The ALMOST All Time Philadelphia Eagles = Offense

Remember : This series lauds players who aren't, or maybe never will be, inducted into Canton.




QUARTERBACK : Randall Cunningham

Randall was drafted in the second round of the 1985 draft. He was the 37th player picked overall. Randall came onto an Eagles team that had an aging starter, Ron Jaworski, who had taken the Eagles to a Super Bowl just 5 years earlier. Cunningham's first 2 NFL seasons saw him start in 9 of the 21 games he played. He tossed 9 touchdowns and 15 interceptions over that time. He also was sacked a league high 72 times in 1986. That year, he also ran for 540 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. Randall started 12 games the next year, and was sacked a league high 54 times. He also managed to throw for 23 touchdowns, while having just 12 interceptions. Randall also ran for 505 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cunningham was sacked a league high 57 times in 1988. He was able to complete 24 touchdown passes versus 16 interceptions, while running for 624 yards and 6 touchdowns. Cunningham made his first Pro Bowl team that year, and would receive this honor again the following season. That year saw him lead the NFL with 6 yards per rushing attempt, when he ran for 621 yards and 4 touchdowns. Cunningham also threw 21 touchdown passes and had 15 interceptions. 1990 would be Randall's last Pro Bowl year as an Eagle. He gunned 30 touchdown passes, while having only 13 interceptions. One touchdown pass went 95 yards, which led the NFL that year. He also led the NFL with an average of 8 yards a carry, when he ran for a career high 921 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. Randall was also sacked an NFL leading 49 times. The Eagles porous offensive line caught up to Randall in 1991, when he was injured in the first game of the year. He missed the rest of the season. In 1992, Cunningham returned and was sacked an NFL leading 60 times. He was injured in the 4th game the following year, knocking him out the rest of the season. Randall started 18 games over the next 2 years before heading to the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed a career rebirth in 1998, when he had a career best 34 touchdown passes and had only 10 interceptions. He would be named to his final Pro Bowl team that year. He then spent the 2000 season with Dallas, then the 2001 season with the Baltimore Ravens. He retired after that year. In 11 years as an Eagle, Randall Cunningham threw for 22,877 yards, 150 touchdown passes, and 105 interceptions. He ran for 4,482 yards on 677 attempts, while scoring 32 times. He also was sacked an amazing 422 times, and fumbled 32 times. In fact, he led the NFL in fumbles 3 times during his tenure in Philly. Randall was a very exciting quarterback who led the Eagles to the brink of the Super Bowl a few times. He was a talented player who could run or pass for a score. He may not be the best Eagle QB of all time, but he is one of the very best to have ever worn the Kelly green jersey.







FULLBACK : Tom Woodeshick

Tom was an 8th round draft pick in the 1963 draft by the Eagles. He was the 102nd player chosen overall. Tom didn't get the ball a lot his first four years in the league, carrying the ball 155 times for 673 yards and 6 touchdowns. He started to get the ball more in 1967, when he had 155 carries for 670 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also caught 34 balls for 391 yards and 4 touchdowns. 1968 was Woodeshick's best season in the NFL. He ran for a career high 947 yards on a career best 217 carries. He also caught a career high 36 passes for 328 yards. He was named to his only Pro Bowl team that year. Tom also had a strong 1970 season, when he ran for 831 yards on 186 carries. He also caught 22 passes. Tom was only able to play 21 games over the next three seasons due to injuries. He joined the Saint Louis Cardinals for the 1972 season He retired after that year. Woodeshick retired with 4,752 total yards and 27 touchdowns. He may be the greatest fullback in the history of the Eagles franchise.







HALFBACK : Wilbert Montgomery

Billy Ray Barnes deserves an honorable mention, but I'm going with Wilbert here. He was a sixth round draft pick in the 1977 draft, the 154th player picked overall. Montgomery was primarily used as a kick returner in his rookie year. He averaged 26.9 yards per return on 23 attempts, and took one for a 99 yard touchdown. Wilbert would only return 9 more kickoffs in his career because he earned the starting Halfback job in his second season. He responded with 1,220 yards rushing on 259 carries, while running in 9 touchdowns. He also snagged 34 passes and scored once. Wilbert was named to his first Pro Bowl team that year. 1979 was Wilbert's finest season of his career. He ran for a career high 1,512 yards on a career high 338 attempts. He matched his career best of 9 rushing touchdowns, while catching 41 passes for 491 yards and 5 more scores. He led the NFL with 2,006 yards from scrimmage that year, and was named to his final Pro Bowl team. Wilbert had a nice 1980 season, despite missing 4 games. He ran for 778 yards and 8 touchdowns, while snaring a career best 50 balls for 2 more scores. He would explode for 194 yards rushing in the NFC Championship game, as the Eagles would go on to reach Super Bowl XV. Philadelphia lost 27 - 10, as the Oakland Raiders stifled Wilbert, limiting him to 44 yards on 16 attempts. Wilbert did match Harold Carmichael for a team high 6 catches and 91 yards receiving in the loss. 1981 saw Wilbert average a career best 4.9 yards per carry on 286 attempts. He ran for 1,402 yards and 8 touchdowns despite missing one game. He also had 49 catches for a career high 521 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 1982 season is known for being shortened due to a players strike, so Wilbert gained 515 yards and 7 touchdowns in 8 games. Wilbert spent much of 1983 injured, but did come back to rush for 789 yards in 1984. He also caught a career high 60 passes for 501 yards. Wilbert then joined the Detroit Lions as a backup for the 1985 season, and retired at the end of the year. In his 8 seasons as an Eagle, Wilbert gained 10,105 total yards. He holds seven Philadelphia rushing records : career attempts (1,465), rushing yards (6,538), attempts in a season, rushing yards in a season, career 100-yard rushing games (26), 100-yard rushing games in a season (8 in 1981), and touchdowns in a game (4). He also caught 266 passes and scored 58 touchdowns. Steve Van Buren may be the only Eagle who could hold claim as the best Running Back ever in the franchises history, but Wilbert Montgomery can also hold that claim as well.








WIDE RECEIVER: Mike Quick

Mike was the Eagles first round choice in the 1982 draft. He was the 20th player chosen overall. Mike spent his rookie year learning, scoring once on 10 catches. He exploded the next season, when he led the NFL with a career high 1,609 yards on 69 receptions. He scored 13 times, had a excellent average of 20.4 yards per catch, and led the NFL with 88.1 receiving yards per game. He would earn the first of his 5 consecutive All Pro team nods. 1984 saw Quick catch 61 balls for 1,052 yards and 9 touchdowns. He followed that up the next year with a career best 73 receptions for 1,247 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also matched an NFL record when he took one pass 99 yards for a score. In 1986, Quick had 60 catches for 939 yards and 9 scores. 1987 was Quick's last Pro Bowl year. He missed 4 games, but managed to snare 46 balls for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns. Mike averaged a career best 23.1 yards per catch in 1988, when he caught 22 balls for 508 yards and 4 touchdowns in 8 games. He was injured, and was never quite the same again. Quick played just 10 games over the next 2 years, catching only 22 balls for 3 touchdowns. He retired after the 1990 season. Mike Quick played 9 years for the Eagles, but was spectacular in 5 1/2 of those years. He ended up with 363 receptions for 6,464 yards and 61 touchdowns. His 17.8 yards per catch average is a spectacular average for a career of his length.







WIDE RECEIVER : Fred Barnett

Fred was a second round draft pick of the Eagles of the 1990 draft. He was the 77th player picked overall. Fred soon earned a starting job in his rookie year. He caught 36 passes for 721 yards, a 20 yards per catch average, and 8 touchdowns. His highlight that year was a career best 95 yard touchdown reception. Barnett followed that up with 62 receptions for 948 yards and 4 touchdowns the following year. In 1992, Barnett was named to his only Pro Bowl team when he had 67 receptions for 1,083 yards and 6 touchdowns. Fred was injured in the 4th game of the 1993 season, and missed the rest of the year. He returned the following year to set career highs with 78 catches for 1,127 yards. He also scored 5 times. Fred followed that up with 48 receptions and 5 touchdowns the next year. Barnett joined the Miami Dolphins in 1996. He played 2 years for Miami and played 15 games, catching 53 passes for 4 scores. He retired following the 1997 season. In his 6 years as an Eagle, Fred Barnett caught 361 balls for 5,362 yards and 32 touchdowns. He is certainly one of the better receivers in Eagles franchise history. Harold Carmichael and Harold Jackson will be featured in my Crazy Canton Cuts series soon, so they aren't on this list. I still hope for their deserved inductions.






TIGHT END : Charle Young

Charle was the Eagles 1st round draft pick in 1973, and was the 6th overall selection. He made an immediate impact in the NFL. He caught 55 passes for a career best 854 yards and a career high 6 touchdowns. His 15.4 yards per catch average was also a career best. He took one pass for a career long 80 yard score. Charle also carried the ball 4 times for 24 yards, and scored once. He was named to the Pro Bowl team. Young followed that up the next year by catching a career high 63 passes for 696 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl again. 1975 was Charles last year as a Pro Bowler. He had 49 receptions for 659 yards and 3 scores. Charle did catch 30 balls the next year, but was traded to the Los Angeles Rams before the start of the 1977 season. He was used primarily as a blocker by the Rams in his 3 years. He caught 36 passes for 3 scores over that time. The Rams would go to Super Bowl XIV, but lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - 19. Young then joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1980. The 49ers used Young as a receiver more, and he caught 29 balls for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns that year. Young caught 37 passes for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns in 1981, as the 49ers would go on to Super Bowl XVI. Charle helped get things started for San Francisco in the playoffs by catching Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana's first post season touchdown pass in the 1st quarter, and San Francisco's first playoff touchdown since 1972. The 49ers would end up beating the Cincinnati Bengals for their first NFL title in the franchises history. Charle then joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1983. He played with them until 1985, catching 97 passes for 1,217 yards and 5 touchdowns. He retired after that year. Charle is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, and is considered the greatest Tight End in USA history. He only played 4 years with Philadelphia, but his impact places him amongst the best ever in Eagles history with his 197 receptions for 2,583 yards and 28 touchdowns. Pete Retzlaff is a future CCC profilee.







TACKLE : Al Wistert

Al is a true legend at the University of Michigan and the Eagles. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, as are two of his brothers who also played at Michigan. The three Wisert's are amongst only seven players to ever have their numbers retired by Michigan University. In 1943, Al was drafted in the 5th round by the Steagles, a team that combined the rosters of the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers because of WW2. He was a starter by his second season at Right Tackle. He was named to his first All Pro team in 1944, and would garner this honor until 1947. He played defense too, and intercepted his only pass in 1946. Al was a key member of an excellent Eagles offensive line that opened up holes for Hall of Fame Running Back Steve Van Buren. The Eagles rode this vaunted rushing attack to back to back NFL Championships in 1948 and 1949. Al then would be named to his last All Pro team in 1951. After the 1952 season, he retired. Al is a member of the NFL 1940'a All Decade Team. The Philadelphia Eagles retired his # 70 jersey, one of only 7 Eagles to have attained this honor. VERY curiously, Al has not yet been inducted into the Eagles Ring of Honor yet. Al is 87, and has stated he would like to be inducted into the Eagles Ring of Honor before he dies. So, I am CALLING ALL OF YOU TRUE Eagles fans! Blow up the Eagles offices number! Ask for Jeffrey Lurie or leave a message for him or anyone that will listen to you. LET US GET Al the honor he deserves. How can a team retire a jersey, yet not put him in the Ring of Honor? This is a HUGE oversight. Eagles fans are amongst the most passionate in sports, so I'm hoping you get behind this man. You can call 215-463-2500 and ask for Football Media Relations too.








TACKLE : Lum Snyder

Lum was the Eagles 3rd round draft pick in the 1951 draft. He was the 29th player picked overall. Lum ended up starting at Right Tackle throughout his entire 6 year career with the Eagles. After missing one game in his rookie season, he played every other game. Lum was named an All Pro in both his second and third years in the league. Though the Eagles were mediocre during Lum's tenure, he opened up holes for Pro Bowl Running Back Billy Ray Barnes, while protecting 2 Hall of Fame QB's in Norm Van Brocklin and Sonny Jurgensen. Snyder retired after the 1958 season, and is amongst the finest offensive linemen to have ever player for the Eagles.









GUARD : Bucko Kilroy

Bucko is a local legend from Philadelphia. He went to high school in the Port Richmond section of the city, attended Temple University, then signed a free agent contract with the Eagles in 1942. Bucko spent his first 4 years in the NFL mainly as a reserve. Kilroy started 9 of 12 games at Right Guard in 1947. By 1948, Bucko was a full time starter. The Eagles would win back to back NFL Championships the next 2 seasons. Bucko also excelled as a Middle Guard on defense and was named an All Pro 3 straight seasons from 1952 to 1954. He intercepted 4 passes in 1954, and recovered 4 fumbles. Bucko played 1 game in 1955, then retired at the end of the season. Bucko Kilroy is a member of the NFL 1940'a All Decade Team. He resurfaced in the NFL in 1962 as an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys organization in 1965. In 1971, Kilroy joined the New England Patriots, an ascended to General Manager in the 1980's. He stayed on with the Patriots until his death in 2007. A self made man, a local legend, and a true tough guy opponents feared, Bucko Kilroy is truly an Eagles Great.







GUARD : Jerry Sisemore

Jerry, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was drafted in the 1st round of the 1973 draft by the Eagles. He was the third pick overall. Jerry was plugged right in at Right Tackle as a rookie, and started 13 games. The one game he missed that year would be the last game he didn't start in until 1982. Jerry manned the RT position until 1975. In 1976, he was moved to Right Guard. He played there for two seasons until being moved back to RT in 1978. Jerry earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 1979. Jerry was a key member of the Eagles run to Super Bowl XV in 1980. He made his last Pro Bowl team in 1981, then missed 1 game in the strike shortened season of 1982. Jerry was able to play 14 games in 1983, and started 13 of them. Sisemore then played 2 games the following season. He retired after that 1984 season. Though Jerry is most noted for his excellence at RT, his versatility and abilities allowed his to succeed at Guard as well. Jerry Sisemore is one of the better linemen in Eagles history.







CENTER : Vic Lindskog

Victor was a 2nd round draft pick of the Eagles in 1942. He was the 13th player picked overall. After serving, because of WW2, he joined the Eagles for the 1944 season. Playing both ways, Lindskog intercepted a pass and rumbled 65 yards for the only touchdown of his career during his rookie season. He picked off a pass in each of his next three years as well. In 1948, Vic was a stalwart in an offensive line that opened holes for Hall of Fame Running Back Steve Van Buren. The Eagles would end up capturing the NFL Championship that season by beating the Chicago Cardinals 7 - 0. That game is most noted because it was played in a blizzard, and the Eagles controlled the clock behind Van Buren's running. The only touchdown was scored by Van Buren going over the goal line opened up by a block from Lindskog. Vic was injured much of the next season, as the Eagles repeated as NFL Champions by beating the Cleveland Rams 14 - 0. Vic was selected to his only Pro Bowl squad after the 1951 season. He then retired. The Eagles have had three Hall of Fame Centers in Chuck Bednarik, Jim Ringo, and Alex Wojciechowicz, but Vic Lindskog was great in his own right.








KICKER : Bobby Walston

Bobby was the Eagles 14th round draft pick in 1951, the 166th player picked overall. Walston played Tight End also, and this is where he made his main mark in his 12 years with Philadelphia. Bobby caught 31 passes for 512 yards and 8 touchdowns in his rookie year. He also kicked 28 extra points and 6 field goals for the Eagles. Walston caught 26 passes for 469 yards and 3 scores the following year, while converting 11 field goals and 31 extra points. Walston made a career high 45 extra points in 1953, and knocked in 4 field goals. He also had a career high 41 receptions for 750 yards, while scoring 5 times. Bobby had 31 catches for 581 yards the next year, with a career best 11 touchdowns. He also had 4 field goals and 36 extra points. Walston's 1955 year involved very little placekicking. He had 6 extra points and 2 field goals, to go with 27 catches and 3 scores. He increased his kicking duties slightly more the following year with 17 extra points and 6 field goals. He also snared 39 balls and had 3 touchdowns. 1957 saw Bobby lead the NFL in field goal percentage, when he made 9 of 12 attempts. He also had 20 extra points and 11 receptions. Bobby averaged a career best 24.2 yards per reception.He rebounded with 21 catches and 31 extra points, to go with 6 field goals, the next season. Bobby attempted 1 field goal and missed in 1959. He was perfect on all of his 31 extra point attempts, however. He also had 16 receptions. 1960 was Walston's first All Pro season. He had 30 receptions for 563 yards and 4 touchdowns, while leading the NFL in field goal percentage. He made 14 of 20 attempts, and had 39 extra points. The Eagles would go on to win the 1960 NFL Championship Game, as Walston had a field goal and 2 extra points in the Eagles 17 - 13 win over the Green Bay Packers. Walston had his last All Pro season the next year, as he led the NFL with 46 extra point attempts and made 43 of them. He also matched his career high of 14 field goals, while catching 34 balls for 569 yards and the last 2 touchdowns of his career. Walston caught a career low 4 passes in 1962, while missing 11 of 15 field goal attempts. He made 36 extra points that year as well. He retired after that season. Bobby Walston died in 1987, and is probably best know for his receiving skills. He is a member of the NFL 1950's All Decade Team as a Wide Receiver. He had 311 receptions for 5,363 yards and 46 touchdowns. He is tops in Eagles history with 384 extra point attempts and 365 conversions. He also kicked 80 field goals in his career. David Akers is going to supplant Walston soon in extra point conversions, and may be the best placekicker the Eagles have ever had. Sam Baker was also exceptional. Still, I wanted Bobby Walston on my team because he truly is one of the greatest Eagles ever.







PUNTER: Adrian Burke

Adrian was the first round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts of the All American Football Conference in 1950. He was the second player chosen overall. Adrian spent his rookie season backing up Hall of Fame Quarterback Y.A. Tittle, and punting. He led the AAFC with 81 punts for 3,243 yards. The AAFC folded after 1950, so Burk joined the Philadelphia Eagles. He was put in as the starting quarterback right away. He led the NFL with 23 interceptions thrown, while having 14 touchdowns. He also was the Eagles punter throughout his career, and averaged 39.5 yards per punt on 67 attempts. Adrian didn't start many games at QB in 1952, but he led in NFL with 83 punts. He was a backup the next year at QB, and punted 41 times. In 1954, Adrian was back starting at QB. He led the NFL with 23 touchdown passes, Touchdown ratio, Quarterback Rating, and had 84 yard TD pass, matching his career best effort. In one game, Burke threw 7 touchdown passes against the Washington Redskins. He also led the NFL with 73 punts, averaging 40 yards per attempt. Adrian was named to his first All Pro team after that season. Burke threw 17 interceptions against 9 touchdowns in 1955. He also had an NFL long punt of 75 yards, and averaged 42.9 yards on 61 attempts. He was named to the Pro Bowl, the first Eagles Punter to ever achieve this feat. 1956 was Burk's final year in the NFL. He led the NFL with 68 punts for 2,843 yards. He retired after that year, but returned to the NFL as a referee. Burk was on the field one game when Joe Kapp, of the Minnesota Vikings, tossed 7 TD's versus the Baltimore Colts. Burke is one of 5 NFL players who have thrown 7 touchdowns in one game. He made his major contribution with the Eagles as a Punter. His 393 punts for 16,122 yards are the most in Philadelphia Eagles history. He averaged 40.9 yards per attempt, and had 4 punts blocked throughout his career. Adrian Burke may best be known for his 7 touchdown passes in one game, but he is probably also the best punter in Eagles history.









KICK RETURNER : Timmy Brown

Timmy was a 27th round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 1959 draft. He only was on the roster for one game in his rookie year, and did not accumulate any stats. He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles the next year. He played very sparingly, but did have a 79 yard kick return on 11 attempts. 1961 would be the year Brown got his chance. He led the NFL with 29 kickoff returns and 811 yards. He scored on a 105 yard return, which still stands as an Eagle franchise record. He also scored the only punt return touchdown of his career on just 8 returns. Brown led the NFL in all purpose yards in 1962 and 1963. In 1962, Brown caught 50 balls and averages an impressive 16.3 yards per catch. He led the NFL in kickoff returns and kickoff return yards in 1963, with 33 attempts for a career high 945 yards. He was also named an All Pro in 1962, '63, and '65. He led the NFL with a yards per rushing average of 5.4 yards per carry, as he ran for a career high 861 yards. Brown scored on 2 kickoff returns in 1966, which is a NFL record he shares with five others. Timmy got injured in the 7th game in 1967, and missed the rest of the year. He joined the Baltimore Colts the next year, and helped the Colts win the NFL Championship before they went on to lose in Super Bowl III. He retied after that season , and has enjoyed a fine acting career. Timmy was in both the movie and TV version of M*A*S*H. Timmy Brown rushed for 3,862 yards and 31 TD's, while catching 235 passes for 3,399 yards and 26 TD's. His 14.5 yards per catch is very impressive for a running back. He also averaged 26 yards on 184 kickoff returns. His 5 kickoff return touchdowns is tied for the second most in NFL history.