1971 IN REVIEW

Dan Devine's first game as head coach of the Green Bay Packers had him feeling literally run down. Besides losing to the New York Giants 42-40, the long-time college coach broke his leg midway through the fourth quarter in a sideline pileup following an interception by Doug Hart. Devine was taken to Saint Vincent Hospital where he listened to the remainder of the game on the radio. Devine, who had posted winning records at both Arizona State and the University of Missouri, struggled in his first year in the professional ranks. Inconsistency, turnovers and the lack of a passing game led to a 4-8-2 record, the worst for Green Bay in 13 years. The season would also see Bart Starr give way to Scott Hunter as the Packers' starting quarterback. The season's bright spot was the running of John Brockington, who captured the Offensive Rookie of the year with 1,105 yards rushing.

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SECOND ROUND BUSTS

Prior to 2009, when the Packers cut QB Brian Brohm, one year after using a second-round choice on him, you would have to go back almost 40 years to find the last time the Packers released a 2nd-rounder this early in his career based on performance only.  In 1971, Dan Devine drafted RB Virgil Robinson of Grambling in the second round. He wanted him so bad, despite picking RB John Brockington in the first round, that he sent Travis Williams to the Rams for the draft pick. Robinson was tried as a running back, a wide receiver, and a defensive back, before the team released him the week before the regular season. Robinson would go on play 14 games with the Saints (101 yards rushing). The Saints released Robinson in October 1972, but he found one final opportunity to chase down his dream when the World Football League formed in 1974. Robinson played for the Houston Texans and moved with the team to Shreveport, where they became the Steamers. The league struggled to remain afloat and partway through the 1975 season, the Steamers organization asked players to take a substantial pay cut. With a wife and a new baby, Robinson made a difficult decision to end his football dream and pursue a career in banking, after rushing for 550 yards over two season in the WFL. More recently, the Packers parted with second-round draft picks after only one season four times, but they either traded the player or cut him because of a career-ending injury. In 2005, they drafted WR Terrence Murphy and released him the following April because of the neck injury that ended his career. In 1999, they drafted CB Fred Vinson then traded him in 2000 as part of the deal for running back Ahman Green. In 1992, they drafted LB Mark D’Onofrio, then cut him in 1993 because of a torn hamstring that ended his career. In 1975, they drafted OL Bill Bain, then traded him in 1976 for a third-round draft pick. 

NAME                NO  POS  HGT WGT COLLEGE         YR PR AG  G HOW ACQUIRED

John Spilis         85   WR 6- 3 205 North. Illinois  3  3 23 14 1969 Draft-3rd round

Bart Starr          15   QB 6- 1 190 Alabama         16 16 37  4 1956 Draft-17th round

Tim Webster         38    K 6- 0 195 Arkansas         1  1 21  4 1971 FA

Clarence Williams   83   DE 6- 5 255 Prairie View     2  2 24 14 1970 Trade-Dallas

Perry Williams      31   RB 6- 2 219 Purdue           3  3 24 14 1969 Draft-4th round

Randy Winkler       63    G 6- 4 260 Tarleton State   1  3 28  5 1971 FA-Atl (1968)

Wimpy Winther       52    C 6- 4 260 Mississippi      1  1 23 11 1971 Trade-NO

Cal Withrow         74    C 6- 0 240 Kentucky         1  2 26 14 1971 Trade-San Diego

Willie Wood         24   DB 5-10 190 USC             12 12 34 14 1960 FA

NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games  Played FA - Free Agent

1971 PACKERS DRAFT (January 28-29, 1971)

RND-PICK NAME                POS  COLLEGE         NOTES

1a -   9 John Brockington     RB  Ohio State (A)

1b -  12 Traded to Denver (A)

2a -  37 Traded to San Francisco (B) 

2b -  46 Virgil Robinson      RB Grambling (C) 

3  -  62 Charlie Hall         CB Pittsburgh 

4  -  90 Trade to Los Angeles Rams (C)

5a - 115 Traded to San Diego (D) 

5b - 116 Donnell Smith        DE Southern (E)

5c - 124 Jim Stillwagon       LB Ohio State (F) 

6  - 140 Scott Hunter         QB Alabama 

7a - 168 Dave Davis           WR Tennessee A&I 

7b - 175 James Johnson        WR Bishop (G) 

8  - 193 Win Headley           C Wake Forest 

9  - 216 Barry Mayer          RB Minnesota 

10 - 246 Kevin Hunt            T Doane 

11 - 271 John Lanier       RB/TE Parsons 

12 - 296 Greg Hendren        G/C California 

13 - 324 Jack Martin          RB Angelo State 

14 - 348 LeRoy Spears         DE Moorhead State 

15 - 374 Len Garrett          TE North Mexico Highlands 

16 - 402 Jack O'Donnell        G Central State 

17 - 427 Monty Johnson         S Oklahoma 

A-From Denver (Don Horn-Alden Roche) B-Kevin Hardy trade C-From Los Angeles Rams (Travis Williams) D-Jacques MacKinnon trade E-From Washington (Tom Brown) F-From Wash through LA (Boyd Dowler) G-From Oakland (Jacques MacKinnon)