Great While They Lasted (1970-1990) Quiz

Answer: John Brockington

John Brockington rushed for 1,000 yards from his rookie 1971 season, in which he finished second in the league in rushing behind Floyd Little through 1973, then never came close to the mark again. He played six seasons for Green Bay before being traded to Kansas City after one game in 1977.

He retired after that season with 5,185 career rushing yards, almost 3,300 of them coming in his first three years.

Answer: Doug Williams

Although Doug Williams had one of the most memorable Super Bowls ever for a quarterback, throwing for five second quarter touchdowns against Denver in the 1988 game, his best years were with Tampa Bay and he was never selected for a Pro Bowl. Theismann (1982, 1983) and Rypien (1989, 1991) were two-time Pro Bowlers. Schroeder replaced Theismann in 1985 after his career was ended by a broken leg.

He had a monster 1986 season making the Pro Bowl, before becoming ineffectual in 1987 and losing his starting job to Williams.

Answer: Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson

The always-quotable Henderson was a favorite of reporters before the three Super Bowls he played in. Although Henderson helped Dallas beat the Broncos to win the 1979 Super Bowl, Bradshaw managed to be smart enough to lead his Steelers to two victories over Henderson's Cowboys.

Answer: Lydell Mitchell

Mitchell played for nine seasons, with five being in the Baltimore Colt backfield. Lydell caught 72 passes in the 1974 season. In 1975, Chuck Foreman of the Vikings caught 73 in 1975 to lead the league.

Answer: Garo Yepremian

Miami's Garo Yepremian atoned for his memorable fumble in the previous year's Super Bowl, by being named the MVP of the 1973 season's Pro Bowl. He kicked five field goals, including a 42 yarder in the last minute, to single-handedly score all the points for the AFC in their 15-13 win. Stenerud was the first pure kicker elected to the Hall of Fame, and Moseley the first pure kicker to win NFL season MVP honors.

Answer: Otis Taylor

Actually, a pretty easy question, if you know that of the four, only Otis Taylor scored a Super Bowl touchdown. Taylor was brilliant for the first nine years of his career, usually catching 50+ passes for near or above 20 yards per catch. He twice gained more than 1,000 yards receiving in 14-game seasons, and four times averaged more than 18 yards per reception.

Answer: Archie Manning

Manning, a talented player cursed with bad teammates and bad coaching (Hall of Famer Hank Stram coached him in New Orleans for two seasons, but he was injured most of that time), made the Pro Bowl in 1978 and 1979. The others were each selected four times.

Answer: Lester Hayes

Lester Hayes was probably best known for prowling the Raiders' defensive backfield with his arms and legs covered with yellow stickum, the better to help intercept balls thrown his way. Chicago's Fencik won one Super Bowl and was in the 1980 and 1981 Pro Bowls. Pittsburgh's Donnie Shell was a four-time Super Bowl winner selected to five Pro Bowls ('78-'82). Dwight Hicks won two Super Bowls with the 49ers and played in the 1981-84 Pro Bowls.

Answer: Fred Smerlas

Fred Smerlas was a mainstay for the Bills defensive line during the 1980s, making the Pro Bowl from 1980-83, and again in 1988. Hall of Famer Jim Kelly was a four-time Pro Bowler, three of them in the 1990s. Cribbs was picked for the Pro Bowl in 1980-81 and 1983. Joe Ferguson was never in a Pro Bowl.

Answer: Pat Haden

Haden, a 1977 Pro Bowler, was selected the next year as a Rhodes Scholar and studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford. Other academic accomplishments for Haden include Magna Cum Laude graduation from USC, Phi Beta Kappa, and earning a law degree in 1982. Roman Gabriel was a Pro Bowler three times with the Rams of the 1960s, and a fourth time with the 1973 Eagles. Jim Everett made the Pro Bowl in 1990.