Carl Eller -2004 H.O.F.

[The_Philster]

In 1964, Carl Eller, a consensus All-America with the University of Minnesota, was a first-round draft pick of both the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills of the then-rival American Football League. A 6-6, 247-pound defensive stalwart, Eller opted to stay in a familiar environment and signed with the Vikings. For the next 15 years through 1978, he was a fixture in one of pro footballs most effective defensive alignments. He finished his career with one final season with the Seattle Seahawks in 1979, having played in 225 regular season games....more

[The_Philster]

Eller finally collars a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Carl Eller is 6 feet 6 and 278 pounds, and he's even bigger on eBay.

The auction Web site is a trove of Carl Eller-related mementos. Looking for a football helmet signed by Eller? It's there on eBay. Actually, several of them are, full size and in miniature.

You also can find a Carl Eller football card from 1977, as well as 8x10 signed photos of Eller. If you're in the market for something a little more pricey, there are limited edition lithographs. And something called a Carl Eller Danbury Mini 22KT NFL football card.

There were 46 Eller-related listings on eBay last Sunday and even more later in the week. Eller was seated at a table in the outdoor patio area of Hard Rock Cafe‚ in Minneapolis when he heard that number. He stopped sipping a Coke and smiled....
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[The_Philster]

Welcoming Committee: Carl Eller

By Dan Dierdorf, Class of 1996
Dan Dierdorf battled Carl Eller four times during his career including twice in 1974 - once on Monday Night Football and then six weeks later in the Cardinals' first playoff game in nearly 30 years. Dierdorf returns to his hometown of Canton this summer as one of the many Hall of Famers who will take part in the Enshrinement Celebration Weekend on August 8-9.

Well, you didn't have to spend any extra time to coax yourself into getting ready to play the Vikings. They had the storied defensive line - the "Purple People Eaters". They had a reputation that was well earned around the National Football League. So, if you were an opposing offensive lineman, it was always a thrill, a challenge, and a little scary to have to play against Alan Page and Carl Eller, and Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall. If that didn't get your heart beating, nothing would....more