#133 Eagles Team - In 1966, the Eagles finished 9-5, tied with Cleveland for 2nd place (behind Dallas) in the 8-team NFL East. In 1967, they plummeted to 6-7-1, but still finished 2nd behind Dallas. (In 1967, the NFL re-aligned into four 4-team divisions.) Maybe if they hadn't lost their top 2 rushers from 1966 (Timmy Brown (injury) and Earl Gros (trade)), along with the retirement of 1966 leading receiver Pete Retzlaff, things would have been different.
#142 Norm Snead - Snead was the Redskins' #1 pick (2nd overall) in 1961. After starting every game for the Skins for 3 seasons, Norm was traded to the Eagles for Sonny Jurgensen. He was the Eagles' starting QB for the next 7 seasons, before being run out of town following the 1970 season. Poor Norm - while Jurgensen led the NFL in passing yards 5 times and TDs twice, all Snead managed to do was lead the NFL in interceptions 5 times. After playing 1971 as the Vikings' backup, Snead was the Giants' starting QB in 1972, and played the next 4 seasons as a backup for the Giants and 49ers.
#136 Timmy Brown - Brown was drafted by the Packers in 1959, but only played in 1 game. Moving to Philadelphia for 1960, he spent 2 seasons as their return man, and was the starting halfback from 1962-66, while still returning punts and kicks. His playing time was severely decreased in 1967 (injury?). After the season he was traded to the Colts for DB Alvin Haymond. Brown retired after 1 season in Baltimore and became an actor. He appeared in both the M*A*S*H movie and TV show.
#137 Earl Gros - Earl was the Packers' #1 pick in the 1962 draft, but with Jim Taylor around, he was rarely used. Gros was the Eagles' starting fullback from 1964-66, then was traded in March 1967 to the Steelers for receiver Gary Ballman. After 3 seasons in Pittsburgh (the last 2 as starting fullback), he wrapped up his career in 1970 with the Saints.
#140 Pete Retzlaff - Pete was one of the few bright spots on the Eagles' roster during this time period. Unfortunately, he retired after the 1966 season. Retzlaff was drafted by the Lions in 1953, but didn't make the team. After 2 years in the army, he joined the Eagles in 1956, and starred for 11 seasons, the first seven as a flanker and split end, before switching to tight end in 1963. Pete was a 5-time Pro Bowler. He became the Eagles' general manager in 1969 after the 1968 housecleaning that included the owner, GM/coach, and any chance to select O.J. Simpson as the #1 draft pick. (see comments under Leroy Keyes here)
#143 Jim Skaggs - Skaggs played his entire career (1963-72) with the Eagles. He was the team's starting right guard from 1965-70, although he missed the entire 1968 season (and part of 1969 and 1971) with injuries.
#135 Bob Brown - Bob Brown was probably the Eagle's best player during his time with the team. Bob was the Eagles' #1 pick (2nd overall) in the 1964 draft. In his 5 seasons with the Eagles, he started every game at right offensive tackle, except for missing 6 games in 1968 due to injury. Following the 1968 season, the Eagles hired their former tight end Pete Retzlaff as GM. Brown decided he wasn't going to play for the team with Retzlaff in charge, and demanded a trade. Bob was shipped to the Rams for WR Harold Jackson and others, starting every game in his 2 seasons with LA, while making the Pro Bowl in both years. His final 3 seasons (1971-73) were spent as the Oakland Raiders' starting right tackle. In all, he made 6 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
#134 Sam Baker - Baker was drafted by the Rams in 1952, but began his career in 1953 with the Redskins. Always a kicker and punter, early on he also played fullback (mostly in 1953 and 1956). After playing 5 seasons in Washington (1953, 56-59), he moved on to Cleveland (60-61) and Dallas (62-63), before playing his last 6 seasons with the Eagles. In his final season of 1969, he was limited to kicking only, as rookie safety Bill Bradley took over the punting chores. Baker was a 4-time Pro Bowler ('56, '63, '64, '68).
#139 Floyd Peters - Floyd played in the NFL for 12 seasons (1959-70), and was a starting defensive tackle every year except 1959 and 1968. He played 4 seasons with the Browns, then played one season with the Lions in 1963. That year he switched to the left side, where he remained for the rest of his career. His 5 seasons with the Eagles (1964-69) included 3 trips to the Pro Bowl. Peters finished his career in 1970 as a starter with the Redskins.
#138 Dave Lloyd - Lloyd's career path follows that of Floyd Peters. His first 3 seasons (1959-61) were as a member of the Cleveland Browns, followed by one season with the Lions, before joining the Eagles for the bulk of his career. Dave was the Eagles' starting middle linebacker from 1963 until midway into his final season of 1970. After he was replaced at MLB by former DE Tim Rossovich, Lloyd kept busy for the rest of the year by kicking off (leaving the field goals and PAT to rookie Mark Moseley). Dave made the Pro Bowl in 1969, his final season as a regular starter.
#141 Joe Scarpati - Joe was drafted by the Boston Patriots in 1964, but chose to sign as a free agent with the Eagles. After starting at strong safety during his rookie season, Scarpati was the Eagles' starting free safety from 1965-69. In 1968, he had 8 interceptions for a league-leading 182 yards. Traded to New Orleans after the 1969 season, he was the Saints' starting free safety in 1970, before returning to the Eagles for 1971. A training camp injury that year ended his career.
#144 Eagles Logo - Here's the classic Eagles' logo on Kelly Green - much better than the marketing-induced logo and colors concocted by the Jeff Lurie regime.Also check out the 1971 and 1972 Eagles.
Next time: Pittsburgh Steelers
.
%20(f).jpg)
