Buffalo Bills

Here are the 1968 Buffalo Bills. Eight cards, yet only one defensive player is featured. The Bills are just coming off a 4-10 season in 1967, finishing 3rd in the East Division. In 1968, they would sink to 1-12-1 (beating only the Jets) which guaranteed them the status of "Worst team in football". The prize would be #1 draft pick O. J. Simpson.

#149 Jack Kemp - Kemp was the Lions' 17th-round pick in 1957. He didn't play for the Lions, but spent 1957 with the Steelers. (Now we can add Kemp to the list of QBs who rode the bench in Pittsburgh in the late 1950s, along with Johnny Unitas and Lenny Dawson!) After not playing in 1958-59, Kemp joined the AFL's new Los Angeles Chargers in 1960. He started 26 of 28 games for the Chargers in 1960 and 1961. After missing some games in 1962 due to injuries, he was lost to the Bills in a botched-up injury waivers move. Jack was the Bills' starting QB from 1963 to 1969, except for missing the entire 1968 season (hence the 1-12-1 record). He was a 7-time Pro-bowler, and retired after the 1969 season. He then went into politics, advancing all the way to Vice-Presidential candidate in 1996.


#19 Keith Lincoln - Lincoln played with the Chargers from 1961-66. He came to the Bills for 1967, and after 4 games in 1968, he returned to San Diego, retiring after the 1968 season. Keith played in 5 Pro Bowls.

#97 Wray Carlton - Carlton was the Philadelphia Eagles' 3rd-round pick in 1959, but didn't play for them. He played his entire career (1960-67) for the Bills, making the Pro Bowl twice.


#71 Art Powell - Art was also drafted by the Eagles in 1959 (11th round), and was their starting free safety in his rookie season. From 1960-62 he was the starting split end for the New York Titans (Jets), a position he also held with the Raiders from 1963-66. In 1962 and 1963, he led the AFL in receiving yards. He played sparingly for Buffalo (1967) and Minnesota (1968) at the end of his career.


#175 Paul Costa - At 256 pounds, it's safe to assume Costa was the tight end! In 1964, he was drafted by both the Packers and the Chiefs, but played for neither. Paul played his entire career with the Bills, first as their tight end (1965-68), then as the right tackle (1969-72).

#44 Stew Barber - Stew was drafted by the Bills and Cowboys in 1961. He was the Bills' starting right linebacker during his rookie season, then started at left offensive tackle from 1962 until his retirement after the 1969 season. He made the Pro Bowl from 1963 to 1967.

#123 Mike Mercer - Mercer's career spanned 1961 to 1970, playing for 6 teams (Vikings, Raiders, Chiefs, Bills, Packers, Chargers). He also punted while with the Vikings, Raiders, and Chargers.


#201 George Saimes - Saimes was drafted by the Chiefs and Rams in 1963, but played for the Bills from 1963 to 1969, where he was their starting free safety each season. He finished his career in Denver from 1970-72, and was the Broncos' starting free safety in 1971.


Also check out the 1971 Bills.

Boston Patriots

Here are the 1968 Boston Patriots. These guys helped lead the Patriots to records of 3-10-1 and 4-10 in 1967 and 1968.


#176 Don Trull - Trull was a 14th-round pick for the Houston Oilers in 1963. He didn't play in 1963, and couldn't unseat the 37-to-39-year-old George Blanda from 1964 to 1966. In 1967, he split the season between Houston and Boston. That was enough to get him this football card, but in 1968 he was back with the Oilers, this time backing up the great Pete Beathard in 1968 and 1969. The decade and Trull's career ended simultaneously.
(By the way, in 1968 rookie Tom Sherman and ex-Jet backup Mike Taliaferro each started half the games at QB for the Patriots.)


#72 Jim Nance - At 245 pounds, Nance was huge for a running back in his day. He was a 1965 draft pick by the Patriots, and was their fullback for 7 seasons. He missed the 1972 season, and ended his career in 1973 with the Jets. He led the AFL in rushing in 1966 and 1967 with 1458 and 1216 yards.


#150 Art Graham - Art was the Patriots' 1st-round pick in 1963, and spent his entire career (1963-68) as their split end.


#20 Jim Whalen - This tight end was the Patriots' 3rd-round pick in 1965. After 5 seasons in Boston, he was the Broncos' starting tight end in 1970, before finishing his career in 1971 as a backup with the Eagles.

#98 Gino Cappelletti - Ahh, the good olde days, when kickers actually did something else to earn their pay between kicks. As a rookie in 1960, Gino was the Patriots' kicker and starting right cornerback, snaring 4 interceptions. From 1961 to 1967, he kicked and was a starting split end or flanker, averaging 40 catches per season. After 1967, he began phasing out his receiving duties, having 13 receptions in 1968 and 1 in 1969. He retired after the 1970 season.


#124 Nick Buoniconti - Nick was drafted by the Patriots in 1962, and immediately became their starting middle linebacker. After 7 seasons in Boston, he escaped to bigger and better things in 1969 with the Miami Dolphins. He was the Dolphins' starting middle linebacker for 6 seasons, appearing in 3 Super Bowls. Buoniconti missed the 1975 season, and finished his career in 1976 with the Dolphins as a backup. An 8-time Pro Bowler, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.


#45 Leroy Mitchell - Mitchell was the Patriots' 11th-round pick in 1967. For 2 seasons, he started every game at left cornerback. After missing the 1969 season, he played for the Houston Oilers in 1970. He was the Denver Broncos' starting left cornerback for his last 3 seasons (1971-73).


#202 John Charles - Charles was the Patriots' 1st-round pick in 1967. As a rookie he was the starting right cornerback, before moving to strong safety for 1968 and 1969. John played for the Vikings in 1970, before moving to the Houston Oilers for his final 4 seasons.


Coming March 2nd: Buffalo Bills
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Miami Dolphins

Here are the 1968 Miami Dolphins. Aside from Bob Griese, they are not a very impressive bunch. By the time coach Don Shula whipped this team into Super Bowl shape three years later, only Griese and Howard Twilley would remain from this group.

Odd that there's no running backs included, but all 3 starting receivers are here. These were Griese's targets in the early years, before veteran ends Paul Warfield and Marv Fleming were brought in. Also no linemen cards, but 2 defensive backs?

Back in the day, I only had Jack Clancy and Dick Westmoreland.


#196 Bob Griese - Griese was the Dolphins' #1 pick (4th overall) in the 1967 draft. He played his entire career (1967-80) with Miami, and was the starter in all but his final season. Bob played in 3 straight Super Bowls (1971-73), winning the last 2. Although the Dolphins went 17-0 in the 1972 season, Griese only started 5 of those regular season games, due to injuries. Backup QB Earl Morrall (who also played in Super Bowl III with the Colts) started 9 games in 1972. Griese was an 8-time Pro Bowler, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. (This is one of the two 1968 cards I don't have. The picture is not sharp because it's a cropped image of a card mounted in plexiglass.)


#14 Jack Clancy - Jack was the Dolphins' flanker in his rookie season of 1967 and in 1969. He missed the 1968 season altogether. In 1970, Paul Warfield joined the team, so the Dolphins lowered the boom on Clancy. He finished his career in 1970 with the Packers.


#39 Howard Twilley - Although this card indicates Twilley was a split end, the Pro-Football-Reference.com website lists him as the flanker. After pairing with Jack Clancy or Karl Noonan for several seasons, Twilley had the good fortune of playing across from Paul Warfield in the early 1970s.


#144 Doug Moreau - Moreau went from spending his rookie season (1966) on the taxi squad, to the starting tight end job in 1967 and 1968. In 1969, he lost his starting job to Larry Seiple, who in turn would lose his TE job in 1970 when big Marv Fleming was brought in from Green Bay. Moreau finished his pro career in 1969 with the Dolphins.

#92 Tom Goode - Tom played 4 seasons with the Houston Oilers before coming to the Dolphins in the 1965 expansion draft. (With the Oilers, he played both center and linebacker.) He was the Dolphins' starting center for 4 seasons, before finishing up his career in 1970 with the Colts. He was the long-snapper for the last-second winning field goal in Super Bowl V against the Cowboys.

#170 Frank Emanuel - Frank was the Dolphins' #2 pick in 1966, and was their starting middle linebacker for his first 3 seasons. What happened after that? Well, the Dolphins acquired Nick Buoniconti from the Patriots, and Emanuel found a job with Miami's special teams for one more season, before going to the Saints in 1970 where he ended his career.

#66 Jimmy Warren - After 2 seasons with the Chargers, Warren was the Dolphins' starting left cornerback for 4 seasons (1966-69). Beginning in 1970, he spent 6 seasons as a backup with the Oakland Raiders' goon squad. defensive backs.



#118 Dick Westmoreland - Like Jimmy Warren, Westmoreland started out with the San Diego Chargers. After 3 seasons with the Chargers, he became the Dolphins' starting right cornerback for 3 seasons (1966-68), before losing his job in 1969 to rookie Lloyd Mumphord. Westmoreland's last season was 1969.


Also check out the 1971 Dolphins.


Next time: Boston Patriots
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New York Jets

Hey, the Jets are 1 win away from the Super Bowl. When was the last time that happened?

Here are the 1968 New York Jets... on their way to Super Bowl III. We have 3 receivers, 2 linebackers, and no linemen. (Back in the day, I only had the Joe Namath and Cornell Gordon cards.)


#65 Joe Namath - Joe promised a victory in Super Bowl III - and delivered. He was the AFL rookie of the year in 1965, and played high school football in western Pennsylvania (as did Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and Tony Dorsett).


#117 Matt Snell - This fullback was the Jets' #1 pick in 1964. He played his entire career (1964-72) with the Jets.


#169 Don Maynard - Don was drafted by the New York Giants in 1957. After playing 1 season (1958) with the Giants, he joined the new AFL New York Titans (Jets) in 1960 and was their star receiver through the 1972 season. He also played briefly with the Cardinals in 1973.

#13 George Sauer - The Jets' split end had a short (1965-70) but productive career as Namath's favorite target. He retired after the 1970 season, because of the violent nature of the game.


#143 Pete Lammons - Pete played tight end for 6 years (1966-71) with the Jets before finishing up with the Packers in 1972.


#195 Al Atkinson - Al was the Jets' middle linebacker from 1965 to 1974. He played for the same suburban-Philadelphia high school as John Cappelletti, then went to nearby Villanova.


#38 Ralph Baker - Ralph played his entire career (1964-74) as the Jets' left linebacker.


#91 Cornell Gordon - A rookie in 1965, this cornerback played 5 seasons with the Jets, and 3 with the Broncos.


Also check out the 1972 Jets.

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Oakland Raiders

Here are the 1968 Oakland Raiders - the defending AFL champions.

The Raiders and the NFL champion Packers have a different card style than all the other teams. (Compare to the Chiefs' cards posted earlier.) There are only 8 cards for the Raiders this year. I got the Daryle Lamonica, George Blanda, and Fred Biletnikoff cards (all in the 2nd series) a few years ago. All the other cards are from the first series, which I've had since 1968.


#194 Daryle Lamonica - Lamonica spent his first 4 seasons (1963-66) backing up Jack Kemp in Buffalo. He also punted in his rookie season. He was traded to Oakland and was their starting quarterback from 1967-72, leading the AFL with 3302 passing yards in 1969. His last 2 seasons (1973-74) were spent backing up Ken Stabler.


#90 Clem Daniels - This halfback was the AFL's MVP in 1963, leading the league in rushing with 1099 yards. After a rookie season with the Dallas Texans in 1960, he spent the next 7 seasons as the Raiders' halfback, and wrapped up his career in 1968 with the 49ers.


#64 Hewritt Dixon - Dixon played his first 3 seasons (1963-65) with the Broncos, including 2 seasons as a tight end. He was Oakland's fullback from 1966-1970.


#168 Fred Biletnikoff - Fred spent his entire career (1965-78) as a wide receiver for the Raiders. In the late 1960s, he (along with Lance Alworth, Don Maynard, and Otis Taylor) was one the top receivers in the AFL. (The back of this card is part of the Bart Starr puzzle.)


#37 Billy Cannon - Cannon was the first overall pick in the 1960 NFL draft. Rather than sign with the Rams, he signed with the AFL's Houston Oilers. This was one of the first skirmishes between the 2 leagues. After 4 seasons as the Oilers' halfback, Cannon moved on to the Raiders, where he switched to tight end in his 2nd season. In 1970, he played with the Chiefs before retiring.


#142 George Blanda - It seems like Blanda played forever. After quarterbacking the Bears for much of the 1950s, he found new life as the Houston Oilers' quarterback during the early AFL years. After moving to Oakland, he was primarily their kicker, but played occasionally at QB.


#116 Tom Keating - Tom played 11 seasons (1964-67, 69-75) with 4 different teams, but the middle 6 seasons were spent as Oakland's right defensive tackle. He made the AFL All-Star team in 1966 and 1967, and played in Super Bowl II following the 1967 season.


#12 Kent McCloughan - Kent was the Raiders' left cornerback for 6 seasons (1965-70). He was a 2-time All-Pro.


Also check out the 1971 Raiders.


Next time: New York Jets
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