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
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)
