RIP Dick Butkus

There was never any chance Butkus was going to sign with the Broncos, who did not have the deep pocketed owners that some other AFL teams had at the time. In the early 60's the Broncos would draft an All-American such as Butkus, Merlin Olsen or Bob Brown for publicity when they had no hope of signing the player. One reason Floyd Little was such an icon is that he was the first player the Broncos took in the combined AFL=NFL draft and was really the first star the Broncos signed.

Butkus did come to Denver for a visit after the Broncos drafted him. He returned to Chicago and was quoted as saying that Denver was an overgrown cow town. I moved to Denver in 1968 and discovered Butkus was still not popular in the area,

 

Star player with the California Atoms post-NFL. RIP, sir.

 

Yes, that occurred prior to the merger. A player could be drafted for one team in each league, and then let both teams bid.

Once the feud was on, teams would do all sorts of things to prevent a team from the other league access to the player. I remember reading that Otis Taylor was placed in hiding at a hotel by the Cowboys, who wanted to sign him (he was drafted by the Eagles, who must have done something to give his NFL rights to Dallas). A Chiefs scout managed to get his way past security by claiming he was a magazine photographer. Once in to see Taylor, the scout told him the Chiefs’ offer, and Taylor had to climb out of a hotel window to escape.

Once the leagues agreed to merge, the draft was combined, even though the official merger didn’t take place until 1970. The teams wanted to stop the bidding wars.

According to the Broncos’ own site, they indicate they drafted Butkus as a publicity stunt.

https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/six-degrees-of-draft-separation-15252562

 

NFL football in the 50s-70s had a bunch of football names you'd think were made up by Central Casting.

Linebacker Sam Huff. Like a blow to the gut.
The field general, the team leader: John Unite Us.

A Kansas gust of wind: Gale Sayers.

The sound of a butt getting kicked: Dick Butt Kicks.

 

Was he No. 50 with the Illini?

 

Yes.

 

What was Butkus' best acting job? He was in some terrible things - and according to his IMDB played "Dick Butkus" more than 20 times in acting gigs.

 

There were some other great names that maybe didn't describe the player or position but conjure up images of the position personified. Roger Staubach, Fran Tarkenton & Y.A. Tittle just SOUND like quarterbacks. Maybe it's the initials but Tony Dorsett is a great name for a running back, Earl Campbell just sounds like someone who was going to run and run and run and wear you down. Jack Youngblood & Fred Dryer were going to beat the shit out of you. Again, this might be simple correlation, but those are great names.

 

You knew Haven Moses, Lance Alworth and Fair Hooker were receivers.

 

I can tell you his worst: Bound for Glory. An ESPN “reality” show so bad that any trace of it has been wiped off of the internet.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/2000205-sports-and-racing-general/61753512

 

Late here but Butkus was the epitome of defense to me growing up. On the school yard before class started I tackled guys like I was Butkus. He was a beast. May he RIP.