Rookies on a Rampage
Not since Joe Namath graduated from Alabama to the New York Jets has there been a rookie as rhapsodized as Buffalo's O. J. Simpson. His status allowed him to hold out for six months before signing a four-year contract for more than $200,000--the highest figure received by any rookie since the A.F.L. and N.F.L. merged in 1966. Before he had played a minute of pro football, O.J.'s fame had won him a multiplicity of handsome off-the-field contracts, including a television debut in CBS-TV's Medical Center.
Simpson is unquestionably more talented as an athlete than an actor, but to date, at least, he seems to have a better shot at an Emmy than at the Rookie of the Year award. Not that O.J. has been a flop on the field. Buffalo Bills Coach John Rauch boasts that the only thing his fleet young halfback cannot do is walk on water. After two fitful performances, O.J. finally showed his wares last week, carrying the ball 24 times for 110 yds. and catching five passes --one for a touchdown--as the Bills defeated the Denver Broncos 41-28. But much of O.J.'s luster has been diminished by the brilliance of his fellow rookies. Indicative of the youngsters' initial impact is the fact that, of the 1,040 players who man pro football's rosters, 182 are rookies. Some of the best:
> Quarterback Greg Cook of Cincinnati, 6 ft. 4 in., 218 lbs., stepped into the most difficult position for a newcomer to master and proceeded to lead the Bengals to victories in their first three games --as many as they won in all of 1968.
Says Coach Paul Brown, a man commonly sparing in his praise: "If Cook stays with it, I've got myself another Otto Graham. He is no ordinary man." Named the outstanding player in the college All-Star game, Cook has directed the Bengals' attack with the poise of a polished veteran. In the San Diego game, he completed 14 of 22 passes for 292 yds., tossed for three touchdowns, and ran for the fourth himself as Cincinnati routed the Chargers, 34-20. Against powerful Kansas City last week, he fired a 73-yd. scoring pass to Eric Crabtree in the first quarter and completed four more passes before retiring to the sidelines with a bruised arm. Meanwhile Bill Bergey, a blocky (6 ft. 2 in., 240 lbs.), first-year linebacker from Arkansas State, ravaged the Chiefs' running attack with 13 unassisted tackles, and was awarded the game ball by his teammates after their stunning 24-19 upset victory.
> Running Back Calvin Hill of Dallas, 6 ft. 3 in., 230 lbs., was the first Ivy Leaguer (Yale) to be chosen in the opening round of the pro draft since Cornell's Pete Gogolak in 1965. He is already making Dallas fans--and coaches --forget about the premature retirement of Don Perkins. Coach Tom Landry says unequivocally: "Hill is the best running back we've ever had." After two games, Hill had barreled for 208 yds. (an average of 5.1 yds. per carry) to lead the N.F.L. in that department. Hill has amazingly good balance for a big man and runs nearly as well in a broken field as through a tightly packed line. He sprinted 23 yds. for one touchdown, slammed 9 yds. off tackle for another, and gained a total of 138 yds. to break Perkins' team record during the
New Orleans game. The previous week, as the St. Louis defense bunched up to stop his onslaught, Hill coolly dropped back and lofted a 58,-yd. touchdown pass to Flanker Lance Rentzel. Dallas won, 24-3, and Calvin was selected N.F.L. Back of the Week. > Tight End Jim Mitchell of Atlanta, 6 ft. 3 in., 235 lbs., is one of seven fledgling Falcons who have won starting roles. Mitchell was the "sleeper" of the Atlanta camp, a fourth-round draft choice from Prairie View A & M who set about patterning himself after Baltimore's John Mackey. His emulation seems to have paid off. Against San Francisco, Mitchell blocked like a demon, outfoxed the speedy 49er secondary to snare two touchdown passes from Quarterback Bob Berry, and looked like Big John himself on a rambling, 40-yd. end-around romp that set up the Falcons' third tally. Final score: Atlanta 24, San Francisco 12. In the Los Angeles game, Mitchell made a spectacular diving catch of a bad Berry pass that proved costly. He was belted hard by a host of Rams, and had to be carried off the field. But he recovered in time to start against Baltimore.
> Running Back Ron Johnson of Cleveland, 6 ft. 1 in., 205 lbs., follows in the cleatmarks of football's most prepossessing pantheon of runners--Marion Motley, Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly. The former Michigan All-America earned a starting berth beside Kelly and dashed for two touchdowns as the Browns whipped Philadelphia 27-20. Against Washington, Johnson knocked heads with Jim Brown's old antagonist, Middle Linebacker Sam Huff. Huff's head got the worst of it. In the second quarter, after Huff had razzed him mercilessly, Johnson, slammed over center and knocked the linebacker flat on his beefy back. Huff was carted off the field; when Sam returned in the fourth period, he had quieted down. Johnson scampered 17 yds. untouched for one score, bulled over from the one for another as the Browns topped the Redskins 27-23. At week's end Johnson was second in the N.F.L. in both rushing and scoring.
> Flanker Back Jerry Levias of Houston, 5 ft. 10 in., 185 lbs., looks more like a good-sized Little League pitcher than a pro football player. But the onetime S.M.U. scatback has given the somewhat stolid Oilers what they have so badly needed--a long-range scoring threat. Houston lost its first game 21-17 to talent-laden Oakland, but not before Levias startled the Raiders by snaring a quick pass up the middle from Quarterback Pete Beathard and tumbling into the end zone for a touchdown. After only three games Levias has proved so deadly on runbacks that opposing teams are already kicking away from him. Another surprising rookie is Roy Gerela, an unknown place-kicking specialist from New Mexico State. Last week Gerela broke a club record by booting five field goals to give Houston a 22-10 victory over Miami. That win also gave Houston a one-game lead over the New York Jets in Eastern Division standings. If Levias and Gerela can maintain their fancy hand- and footwork, the World Champion Jets may be hard-pressed just to recapture their division title.
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