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NFC CENTRAL CHAMPIONS
The 1972 Green Bay Packers - 10-4 (1ST - Central Division)

Head Coach: Dan Devine

1972 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (4-2)

                                                                                                                                                               OFF     DEF

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

5  G-CINCINNATI BENGALS                  W 24-14    1- 0-0 56,263                 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (43)      Scott Hunter (112)     Carroll Dale (3-69)

12 at Miami Dolphins                     W 14-13    2- 0-0 75,332                 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (77)    Scott Hunter (106)     Dave Davis (3-106)

19 at Houston Oilers                     L  3-20    2- 1-0 46,460                 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (47)    Scott Hunter (68)      John Spilis (2-25)

27 M-CHICAGO BEARS                       W 10- 7    3- 1-0 47,222                 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (50)      Scott Hunter (113)     MacArthur Lane (4-35)

SEPTEMBER (1-1)

2  G-ST. LOUIS CARDINALS                 L 10-31    3- 2-0 56,263                 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (91)      Scott Hunter (98)      Dave Hampton (3-43)

9  M-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS                  W 20- 0    4- 2-0 47,281                 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (51)    Scott Hunter (127)     Leland Glass (2-61)

1972 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

SEPTEMBER (1-1)

17 at Cleveland Browns (0-0)             W 26-10    1- 0-0 75,771 145 145  62 126 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (83)    Scott Hunter (150)     MacArthur Lane (2-63)

24 G-OAKLAND RAIDERS (0-1)               L 14-20    1- 1-0 56,263 143  64 196 117 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (73)    Scott Hunter (66)      Rich McGeorge (2-25)

OCTOBER (3-2)

1  M-DALLAS COWBOYS (2-0)                W 16-13    2- 1-0 47,103 124  44 138 131 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (91)    Scott Hunter (53)      Leland Glass (2-31)

8  G-CHICAGO BEARS (0-2-1)               W 20-17    3- 1-0 56,263 101 240 139 119 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (59)    Scott Hunter (240)     Leland Glass (4-74)

16 at Detroit Lions (3-1)                W 24-23    4- 1-0 54,418 125 140 146  83 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (89)      Scott Hunter (149)     Jon Staggers (4-41)

22 M-ATLANTA FALCONS (3-2)               L  9-10    4- 2-0 47,967 112 103 107 137 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (88)    Scott Hunter (108)     Carroll Dale (2-60)

29 G-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-4)             L 13-27    4- 3-0 56,263 102 130 152 192 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (93)    Scott Hunter (130)     Carroll Dale (3-87)

NOVEMBER (3-1)

5  M-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-3-1)         W 34-24    5- 3-0 47,897 197 141  21 306 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (133)   Scott Hunter (151)     Carroll Dale (3-63)

12 at Chicago Bears (3-4-1)              W 23-17    6- 3-0 55,701 123  40 179 117 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (70)    Jerry Tagge (47)       MacArthur Lane (2-20)

19 at Houston Oilers (1-8)               W 23-10    7- 3-0 41,752 210 100 114 126 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (126)     Ron Widby (68)         MacArthur Lane (3-23)

26 at Washington Redskins (9-1)          L 16-21    7- 4-0 53,039 120  67 132 149 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (71)      Jerry Tagge (71)       Dave Davis (2-40)

DECEMBER (3-0)

3  G-DETROIT LIONS (7-4)                 W 33- 7    8- 4-0 56,263 233  76  27 162 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (86)    Scott Hunter (67)      John Brockington (2-12)

10 at Minnesota Vikings (7-5)            W 23- 7    9- 4-0 49,784 214  56  54  90 Scott Hunter        John Brockington (86)    Scott Hunter (74)      Carroll Dale (3-32)

17 at New Orleans Saints (2-10-1)        W 30-20   10- 4-0 65,881 178  66  50 102 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (84)      Ron Widby (34)         MacArthur Lane (2-11

1972 POST-SEASON SEASON RESULTS (0-1)

DECEMBER (0-1) - NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF

24 at Washington Redskins (11-3)         L  3-16           53,140  78 133 138  94 Scott Hunter        MacArthur Lane (56)      Scott Hunter (150)     MacArthur Lane (4-42)

G - Green Bay  M - Milwaukee

1972 IN REVIEW

Green Bay parlayed a strong running attack and a stifling defense into its first playoff berth in five years, and its last until 1982. From opening day to the regular season finale in New Orleans, the Packers never relinquished first place in the NFC. Getting there was not easy. Change was the theme as the season started. 21 players from the 1971 squad were absent to start the season. With Dan Devine's major overhaul apparent throughout the starting lineup, the Packers set out to overcome the previous four years of non-playoff activity.The team's schedule was the fourth toughest in the league based on their opponents' winning percentage (.579) from 1971. Green Bay also butted heads with five teams that made the 1971 playoffs - six if the Vikings are counted twice. The Packers won four of those six encounters, including close wins over the NFC Champion runner-up 49ers and the defending champion Cowboys.

JERRY TAGGE - A HOMETOWN HOPE

It had all the makings of a Hollywood movie. A young boy sells concessions at the stadium he would later star as a quarterback. That seemed to be the theme in place for Jerry Tagge, the Packers' second first round draft choice in 1972. Born at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Tagge attended Green Bay West before starring at Nebraska, where, as a junior, he took over the starting position from Van Brownson, leading the team to two Orange Bowl wins and Tagge won MVP honors in both games. Tagge spent most of his rookie season on the bench, before going 3-3 as a starter in both 1973 and 1974, but he completed only three touchdown passes in the 17 games he played, with 17 interceptions. Tagge left for the San Antonio Wings (WFL). In the team's final game before the league folded in October 1975, he was intercepted five times. In 1977, Tagge joined the British Columbia Lions (CFL), and led them to a 10-2 record, winning four games in the last minute of play, before they lost their last four games. In the playoffs, the Lions defeated Winnipeg 33-22 for their first post-season victory since the 1964 Grey Cup. B.C. moved on to the Western Final but were crushed by the eventual champions, the Edmonton Eskimos, 40-1. Tagge was named the Western Division Most Outstanding Player, the first Lion to capture the trophy since Tom Brown in 1964. The Lions struggled in 1978 as Tagge was unable to re-create the magic of his first season. The club finished at 7-7-2 and missed the playoffs. Tagge returned to B.C. in 1979 and led the Lions to a 10-1 record but a knee injury ended his career. In 1981, Tagge moved to St. Louis, where he sold apartment buildings. He returned to Nebraska in 1986, initially selling life insurance, then founded Tagge-Rutherford Financial Services in Omaha, for which he serves as executive vice president. Years later, Tagge is finally at peace - Alcohol problems derailed his career (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article)

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

Ken Bowman          57    C 6- 3 230 Wisconsin        9  9 29 14 1964 Draft-8th round

John Brockington    42   RB 6- 1 225 Ohio State       2  2 23 14 1971 Draft-1st round

Bob Brown           78   DE 6- 5 260 Ark-Pine Bluff   7  7 32 14 1966 FA

Willie Buchanon     28   CB 6- 0 190 San Diego State  1  1 21 14 1972 Draft-1st round

Fred Carr           53   LB 6- 5 238 Texas-El Paso    5  5 26 14 1968 Draft-1st round

Jim Carter          50   LB 6- 3 235 Minnesota        3  3 23 14 1970 Draft-3rd round

Tommy Crutcher      56   LB 6- 3 230 TCU              6  8 31 12 1971 Trade-L. Angeles

Carroll Dale        84   WR 6- 2 200 Virginia Tech    8 13 34 14 1965 Trade-L. Angeles

Dave Davis          47   WR 6- 0 175 Tennessee State  2  2 24 14 1971 Draft-7th round

Ken Ellis           48   CB 5-10 190 Southern         3  3 24 14 1970 Draft-4th round

Len Garrett         88   TE 6- 3 230 N.Mex Highlands  2  2 24 14 1971 Draft-15th round

Paul Gibson         41    S 6- 2 195 Texas-El Paso    1  1 24  1 1972 FA

Gale Gillingham     68   DT 6- 3 255 Minnesota        7  7 28  2 1966 Draft-1st round

Leland Glass        46   WR 6- 0 185 Oregon           1  1 21 14 1972 Draft-8th round

Charlie Hall        21   CB 6- 1 195 Pittsburgh       2  2 24 14 1971 Draft-3rd round

Bill Hayhoe         77    T 6- 8 258 USC              4  4 25 14 1969 Draft-5th round

Larry Hefner        51   LB 6- 2 215 Clemson          1  1 23  2 1972 Draft-14th round

Jim Hill            39    S 6- 2 190 Texas A&I        1  4 25 14 1972 Trade-San Diego

Dick Himes          72    T 6- 4 244 Ohio State       5  5 26 14 1968 Draft-3rd round

Bob Hudson          23   RB 5-11 210 NE Oklahoma      1  1 24 12 1972 Draft-6th round

Kevin Hunt          64    T 6- 5 260 Doane            1  1 23  3 1971 Draft-10th round

Scott Hunter        16   QB 6- 2 205 Alabama          2  2 24 14 1971 Draft-6th round

Dave Kopay          40   RB 6- 0 218 Washington       1  9 30 14 1972 FA-NO (1971)

Bob Kroll           44    S 6- 1 195 N. Michigan      1  1 22  5 1972 FA

Pete Lammons        86   TE 6- 3 228 Texas            1  7 28 12 1972 FA-Philadelphia

MacArthur Lane      36   RB 6- 1 220 Utah State       1  5 30 14 1972 Trade-St. Louis

Bill Lueck          62    G 6- 3 235 Arizona          5  5 26 14 1968 Draft-1st round

Chester Marcol      13    K 6- 0 190 Hillsdale        1  1 22 14 1972 Draft-2nd round

Al Matthews         29   DB 5-11 190 Texas A&I        3  3 24 14 1970 Draft-2nd round

Mike McCoy          76   DT 6- 5 284 Notre Dame       3  3 23 12 1970 Draft-1st round

Rich McGeorge       81   TE 6- 4 235 Elon             3  3 23  2 1970 Draft-1st round

Ray Nitschke        66   LB 6- 3 235 Illinois        15 15 35 11 1958 Draft-3rd round

Frank Patrick       10   QB 6- 7 225 Nebraska         3  3 25  2 1970 Draft-10th round

Francis Peay        71    T 6- 5 250 Missouri         5  7 28  6 1968 Trade-NY Giants

Dave Pureifory      75   DE 6- 1 260 E. Michigan      1  1 23 14 1972 Draft-6th round

Dave Robinson       89   LB 6- 3 245 Penn State      10 10 31 14 1963 Draft-1st round

Alden Roche         87   DE 6- 4 255 Southern         2  3 27 14 1971 Trade-Denver

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

Malcolm Snider      67    G 6- 4 251 Stanford         1  4 25 14 1972 Trade-Atlanta

Jon Staggers        22   WR 5-10 180 Missouri         1  3 23 14 1972 FA-Pitt (1971)

Jerry Tagge         17   QB 6- 2 220 Nebraska         1  1 22  4 1972 Draft-1st round

Ike Thomas          37   CB 6- 2 193 Bishop           1  2 24 12 1972 Trade-Dallas

Vernon Vanoy        73   DT 6- 8 270 Kansas           1  2 25 13 1972 FA-Giants (1971)

Ward Walsh          26   RB 6- 0 208 Colorado         1  1 22  2 1972 FA-Houston

Ron Widby           20    P 6- 4 210 Tennessee        1  5 27 14 1972 Trade-Dallas

Clarence Williams   83   DE 6- 5 255 Prairie View     3  3 25 14 1970 Trade-Dallas

Perry Williams      31   RB 6- 2 219 Purdue           4  4 25 14 1969 Draft-4th round

Cal Withrow         74    C 6- 0 240 Kentucky         2  3 27 14 1971 Trade-San Diego

Keith Wortman       65    G 6- 2 245 Nebraska         1  1 22 13 1972 Draft-10th round

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

1972 PACKERS DRAFT (February 1-2, 1972)

RND-PICK NAME                POS COLLEGE                 NOTES

1a -   7 Willie Buchanon      CB San Diego State 

1b -  11 Jerry Tagge          QB Nebraska                A

2  -  34 Chester Marcol        K Hillsdale 

3  -  59 to Minnesota Vikings for Zeke Bratkowski

4  -  86 Eric Patton          LB Notre Dame 

5  - 111 to New Orleans Saints for Wimpy Withers

6a - 138 Nate Ross            CB Bethune-Cookman 

6b - 142 Dave Pureifory       LB Eastern Michigan         B

6c - 147 Bob Hudson           RB NE Oklahoma St.          C

7  - 163 Bill Bushong         DT Kentucky 

8  - 190 Leland Glass         WR Oregon

9  - 215 to Baltimore Colts

10 - 242 Keith Wortman        OG Nebraska 

11 - 266 Dave Bailey          WR Alabama 

12 - 294 Mike Rich            RB Florida 

13 - 319 Jesse Lakes          RB Central Michigan 

14 - 346 Larry Hefner         LB Clemson 

15 - 371 Rick Thone            S Arkansas Tech 

16 - 398 Charles Burrell      DT Arkansas AM&N 

17 - 423 to San Diego Chargers for Cal Withrow

A - From Chargers in Kevin Hardy trade B-From Chicago for Bob Jeter C-From Rams in Travis Williams trade

Anchor 1

1972 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS

FEB 21 - Traded RB Donny Anderson to ST. LOUIS for RB MacArthur Lane

JUL 25 - DT Charles Burrell (16th round) left camp

JUL 29 - Released DT Bill Bushong (7th round), RB Jesse Lakes (13th round), DB Butch Davis, TE Ron Bullock, RB Steve Caputo, CB Ron Campiano and LB Ken Groh (69 players)

APR 18 - Traded DT Lionel Aldridge and a 1974 3rd-round draft choice to SAN DIEGO for S Jim Hill

AUG 7 - Released S Rick Thone (15th round), WR Al Pearman, DB Rich Searl, LB Ron Ely and WR Mike Carter (64 players)

AUG 21 - Claimed DT Vernon Vanoy off waivers from NEW YORK GIANTS. Waived DE Donnell Smith, DB Nate Ross (6th round), WR Dave Bailey (11th round), TE Tom Watson and RB Charlie Hicks. Granted RB Mike Rich (12th round) injury-related leave of absence

SEPT 1 - Traded QB Zeke Bratkowski to CHICAGO for a 1974 6th-round draft choice

SEPT 6 - Traded RB Dave Hampton to ATLANTA for OG Malcolm Snider

SEPT 7 - Traded a 1973 2nd-round draft choice to DALLAS for P Ron Widby and CB Ike Thomas

SEPT 8 - Waived LB Eric Patton (3rd round), LB Lerry Hefner (14th round) and WR Sam Dickerson and placed them on taxi squad (44 players)

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