later stated the issue was not too serious. That injury held him out of Sunday night’s game and that conservative approach from the Dolphins was expected.

Wallace did comment on his anticipation for this game though, saying “This is a new situation for me, so I just want to get out there and feel it out, get with my new teammates and have a great time.” Maybe that drive will get him on the field in week 2 of the preseason.

If not, Wallace could face a barrage of questions from the likes of Omar Kelly from the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

Earlier in the offseason, Kelly said, “We’re three days into training camp and the Mike Wallace factor hasn’t been felt so far.” He went on to say that Wallace hasn’t roasted any cornerbacks, shown off his run-after-catch skills or shown any chemistry with Ryan Tannehill, adding a yet to each of the aforementioned statements.

Adding that yet was big. It shows that, along with every other Dolphin fan in South Beach, Kelly remains optimistic about Wallace’s future with the team. Whatever the circumstances, Wallace might want to make it onto the field soon or there could be blood.

Question #4: With such lofty expectations (1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns), how does Lamar Miller look as the No. 1 back?

Entering Sunday night’s Hall of Fame game, Dolphins second-year running back Lamar Miller had lofty expectations for the upcoming season.

Sadly, if Lamar Miller’s first carry of the preseason is any indication of where this team is going, the Dolphins are going to need some help. Miller fumbled his first handoff – a ball he never had complete control of and a fumble officially credited to Tannehill – but that lone act is sinful in head coach Joe Philbin’s book. The team even commented this week that they want to force turnovers, not commit them.

Luckily, Miller’s big-play-or-bust style helped him save face. The next two plays he touched the ball he showed off his speed to the outside for back-to-back ten-yard gains.

Miller still has a shot at the number one spot in the backfield considering it was only the first preseason game, but looking back to his own expectations he set this offseason he’ll have to show Philbin a whole lot more in their next four games.

Only three players since 2008 have had 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in a single season – Arian Foster in 2010, Michael Turner in 2008 and DeAngelo Williams also in 2008. Every one of those guys saw 270 or more touches during their respective seasons to accomplish that feat, yet last year in Miami, Reggie Bush was the go-to runner, but he had just 227 touches over the 16-game season. Another confounding problem for Miller reaching those lofty numbers lies in the new-faced receiving corp.

With so many newly added passing options, Tannehill and the Dolphins offense is expected to throw the ball more in 2013 than they did in 2012. That might be hard to do considering they passed on 55 percent of their plays last year.

Finally, what about Daniel Thomas’ big-body running style and it’s negative effect on Miller’s final touchdown numbers? Surely, the smaller Miller will sub-out in goal-line situations. Maybe not after Thomas’ disappointing game against the Cowboys.

Still, all these arguments point to a stifling run game in Miami, but to really answer this question. One just needs a little patience. We will know with time.

FOUR MORE POINTS -

·         Lane Kiffin seems to have rejuvenated the Dallas defense. He brings an energy to the squad and it showed in the HOF game. His cover-two scheme worked to perfection in the second quarter as DeVonte Holloman picked off a tipped Matt Moore pass over the middle and returned it 75 yards to the house.

·         One bright spot in Sunday night’s game was the quick burst of the Dolphins rookie running back Mike Gillislee. If Miller ever becomes a bust – which I don’t see him being – maybe the Dolphins hit it big with Gillislee.

·         The Dolphins linebacking corp. looked weak. The addition of Phillip Wheeler seemed more of a downgrade than an upgrade after Wheeler was beaten badly on the very first Cowboys pass just before missing Lance Dunbar in a routine open-field tackle. Also, Koa Misi will need to improve in shedding blocks unless he wants teams running to his side every down. His broken arm tackles aren’t scaring anyone.

·         Lastly and sadly, Art “The Bulldog” Donovan – the very first Hall of Famer in Baltimore Colts histoy – passed away at the age of 89 on Sunday night. He remains the only Hall of Famer born in The Bronx, New York. He will be missed (1924 – 2013).

DAY 3 OF 36: THREE UP-AND-COMERS

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. Day three includes three young stars in the National Football League, or as I like to call them three up-and-comers!

Up and Comer No. 1 – Greg Hardy – Defensive End – Carolina Panthers

Normally you don’t see sixth-round draft picks making that much of an impact in a professional football game on Sundays. Besides Tom Brady, these players are usually your run of the mill type of guy, resorting to special teams play and occasionally a substitute.

However, Greg Hardy is not your typical sixth-round pick.

Hardy may make his impact felt on special teams – he’s a gunner on punt team coverage despite starting at defensive end for the Panthers – yet his main contributions come in pass rush situations. At six-foot-four and 290 pounds, you wouldn’t think of Hardy running down speedy kick returners. Nor would you assume this mammoth of a man have the speed and explosiveness that he does.

Hardy originally fell in the draft because he elected to return for one final season at Ole Miss. A broken bone in his right foot kept Hardy from reaching his lofty expectations in his senior season, but the Panthers still took a chance on him.

In 2012, Hardy had his best season as a pro and the sky is the ceiling for this young man. Last year, he racked up 11 sacks in just 15 games and he played the majority of those games with a cast on his left hand. He also amassed 41 total tackles in his third year after earning 38 in his sophomore campaign.

Called “The Kraken” by his teammates, Hardy has earned respect around the league. That’s why you should keep an eye on him this year.

Note - Dan Hanzus of NFL.com and Around the League also took note of Hardy's exceptional talent and breakout ability: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000218144/article/making-the-leap-no-16-panthers-de-greg-hardy

 Up and Comer No. 2 – Bruce Carter – Middle Linebacker – Dallas Cowboys

Considered one of the top 2011 NFL Draft prospects, Bruce Carter hasn't lived up to that hype in his first two seasons in Big-D. Coming into year three though, he is slated to start at weakside linebacker in Lane Kiffin's new 4-3 defense. Over the past two seasons, Carter has earned valuable time on the field, playing in a total of 21 games in two years and registering 78 combined tackles (70 alone last year).

Carter is a hard-hitter with run-stuffing ability, but he’s also very good in coverage. Against the Atlanta Falcons last year, Carter was up against one of the best tight ends in the business in Tony Gonzalez and he held his own. As a replacement for the injured Sean Lee, Carter showcased his solid speed – he chased Julio Jones down in a foot race, although Jones wasn’t at top speed – and with a little more experience and another year under his belt this young man could become one of the best in the game if he keeps progressing.

Carter’s biggest weakness seems to be shedding blockers. At 6-foot-2 and 246 pounds, he has the size to play effectively between the tackles, yet has struggled in the past to shed blockers when they get into his chest.

His upside still seems impossibly high, as the other teams in the NFC East found out last year, Carter couble be a star in the making.

Finally, it’s nearly impossible to run around him - maybe that explains the move to weakside linebacker - and if he can keep away from lineman at the second level, he should be fun to watch over the next couple of years.

Note- Just one day after I posted this, NFL.com Around the League writer Gregg Rosenthal chose Carter as his number two player to "make the leap" in 2013. He says, "Carter arguably was the fastest inside linebacker in the NFL last year. And he won't be playing on the inside any longer. Heading into his third season, Carter will be showcased as the weakside linebacker in new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's 4-3 scheme. That was Derrick Brooks' old position. It's Lance Briggs' position. Carter and Cowboys middle linebacker Sean Lee could be this generation's answer to Briggs and Brian Urlacher."

He continued, "Carter has sprinter-like long speed, but he also shows impressive quickness to get around defenders. He didn't "guess" wrong too often and often beat offensive linemen and fullbacks with his anticipation."

"Carter ranks No. 2 on our list because he showed the full package last year in 11 games before dislocating his elbow," Rosenthal concluded. "His physical attributes leaped off the screen. He was solid in run defense and a sure tackler. He stood out as a pass defender... Carter did an excellent job in zone and man coverage, slowing down players as varied as Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin and Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez."

See the full report here: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000226075/comments/making-the-leap-no-2-cowboys-lb-bruce-carter

Up and Comer No. 3 – Markus Wheaton – Wide Receiver – Pittsburgh Steelers

With the departure of Mike Wallace to the Miami Dolphins this past offseason, look for the Pittsburgh Steelers to rely on young talent to carry the receiving corp. this year. Markus Wheaton is one of those young playmakers with a tremendous upside.

A third-round selection this past draft by the Steelers, Wheaton was sensational as a senior at Oregon State. As a Beaver, he earned All-Pacific-12 Conference honors in his final year in the orange and black and in his collegiate career he recorded 227 receptions for 2,994 yards and 16 total touchdowns. He also competed for the track team, specializing in the 60-, 100- and 200-meter races.

In the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.4 forty-yard dash and collected a 37-inch vertical jump. This year we will see if Wheaton’s raw skills can transfer to the pro game. You already know where my bet is.

Also keep an eye on:

-          Saalim Hakim, wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints. His speed could be deadly in the coming months with Drew Brees throwing him the football.

-     Adrian Tracy, defensive end for the New York Giants. Known for their dominant pass rushers, fans of the Giants may not see a lot of Tracy over the next season, but the young man has serious talent. If you don’t believe me, then check out this video:

Terrific Two’s – Double-Trouble – Two Times the Fun: DAY TWO OF 36

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. Day two features duos of obscure proportions and epic similarities.

Only Two Remain Undefeated and Winless

Larry Ball and Maulty Moore are the only two players in NFL history to play on an undefeated team – the 1972 Miami Dolphins – and a winless team – 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ball, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 232 pounds, played in 79 total games, racking up three forced recoveries and two interceptions.

Moore bounced around the league as well, playing for the Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and the Buccaneers. Moore’s story is a true underdog story as the undrafted free agent from Bethune-Cookman College in Dayton, FL made the Dolphins taxi-squad in 1971. A year later, Moore was playing on the special teams and contributed to the only undefeated season in league history.

Co-MVPs

In 1948, San Francisco’s quarterback Frankie Albert – a jump-throwing southpaw originally from Chicago - threw 29 touchdown passes en route to co-MVP honors with Otto Graham. This occurred just eight years after Albert led Stanford University to an undefeated season and a Rose Bowl berth.

Albert played for the 49ers from 1946 to 1952 before later coaching and scouting for the team. This was at a time when teams took players from local universities. So like San Francisco’s current head coach Jim Harbaugh, Albert made the jump from Standford University to the 49ers in 1946. Two years later, Albert was leading the league in touchdown passes. In 1948, Albert led the AAFC with 29 TDs before again setting the pace in the league with 27 passing touchdowns in 1949.

Although Albert’s stats don’t shine as bright as Graham’s, the duo enjoyed one commonality in their respective careers. The Co-MVP honor came off an outright MVP season for Graham one year prior.

Graham is a hero in Cleveland and his number 14 jersey is retired in the organization. He’s a three-time NFL Champion, a 4-time Conference Champion and a nine-time All-Pro selection. Following his legendary playing days, Graham went into coaching, first in the college ranks at Coast Guard before coaching with the Redskins for two seasons.

Graham’s legacy as a player is one of unimaginable proportions.

Two Who Do It All

There are only two players in NFL history to own, coach and play for the same football team at the same time. The first is George Halas – the forefather of professional football and former owner of the Chicago Bears. Halas is better known as “Papa Bear” to Chicago natives as he helped the Bears win six NFL titles in the pre-Super Bowl era, while coaching the team for a total of 40 years (most by any coach for a single team).

Most Seasons as a Coach of a single team in NFL history –

1.       George Halas – The Chicago Bears – 40 Years

2.       Tom Landry – The Dallas Cowboys – 29 Years

3.       Curly Lambeau – The Green Bay Packers – 29 Years

4.       Don Shula – The Miami Dolphins – 26 Years

As a coach, Halas also racked up over 300 wins – 324 to be exact – at the helm of the franchise trailing only Don Shula (347 wins) in the all-time record books.

Not only was Halas the coach and GM for the team, but he was also the starting defensive end, despite playing wide receiver in his youth. Halas was the consummate pro; he even backed up Babe Ruth in the outfield at one point.

The second person to own, coach and play for a single franchise was John Wilbur of the World Football League. In 1975, Wilbur owned the Hawaiians, a team based in Honolulu. Before his short stint in the WFL, Wilbur made a home with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins as an offensive lineman. Most notably, Wilbur played in the coldest game in NFL history – the Ice Bowl.

- Steven Wilson -

Day One of 36: ONE OF MY GUYS

With the official kickoff of the 2013 NFL Regular Season only five weeks away, I thought I would take the time to bring you 36 days of football trivia, knowledge and in-depth story-telling to build some excitement for the season. Day one will begin with a couple of my guys and a background about how I came to love three NFL teams.

                                                                                                                                                              

Every year around Fall, I plant myself in front of my 46-inch TV to watch my three favorite teams on Sundays. I grew up watching the San Francisco 49ers and still root for them whenever I have time to watch their games. Around my mid-teen years, I stumbled upon a hard-nosed, speedy running back by the name of Ricky Williams – maybe you’ve heard of him? I fell in love with the way he ran and how he racked up the yardage over two stellar seasons as a Miami Dolphin in 2002 and 2003. I also loved his combination of speed and power; running over or around guys. Sadly for his fans but not his critics, his career was short-lived. However, I stuck with the Dolphins over the years and now they look like they are just getting back to championship-caliber football and nothing has made this fan more proud. The third and final team I wearily follow is the Houston Texans. I say wearily because I'm not a die-hard Texans fan, just someone who likes a couple of their players and their uniforms. Again, it was a running back who caught my attention; his name was Dominack Davis.

ONE OF MY GUYS - DOMINACK DAVIS - RB - HOUSTON TEXANS

Despite playing just three years for the Houston Texans and changing his last name to Williams after his retirement, Davis could excite even the most obscure fans when he was in his prime. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University and was built and ran similarly to Arian Foster, the Texans current starting running back.

Right out of the gate, Davis was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year in 2003 after amassing 1,031 yards, eight touchdowns and a 4.3 yards per rush average. He also earned 351 receiving yards that year. The team wasn't very good, but Davis helped the team earn a spot on the map.

There was no such thing as a sophomore slump for Davis in 2004. He carried the ball 64 more times than in his rookie season, he rushed for more yards, scored more touchdowns, racked up more receiving yards and caught his first touchdown pass in year two compared to year one. In his sophomore season, Davis ran for 1,188 yards – the highest total of his career - and scored 13 touchdowns. He was officially a workhorse as he had more than 300 carries that year, but again the team did not make the playoffs.

All of a sudden, that’s where his career took a turn for the worse and he was never the same.

In 2005, he missed six games due to injury and failed to break 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career. He scored only two touchdowns and teams discovered some of his tendencies. Yet in his final two games as a Texan, he ran for a combined 294 yards on 51 carries – over 5 yards per carry.

In that final game, Davis suffered a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve. He may not have known it then, but his career was over. The Texans released Davis in 2007.

Eventually, Davis changed his name to Williams after having two kids of his own. He told the press, “I wasn’t really a (Davis). It was my older brother’s Dad’s last name and whatever happened I ended up with Davis. So now that I have kids of my own, a little boy and a little girl, ‘Spike’ (Domanick, Jr.) and Liana, I have to change my name to what it really is, and it’s Williams.”

Check out Davis’ career highlights below:

                                                                                                                                                              

ONE OF MY GUYS - DAN BUNZ - LB - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Growing up in Northern California my entire family rooted for the 49ers. My dad watched the team prosper in the late 1980s, but I wasn’t brought into the world until 1987, so my earliest memories of the team involved Steve Young, Terrell Owens and Jeff Garcia. As a kid, I would run around in the yard wearing my Young jersey throwing it to whoever I thought was open, and they usually were. In high school, I still remember watching one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history and playoff history on TV as the 49ers came back to defeat the New York Giants after trailing by 24 points, 38-14. The game dubbed, “Giant Comeback” is one of several Candlestick Park moments at the forefront of my brain.

Another image that replays in my head from time to time is the touchdown-saving tackle 49ers linebacker Dan Bunz made against Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII. Bunz is a local guy in my eyes, coming from Roseville, CA and Oakmont High School. He also played his college football for California State University, Long Beach before they got rid of the sport. Bunz was drafted by San Francisco in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft and played in the league for eight years before retiring.

Bunz’ tackle, in one of the biggest games of his life, came on a third down from the one yard line. Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson sold the defense on a play-fake before throwing to Charles Anderson in the flat. The only 49er in position to make the play was Bunz, who wrapped up Anderson around the waist and brought him down, short of the goal line. The 49ers went on to win 26-21 after the second-most memorable catch in team history (Joe Montana to John Taylor in the back of the endzone).

Bunz has two Super Bowl rings.

This past summer, Bunz’s former restaurant – Bunz and Company – which opened in 1984 and was owned by Bunz until 1999, closed down. Luckily for fans, Bunz was approached by a group of veterans and re-opened the restaurant – now named 2H – 2nd Half at Bunz & Company – in the same location. If you're a fan, it's definitely worth checking out! The place is filled with memorabilia and 49ers knick-knacks.

Check out Bunz’ highlights below:

                                                                                                                                                             

ONE OF MY GUYS - BOB GRIESE - QB - MIAMI DOLPHINS

On Thanksgiving day in 1977, Robert Allen “Bob” Griese had his best day as a passer. Not known as a rocket-armed passer, the Miami Dolphins quarterback collected a career-high six touchdown passes against the then-St. Louis Cardinals in a 55-14 victory. The funny part was, Griese played only the first three quarters, meaning there was still time for him to toss touchdown pass number seven if he wanted.

Griese is known in Canton for introducing his thick-rimmed glasses to his playing uniform. I guess the glasses paid off because in 1977 he led the AFC in touchdown passes thrown despite a 10-4 Dolphins record, which was not strong enough to get the team into the playoffs.

Griese’s resume includes two Super Bowl Championships (VII and VIII) and three consecutive Super Bowl appearances. He is also the only Miami Dolphin quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.