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The 1975 Green Bay Packers - 4-10 (T-3RD - Central Division)

Head Coach: Bart Starr

1975 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (2-4)

                                                                                                                                                               OFF     DEF

AUGUST (2-2)                              RESULT    RECORD    ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB         LEADING RUSHER           LEADING PASSER         LEADING RECEIVER

9  G-BUFFALO BILLS                       W 23- 6    1- 0-0 56,267                 John Hadl           Willard Harrell (43)     John Hadl (72)         Willard Harrell (4-54) 

16 M-CHICAGO BEARS                       W 13- 9    2- 0-0 52,051                 John Hadl           Willard Harrell (45)     Jerry Tagge (92)       Barry Smith (3-64)

23 at Cincinnati Bengals                 L 10-27    2- 1-0 49,752                 John Hadl           Carlos Brown (29)        John Hadl (90)         Randy Allen (3-30)

30 M-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS                L 17-20 *  2- 2-0 51,769                 John Hadl           Barty Smith (33)         John Hadl (105)        Ken Payne (4-122)

SEPTEMBER (0-2)

6  at Kansas City Chiefs                 L  3-31    2- 3-0 35,543                 John Hadl           John Brockington (46)    John Hadl (121)        John Brockington (4-26)

13 G-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS                 L  3-24    2- 4-0 56,267                 John Hadl           John Brockington (46)    John Hadl (150)        Barry Smith (4-74)

1975 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

SEPTEMBER (0-2)

21 M-DETROIT LIONS (0-0)                 L 16-30    0- 1-0 50,781  93 124 117 113 John Hadl           John Brockington (55)    John Hadl (153)        Ken Payne (5-87)

29 at Denver Broncos (1-0)               L 13-23    0- 2-0 52,491  71 242 162 175 John Hadl           Willard Harrell (42)     John Hadl (273)        Ken Payne (12-167)

OCTOBER (1-3)

5  G-MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-1)                L  7-31    0- 3-0 55,396 104 101 281 133 John Hadl           Willard Harrell (49)     John Hadl (114)        Rich McGeorge (4-79)

12 at New Orleans Saints (0-3)           L 19-20    0- 4-0 51,371  98  63 223 169 John Hadl           Terry Wells (72)         John Hadl (66)         Ken Payne (3-35)

19 at Dallas Cowboys (4-0)               W 19-17    1- 4-0 64,189 142 149 206 168 John Hadl           Willard Harrell (48)     John Hadl (174)        Ken Payne (7-81)

26 M-PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-1)           L 13-16    1 -5-0 52,258  63  98 248  84 John Hadl           Steve Odom (27)          John Hadl (128)        John Brockington (4-38)

NOVEMBER (2-3)

2  G-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-0)             L 17-28    1- 6-0 55,378 132 113 101 266 John Hadl           Barty Smith (88)         John Hadl (243)        Barty Smith (5-45)

9  at Chicago Bears (1-6)                L 14-27    1- 7-0 48,738  41 268 148 113 Don Milan           Don Milan (30)           Don Milan (127)        Ken Payne (4-39)

16 at Detroit Lions (5-3)                L 10-13    1- 8-0 76,356 127 150 166 104 John Hadl           John Brockington (72)    John Hadl (158)        Steve Odom (5-68)

23 M-NEW YORK GIANTS (3-6)               W 40-14    2- 8-0 50,150 210 298 119 260 John Hadl           Eric Torkelson (78)      John Hadl (275)        John Brockington (7-71)

30 G-CHICAGO BEARS (2-8)                 W 28- 7    3- 8-0 46,821 193 116  88  44 John Hadl           John Brockington (111)   John Hadl (127)        Ken Payne (5-64)

DECEMBER (1-2)

7  at Minnesota Vikings (10-1)           L  3-24    3- 9-0 46,147  51  71 161 226 John Hadl           Willard Harrell (34)     John Hadl (93)         Rich McGeorge (3-47)

14 at Los Angeles Rams (10-2)            L  5-22    3-10-0 59,312  53 117 195 139 John Hadl           John Brockington (18)    John Hadl (115)        Ken Payne (6-57)

21 G-ATLANTA FALCONS (4-9)               W 22-13    4-10-0 38,565 169 162 124 178 John Hadl           Eric Torkelson (86)      John Hadl (181)        John Brockington (5-31)

G - Green Bay  M - Milwaukee * - Overtime

1975 IN REVIEW

On Christmas Eve, 1974, Bart Starr, a five-time NFL champion as a player, was named Packers head coach and general manager with the hope he could lead the team to additional titles in his new role. Starr faced a number of challenges. Dan Devine had traded away many of the team's top draft choices. All-Pro linebacker Ted Hendricks became a free agent after contract talks broke off in July. Four days later, cornerback Ken Ellis walked out of camp in a contract dispute. In August, offensive lineman Bill Lueck asked to be traded. Hendricks was sent to Oakland in return for two first-round draft choices (1976 and 1977). Ellis was fined and suspended for a weel. Lueck was shipped to Philadelphia for a fourth round pick in 1976. In Starr's first trek as coach the Packers struggled early and got off to an 0-4 start after stunning the Cowboys for Bart Starr's first coaching win the Pack continued to struggle eventually going 1-8. However, the Packers would end the season winning 3 of their final 5.

 

JOHN BROCKINGTON - WHAT WENT WRONG?

For three glorious years, John Brockington was one of the premier running backs in the NFL. He was the first NFL player to ever rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his first three seasons. In 1971 Brockington was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Brockington was also selected to 3 consecutive Pro Bowls (1971-1973). Then, in 1974, Brockington ran for "just" 883 yards. The following year was even worse, with 434 yards, followed by 406 yards in 1976.  On September 21, 1977, the Packers cut their former workhorse, three days after he passed the 5,000-yard rushing mark for his career, leaving fans to wonder what went wrong: WEAR AND TEAR - Brockington was the featured running back at Ohio State in his senior year and finished with 1,142 rushing yards, which was, at the time, the Ohio State single-season record. In his first four years in Green Bay, he carried the ball 1,021 times, leaving many to believe his body simply gave out similar to what happened to Earl Campbell.

MACARTHUR LANE - Prior to the 1975 season, the Packers traded Lane to Kansas City for a draft choice. At the time, there were indications the Packers thought the clock had run out on the brusing back, but he put in four productive years with the Chiefs, including a NFL-leading 66 receptions in 1976. Without Lane, Brockington lost the one compliment he needed to succeed.

OFFENSIVE LINE/QUARTERBACK - Trouble at these positions spelled disaster for Brockington. Opposing defenses knew that the Packers had little to no passing game in the final years of Brockington's tenure, and he openly complained about the poor offensive line play in his last few seasons.

WORLD FOOTBALL LEAGUE - The Chicago Fire drafted Brockington in 1974, and Dan Devine panicked. He signed Brockington to a 3-year, no-cut contract worth $150-200,000 per year. The size of the deal made it virtually impossible to trade Brockington, even when he asked for one in 1975.

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

Ron Acks            52   LB 6- 2 225 Illinois         2  8 30 14 1974 FA-New England

Bert Askson         88   TE 6- 2 225 Texas Southern   1  3 29 14 1975 FA-NO (1973)

Bill Bain           69    G 6- 4 269 USC              1  1 23 14 1975 Draft-2nd round

David Beverly       11    P 6- 2 180 Auburn           1  2 25 10 1975 FA-Houston

John Brockington    42   RB 6- 1 225 Ohio State       5  5 26 14 1971 Draft-1st round

Steve Broussard     11    P 6- 0 200 SMU              1  1 26  4 1975 FA

Carlos Brown        19   QB 6- 3 210 Pacific          1  1 23 13 1975 Draft-12th round

Willie Buchanon     28   CB 6- 0 190 San Diego State  4  4 24  2 1972 Draft-1st round

Fred Carr           53   LB 6- 5 240 Texas-El Paso    8  8 29 14 1968 Draft-1st round

Jim Carter          50   LB 6- 3 245 Minnesota        6  6 26 12 1970 Draft-3rd round

Bill Cooke          78    T 6- 5 251 Massachusetts    1  1 24  5 1975 Draft-10th round

Joe Danelo          18    K 5- 9 168 Washington State 1  1 21 12 1975 FA

Ken Ellis           48   CB 5-10 195 Southern         6  6 27 14 1970 Draft-4th round

Kent Gaydos         86   WR 6- 6 228 Florida State    1  1 25  4 1975 FA

Johnnie Gray        24    S 5-11 185 Cal St-Fullerton 1  1 21 14 1975 FA

John Hadl           21   QB 6- 1 214 Kansas           2 14 35 14 1974 Trade-L. Angeles

Charlie Hall        44   CB 6- 1 190 Pittsburgh       5  5 27 14 1971 Draft-3rd round

Willard Harrell     40   RB 5- 9 182 Pacific          1  1 22 14 1975 Draft-3rd round

Larry Hefner        51   LB 6- 2 230 Clemson          4  4 26  4 1972 Draft-14th round

Dick Himes          72    T 6- 4 260 Ohio State       8  8 29 14 1968 Draft-3rd round

Tom Hull            55   LB 6- 3 230 Penn State       1  2 23 12 1975 FA-SF (1974)

Ernie Janet         63    G 6- 4 255 Washington       1  4 26  1 1975 FA-Chi (1974)

Steve Luke          46   DB 6- 2 205 Ohio State       1  1 21 14 1975 Draft-4th round

Chester Marcol      13    K 6- 0 190 Hillsdale        4  4 25  1 1972 Draft-2nd round

Pat Matson          62    G 6- 1 245 Oregon           1 10 31 14 1975 Trade-Cincinnati

Al Matthews         29   DB 5-11 190 Texas A&I        6  6 27 14 1970 Draft-2nd round

Bob McCaffrey       58    C 6- 3 245 USC              1  1 23 13 1975 Draft-16th round

Larry McCarren      54    C 6- 3 248 Illinois         3  3 23 14 1973 Draft-12th round

Mike McCoy          76   DT 6- 5 275 Notre Dame       6  6 26 14 1970 Draft-1st round

Rich McGeorge       81   TE 6- 4 230 Elon             6  6 26 14 1970 Draft-1st round

Ernie McMillan      70    T 6- 5 265 Illinois         1 15 37 12 1975 FA-STL (1974)

Don Milan           12   QB 6- 3 196 Cal Poly SLO     1  1 26  7 1975 FA-LA (1974)

Steve Odom          84   WR 5- 8 174 Utah             2  2 22 14 1974 Draft-5th round

Steve Okoniewski    73   DT 6- 4 272 Montana          2  4 26 14 1974 Trade-Buffalo

Ken Payne           85   WR 6- 1 185 Langston         2  2 24 14 1974 Draft-6th round

Dave Pureifory      75   DE 6- 1 255 E. Michigan      4  4 26 14 1972 Draft-6th round

Alden Roche         87   DE 6- 4 255 Southern         5  6 30 14 1971 Trade-Denver

Dave Roller         74   DT 6- 2 270 Kentucky         1  2 25  6 1975 FA-S. Cal (WFL)

Hurles Scales       38   DB 6- 1 200 North Texas St   1  2 24  7 1975 FA-STL (1974)

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

Barry Smith         80   WR 6- 1 190 Florida State    3  3 24 13 1973 Draft-1st round

Barty Smith         33   FB 6- 3 240 Richmond         2  2 23 14 1974 Draft-1st round

Perry Smith         45   CB 6- 1 195 Colorado State   3  3 24 14 1973 FA-Oakland

Gerald Tinker       82   WR 5- 9 170 Kent State       1  2 24  6 1975 FA-Atlanta

Tom Toner           59   LB 6- 3 235 Idaho State      2  2 25 14 1973 Draft-6th round

Eric Torkelson      26   RB 6- 2 194 Connecticut      2  2 23 14 1974 Draft-11th round

Bruce Van Dyke      61    G 6- 2 255 Missouri         2 10 31 14 1974 Trade-Pittsburgh

Charley Wade        89   WR 5-10 163 Tennessee State  1  2 25  2 1975 FA-Chi (1974)

Gary Weaver         52   LB 6- 1 225 Fresno State     1  3 26 14 1975 FA-Oak (1974)

Terry Wells         37   RB 5-11 195 S. Mississippi   1  2 24 13 1975 FA-Hou (1974)

Clarence Williams   83   DE 6- 5 255 Prairie View     6  6 28 14 1970 Trade-Dallas

Keith Wortman       65    G 6- 2 250 Nebraska         4  4 25 14 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

1975 PACKERS DRAFT (January 28-29, 1975)

RND-PCK NAME                POS COLLEGE               

1     9 Traded to Los Angeles in John Hadl trade      

2a   28 Traded to Los Angeles in John Hadl trade (A)

2b   36 Traded to Miami for Jim Del Gaizo             

2c   47 Bill Bain (B)        OG USC                   

3a   58 Wlliard Harrell (C)  RB Pacific               

3b   61 Traded to Los Angeles in John Hadl trade      

4    88 Steve Luke            S Ohio State            

5   113 Traded to Dallas in Jack Concannon trade      

6   140 Traded to Los Angeles in Harry Schuh trade

7   165 Tony Giaquinto       WR Central Conneticut

8   192 Traded to Baltimore

9   217 Jay Lynn Hodgin      RB South Carolina 

10  244 William Cooke        DE Massachusetts 

11  269 Bob Martin           DE Washington 

12  296 Carlos Brown         QB Pacific 

13  321 Bob Fuhrman           S Utah State 

14  348 Stan Blackmon        TE North Texas State

15  373 Randy Allen          WR Southern 

16  400 Bob McCaffrey         C USC

17  425 Tom Ray              DB Central Michigan

A - From Baltimore in Tom McLeod trade (1974) B - From Washington in Dave Robinson trade (1973)  C - From San Diego Chargers in Bob Brown trade (1974)

Anchor 1

1975 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS

FEB 3 - Signed P Spike Jones (BUFFALO)

MAY 24 - Acquired C Bill Curry from LOS ANGELES for a conditional draft choice.

JUL 2 - Traded a 1976 6th-round choice to HOUSTON for RB Paul Robinson

JUL 8 - Traded RB MacArthur Lane to KANSAS CITY for a 1976 3rd-round draft choice

JUL 18 - Waived P Ron Widby and RB Jay Lynn Hodgin (9th round) after they failed physicals. WR Tony Giaquinto (7th round) and S Bob Fuhrman (13th round) left camp (88 players)

JUL 21 - Released DE Aaron Brown and OT Harry Schuh after they failed physicals. Released DB Dave Mason, DB McKinney Evans, TE Stan Blackmon (14th round), DB Tom Raye (17th round), DT Charlie Ullmer and WR Ernie DeChellis.

AUG 6 - LB Ted Hendricks signed with OAKLAND. 

AUG 8 - Acquired OG Daryl White from DETROIT for a conditional draft choice.

AUG 14 - Claimed RB Terry Wells on waivers from HOUSTON

AUG 19 - Claimed OL Randy Jackson off waivers from CHICAGO

AUG 20 - Acquired LB Ron Hornsby from NEW YORK GIANTS for a conditional draft choice. Acquired DT Paul Linford from BALTIMORE for a conditional draft choice (59 players)

AUG 21 - Waived LB VanEss DeCree. Placed OT Bill Hayhoe and S Norm Hodgins on injured reserve (55 players)

AUG 26 - Waived OG Daryl White (53 players)

AUG 27 - Acquired TE Ron Mayo on waivers from BUFFALO (55 players)

AUG 28 - Traded OG Bill Lueck to PHILADELPHIA for a 1976 4th-round draft choice

AUG 29 - Signed P Damien Nygaard (55 players - 3 All-Stars)

SEPT 1 - OG Gale Gillingham retired. Waived P Randy Walker, TE Mike Donohoe and LB Ron Hornsby. Claimed OG Ralph Peretta off waivers from SAN DIEGO (52 players - 3 All-Stars)

SEPT 2 - Claimed LB Ken Bernich off waivers from SAN DIEGO. Released WR Jeff Baker and DT Paul Linford. Placed DE Mike Fanucci on injured reserve (50 players - 3 All-Stars)

SEPT 4 - Claimed OL Chuck Brandon on waivers from SAN DIEGO. Released P Spike Jones, WR Randy Allen and QB Jerry Tagge (48 players - 3 All-Stars)

SEPT 6 - Claimed QB Don Milan off waivers from LOS ANGELES (52 players - 3 All-Stars)

SEPT 9 - Traded a 1976 7th-round draft choice to CINCINNATI for OG Pat Matson. Traded a conditional draft choice to ST. LOUIS for RB Jim Germany. C Bill Curry retired. Released OG Ralph Peretta, LB Ken Bernich, DE Bob Martin (11th round), WR Ron Mayo and P Damien Nygaard. Placed OG Chuck Brandon on injured reserve (47 players)

SEPT 10 - Claimed OL Ernie Janet off waivers from CHICAGO. Released OL Lee Nystrom. Placed RB Larry Krause on injured reserve (47 players)

SEPT 11 - Released WR Jon Staggers. Acquired WR Charlie Wade off waivers from CHICAGO (47 players)

SEPT 12 - Green Bay was awarded a 1976 1st-round draft choice and a 1977 1st-round draft choice from OAKLAND for signing LB Ted Hendricks.

SEPT 14 - Released S Jim Hill. Signed P Spike Jones (47 players)

SEPT 15 - Placed OT Randy Jackscon on injured reserve. Released QB Jack Concannon, RB Jim Germany and DE Mike Fanucci (off injured reserve) (43 players)

SEPT 17 - Released P Spike Jones and LB Joe Carroll. Signed P Steve Broussard off waivers from NEW ORLEANS. Signed LB Gary Weaver off waivers from OAKLAND (43 players)

SEPT 25 - Released DE Bill Cooke (10th round). Claimed LB Tom Hull off waivers from SAN FRANCISCO (43 players)

SEPT 26 - Released RB Larry Krause and OT Bill Hayhoe off injured reserve. Placed OG Ernie Janet on injured reserve. Claimed OT Ernie McMillan off waivers from ST. LOUIS (43 players)

OCT 2 - Placed CB Willie Buchanon and WR Charlie Wade on injured reserve. Claimed WR Kent Gaydos off waivers (PHILADELPHIA) (42 players)

OCT 3 - Signed K Joe Danelo off waiver from MIAMI (43 players)

OCT 8 - Waived LB Joe Carroll and OL Chuck Brandon from injured reserve.

OCT 14 - Placed LB Larry Hefner on injured reserve. Signed DE Bill Cooke

OCT 17 - Released P Steve Broussard. Signed P David Beverly off waivers from HOUSTON (43 players)

OCT 23 - Placed K Chester Marcol on injured reserve.

OCT 29 - Claimed DB Hurles Scales off waivers from ST. LOUIS (43 players)

NOV 13 - Signed DE Dave Roller (S.CALIFORNIA-WFL). Claimed WR Gerald Tinker off waivers from ATLANTA. Placed DE Bill Cooke and WR Kent Gaydos on injured reserve (43 players)

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