Roger Wehrli CB – 1969-82 St. Louis Cardinals
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sp...k+Staubach:+Wehrli+deserves+place+in+the+hall
Just ask Staubach: Wehrli deserves place in the hall
By Dan O'Neill
Post-Dispatch
10/12/2003
Just ask Staubach: Wehrli deserves place in the hall
Roger Wehrli's name is one of 67 being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004. That preliminary list will be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November, then whittled to 15 finalists before three to six new inductees are announced in late January.
Don Coryell also is on the prelim list. Like Wehrli, Coryell brings back Big Red memories. But if he makes the Hall of Fame grade, Coryell will do so on his cumulative coaching merits. His success in San Diego brought him more national attention than the minor miracles he worked here.
Wehrli is one of ours from start to finish, and one of our finest. He has been called "lantern-jawed" on at least one occasion by legendary Post-Dispatch scribe Bob Broeg, which is recognized as Hall of Fame certification in some states. He is as deserving of a stall in Canton, Ohio as any of the names under consideration, more deserving than most.
But there is little reason to hope Wehrli will be among the finalists, never has been in the past. With most of the members of the voting board, the lyrical quality of his name won't register. The football glory it was responsible for at the University of Missouri, the interception in the 1968 Gator Bowl, the opening kick return for 98 yards against Iowa State in 1967, has no residual value.
As a pro, Wehrli's name is associated with the St. Louis Cardinals, which is like a Shakespearean actor being associated with a spaghetti western. Wehrli played his entire career for a team that doesn't exist, a franchise that never wins championships, an owner that never learns.
If you didn't see No. 22 stick to his man, if you didn't huddle up with him or account for him as you gazed across the line of scrimmage, you couldn't possibly know how good he was. If you did, you couldn't possibly forget.
"There wasn't a better cornerback I played against," said former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Hall of Famer Roger Staubach. "He was a great, great defensive back. You had to be aware of him all the time.
"He was very smart. You would try to look him off, but obviously he could read what was taking place in the backfield. And you could tell he could read routes because he would always be there a step ahead. And he had really good speed for a cornerback. There's no question he should be in the Hall of Fame."
Staubach is uniquely qualified to speak of these things. He doesn't know Wehrli on a personal basis, but he knows him in a religious sense. The Cowpokes played the Little Smear twice a season during Staubach's 11-year watch. The weapons Staubach had at his disposal included receivers like Bob Hayes and Drew Pearson, both among those being considered for induction. In the history of the game, there has not been a more precarious assignment than covering "Bullet" Bob Hayes, who retired after 1975.
"If Bob was playing now he might be the fastest guy in the league," Staubach said.
But Staubach and his explosive targets rarely had their way with Wehrli. In fact, they usually avoided him altogether. "Roger was a shut-down guy, absolutely," Staubach said. "If I threw an interception against the Cardinals, it was invariably Roger. There were a number of times when he spoiled my day."
Wehrli played 14 seasons and missed only four games, a remarkable record of consistency and durability. He intercepted 40 passes, second in franchise history to Hall of Famer Larry Wilson (52), and Wehrli recovered 19 fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, more than Hall of Fame cornerbacks Herb Adderley, Jimmy Johnson, Willie Brown and Mel Blount, and equal to Hall of Famers Lem Barney and Dick "Night Train" Lane.
He was an All-Pro cornerback at a time when it wasn't easy being a cornerback. Ten of the 17 wide receivers in the Hall of Fame played during Wehrli's career. But other numbers work against Wehrli, impediments more difficult to cover.
For instance, only seven pure cornerbacks are among the 229 inducted since the Hall opened its doors in 1963. Two other players, Mel Renfro and Ronnie Lott, spent portions of their careers as corners while also spending time at safety. Only kickers - Jan Stenerud is the only HOF member - get less love.
Among those seven cornerbacks, only one - Lane - played previous to 1961. The forward pass was legalized in 1906. Apparently it took defenses nearly 60 years to catch up.
There is even more exclusivity to crack within the position. If they ever do a sequel to the basketball-flavored movie "White Men Can't Jump," they could employ an NFL theme and entitle it "White Men Can't Play Cornerback." All seven of the cornerbacks in the Hall, all nine if you count Lott and Renfro, are black. Regardless of why, that is what it is.
At the same time, the biggest obstacle Wehrli faces might be lack of sizzle. Individual excellence in football, especially outside the offensive skill positions, is not easily defined. There are 22 players involved in each play. Quantifying the actions of one, separate from the actions of others, is ambiguous at best. A cornerback is doing his best work when the ball never comes his way.
If you were not on a celebrated team - like the Packers of the 1960s or the Steelers of the 1970s, if you did not set records or supplement your work with spotlight-grabbing kick returns, you are a preliminary placebo.
"I know as Cowboys, there's articles about how we were in five Super Bowls and didn't win as many as the Steelers, and maybe that worked against Mel (Renfro)," said Staubach, who beats the bushes for Hayes whenever possible. "That's probably a factor where St. Louis is concerned. They did have some great teams there with Terry (Metcalf) and Jim (Hart). If you're not in playoffs that shouldn't matter, but . . . "
"And if you try to politic it, you can make it worse. I know in Mel Renfro's case, it took Mel a long time. You have to get slotted some way, where the people voting start to understand your career and the impact you had on the game."
The College Football Hall of Fame came to understand who Roger Wehrli was earlier this year, electing him to their distinguished numbers. The great Roger Staubach understands who Roger Wehrli was. Why can't those entrusted with the responsibility of honoring pro football's best understand as well?
Reporter Dan O'Neill E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 314-340-8186
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sp...k+Staubach:+Wehrli+deserves+place+in+the+hall
Just ask Staubach: Wehrli deserves place in the hall
By Dan O'Neill
Post-Dispatch
10/12/2003
Just ask Staubach: Wehrli deserves place in the hall
Roger Wehrli's name is one of 67 being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004. That preliminary list will be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November, then whittled to 15 finalists before three to six new inductees are announced in late January.
Don Coryell also is on the prelim list. Like Wehrli, Coryell brings back Big Red memories. But if he makes the Hall of Fame grade, Coryell will do so on his cumulative coaching merits. His success in San Diego brought him more national attention than the minor miracles he worked here.
Wehrli is one of ours from start to finish, and one of our finest. He has been called "lantern-jawed" on at least one occasion by legendary Post-Dispatch scribe Bob Broeg, which is recognized as Hall of Fame certification in some states. He is as deserving of a stall in Canton, Ohio as any of the names under consideration, more deserving than most.
But there is little reason to hope Wehrli will be among the finalists, never has been in the past. With most of the members of the voting board, the lyrical quality of his name won't register. The football glory it was responsible for at the University of Missouri, the interception in the 1968 Gator Bowl, the opening kick return for 98 yards against Iowa State in 1967, has no residual value.
As a pro, Wehrli's name is associated with the St. Louis Cardinals, which is like a Shakespearean actor being associated with a spaghetti western. Wehrli played his entire career for a team that doesn't exist, a franchise that never wins championships, an owner that never learns.
If you didn't see No. 22 stick to his man, if you didn't huddle up with him or account for him as you gazed across the line of scrimmage, you couldn't possibly know how good he was. If you did, you couldn't possibly forget.
"There wasn't a better cornerback I played against," said former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Hall of Famer Roger Staubach. "He was a great, great defensive back. You had to be aware of him all the time.
"He was very smart. You would try to look him off, but obviously he could read what was taking place in the backfield. And you could tell he could read routes because he would always be there a step ahead. And he had really good speed for a cornerback. There's no question he should be in the Hall of Fame."
Staubach is uniquely qualified to speak of these things. He doesn't know Wehrli on a personal basis, but he knows him in a religious sense. The Cowpokes played the Little Smear twice a season during Staubach's 11-year watch. The weapons Staubach had at his disposal included receivers like Bob Hayes and Drew Pearson, both among those being considered for induction. In the history of the game, there has not been a more precarious assignment than covering "Bullet" Bob Hayes, who retired after 1975.
"If Bob was playing now he might be the fastest guy in the league," Staubach said.
But Staubach and his explosive targets rarely had their way with Wehrli. In fact, they usually avoided him altogether. "Roger was a shut-down guy, absolutely," Staubach said. "If I threw an interception against the Cardinals, it was invariably Roger. There were a number of times when he spoiled my day."
Wehrli played 14 seasons and missed only four games, a remarkable record of consistency and durability. He intercepted 40 passes, second in franchise history to Hall of Famer Larry Wilson (52), and Wehrli recovered 19 fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, more than Hall of Fame cornerbacks Herb Adderley, Jimmy Johnson, Willie Brown and Mel Blount, and equal to Hall of Famers Lem Barney and Dick "Night Train" Lane.
He was an All-Pro cornerback at a time when it wasn't easy being a cornerback. Ten of the 17 wide receivers in the Hall of Fame played during Wehrli's career. But other numbers work against Wehrli, impediments more difficult to cover.
For instance, only seven pure cornerbacks are among the 229 inducted since the Hall opened its doors in 1963. Two other players, Mel Renfro and Ronnie Lott, spent portions of their careers as corners while also spending time at safety. Only kickers - Jan Stenerud is the only HOF member - get less love.
Among those seven cornerbacks, only one - Lane - played previous to 1961. The forward pass was legalized in 1906. Apparently it took defenses nearly 60 years to catch up.
There is even more exclusivity to crack within the position. If they ever do a sequel to the basketball-flavored movie "White Men Can't Jump," they could employ an NFL theme and entitle it "White Men Can't Play Cornerback." All seven of the cornerbacks in the Hall, all nine if you count Lott and Renfro, are black. Regardless of why, that is what it is.
At the same time, the biggest obstacle Wehrli faces might be lack of sizzle. Individual excellence in football, especially outside the offensive skill positions, is not easily defined. There are 22 players involved in each play. Quantifying the actions of one, separate from the actions of others, is ambiguous at best. A cornerback is doing his best work when the ball never comes his way.
If you were not on a celebrated team - like the Packers of the 1960s or the Steelers of the 1970s, if you did not set records or supplement your work with spotlight-grabbing kick returns, you are a preliminary placebo.
"I know as Cowboys, there's articles about how we were in five Super Bowls and didn't win as many as the Steelers, and maybe that worked against Mel (Renfro)," said Staubach, who beats the bushes for Hayes whenever possible. "That's probably a factor where St. Louis is concerned. They did have some great teams there with Terry (Metcalf) and Jim (Hart). If you're not in playoffs that shouldn't matter, but . . . "
"And if you try to politic it, you can make it worse. I know in Mel Renfro's case, it took Mel a long time. You have to get slotted some way, where the people voting start to understand your career and the impact you had on the game."
The College Football Hall of Fame came to understand who Roger Wehrli was earlier this year, electing him to their distinguished numbers. The great Roger Staubach understands who Roger Wehrli was. Why can't those entrusted with the responsibility of honoring pro football's best understand as well?
Reporter Dan O'Neill E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 314-340-8186
