Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals' cards are the blandest batch of cards from this set, and probably of all the football sets I have. White jerseys, white backgrounds, white letters in the team name. Bleh! I can't even stand looking at them.


#49 Virgil Carter - After 2 seasons with the Bears, Carter was acquired by the Bengals in 1970, and was the starting QB for 1970 and 1971. He pretty much was just keeping the position warm between rookie sensation Greg Cook's 1969 season and when Ken Anderson took over in his sophomore season (1972).


#219 Paul Robinson - Paul was the Bengals' 3rd-round pick in their inaugural 1968 season, and led the AFL that year in rushing yards (1023), attempts (238), and TDs (8). After his rookie year, he settled back into obscurity. After 4 games in 1972, he left the Bengals for the Oilers, finishing up with Houston in 1974.


#99 Fred Willis - This fullback was the Bengals' 4th-round pick in 1971. I guess the Oilers really liked Paul Robinson, because 1 week after acquiring him, they also picked up Fred Willis from the Bengals. He played for the Oilers until retiring after the 1976 season.


#17 Chip Myers - Myers was a rookie with the 49ers in 1967, then played for the Bengals from 1969 to 1976. He made the Pro Bowl in 1972.

#179 Bob Trumpy - Bob was a 12th-round pick in the Bengals' 1st season of 1968, and played his entire career (1968-77) with Cincinnati.

#328 Horst Muhlmann - Horst was signed by the Bengals in 1969 (at age 29). After 6 seasons in Cincinnati, he played his final 3 seasons (1975-77) with the Eagles.


#67 Mike Reid - Mike was the Bengals' #1 pick (7th overall) in 1970. He had a relatively short career (1970-74), all with Cincinnati. He retired after the 1974 season to pursue a career as a country music songwriter and performer.


#153 Al Beauchamp - Al was the 5th-round pick for the Bengals in 1968, and was their starting left linebacker for 8 seasons. He finished his career in 1976 with the Cardinals.


#307 Lemar Parrish - Parrish was drafted by the Bengals in 1970, and started almost every game at left cornerback for 8 seasons. In 1978 he was traded to the Redskins. After 4 seasons in Washington, he finished his career in 1982 with the Buffalo Bills.


#237 Dave Lewis - Dave was the Bengals' punter from 1970 to 1973. In his first 2 seasons, he was also the 3rd-string quarterback.


Also check out the 1968 Bengals.


Coming March 6th: Philadelphia Eagles
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New Orleans Saints

I was going to post the Philadelphia Eagles' cards this weekend, but I'm going to post the Saints instead, since this is Super Bowl Sunday. Some (including me) would argue that the choke-artist Eagles have no business being mentioned during Super Bowl week anyway.


Here are the 1972 New Orleans Saints cards. Overall, the talent level here is much improved over the employees featured in the 1967 set. Still, Topps has made some puzzling choices here. Two quarterbacks but only three defensive players? Two offensive linemen but no running backs? At least we have Archie Manning's rookie card.


#55 Archie Manning - Manning was the Saints' #1 pick in the 1971 draft (2nd overall, after Jim Plunkett). After using veteran Bill Kilmer in their first 4 seasons, the Saints were rebuilding with a top, young QB. Unfortunately, that rebuilding process would outlive Manning's career (and then some!) Manning would play 10 full seasons with the Saints (missing 1976 with a broken arm). In 1982 he played for the Saints and Oilers, and in 1983 the Oilers and Vikings, before finishing his career in 1984 with the Vikings.


#191 Edd Hargett - Hargett had a 5-year career as a backup QB with the Saints (1969-72) and Houston Oilers (1973). He started 3 games in 1970 (Bill Kilmer's last season) and started 4 games in 1971 (Archie Manning's first season). Other than that, it was all mop-up duty for him.

#213 Danny Abramowicz - What a find this guy was! A 17th-round pick by the Saints in 1967, Danny played 6 full seasons with the Saints, plus the first 2 games of 1973. In 1969, his 73 receptions were the most in the NFL. He played the last 12 games of 1973, and all of 1974 with the 49ers.


#14 Dave Parks - Dave was the 1st overall pick in the 1964 draft (by the 49ers). He played split end for 4 seasons in San Francisco, and his 80 receptions and 1344 receiving yards were both tops in the NFL in 1965. Parks came to the Saints in 1968, and switched to tight end during the 1969 season. His final season (1973) was with the Houston Oilers.

#164 Jake Kupp - Kupp was one of the Saints' original expansion draft picks in 1967. He held down the Saints' starting left guard spot for most of his time in New Orleans (1967-75). He also played with the Cowboys (1964-65) and the Redskins (1966).


#242 Glen Ray Hines - Hines was a starting right tackle in each of his 8 seasons, with the Oilers (1966-70), Saints (1971-72), and Steelers (1973).

#34 Charlie Durkee - Charlie had a short NFL career. He was on the Cowboys' roster in 1966 but did not play. He kicked for the Saints in 1967-68, and 1971-72, but was not in the NFL during 1969-70.


#87 Richard Neal - The Saints' 2nd-round pick in 1969, Neal played 4 seasons at left defensive end. Richard played for the Jets from 1973-77 before returning to the Saints in 1978, his final season.


#321 Delles Howell - Howell was the Saints' 4th-round pick in 1970. He was the team's starting right cornerback for 3 seasons, before moving to the Jets for his final 3 seasons (1973-75).


#296 Hugo Hollas - Hollas was the Saints' starting strong safety for 3 seasons (1970-72). He missed the 1973 season, then finished his career with the 49ers in 1974.


Also check out the 1967 and 1971 Saints.


Coming Feb 20th: Cincinnati Bengals
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