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The 1971 Green Bay Packers - 4-8-2 (4TH - Central Division)

Head Coach: Dan Devine

1971 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (2-4)

                                                                                                                                                               OFF     DEF

AUGUST (1-3)                              RESULT    RECORD    ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB         LEADING RUSHER           LEADING PASSER         LEADING RECEIVER

7  M-CHICAGO BEARS                       L  0- 2    0- 1-0 47,248                 Zeke Bratkowski     Perry Williams (29)      Frank Patrick (66)     Dave Hampton (3-23)

14 G-PITTSBURGH STEELERS                 L 13-16    0- 2-0 56,263                 Zeke Bratkowski     John Brockington (61)    Scott Hunter (93)      John Hilton (3-2)

21 M-MIAMI DOLPHINS                      W 10- 7    1- 2-0 47,286                 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (49)    Scott Hunter (104)     Dave Hampton (2-21)

28 G-OAKLAND RAIDERS                     L 13-17    1- 3-0 56,263                 Scott Hunter        Dave Hampton (49)        Scott Hunter (199)     John Spilis (2-58)

SEPTEMBER (1-1)

4  at Cincinnati Bengals                 L 24-27    1- 4-0 55,477                 Zeke Bratkowski     Dave Hampton (99)        Zeke Bratkowski (71)   Rich McGeorge (5-55)

10 at Buffalo Bills                      W 20-14    2- 4-0 37,301                 Zeke Bratkowski     Dave Hampton (98)        Scott Hunter (86)      Carroll Dale (2-79)

1971 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

SEPTEMBER (1-1)

19 G-NEW YORK GIANTS (0-0)               L 40-42    0- 1-0 56,263 124 224 102 221 Zeke Bratkowski      Donny Anderson (99)     Scott Hunter (158)     John Spilis (3-70)

26 M-DENVER BRONCOS (0-0-1)              W 34-13    1- 1-0 47,957 214  89  81 246 Scott Hunter         Dave Hampton (86)       Scott Hunter (41)      Rich McGeorge (3-59)

OCTOBER (1-3)

3  G-CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-1)            W 20-17    2- 1-0 56,263 256  62  90  88 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (120)  Scott Hunter (75)      Carroll Dale (1-32)

10 at Detroit Lions (2-1)                L 28-31    2- 2-0 54,418 126 137 178 287 Scott Hunter         Donny Anderson (84)     Zeke Bratkowski (105)  Donny Anderson (4-24)

17 G-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-1)             L 13-24    2- 3-0 56,263 121 221  98 172 Scott Hunter         Donny Anderson (62)     Scott Hunter (230)     Carroll Dale (8-151)

24 at Los Angeles Rams (3-1-1)           L 13-30    2- 4-0 75,351  93 144 164 167 Scott Hunter         Donny Anderson (56)     Scott Hunter (92)      Donny Anderson (3-47)

NOVEMBER (1-3-1)

1  M-DETROIT LIONS (4-2)                 T 14-14    2- 4-1 47,961 218   0 190 101 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (111)  Scott Hunter (9)       Carroll Dale (1-9)

7  at Chicago Bears (5-2)                W 17-14    3- 4-1 55,049 171 133  75 205 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (142)  Scott Hunter (133)     Donny Anderson (3-50)

14 at Minnesota Vikings (6-2)            L  0- 3    3- 5-1 49,784 245  56  66  21 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (149)  Scott Hunter (62)      Carroll Dale (2-26)

22 at Atlanta Falcons (4-3-1)            L 21-28    3- 6-1 58,850 103  40 204 182 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (55)   Scott Hunter (72)      Carroll Dale (2-58)

28 M-NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-5-2)          L 21-29    3- 7-1 48,035  95 167 163 110 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (68)   Bart Starr (116)       Rich McGeorge (3-84)

DECEMBER (1-2)

5  at St. Louis Cardinals (4-7)          T 16-16    3- 7-2 50,443 211 146  80 225 Bart Starr           John Brockington (95)   Scott Hunter (129)     Donny Anderson (5-55)

12 G-CHICAGO BEARS (6-6)                 W 31-10    4- 7-2 56,263 115 180  61 186 Scott Hunter         John Brockington (63)   Scott Hunter (169)     Dave Davis (3-46)

19 at Miami Dolphins (9-3-1)             L  6-27    4- 8-2 76,812 137  86 155  90 Bart Starr           John Brockington (63)   Bart Starr (126)       Rich McGeorge (5-51)

G - Green Bay  M - Milwaukee

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.

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

Lionel Aldridge     82   DE 6- 4 245 Utah State       9  9 30 14 1963 Draft-4th round

Donny Anderson      44   RB 6- 3 210 Texas Tech       6  6 28 14 1965 Draft-1st round

Ken Bowman          57    C 6- 3 230 Wisconsin        8  8 28 14 1964 Draft-8th round

Dave Bradley        61    G 6- 4 245 Penn State       3  3 24  6 1969 Draft-2nd round

Zeke Bratkowski     12   QB 6- 3 210 Georgia          7 14 39  6 1971 Trade-Minnesota

John Brockington    42   RB 6- 1 225 Ohio State       1  1 22 14 1971 Draft-1st round

Bob Brown           78   DE 6- 5 260 Ark-Pine Bluff   6  6 31 14 1966 FA

Fred Carr           53   LB 6- 5 238 Texas-El Paso    4  4 25 14 1968 Draft-1st round

Jim Carter          50   LB 6- 3 235 Minnesota        2  2 22 10 1970 Draft-3rd round

Dave Conway         35    K 6- 0 195 Texas            1  1 26  1 1971 FA

Tommy Crutcher      56   LB 6- 3 230 TCU              5  7 30 14 1971 Trade-L. Angeles

Carroll Dale        84   WR 6- 2 200 Virginia Tech    7 12 33 14 1965 Trade-L. Angeles

Dave Davis          47   WR 6- 0 175 Tennessee State  1  1 23 14 1971 Draft-7th round

Jim DeLisle         79   DT 6- 4 255 Wisconsin        1  1 22  9 1971 FA

Ken Duncan          18    P 6- 2 200 Tulsa            1  1 25  3 1971 FA

Ken Ellis           48   CB 5-10 190 Southern         2  2 23 14 1970 Draft-4th round

Len Garrett         88   TE 6- 3 225 N.Mex Highland   1  1 23 14 1971 Draft-15th round

Gale Gillingham     68    G 6- 3 255 Minnesota        6  6 27 14 1966 Draft-1st round

Charlie Hall        21   CB 6- 1 195 Pittsburgh       1  1 23 14 1971 Draft-3rd round

Dave Hampton        25   RB 6- 0 210 Wyoming          3  3 24 13 1969 Draft-9th round

Doug Hart           43   DB 6- 0 190 Arlington State  8  8 32 14 1964 FA-St. Louis

Bill Hayhoe         77    T 6- 8 258 USC              3  3 24 14 1969 Draft-5th round

Dick Himes          72    T 6- 4 244 Ohio State       4  4 25 14 1968 Draft-3rd round

Scott Hunter        16   QB 6- 2 205 Alabama          1  1 23 14 1971 Draft-6th round

Larry Krause        30   RB 6- 0 208 St. Norbert      2  2 23  9 1970 Draft-17th round

Bill Lueck          62    G 6- 3 235 Arizona          4  4 25 14 1968 Draft-1st round

Al Matthews         29   DB 5-11 190 Texas A&I        2  2 23 14 1970 Draft-2nd round

Mike McCoy          76   DT 6- 5 284 Notre Dame       2  2 22 14 1970 Draft-1st round

Rich McGeorge       81   TE 6- 4 235 Elon             2  2 22 14 1970 Draft-1st round

Lou Michaels        75    K 6- 2 250 Kentucky         1 13 34 10 1971 FA-Balt (1969)

Ray Nitschke        66   LB 6- 3 235 Illinois        14 14 34 14 1958 Draft-3rd round

Frank Patrick       10   QB 6- 7 225 Nebraska         2  2 24 14 1970 Draft-10th round

Francis Peay        71    T 6- 5 250 Missouri         4  6 27 14 1968 Trade-NY Giants

Elijah Pitts        22   RB 6- 1 205 Philander Smith 10 11 32  6 1971 FA-NO (1969)

Al Randolph         27    S 6- 2 205 Iowa             1  6 27 14 1971 Trade-San Fran

Dave Robinson       89   LB 6- 3 245 Penn State       9  9 30 14 1963 Draft-1st round

Alden Roche         87   DE 6- 4 255 Southern         1  2 26 14 1971 Trade-Denver

Donnell Smith       74   DE 6- 4 245 Southern         1  1 22  5 1971 Draft-5th round

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)

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1971 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS

JAN 28 - Traded QB Don Horn and a 1971 1st-round draft choice (12th overall) to DENVER for DE Alden Roche and a 1971 1st-round draft choice (9th overall).  Traded RB Travis Williams and a 1971 4th-round draft choice to LOS ANGELES for a 1971 2nd-round draft choice and a 1972 6th-round draft choice. Traded the rights to WR Boyd Dowler to WASHINGTON for a 1971 5th-round choice. Traded a 1972 3rd-round draft choice to MINNESOTA for QB Zeke Bratkowski

FEB 16 - LB Jim Stillwagon (5th round) signed with TORONTO (CFL)

MAR 29 - Traded a 1972 17th-round draft choice to SAN DIEGO for C Cal Withrow

JUN 24 - Traded DT Kevin Hardy to SAN DIEGO for a 1972 1st-round draft choice

JUL 7 - Signed K Charlie Durkee, CB Charlie Hall (3rd round) and OL Greg Hendren (12th round)

JUL 22 - Traded CB Bob Jeter to CHICAGO for RB Ross Montgomery and a 1972 6th-round draft choice

JUL 31 - Traded DE Rich Moore to NEW ENGLAND for LB John Bramlett

AUG 16 - Claimed C Wayne Fowler (BUFFALO) and G Randy Winkler off waivers

AUG 19 - Traded 1972 5th-round choice to NEW ORLEANS for C Wimpy Winther. Claimed P Ken Duncan off waivers from MINNESOTA and K Dave Conway off waivers from DALLAS

AUG 24 - Traded 1973 4th-round choice to RAMS for LB Tommy Crutcher and 1973 4th-round  choice 

AUG 25 - Released K Karl Kremser, LB Steve Sarnes and C Wayne Fowler (54 players)

AUG 26 - Claimed WR Mike Savoy off waivers from ST. LOUIS. Claimed DB Dan Crooks off waivers from ATLANTA (57 players)

AUG 31 - Placed G Win Headley (8th round) and WR Mike Carter on taxi squad. Released DB Jerry Watson, DB Dan Crooks and WR Mike Savoy (48 players)

SEPT 8 - Traded an undisclosed draft choice to SAN FRANCISCO for S Al Randolph. Released K Dale Livingston and OT Pat Houlton. Waived RB Elijah Pitts, P Ken Duncan and C Cal Withrow and placed them on the taxi squard. DB Leon Harden refused taxi squad assignment and left camp. Waived DB George Fountain (44 players)

SEPT 13 - Waived WR John Hilton, LB John Bramlett, RB Virgil Robinson (2nd round) and WR Jim Johnson (7th round) (40 players)

SEPT 16 - C Wimpy Winther waived. K Tim Webster and QB Gary Lane waived from taxi squad. OT Kevin Hunt moved from taxi to injured reserve.

SEPT 21 - Waived K Dave Conway. Added C Wimpy Winther to taxi squad. 

OCT 7 - Placed P Ken Duncan on injured reserve list. Signed DB Butch Davis (CHICAGO) to taxi squad

OCT 26 - Waived DB Butch Davis off taxi squad. Signed K Tim Webster to taxi squad.

DEC 28 - RB Elijah Pitts retired and was named a scout

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