Five Players that Should have been Traded

The NFL trade deadline passed rather quietly on Tuesday with only one deal, the Rams traded Will Witherspoon to the Eagles. While Witherspoon should be an impact player on the Eagles, taking over at middle linebacker, it wasn’t the big name deal we all were hoping for.

With that being said, here are five players that should have been dealt before the deadline.

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Jeff Fisher Told a Joke, Titans Fans and Players in a Tizzy: Get Over It

I have three words for Titans fans who are calling for coach Jeff Fisher’s head—and Titans players who act like he just kicked their dog—after a joke he made at a charity function Tuesday:

GET…OVER…YOURSELVES .

On Tuesday, following the Titans embarrassing 59-0 no-show of a game against the New England Patriots, Jeff Fisher appeared at a charity for Rocketown, and was introducing former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, widely held throughout the NFL as being one of the classiest, most respected, genuinely nicest guys around.

Fisher, dressed in a coat and tie, innocently asked the audience if they were as hot as he was. He was so hot, in fact, that he had to strip out of his coat, tie, and shirt, revealing—much to the delight of those in attendance—a No. 18 Peyton Manning jersey.

As he walked back up to the microphone he stated, “I just wanted to feel like a winner.”

Titans fans lost their minds.

How dare he make light of the situation in Nashville? Does he not have any respect for his team, his players, his town, the fans? Is he so smug that he thinks he is infallible, and everything he does is above reproach?

Is he not the least bit worried that making light of the serious situation in Nashville could cost him his job?

I say again…GET OVER YOURSELVES .

Titans players acted like someone had called them a bad name during PE. LenDale White was particularly emotional in his response, even going so far as to say that no one has quit on the team, and that if he found out about it, there would be trouble.

REALLY get over yourself, LenDale.

Keith Bulluck and Jevon Kearse both were noncommittal in their comments, with both of them looking as if they might break down at any moment.

“It is what it is” was Bulluck’s response. Is that the same way you feel about the performance you and the other 52 players put on last week, Keith? It is what it is, and let it be?

Jevon Kearse, if we will remember, was a healthy—A HEALTHY—scratch two weeks ago. Healthy players who are contributing to a team’s success do not get scratched from the roster. So maybe his view of things is a little skewed.

Fans have their knickers in a twist, talking about how insensitive it was, how he should have thought before he acted, blah blah blah. As if they think Fisher is not aware of what is happening in Nashville.

If ANYONE is hyper aware of what is going on, it is Fisher. He has NEVER in his coaching career been exposed to this type of thing, and no one seems to be able to give him an answer. Not the players, not the coaches, NO ONE.

Fact is, he made a joke. And it was damned funny at that. If the Titans players want to feel like winners, then they need to STEP UP and start playing football. Stop acting like the whole world is against you, stop acting like you don’t know how to play football, get out on the field and EARN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE ARE PAYING YOU .

Here’s a thought, Titans players: if you had done your job this season, then Coach Fisher wouldn’t have had any fodder for a joke, now, would he? If you had even won a single game, and lost the rest of them in close contests, then the joke would not have been so funny, and yes, so biting, would it?

But you haven’t. Instead you have played like a bunch of rank amateurs. The way you have played this year, you almost DESERVED the whipping you got in Foxboro. There has been more than enough time to adjust to the coaching change, and more than enough time for the DC and OC to get their heads straight and figure out how to put points on the board while keeping the other team from doing the same.

Fact is, NO ONE in Tennessee, including Coach Fisher, deserves to feel like a winner right now, because you AREN’T. Right now, with a couple of notable exceptions, you are all losers on the football field.

Period.

So if Coach Fisher wants to inject a little levity into a worthy cause, then so be it. If it ticks off a few players and makes them play harder, forces them to address their shortcomings on the field, then all the better.

If it goes the other way, and the players decide to “get even” by giving up, then all I have to say is, “Sticks and stones.”

We learned way back in kindergarten about that one. So grow up.

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Green Bay Packers’ Biggest Draft Needs and Players Who Can Help

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Wisconsin Gives Green Light For NFL Players To Run Red Lights

The land that gave us bratwursts and Kohl’s, cheese and Greta Van Susteren, has now set a precedent that is surely going to ire the residents of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Senate has passed a bill that allows NFL players (who are tardy getting to Lambeau Field) to run red lights via police escort. It awaits the Governor’s signature, who is expected to sign it.

One of the main proponents of the bill was the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, the normal digs for all of the Green Bay Packers’ opponents. Their position was clear- a police procession would ensure the players get to Lambeau Field on time, and thus, ensure future reservations with all of the Packers’ opponents.

“It’s not just about the Packers. It’s about statewide special events, VIPs, and right now the only people who can go through stoplights and stop signs are funeral processions,” said Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay.

Uh, OK, Dave. 

Suuuuuuuuure it isn’t about the Packers. After all, if the Packers weren’t in Green Bay, we would still come to Green Bay every Sunday, right?

Hansen’s a pure politician, isn’t he?

I’m fairly sure all of Hansen’s future visits to the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel will be comped, just as I am sure the hotel’s manager will fall into luck every Sunday and be treated to some 50 yard-line seats from an anonymous donor.

The VIPs in Green Bay actually causes one to pause and reflect, doesn’t it? Are we talking about people late to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a bridge renovation? Or President Obama?

Apparently, there’s just too much stuff going on in Green Bay, dammit, and this bill is not about the NFL.

No. No. No.

The silliness of this whole thing is obvious- how many dignitaries have had problems getting around Green Bay? Better yet, how many dignitaries have visited Green Bay so far this year? And how many were late getting to their VIP functions?

Green Bay is a small town and traffic is NOT an issue. Sure, it gets a little hairy on game days, but I’ll take their traffic over the Raiders or 49ers’ traffic any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Talladega, Alabama is smaller than Green Bay, and for some reason, getting 180,000 people in and out of the venue on NASCAR race days, while grueling, isn’t cause for a change in law.

“Leave early” seems to work there.

To prove my point about traffic problems in Green Bay, I went to weather.com and clicked on traffic information for Green Bay, Wisconsin. This message came up in a box: “Traffic information is not available for Green Bay, WI (54344). Zoom out to view traffic coverage.”

If you don’t have traffic information for a city (or in Green Bay’s case, a town), you don’t have traffic problems.

The whole thing is a bit convoluted, but one thing is for sure- maybe the friggin Radisson Paper Valley Hotel ought check their wake-up service to see if it works properly.

Maybe the training staff and assistant coaches should instill a little more discipline? Maybe they should leave an hour earlier for work like all the rest of us idiots do?

Meanwhile, I wonder how all the expectant mothers in Wisconsin are feeling about this bill.

Hey, if you’re in labor, wait at the damn light. You aren’t important enough, but an NFL player late to work is.

Get your priorities straight, woman!

There’s nothing like seeing Brett Favre in a Vikings uni getting an escort through a red light when your water just broke over your Lexus’ leather seat while you wait for the procession, is there?

There will be, of course, the inevitable football player who ” misremembers” what the rule is and takes it upon himself to run the red lights, without the police escort, in his giant rented SUV.

You just know this will happen because time and time again, these logic-challenged players don’t understand the rules until after they break them.

“We can run red lights and stop lights going to Lambeau Field? Let’s rip it, boys!”

When do the Bengals play the Packers at Lambeau next year?

It should be an interesting Sunday.

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Top Five Prime Time Players in NFL Week Three

In Week Three on the gridiron, several players stepped up and made the difference for their team in covering the spread. Now, I present the list of the players that had the biggest impact on cashing your winning NFL betting tickets last week…

5.) QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts: Ho hum. The future Hall of Famer moved the Colts to a perfect 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS this season by throwing for 379 yards and four touchdowns against Arizona last week on Sunday Night Football.

Manning absolutely put on a clinic for the second straight week under the national spotlight, and once again, he did so without the services of WR Anthony Gonzalez.

WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark are the only targets that Manning is 100 percent comfortable with, but to prove just how good of a quarterback he is, it doesn’t matter who is lined up on the opposite side of the field, he’s going to find the right man and make the right decisions. That’s why the Colts are No. 4 in the AFC Week 4 Power Poll and a serious Super Bowl contender year in and year out

4.) QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: No, Matt Stafford’s numbers weren’t fantastic on Sunday against Washington, but how can we not make mention of the first quarterback to lead the Lions to a SU victory in almost two full seasons? The No. 1 overall pick had the best game of his young career, going 21/36 for 241 yards with a touchdown, but most importantly: he didn’t turn the ball over and kept Detroit in a position to win the game at all times.

He was smart by throwing the ball away under pressure when he had to, and scrambled for 23 yards when he was in trouble as well. If he accomplishes nothing else this season, Stafford is already a hero in the Motor City.

3.) RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags wouldn’t have stood a chance in Houston on Sunday afternoon without their little bowling ball of a running back.

Jones-Drew rumbled through Houston’s defense for 119 yards and three touchdowns and caught another four passes for 28 yards. He set the tone that HC Jack Del Rio was hoping to set in the second half by pounding the football play after play. And even though the Texans kept him bottled up at times, he busted enough big runs to make the Jaguars winners for the first time this season.

2.) DL Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos: Let’s give some love to the big boys on the defensive line for the Broncos. Dumervil picked up a pair of sacks off the end and terrorized Oakland QB JaMarcus Russell all day in Denver’s 23-3 victory against the Raiders. It was a complete defensive effort for HC Josh McDaniel’s boys, as they held the men in silver and black to just 137 total yards of offense.

1.) QB Mark Sanchez, New York Jets: This rookie is playing like anything but a rookie. Sanchez stood tall in the pocket and did a number on Tennessee’s stout defense last week in the Jets’ 24-17 victory in the Meadowlands.

The USC product ran for the game’s opening score, and threw two other TD passes in the victory, including the strike with 5:07 to play in the third quarter that stopped a 17-0 Tennessee scoring run and put New York ahead for good.

HC Rex Ryan’s defense may be getting the accolades, but Sanchez is doing enough right now to make himself the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year honors.

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Within Your Means: Mothers of NFL Players

A lesson can be learned from the story about Sean Taylor’s mother. Bruce Watson’s article about Donna Junor caught my eye.

The story saddened me. I thought, “Shouldn’t we live within our means, no matter what our children offer us?”

When your son gets a big contract with the NFL, I am sure, if life was a struggle before that great moment, mothers and even fathers are tempted to uproot their lives, move near their wealthy son, and start a new lifestyle.

You have got to think it through. Either get all of your gifts paid for in full, or take out life insurance just in case the fate of your child is not favorable, as in the case of Sean Taylor.

Sean Taylor did no wrong; rather, someone invaded his home and shot him. As I read this story about Sean Taylor, I realized that many of these young millionaires must think they are going to live forever.

As far as I am concerned, every NFL player ought to have a will. Anything can happen on the field, in a plane, a train, a car, a truck, or simply in your home.

Over the years I have heard people say that tomorrow is not promised. But, do we live as though we believe these words? I think not.

So here is a word of advice. NFL players, since you have a life, now get a will. Get a will, not for yourself, but for those you love.

On the other end of the spectrum, the mothers of NFL players must wake up and only accept a gift that they can maintain, in case something happens to your son or to his resources.

I really believe some people think that getting a will is like planning your death. It’s not. Rather, getting a will is making provisions for those you love, in case of death, either natural,  accidental or otherwise.

One other matter caused me to think about Taylor’s mother. The article mentioned that those around her inherited assets. Why haven’t those relatives thought of sharing with the mother of the man who left them money?

What does family mean to some people? It should be bonding, pulling together, and helping each other through hard times.

I hope for the best for Taylor’s mother. I also wonder, “Shouldn’t we live within our means?”

I think we should. Clearly, tomorrow is not promised to an NFL player, to his mother, or even to us.

Plan and be responsible, in case a storm rages through your life.

Storms can come in your life, literally, like Hurricane Ike, hit last year. Storms can come through criminal activity like home invasions which are on the rise in some towns. Storms can come through natural occurrences.

So, get a will, NFL players and others, so that your loved ones can weather the storm!

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Classic Dumb Statements About Young San Diego Chargers Players

I love history. I was sitting back and thinking about some of the stupidest things I’ve read about about three of my all-time favorite Chargers: Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, and LaDainian Tomlinson.

Philip Rivers

Phil Simms, in the process of touting his son Chris Simms, explained that the Miami Dolphins would be foolish to trade for a loser like Rivers.

Simms isn’t particularly impressed by Rivers’ ability, either — even if the quarterback finished his career at N.C. State ranked second among passers in NCAA history. That’s because Rivers is not particularly fast — he ran a 5.08 in the 40-yard dash before the draft — and he lacks a consistent deep ball.

“He’s not the play-maker,” said Simms, who suggested the Dolphins would be better off convincing Notre Dame junior quarterback Brady Quinn to enter the draft. “But the market for Philip Rivers will be driven up by hype, by people who say the Chargers’ best quarterback is sitting on the bench. That’s a very easy thing to say when there’s no proof of it otherwise.”

-Jeff Darlington, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer, Thursday, December 08, 2005

Mr. Simms, those words are among the stupidest ever said. When you argue that there is no proof that Rivers is any good. That was true.

You then state that he is not play-maker, but there is no proof of that either? That was desperate.

Would you rather have Rivers or both Brady Quinn and Chris Simms on your team?

LaDainian Tomlinson

Dave-Te’ Thomas from www.footballsfuture.com thought that LaDainian Tomlinson reminded him of Philadelphia great running back Duce Staley.

Once he adjusts to running from a pro-set instead of a veer offense, watch him grow into a very effective back. Definitely starting material, but he has enough to only garner All-Pro consideration eventually, but this is no franchise back here, folks. His numbers are very impressive, but he’s a product of the team’s system. Too bad too many general managers are desperate for a running back, as he’ll go higher than his stock dictates.

I guess Jim Brown (the clown) was right, LT must have made it into the right system in the NFL too.

Drew Brees

ESPN’s Tom Jackson, who proclaimed Jay Cutler the best quarterback on the best team in the league at one point last season, once proclaimed that Drew Brees hadn’t shown him anything that could convince him that Drew Brees had the talent to play in the NFL.

Excuse me, but that calls for an LOL.

That goes to show you that Mr. Jackson is nothing more than a high profile fan who never saw Drew Brees’ first season as a starter.

Terrible.

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Best Pro Football Players In Mississippi History; Part Nine: Kickers

This is the final installment in this series about the greatest pro football players in Mississippi history. The series has featured every position on the field and everyone has had a Hall of Famer or should be in the Hall of Fame.

In the last piece we will see some players that were missed in other posts and we will look at great special team players from Mississippi. The special team players from Mississippi also contain some great players.

So here is our final look at players from Mississippi who have had great careers in pro football. Starting with the players missed then special team players.

 

 

John “Kayo” Dottley: Chicago Bears via Ole Miss Rebels

John Dottley was one of the greatest players in Ole Miss history. Dottley was the first Rebel to rush for 1,000 yards. He did it twice in 1949 and 1950.

Dottley led the nation in rushing and the SEC in scoring in 1949 and was named All-American in 49’ as well. He was also named All-SEC in 1949 and 1950.

The Chicago Bears drafted Dottley in the second round with the 24^th overall pick in 1950. Dottley played for the Bears for three seasons and was named to one Pro Bowl in 1951.

Dottley was named to the Ole Miss team of the Century. He was named to the Ole Miss Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Mississippi Sports hall of Fame in 1971.

 

Parker Hall: Cleveland Rams via Ole Miss Rebels

Parker Hall was a star on both sides of the ball for Ole Miss. Hall led the nation in scoring and was second in interceptions in 1938. He was also first team All-SEC in 1938 as well.

The Cleveland Rams drafted Hall in the first round with the 3^rd overall pick in 1939. Hall is considered the first quarterback in NFL history to complete 100 passes in a season.

In 1939, Hall was named NFL Player of the Year and NFL Rookie of the Year. Hall’s rookie season saw him named first team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl.

Hall would see his pro football career cut short as he severed in the military because of World War II. He is also a member of the College Football, Ole Miss, and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

 

 

Ode Burrell: Houston Oilers via Mississippi State Bulldogs

Ode Burrell is considered a Mississippi State great during his short time in Starkville. Burrell was a standout offensively, defensively, and special teams.

In 1963, Burrell was named first team All-SEC and in 1964 was drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers. He instead chose to play for the Houston Oilers who drafted him in the fourth round with the 30^th overall pick.

Burrell played pro football for six seasons and was named AFL All-Star in 1965. After his playing career was over Burrell was named to the Mississippi State Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

 

 

Hoyle Granger: Houston Oilers via Mississippi State Bulldogs

Hoyle Granger was a three time letter winner and a three time All-SEC running back at Mississippi State. When he left the Bulldogs he was third on the all time rushing list.

The Houston Oilers selected Granger with the first pick of the fifth round. Granger played seven seasons as a pro football player.

Granger played most of his career for the Oilers but did play one season in New Orleans. He was a two time AFL All-Star in both 1967 and 1968.

Granger was elected in to the Mississippi State Hall of Fame in 2008.

 

 

Jim Poole: New York Giants via Ole Miss Rebels

Jim Poole played at Ole Miss with his brothers Ray and Barney. All three were stand out football players for the Rebels.

Jim was the oldest of the Poole brothers all of whom went on to play in the NFL along with Cousin Oliver Poole. Jim Poole has the distinction of being the first player ever drafted out of Ole Miss.

In 1937, the New York Giants drafted Poole in the seventh round with the 64th overall pick. Poole would play seven years in pro football.

Poole would leave pro football for three years to fight in World War II. During his years as a player Poole was named to three Pro Bowls from 1938-40 and was selected twice All-Pro in 1939 and 1946.

After playing football, Poole would come back to Ole Miss to coach until he retired. Poole was a charter member of the Ole Miss Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1965.

 

 

George Blair: San Diego Chargers via Ole Miss Rebels

George Blair was a standout defensive back and kicker for the Ole Miss Rebels. Blair was a part two of Johnny Vaught’s National Championship teams at Ole Miss in 1959-60.

Blair was drafted in 1960 by the New York Giants in the sixth round with the 72nd overall pick. Blair decided to play for the San Diego Chargers of the AFL instead.

As a kicker, Blair would make one AFL All-Star appearance in 1961 and was part of the 1963 AFL championship team for the Chargers.

 

 

Roell Preston: Green Bay Packers via Ole Miss Rebels

Roell Preston was a standout wide receiver for the Ole Miss Rebels. He would play in the NFL for five seasons for five different teams.

When Preston got a chance to shine, he made the most of it as a kick returner for the Green Bay Packers. In 1998, while on his second stint in Green Bay, Preston made the only Pro Bowl of his career as a kick returner.

 

 

Jerrel “Thunder Foot” Wilson: Kansas City Chiefs via Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Jerrel Wilson was a standout punter at Southern Miss. While with the Golden Eagles Wilson’s high, booming punts that arched down field earned him the nickname “Thunder Foot”.

Wilson was drafted in 1963 in the 11th round with the 88th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. He would lead the league with a 72-yard punt his rookie year and had four punts over 70 yards in his career.

For 15 seasons, Wilson would punt for the Chiefs and would be a backup running back. Wilson was named to three Pro Bowls from 1970-72 and was an All-AFL in 1968.

Wilson was named to the All-AFL team in 1970 and was named to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1988.

Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram once said “Jerrel Wilson made other people aware of how important the kicking game was at a time when special times were not given special consideration.

“I’m prejudiced, but he’s the best punter I ever saw. He’ll go down in history as the best kicker in the NFL.”

 

 

Ray Guy: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders via Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Jerrel Wilson might have company as the best kicker in NFL history. The company would come from his alma mater as well.

Ray Guy still owns the Southern Mississippi career record for highest average for a game, season and career. Guy also holds the record for the longest field goal in Golden Eagles history with a 61 yard field goal against Utah State in 1972.

A complete player, Guy still is tied for the record for most interceptions in a season at USM with eight in 1972. The same season he would set the record for longest punt which was 93 yards against Ole Miss.

Guy was selected first team All-American 1972 and was named first team All South Independent in 1970-72.  The Oakland Raiders made Guy the only punter ever taken in the first round in 1973 with the 23rd overall pick.

In an outstanding career, Guy was named a Pro Bowler seven times from 1973-78 and again 1980 in his 13 years all with the Raiders. Guy would play in 207 consecutive games and had 619 straight punts without a block.

Guy led the NFL in punting three times, 210 punts inside the 20-yard line (not counting his first three seasons, when the NFL did not keep track of this stat), with just 128 touchbacks.

Guy would never have a punt returned for a touchdown his whole career. He would be a first team All Pro six times from 1973-78 and was a three time Super Bowl champion.

After his career, Guy was the first to have his number retired by USM. He is a member of the USM Hall of Fame, Mississippi and Georgia Hall of Fame.

He was named to the NFL All 1970’s team and the NFL 75th Anniversary team. Guy was named to the College Football Hall of Fame as well.

Guy was named to the USM Team of the Century and every year in college football the best punter receives the “Ray Guy” Award.

 

Special teams players do not normally get in any Hall of Fame but if any special team players do its Jerrel Wilson and Ray Guy. The two Southern Miss kicking standouts deserve to be in the NFL Hall of Fame.

This concludes our look at great players from Mississippi. Some who did not make our list included players who made great plays in the NFL.

One was Lawrence Pillers, who sacked Danny White after the Montana-to-Clark “Catch” to preserve the 49ers trip to the Super Bowl.

Another was D.D. Lewis, who was the first to say the hole in the old Texas Stadium was so that “God could look down on his favorite team.”

I hope everyone had as much fun reading this series as I did writing it. I hope everyone thought each part was great and you learned something you did not know in each one.

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The 5 Most Important Players In Sunday’s Bears-Seahawks Matchup

With the Bears pulling off an extremely momentous victory over the Champion Pittsburgh Steelers last week, they will be looking to take their record to 2-1 this Sunday, against the Seattle Seahawks.

With an “easier” portion of their schedule on tap, the Bears need to keep the momentum moving in the positive direction by beating the teams that they should beat, and maybe pulling off an “upset” victory here and there.

With that in mind, I thought I’d detail the five most important players in Sunday’s game that will help determine whether or not the Bears can keep their winning ways alive.

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Best Pro Football Players in Mississippi History, Part Eight: DB’s

After some time off for various reasons let’s go back to the finish off the “Greatest Pro Football Players in Mississippi History.” We have seen offensively that Mississippi has had some of the best players to ever play on that side of the ball.

Defensively, we have seen great defensive linemen and linebackers. The last part of the defense we will examine is the secondary.

The Magnolia State has produced hall of fame players at each position on the football field and the secondary is no different.

Here is some are of the best pro football defensive backs to come from Mississippi universities.

 

Billy Stacy: Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals via Mississippi State Bulldogs

Billy Stacy was a three time letterman in both football and track at Mississippi State. Stacy made a name for himself as a first team All-SEC quarterback in 1956 for the Bulldogs.

The 1956 season also saw Stacy finish eighth in the nation in total offense with 1,077 yards and led the nation in punt returns with 24 returns for 270 yards.

Stacy was a three time selection for All-SEC and was named an All-American in 1957. In the 1959 draft, the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals selected Stacy in the first round with the third overall pick.

He would go on to play in the NFL for five years and would be named to one Pro Bowl in 1961. Stacy would return to Mississippi State after his playing career was over.

Stacy has been inducted in to the Mississippi State University hall of fame in 1970. In 1979, Stacy was selected to the Mississippi Sports hall of fame.

 

Ashley Ambrose: Cincinnati Bengals via Indianapolis Colts via Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils

Ashley Ambrose was a standout player for Mississippi Valley State from 1989 to 1992. Ambrose was a four year letter winner at cornerback with the Delta Devils.

In the 1992 draft Ambrose was selected by the Colts in the second round with the 29th overall pick. Ambrose played in the NFL for 13 seasons.

The best season for Ambrose came after he left the Colts and signed with the Bengals in 1996. Ambrose was named to the only Pro Bowl in his career and was named AFC Defensive Back of the Year.

After his career, Ambrose joined the Colorado Buffaloes as an interim coach in 2008. In 2010, he will take over as wide receiver coach.

 

Roynell Young: Philadelphia Eagles via Alcorn State Braves

Roynell Young had a standout career while playing for Alcorn State. Young was the first Braves player ever taken in the first round of the NFL draft.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Young in 1980 in the first round with the 23rd overall pick. Young was the only rookie to start for the Eagles in their run to Super Bowl XV.

Young would go on to play for the Eagles for nine seasons. The 1981 season was Young’s only Pro Bowl season.

He would also be the team’s defensive MVP in the 1981 season as well.

 

Walt Harris: San Francisco 49ers via Mississippi State Bulldogs

Walt Harris had a record setting career at Mississippi State as a four year letter winner. Harris owns the career record with 16 interceptions for the Bulldogs.

Harris was named All-SEC in both 1994 and 1995 and earned playing time as a true freshman. The Chicago Bears drafted Harris in the first round in 1996 with the 13th pick overall.

While with the Bears Harris was named to the All-Rookie team in 1996, it has been his time in San Francisco that Harris has shined.

After spending time in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Washington, Harris signed with the 49ers in 2006. His first year with the 49ers Harris had a career high six interceptions and earned his only Pro Bowl trip.

Harris is still active in the NFL and is still playing with San Francisco.

 

Patrick Surtain: Miami Dolphins via Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Patrick Surtain had a stellar career during his time at Southern Mississippi. Surtain is still third all time on the Golden Eagles interception list with 16 in his career.

Twice named all C-USA first team in 1996-97 and Surtain was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 as well. The Miami Dolphins selected Surtain in 1998 in the second round with the 44th overall pick.

Surtain played in the NFL for 11 seasons and finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He is best known for his time spent with the Dolphins.

With the Dolphins, Surtain was named to three Pro Bowls from 2002-04 and twice All-Pro in 2002-03. The Chiefs released Surtain on February 24, 2009, and he is out of football with no teams signing him this season.

Surtain was named to the All-Century team for Southern Mississippi as well.

 

Hanford Dixon: Cleveland Browns via Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Hanford Dixon was a great player for Southern Mississippi from 1977-80. Hanford was named first team All-American in 1980, his final year with the Eagles, and the same year named first team All-South Independent.

The Cleveland Browns selected Hanford in the first round with the 22nd overall pick of the draft. Hanford played in the NFL for nine seasons, all with the Browns.

The cornerback was named to three Pro Bowls while with the Brown from 1986-88. Hanford is better known for naming one of the best sections in pro football.

Hanford has been give credit for naming the “Dawg Pound” in the old Municipal Stadium. The antics in the “Dawg Pound” started because of Hanford’s barking at teammates, notably fellow corner Frank Minnifield.

Hanford was named to the Southern Mississippi All-Century Team. He was also inducted in to the Golden Eagle Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

 

Speedy Duncan: San Diego Chargers via Jackson State Tigers

Speedy Duncan played his college career for the Jackson State Tigers. He went on to play for the Chargers and Washington Redskins in the AFL and NFL respectively.

Duncan set an AFL record for the longest interception for a touchdown. The interception was 100 yards against Kansas City.

Another AFL record set by Duncan was for a 95 yard punt return for a touchdown against the New York Jets. While with the Chargers, Duncan was an AFL All-Star three times from 1965-67.

Duncan would be selected to AFL-NFL Pro Bowl in 1971 after the merger of the NFL and AFL. Duncan was traded to the Washington Redskins in 1973.

 

Jimmy Patton: New York Giants via Ole Miss Rebels

Jimmy Patton was a great player for Ole Miss as running back and a defensive back. Patton played for the Rebels from 1952-54. He was a co-Captain for the 1954 for team as well.

The New York Giants drafted Patton in the eighth round with the 92nd pick overall in 1955. Patton would play with Giants greats like Frank Gifford, Roosevelt Brown, and Sam Huff.

In the NFL, Patton would play safety and would be selected to five Pro Bowls from 1958-62. Patton would also be selected first team All-Pro during the same time period.

Patton was selected to the Mississippi Hall of Fame in 1973. In a tragic turn of events, Patton was killed in a car accident while traveling to see his sister who was dying of cancer. Patton was the only person in the car and no other cars were involved in the accident.

After his death, Patton was named to the Ole Miss Team of the Century. He was elected to the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

 

Lem Barney: Detroit Lions via Jackson State Tigers

Lem Barney was one of the greatest players not only in Jackson State History but Mississippi history as well. To this day, Barney is the Tigers all time career leader with 26 interceptions.

Barney was selected three times All-SWAC while at Jackson State. He also had a 42.5 yard average per punt as well.

The Detroit Lions selected Barney in 1967 in the second round with the 34th pick overall. In his first game with the Lions, Barney intercepted the first pass thrown his way by Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers.

Barney had 56 career interceptions and was also a very good punt/kick returner. In 1967, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie Player of the Year.

He was also named to seven Pro Bowls (1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1976) and seven first team All-Pro (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975).

Barney would see his No. 20 be worn by Lions greats Billy Simms and Barry Sanders before it was retired. He would meet Marvin Gaye (when Gaye tried to make the Lions unsuccessfully) and would sing backup on Gaye’s hit “What’s Going On.”

In film, Barney would earn roles in The Black Six and Paper Lions. Barney would be named to the NFL All-Decade 1960s team.

In 1986, Barney was named to the Mississippi Sports Hall of fame. Barney received two honors in 1993, the fist was name to the SWAC Hall of Fame and the second was being named to the NFL Hall of Fame.

Barney would receive another honor in 1995 being named to the All Time Black College Football Team.

 

This is the second to the last part of this series. As we have seen before all of Mississippi Division I schools and Historically Black Universities have had great players at every position.

In the last part of this series we will look at some of the best special team’s players in Mississippi history. The final part will feature a player who should be in the Hall of Fame as well.

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