patmoran2006
05-31-2010, 08:29 AM
(We’re counting down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. Today is No. 18 our list, Bob Chandler)
Bob Chandler, WR (drafted in seventh round, 160th overall in 1971 NFL draft)
How Bobby Chandler lasted until the seventh round of the 1971 NFL draft is one of football’s bigger mysteries. The Buffalo Bills are just glad it happened.
The Long Beach, California native was a star receiver at nearby USC, in which he was the team’s leading receiver in all three years he played. As a senior he was the team captain and earned Player of the Game honors when the Trojans beat Michigan in the 1970 Rose Bowl.
He was only 6’0”, 180 pounds—far from prototypical for a NFL wide receiver. But he had proven himself to be a tremendous athlete. Chandler was one of the best decathletes in the country in high school and also an all-county basketball player, as cited on his wiki page.
So to see him tumble all the way down to the 160<SUP>th</SUP> pick of the draft had to serve as culture shock.
According to an old Sports Illustrated article from 1982, Chandler originally thought he was taken in the third round by San Francisco. The author of the article, Douglas Looney, recounts that on the radio the team had drafted a wide receiver from USC. However, it was Sam Dickerson, not Chandler. Even USC wide receiver Herman Franklin, who never played a down for the Trojans, was selected ahead of him. Franklin went to Detroit in the sixth round.
When the Bills finally drafted Chandler in round seven, it was O.J. Simpson who called to notify and welcome him to the team. His first contract was for three years and $52,500 with a whopping signing bonus of $3,500.
Chandler admitted at the time he was depressed about coming to Buffalo, who had won four games or less the previous four years.
Sandwiched in between uneventful rookie and fourth seasons, Chandler caught 63 passes for 955 yards and eight touchdowns in 1972-73.
By the time 1975 rolled around, Chandler began to grow into one of the game’s best pass catchers. He’d embark on a four-season run where he had more receptions (220) than any player in the entire NFL. He ranked in the top five in the league in receptions three straight years (1975-77) and was named Second-Team UPI All-Conference in 1975 and ’77.
What made it more remarkable is the extent of injuries he played through without missing games. According to various reports, Chandler played with injured feet, hands, and twice separated his shoulder. His left knee was so bad it required four surgical procedures on his cartilage.
The injuries finally caught up to him in 1979 when he was only able to suit up for three games. His time with the Bills was coming to an end.
On April 22, 1980 the Bills traded Chandler to the Oakland Raiders for linebacker Phil Villapiano. He’d go on to win a Super Bowl with the Raiders, catching four passes for 77 yards in Oakland’s victory over Philadelphia in 1981.
His football career was over before 1982 would end, but not his celebrity. In the summer of that year Chandler posed nude for Playgirl Magazine with the blessing of his wife. He was paid $10,000 for the pictorial.
Sadly, Chandler passed away at the age of 45 in 1995 following a battle with lung cancer, despite the fact he didn’t smoke.
Ken Jones was a teammate for three years. He commented at the time about how well Chandler kept himself in shape.
“Actually it is a real tragedy,” Jones said. “Here is a guy who kept himself in real good shape. He never smoked and ended up dying from lung cancer. It’s just not right. Not right at all. He had so much to look forward to ahead of him.”
Chandler finished a nine-year Buffalo career with 295 receptions for 3,999 yards and 34 touchdowns. Considering how late he went in the draft, he easily makes this list of all-time great draft picks.
PREVIOUS: #20 Joe Cribbs (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/05/top-20-all-time-bills-draft-picks-joe-cribbs-20/), #19 Jeff Nixon (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/05/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-jeff-nixon-19/)
Bob Chandler, WR (drafted in seventh round, 160th overall in 1971 NFL draft)
How Bobby Chandler lasted until the seventh round of the 1971 NFL draft is one of football’s bigger mysteries. The Buffalo Bills are just glad it happened.
The Long Beach, California native was a star receiver at nearby USC, in which he was the team’s leading receiver in all three years he played. As a senior he was the team captain and earned Player of the Game honors when the Trojans beat Michigan in the 1970 Rose Bowl.
He was only 6’0”, 180 pounds—far from prototypical for a NFL wide receiver. But he had proven himself to be a tremendous athlete. Chandler was one of the best decathletes in the country in high school and also an all-county basketball player, as cited on his wiki page.
So to see him tumble all the way down to the 160<SUP>th</SUP> pick of the draft had to serve as culture shock.
According to an old Sports Illustrated article from 1982, Chandler originally thought he was taken in the third round by San Francisco. The author of the article, Douglas Looney, recounts that on the radio the team had drafted a wide receiver from USC. However, it was Sam Dickerson, not Chandler. Even USC wide receiver Herman Franklin, who never played a down for the Trojans, was selected ahead of him. Franklin went to Detroit in the sixth round.
When the Bills finally drafted Chandler in round seven, it was O.J. Simpson who called to notify and welcome him to the team. His first contract was for three years and $52,500 with a whopping signing bonus of $3,500.
Chandler admitted at the time he was depressed about coming to Buffalo, who had won four games or less the previous four years.
Sandwiched in between uneventful rookie and fourth seasons, Chandler caught 63 passes for 955 yards and eight touchdowns in 1972-73.
By the time 1975 rolled around, Chandler began to grow into one of the game’s best pass catchers. He’d embark on a four-season run where he had more receptions (220) than any player in the entire NFL. He ranked in the top five in the league in receptions three straight years (1975-77) and was named Second-Team UPI All-Conference in 1975 and ’77.
What made it more remarkable is the extent of injuries he played through without missing games. According to various reports, Chandler played with injured feet, hands, and twice separated his shoulder. His left knee was so bad it required four surgical procedures on his cartilage.
The injuries finally caught up to him in 1979 when he was only able to suit up for three games. His time with the Bills was coming to an end.
On April 22, 1980 the Bills traded Chandler to the Oakland Raiders for linebacker Phil Villapiano. He’d go on to win a Super Bowl with the Raiders, catching four passes for 77 yards in Oakland’s victory over Philadelphia in 1981.
His football career was over before 1982 would end, but not his celebrity. In the summer of that year Chandler posed nude for Playgirl Magazine with the blessing of his wife. He was paid $10,000 for the pictorial.
Sadly, Chandler passed away at the age of 45 in 1995 following a battle with lung cancer, despite the fact he didn’t smoke.
Ken Jones was a teammate for three years. He commented at the time about how well Chandler kept himself in shape.
“Actually it is a real tragedy,” Jones said. “Here is a guy who kept himself in real good shape. He never smoked and ended up dying from lung cancer. It’s just not right. Not right at all. He had so much to look forward to ahead of him.”
Chandler finished a nine-year Buffalo career with 295 receptions for 3,999 yards and 34 touchdowns. Considering how late he went in the draft, he easily makes this list of all-time great draft picks.
PREVIOUS: #20 Joe Cribbs (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/05/top-20-all-time-bills-draft-picks-joe-cribbs-20/), #19 Jeff Nixon (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/05/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-jeff-nixon-19/)