State Your Case: Bob Kuechenberg

By John Turney

Art Credit:  Alain Moreau

As an eight-time finalist, former Miami guard Bob Kuechenberg has been on the cusp of crossing the threshold to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, five times he survived the first cut to place in the top 10, including once (the first) when he was chosen as one of six for enshrinement.

But  he didn't receive 80 percent of the vote required for election and has fallen short every time since. I know, it happens. But not like this.

Since 1999 -- the year the Pro Football Hall of Fame began releasing voting results -- he's the only player to make the "yes/no" phase and never be elected at some point. All others in that situation eventually won their Gold Jackets in subsequent years. But not "Kooch." He's still waiting.

So what's the problem?

Maybe it's a Miami Dolphins' backlash -- the notion that there were enough members of the early 1970s' Dolphins' dynasty teams already in Canton. Perhaps it was more specific, like a Dolphins' interior line backlash. Three interior offensive linemen -- Jim Langer, Larry Little and Diwght Stephenson -- were inducted from 1987-98 before "Kooch" cracked the Final 15 in 2002.

So maybe voters were worn out.

Or maybe it's something less petty. It's possible some selectors just didn't think he had a Hall-worthy career and could have pointed to the fact that he was named an AP All-Pro once -- in 1978. If that's true, it's shortsighted. There's more to the story of a player's career than his AP All-Pro status, and I'll offer a couple of reasons:

-- First, at one time there were more than just the AP All-Pro teams listed in the NFL's Official Record Book. Another one, the NEA, named the Miami left guard All-Pro in 1975.

-- Second, the late Paul ("Dr. Z") Zimmerman, a longtime Hall-of-Fame voter, chose Kuechenberg to his personal All-Pro team every year from 1972-75. "Bob Kuechenberg," he wrote in December, 1975, "has been the best guard for four years now. Great in every phase of the game."

But there is more.

Kuechenberg was a six-time Pro Bowler, which was the same as Langer and one more than both Little and Stephenson -- the Dolphins' interior trio with busts in Canton. His Pro Bowl total is also the same as Hall-of-Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure and tackle Dan Dierdorf, also a Hall member.

That's the same Joe DeLamielleure who holds Keuchenberg in the highest regard saying, "When I broke in, Kuechenberg was the best in the business, and I modeled my play after him."

He wasn't alone. Add another Hall-of-Famer, former Patriots' guard John Hannah, to the list of Kuechenberg's admirers.

"When I came in the NFL," he said, "I patterned my play after Bob Kuechenberg because he was a great guard. He played on those championship teams and did everything well. His all-around game was what impressed me. He didn't have weaknesses in his game."

But those were players on Kuechenberg's side of the ball. It's what those who played opposite him said that matter more, and the line there is as long as it is impressive. For instance ... 

-- Look what Cowboys' all-time great defensive tackle Bob Lilly had to say: "I first played against Kuechenberg in Super Bowl VI, and I realized he was one of the best offensive linemen I had ever seen. Then we played Miami the next year, and he had improved even more. He should be in the Hall."

-- Then there's All-Pro defensive end Bubba Smith: "I played against him my entire career, and he was the best the Dolphins had. People hardly ever had a good game against him. He was the best trap-blocker in the league ... . Gene Upshaw and Larry Little were considered in the forefront because they pulled, but 'Kooch' was the greatest at doing what he did." 

-- That "greatest" skill? Trapping. All-Pro defensive tackle Mike Reid of the Cincinnati Bengals, once said that Kuechenberg hit him so hard on one trap block that he "couldn't fall down." That didn't surprise Paul Zimmerman, who called Kuechenberg "the best in the business" as a trapping guard. He loved trap blocking so much that he named his boat "34 trap" after the play that inflicted so much damage to defensive linemen in his 14-year NFL career.

But he excelled at more than just trap blocking, with former Miami offensive line coach Monte Clark calling Kuechenberg "the best short-yardage and goal-line blocker I ever saw. You would have to kill him to beat him."

"On third-and-one," added Miami's Hall-of-Fame running back, Larry Csonka, " 'Kooch' was either going to move somebody or hurt somebody."

OK, so was an outstanding blocker ... short-yardage, goal-line, trapping, you name it. That's been established. But his resume extends beyond that. For instance, he was tough and a winner. How tough? He bedeviled Minnesota's Alan Page in Super Bowl VIII with his arm in a cast that protected a broken arm.

But that's not all.

"One year," said former Miami coach Don Shula, "he even snapped for us with a broken back—while in a full body cast!".

He was a winner, too. Not only was he part of the 17-0 undefeated Dolphins' team in 1972 and the repeating championship team in 1973; over the course of his career, he was a winner 70.7 percent of the time.

I know, football's a team game, right? But the Dolphins' success was based largely on their offensive line. During the 1970s, no team ran for more yards for a higher yards-per-carry average than Miami. Plus, Kuechenberg and his offensive line teammates once blocked for two 1,000-yard rushers (Csonka and Mercury Morris) in the same season.

But that's not all. From 1970-83, the Dolphins' offensive line that Kuechenberg led allowed fewer sacks than any team. Bar none.

" 'Kooch's' skills were especially evident in big games we played," said Shula. " 'Kooch' had, by far, the best won-lost record of any Dolphin player, and that's the bottom line. No Dolphin ever did it better, or as long, as 'Kooch.' "

So what's the holdup to Canton?

It could be that Kuechenberg rubbed some people the wrong way; that he wore out his audience when talking about his blocking prowess. He desperately wanted his legacy cemented in Canton and wasn't shy about telling listeners -- including voters.

"I hate to lobby in this manner," he once told the South Florida Sun-Sentinal, "but what else do I have to do with my time? Who else is around to do it, too?"

He also was the first to uncork champagne when NFL teams on the verge of unbeaten seasons lost for the first time, thus preserving the 17-0 Dolphins' legacy. Plus, there were times after he retired when he was critical of the Dolphins, irritating those players he left behind.

Not exactly the way to win friends and influence people.

"It's another chapter in the grumpy Kuechenberg story," Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor once commented. "It's Kuechenberg. He gets up every year and bitches about something. If it ain't one thing, it's another. He needs a hug and a hobby. It's ridiculous."

So maybe he had a chip on his shoulder. He should have. He worked his way from someone uncertain that he wanted to play NFL football to an individual whose football fire was relit by Shula when he was signed as free agent in 1970. Then he would go on to play 196 regular-season games and 19 playoff games and establish a legacy that was more than source of pride. 

It was ... and is ... Hall-of-Fame worthy. Yet he's not in Canton.

Look, he wasn't perfect. Maybe he was grumpy. Maybe he blew his own horn.  On the other hand, it was a pretty good horn to blow, as former Dolphins' owner Joe Robbie pointed out.

"If I ever get to build my own stadium down here," he said, "the first thing I am going to do is erect a statue of 'Kooch' in front of it. More than any player, he symbolizes what the Dolphins 'together we win' program is all about."

That never happened, but it should have. Robbie sold the team, Dan Marino arrived and, with the charismatic Hall-of-Fame quarterback becoming the face of the franchise, it was he, not an offensive lineman, who had a statue erected in front of the stadium. Nevertheless, Robbie's comment symbolizes how important Kuechenberg was to Miami's success. 

So does another accolade, this one by Shula. 

"Bob Kuechenberg contributed more to help my team win than any player I've ever coached," he said. "Wherever the team needed him— that's where he played. Whether guard, tackle, center or long snapping ... 'Kooch' dominated defensive linemen at both guard and tackle. Wherever we put him, any threat we faced from the opposition virtually disappeared. He certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame."

Hopefully, the Hall's seniors committee takes note and affords an offensive lineman who may have been the NFL's best trap blocker ever something he deserves -- one more shot at Canton.

Ray Donaldson's Hall of Fame Case

By John Turney 

Let's play, "Name That Player," and see if you can guess whom I' writing about.

--- He played 17 seasons in the NFL and was a starter in 16 of them.

--- He went to six Pro Bowls and was a pioneer, the first African-American full-time starter at his position.

--- He blocked for two Hall-of-Fame running backs. In fact, they were two of the best ever.

--- He also blocked for two other 1,000-yard rushers, and three of the four had seasons of 1,500 yards rushing in a season.

--- He even earned a Super Bowl ring. And, though he's not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was always in the mix.

Well, not quite. That last sentence isn't true. Everything else is.

You know who he is, right? No, you don't. But you should. It's former center Ray Donaldson, who starred with the Colts, Seahawks and Cowboys but has never been discussed as a finalist or semifinalist by the Hall-of-Fame's board of selectors or seniors committee.

And that's not just an oversight. It’s a shame.

Recruited as a linebacker by the University of Georgia, he was moved to center as a sophomore and wasn't pleased with the change.

“The first thing that went through my mind,” Donaldson said, “was 'There go my chances for playing in the NFL.' There were no black centers in the NFL … (and) the transition was tough, going from up on my feet, then my hand in the dirt."

As it turned out, it was the right move. The 6-3, 252-pound Donaldson was a center with a linebacker’s feet, which gave him more mobility than most at his position. He not only became a starter for the Bulldogs; he was so accomplished that, by his senior year, he was All-SEC, All-American and, later, the 32nd pick in the 1980 NFL draft.

He spent his rookie season as the long snapper on coverage teams, (he even made nine tackles) but became a starter with the Baltimore Colts by his second year … and remained a starter until retiring after the 1996 season at the age of 38.

That’s significant because, in breaking the color barrier at his position, it makes Ray Donaldson a groundbreaker. Before he came along, there were no African-Americans who were regulars at center. Not in the NFL there weren’t. Granted, there were some who started there, but none that you’d call full-time players. If they played the position in college, they usually were moved to guard.

However, the same season that Donaldson took over (1981), Dolphins' Hall-of-Famer Dwight Stephenson started the final five games after Mark Dennard was sidelined. Nevertheless, Donaldson was the first to start from the season opener to the finale, and he didn’t budge once he arrived.

In fact, he started the second-most games (228) at that position in NFL history, trailing only Hall-of-Famer Mick Tingelhoff, with 240. Mike Webster started 217, Kevin Mawae 211 and Jim Otto, 210. All are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 15 of his 17 seasons, Donaldson played the entire schedule, missing games only in 1991 when he fractured a fibula and 1995 when he had a quad injury.

"As far as I know,” said Ron Meyer, Donaldson’s coach in 1988, “Ray never missed a practice.”

So the 6-foot-3, 300-pound (he got bigger as he got older) center checks the "availability" and "durability" boxes on his Hall resume.

What else?

Let’s start with postseason honors. Donaldson was never a first-team All-Pro but was second-team twice. However, I don’t put that on Donaldson as much as I put it on the teams … and quarterbacks … he played with. Let’s be honest: Good quarterback play usually leads to team success, and that’s often a factor in choosing All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams -- especially for blockers.

Sandwiched between Bert Jones and Jeff George … and not counting backups … Donaldson snapped to Mike Pagel, Art Schlichter, Mark Herrmann, Jack Trudeau, Gary Hogeboom and Chris Chandler. That’s not exactly an awe-inspiring cast, and it’s a reason why the Colts floundered in the early-to-mid 1980s.

It’s also a reason why Donaldson wasn’t more well known. He was stuck on poor teams until the Colts in 1987 traded for Eric Dickerson, one of two Hall of Famers he blocked for. They won a division title that season and were at least competitive for a handful of years. 

But Donaldson didn’t play on a great team until his 16th season when he finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys. And remember: He was competing with Mike Webster and Dwight Stephenson -- possibly the two best centers ever -- for an AFC Pro Bowl bid. That's a tall order for anyone, especially a guy not on winning teams.

This gets into the weeds a little, but it's a fact that "Bulldog" (Donaldson's nickname) was the first alternate for the Pro Bowl three times when the two Hall of Famers were in their prime. That means he was third in the voting in each of the three years prior to his first trip to Hawaii. Had he not been in the AFC, he’d probably have gone to more Pro Bowls.

In 1987, however, Donaldson was named the AFC's starting center over Stephenson in a poll of players and coaches. While that seemed to annoy the Dolphins’ great, he was forced to admit that “Ray Donaldson had a great year” and “is deserving.”

It’s also interesting to note that, while Donaldson was never a first-team All-Pro in media polls, the grinders at NFL Films chose their own All-Pro teams ... and three times (1987-89) they named Donaldson as their first-team center.

Just sayin.'

One yearly publication that relied heavily on scouts' opinions validated that move when it wrote this: "A squat squarish player nearly as wide as he is tall, Donaldson can occupy the best of nose tackles, allowing the Colts to eschew the double-team and have their guards help out elsewhere. There are people who feel he's supplanted Dwight Stephenson as the NFL's best center but has also become the league's best lineman."

That's high praise for someone overlooked by the Hall.

After leaving the Colts, Donaldson spent a couple of seasons in Seattle battling new teammate Cortez Kennedy in daily practices and plowing the way for running back Chris Warren's back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Then it was on to the Cowboys to replace former starting center Mark Stepnoski on “The Great Wall."

An undersized Pro Bowl center at 270 pounds, Stepnoski was a technician who relied on subtlety and finesse. Donaldson did not. He was about as subtle as a sledgehammer. With his addition, the interior of the Dallas line not only got bigger; it got better. 

Larry Allen was in his second season and his first at guard, while Erik Williams had recovered from back injuries sustained in a car accident. All five offensive linemen were well over 300 pounds, and the newly formed "Wall" pounded the way for Hall-of-Fame running back Emmitt Smith to have his best season, rushing for 1,773 yards and 25 TDs.

In the 1995 NFC championship game, Smith carried 35 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns as Dallas beat the Packers 38-27. Two weeks later, the Cowboys beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX, 27-17, and Donaldson had his ring, yet another box checked.

He was released after the following season when the Cowboys wanted to get younger in the middle, and his absence was felt. The proof? Look at Smith’s rushing totals the next couple of years when Donaldson’s successor made line calls. According to Donaldson, former teammate Nate Newton later told him that “we really didn't know how good you were until you were gone. Then we fell apart as a line." 

That’s called impact, and consider it one more box checked.

So there you have it: Donaldson had longevity, durability, Pro Bowls, a ring and Hall-of-Fame backs following his blocks. But it was his place in history as the first African-American to become a full-time starting center that he considers most noteworthy.

"It means a lot,” he said, “but it kind of went unnoticed ... a lot of people still don't know it. Having been the first one -- no recognition at all for it and not getting noticed it bothers me a little bit, but it is what it is. I am proud of it, though people still don't know about it."

More people should.

The success of Donaldson and Stephenson led to centers like Dermontti Dawson, Kevin Glover, and Tony Mayberry -- Pro Bowlers all -- staying where they were instead of moving to guard as had been the NFL custom. Coaches finally learned -- as they did with quarterbacks and middle linebackers --- that African-Americans not only could play the center position but could dominate.

But it’s not only fans who should know more about Donaldson’s 17-year career. Hall-of-Fame voters should, too. Because Ray Donaldson had an illustrious career worthy of Hall-of-Fame consideration. 

"I think it would be hard to find a label for my talent,” Donaldson said, “but I have the respect of the men I fought."

Rams Double-Dip Florida State Players in 2024 NFL Draft.

 By John Turney 

Braden Fiske and Jared Verse

What the Los Angeles Rams did the first two days of the 2024 draft was nothing unusual ... and I'm not talking about choosing two defensive players. I'm talking about choosing two defensive players from the same school.

On Thursday, they drafted edge player Jared Verse with the 19th overall pick. The following evening, they traded up in the second round to choose defensive interior Braden Fiske with the 39th selection. Both played at Florida State University, and if that sounds familiar it should. It's the fourth time the Rams have made back-to-back picks from one school with their first two picks in a draft.

And the others? Glad you asked:

-- The first was in 1945 when the Rams -- then in Cleveland -- took Michigan back Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch in the first round and lineman Milan Lazetich, also a Wolverine, in the second.

-- Forty-four years later, they had two first-round picks -- including one as part of the booty from the Eric Dickerson trade in 1987. With their first selection (the 21st overall) in the 1989 NFL draft, they chose defensive end Bill Hawkins out of the University of Miami (FL). Five picks later, they took Hurricanes' running back Cleveland Gary.

-- Finally, in 1992, they raided the University of Pittsburgh, picking defensive tackle Sean Gilbert in Round One and cornerback Steve Israel in the second round.

Of the three we can gauge, the 1945 picks were the most successful. 

Hirsch began his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin but finished in Ann Arbor before serving in the Marine Corps. After his military service, he signed with the Chicago Rockets of the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC) rather than the NFL Rams but eventually ended up in Los Angeles in 1949 where he was moved from halfback to end.

The rest is history. Literally. 

When the Rams won the NFL championship in 1951, he led the league in catches, yards receiving, yards per catch, touchdown receptions and he had the season's longest play, a 91-yard reception. Hirsch is the only player to lead in all five official receiving stats in a single season.

While you've heard of Hirsch, you probably don't know about Milan Lazetich. He went by "Mike," but his nickname was "The Sheriff" long before Jon Gruden dubbed Peyton Manning with that moniker. He played both ways -- guard on offense, linebacker on the other side of the ball -- and he was good enough to be named All-Pro by International News Service, a wire service that was smaller than Associated Press and United Press.

It wasn't as prestigious as the others, but it did predate the AP All-Pro team by three years. So let's give him some credit. Plus, former Rams' owner the late Dan Reeves picked Lazetich to his all-time Rams' team shortly before his untimely death in 1971.

Elroy Hirsch

Contrast that with the 1989 iteration of double-dipping that didn't work out so well. Neither of the two picks were All-Pro, Pro Bowl or anything else by a wire service, major or minor. Bill Hawkins kept getting hurt, and Cleveland Gary kept fumbling - -24 times in 1,000 offensive touches -- as well as frustrating coaches. 

However, Gary's 14 touchdowns did tie for the NFL lead in 1990 when he ran for over 800 yards. Plus, two years later, he rushed for over 1,000.

Bill Hawkins

That same year -- 1992 -- Hawkins was trying to make his last stand. New Rams' coach Chuch Knox moved to a more orthodox 4-3 defense after one year of Jeff Fisher's 4-3 Bear-front in 1991 and one year prior to Fritz Shurmur's 3-4 in 1993. Hawkins had been hurt under Fisher and didn't fit the 3-4. But even when the Rams went to their Shurmur's innovative "Eagle" and "Hawk" defenses he played inside, and his production was minimal.

Hawkins did start at right defensive end in Knox's first year, but he was injured by midseason -- making it four-for-four in years where he played and was hurt, signaling the end of his career.

However, by that time, the Rams were already on to young defensive help. They chose defensive tackle Sean Gilbert and Steve Israel, a super-fast cornerback, in Rounds One and Two of the 1992 draft.

Gilbert was a good player --  he made the Pro Bowl in his second year and was a Pro Bowl alternate in 1995 -- but a contract dispute prior to the 1996 season had him traded to Washington for a first-round draft choice. Israel had rare speed (a 4.2 40), but he only started in his second season. After that, he was like Hawkins: He couldn't stay healthy. By his fourth year, he was a 49er ... by his sixth, a member of the New England Patriots ... and by his ninth -- his last-- with the New Orleans Saints.

So there you have it. Three times the Rams banked on one program at the top of the draft, and twice it didn't work out so well, for either of the highly valued picks.

Sean Gilbert

As for the 2024 iteration? Verse and Fiske each have a strong chance of starting this fall. The Rams needed to upgrade their edge pressure from 2023, and they lost two defensive interior players -- future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald and Jonah Williams. To fill those holes, they picked Verse to replace last year's starter, Michael Hoecht, and Fiske to follow Williams.

History is against them, but give them time. Both should be starters and contributing. Plus, given their talent, they could ... with the emphasis on could ... challenge the 1945 dynamic duo in productivity. 

Houston Texans Update Their Uniforms

 By John Turney 

The Houston Texans wore the original uniforms through 2023 ... 21 years. Sure, they added red to their combinations but the design elements were the same.

Now they have updated them and they look good. The navy "deep steel blue" and red is a nice color combination. The new ones are not "Nike out of control" types, like so many of the uniforms Nike designed in the mid-2010s.

This is a good, solid B+ or so -- in that range—

And added a pretty odd alternate uni and helmet. 

Here is the Texans' press release—

HOUSTON – Today, the Houston Texans revealed four new, fan-inspired uniforms for the first time since the team's inception in 2000. The four new uniforms – home, away, alternate and Color Rush – are a direct result of Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair's charge to fearlessly evolve. Through more than 10,000 surveys and 30 focus groups, the uniforms are H-Town Made.

"Today, for the first time since 2000, we are so proud to reveal our new uniforms. They are even more special because they are inspired by and for our fans," Houston Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said. "Our fans asked us to be more H-Town and we delivered. They were with us every step of the way and there's truly something for everyone over the four uniforms."

The home uniform is classic, featuring the updated Deep Steel Blue color that matches the original Deep Steel Blue unveiled in 2000, along with a H-Town call out on the inside collar. The home helmet is Deep Steel Blue with blue-on-blue metallic flake paint. It includes the traditional bull logo on the sides with the new H secondary logo on the back. The away, Liberty White uniform is traditional with a modern edge, featuring the traditional sleeve stripe on the back and sides of the jersey that transforms into a bullhorn-inspired design from the front.

The alternate uniform is the bold Battle Red version of the away jersey. The alternate helmet is Battle Red with candy paint red flakes, a red metallic chrome facemask, new bullhorn-inspired helmet logo application and the Texans bullhead logo on the back. The Color Rush city-inspired uniform introduces H-Town Blue as the first new color introduced to the Texans brand in team history. The Texans are also the first team in NFL history to introduce a new logo on an alternate helmet and a two-logo system across all helmets.

 This is pretty gerish and it "borrows" Columbia blue from the old Houston Oilers. The "H" looks like it belongs on a MLB hat. To us it does not look like a football design. It looks like baseball. This gets a C- grade—

"Battle red" they call it. Interesting use of the horn on the lid. Similar to the Eagles' and Rams' concepts that have part of the animal on the helmet and/or sleeve in the case of the 1973-99 Rams unis. Call this a B- grade—

The white uniforms combine the old helmet and the horn concept on the sleeves This is a B.

These are fine, there are some good design elements and the colors are good. Other than the Color rush kits they get good solid B- (the Color rush being the grade down).

RIP Roman Gabriel

By John Turney 

Art Credit: Dan Stromme

Former quarterback Roman Gabriel wasn't just one of the best quarterbacks of the 1960s. He was legendary, going 41-11-4 during a four-year run with the Los Angeles Rams when they won two division championships and Gabriel had more rushing touchdowns than any of the team's backs.

He was an accurate passer, an effective runner and a natural-born winner. What he wasn't ... and never has been ... was a Hall-of-Fame candidate, though that never seemed to bother him.

"I never gave it a whole bunch of thought," he said in a 2018 interview with the Talk of Fame Network, "especially when it took my good friend, Kenny Stabler, to die to get in."

Sadly, Gabriel joined Stabler on Saturday, passing away at the age of 83. His death was announced by his son, Roman Gabriel III.

"We mourn the loss of Rams' legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel." the Rams' said on X (formerly Twitter). "We extend our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time."

At 6-feet-4, 225 pounds, Gabriel was large for a quarterback of his era -- or any era, for that matter -- and was so imposing that one opponent called him "a tackle playing quarterback." But he was more than big. He was talented, too. Strong and tough, he had the arm to throw deep outs and accurate bombs better than most quarterbacks.

He was also inspirational. As the NFL's first Filipino-American quarterback, he once said he hoped to become a role model for "a lot of the young people" ... and he did. He not only impacted Filipino youngsters but legions of Rams' fans who -- to this day -- name Gabriel as their favorite Rams' player. 

In short, Gabriel was as iconic as the Rams' horn on his helmet. He just had this thing, this imperceptible thing,  that stuck with people. He was as charismatic as he was successful, and he was successful.

In 1969, he was the NFL MVP and a consensus All-Pro. He was also a four-time Pro Bowler.

He spent 11 seasons with the Rams where he was their all-time leading passer in nearly every passing statistic and holds the career record for most touchdown passes with 154. But by 1973, he was gone from L.A., traded in a blockbuster deal to Philadelphia where he spent the last five years of his career.

He was successful there, too, voted the league's Comeback Player of the Year in his first season with the Eagles, while leading the NFL in pass completion and yards passing and tying for the league lead in touchdown passes.

All told, Gabriel ended his 16-year career with 2,366 completions for 29,444 yards and 201 TD passes. He also had 149 interceptions, which may seem like a lot. But it's not. In fact, as late as Week 11 in 1983, Gabriel held the NFL record for lowest interception percentage.

It was 3.3 percent.

Born in 1940 in Wilmington, N.C., Gabriel played at the same high school as Sonny Jurgensen -- New Hanover in Wilmington -- where, as a 6-4, 210-pound senior, he was allowed to do something no New Hanover quarterback ... not even including Jurgenson ... had been.

Throw on third downs. 

It was a smart move. Gabriel was named an All-American. He was also the conference MVP in basketball on a team that won the state title and all-conference in baseball as a senior.

Despite numerous collegiate offers, including one from Notre Dame, Gabriel chose to stay close to home and play for North Carolina State where he was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and two-time All-American.

As a sophomore, he led the nation with a 60.4 completion percentage, a mark that stood as a school record until 1974. As a junior and senior, he set so many school and ACC passing records that still remain in the top 20 in career passing yards, completions, completion percentage and touchdowns.

Then it was on to the pros, where he was the second-overall pick in the 1962 NFL draft and the first-overall choice in the AFL lottery. 

Gabriel chose the Rams and was a part-time starter in his first four seasons there, going 11-11-1 -- a record so superior to the others (a combined 4-27-2) that when George Allen was hired as the Rams' coach in 1966, he named Gabriel as his starter.

That was another smart decision. But the Rams got lucky. They almost lost him. 

Prior to Allen joining the team, the Raiders' Al Davis signed Gabriel to a four-year, $400,000 contract from 1967-70, a move that -- along with others -- pushed the NFL and AFL to negotiate a merger and kept Gabriel in L.A. where he was given a significant raise.

That was smart, too. Because under Gabriel's direction, the team not only improved immediately, going 8-6 in 1966, but it beat the Packers and Colts in back-to-back weeks at the end of the 1967 season to win a division and finish 11-1-2. Gabriel threw three touchdown passes in each game and was named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Week after both wins.

Though the Rams would lose in the playoffs to the Super Bowl-bound Packers, Gabriel was elected to his first Pro Bowl, was chosen a Pro Bowler again in 1968 and, in 1969, led the Rams to an 11-0 start when he was the AP and NEA MVP, UPI Player of the Year and was chosen to his third Pro Bowl.

In those first four years under Allen, Gabriel was the Rams' short-yardage and goal-line threat, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns -- more than any running back on the team -- and converting countless first downs on third- or fourth-and-short situations.

However, knee and arm injuries caught up to him in the early 1970s, and by 1972 his production was limited. That prompted the Rams to bring in Chargers' quarterback John Hadl which, in turn, prompted them to trade Gabriel. 

Initially, he wanted to join his former coach, George Allen, in Washington, but he'd unloaded all the teams's draft picks on other players. So the Redskins had no draft capital to compete with Philadelphia, which sent Pro Bowl receiver Harold Jackson, Tony Baker and three high draft choices to the Rams for Gabriel.

Through devotion to Kung Fu, acupuncture and daily paraffin baths for his sore arm, Gabriel regained his functionality and performed so well in his first season with the Eagles that he was named to the Pro Bowl and chosen the league's Comeback Player of the Year.

But that was it.

The next few years, he slumped as a passer, eventually became a backup and completed his final pass in 1977 to local hero Vince Papale after stepping in for an injured Ron Jaworski.

After retiring, Gabriel worked as a color commentator for CBS Sports, was the head coach at Cal Poly Pomona and head coach of the Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football. In between, he was an offensive coordinator for the Boston Breakers of the USFL. 

He also did some acting throughout his career, co-starring in a film with John Wayne and getting spots on "Gilligan Island" and "Perry Mason." He appeared on national television plugs for various companies, too, and co-owned a car dealership with Hall-of-Fame teammate Merlin Olsen. 

Later in his life, he spent countless hours raising money for various charities.

Gabriel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and in 2013 was chosen to The Professional Football Researchers Association's Hall of Very Good. He's also been inducted into the N.C. State Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

But Canton? Nope. Not even close. He's never been a modern-era or senior finalist or semifinalist, a snub that seemed to annoy his fans more than it did Gabriel.

"I'm really pleased with my life," he said in 2018. "I'm in the Wilmington (N.C.) Hall of Fame, my hometown. I'm in Wilmington's Walk of Fame. I'm in my college's Hall of Fame. And the North Carolina Hall of Fame.

"Some things are good, and some things happen. If it happens, it happens. And it would be great. But I don't think about it." 

Broncos Roll Out Some New and Some Old Looks With New Uniforms

 By John Turney

The Denver Broncos released their new uniforms and a classic uniform today. The Broncos, if you recall were the first to go with Nike designs and in 1997 began the "navy" blue era, changing the blue to a darker shade. 

Shots from the 1997 reveal 

There were mixed feelings at the time and today it's the same. Online there are some who say they are "fire", but seems like a lot of opposition as well "garbage"— so again, mixed results just like 1997.

First, the easy part. T

he throwbacks patterned after the 1977 Super Bowl uniforms are excellent. Could not have done it any better. Give them a "A" because they hit all the notes, clean classic.

Well done.

The throwbacks, the "classics"

The rest? Hard to say. They don't fail like many of the Nike concepts but they have all the silly components that Nike likes to say "inspired" then look so, it's a case of somethings are decent. Some things are over the top.

The colors are the same as before -- navy, orange and white, of course, but the names are tarted up. They are calling the the orange "sunset orange" for example. The white is "summit white". Okay fine. The the navy is "midnight navy" from the department of redundancy department.

The mountains on the sleeves and the "5280" all over everything (overdone) are pretty gimmicky but subtle enough that they won't show too much on television and photos. 

There are three jerseys, three pants and two helmets and creates a mile high pile of combinations—

The helmets were switched to a matte finish, away from the glossy one, and have an odd decal composed of tiny triangles that form an arrow in the back and have a "5280" on the front bumper.

The decals are supposed to represent a climb upward. 

The alternate "snowcap" helmet -- "summit white"

In a statement, Broncos president Damani Leech said,

"It was great to hear from the Nike folks, from a pure design standpoint, them talking about what it felt like in 1997 — or from the ones that weren’t there, how they study uniform history and how it felt like in 1997 was incredibly innovative. We still want to do that. We wanted to move the aesthetic forward, move the game forward. And we wanted expansion. We want this to be something that a new, young, diverse fanbase can say, wow, that’s amazing. I want to be a part of that from a fan standpoint and I want to wear that from an apparel standpoint."

Apparently, the team wanted the whole uniform set to reflect Colorado's mountains and it is all over the uniforms.  The "snowcapped" white helmets introduced last year foreshadowed it, we suppose.

The Broncos are in a mountain motif for at least the next five years. 

So, the throwbacks are an "A" and the rest is a "B-". The design is just Nike trying to show off but the whole thing is saved because navy, orange and white are a good color combination.

Here are some closeups of the uniform "narrative" if you are into that kind of thing—

Lions Release New (And Better) Uniforms

By John Turney

Yesterday the Lions updated their uniforms and did some good things and some things that were just okay -- not offensive, just not spectacular. 

In 2017 the Lions released uniforms that were average in our view. We gave them a grade of "C". 

In the Nike world of uniforms that were not nearly as bad as we had seen at the time, nothing as bad as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars or Cleveland Browns, for example.

All those teams reverted to a more classic look as soon as possible -- teams are stuck with any new uniform for a minimum of five years. After that teams can change. 

Well, the Lions didn't do the exact same thing. They wore their uniform seven years -- two years longer than they had to.

In 2017 the Lions introduced these uniforms—

Yesterday they revealed this—

The white numbers on the Honolulu blue jerseys are an improvement. They have a two-stripe pattern on their sleeve stripes rather than the old Northwestern Stripes.

Apparently, the striping was inspired by that of the Ford Mustang and not the Dallas Cowboys.

It seems the new shade of blue is brighter. They dumped the grey over grey uniforms and added a black alternate, not unlike the ones they wore from 2005-07. This time, though, they have black pants to match.

The primary uniform, blue over silver is an improvement. So our grade goes from a C to a B/B+.

The rest of the stuff, white over white, black over black, black over blue, white over blue ... is just ... meh. Call all that a B-, okay but but great.

The Lions stepped out of the Nike world and reverted to uniforms closer to the 1980s and 1990s and that is a good thing. Nike has introduced some pretty awful uniforms and now teams are catching on and using old templates of classic uniforms and updating them.

Hopefully, the Rams will be next to do something similar, and after that maybe the Falcons will follow suit and follow the trend of updated classics.

This is what the Lions said—

Not sure what the "classic lines of the Bronco" have to do with football, but whatever. And if the home uniforms are reinterpreting the Ford Bronco ... is this the white Ford Bronco?

Just asking.

As far as the black ... not sure who does it better the Panthers or the Lions—

Yep, primary unis = B/B+. The rest? B-.