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Lesser Known Bills Player of the Day Version 6.8.11 service pack 4

#16 QB Dennis Shaw

 

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via www.sportsecyclopedia.com

 

Shaw a 6-3 217lb QB out of San Diego State was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in 1970. Shaw went on to be selected as the Offensive Rookie of the Year by the AP in 1970.  He started 12 games and threw for 2,507 yards 10 TDs but he also threw 20 Int. The Bills record was a lowly 3 wins 10 losses and one tie. In 1971,his second season, he again started 12 games and threw 11 TDs, and 26 Int, but won only one of his 12 starts.  In the 1972 seasons Shaw won 4 games throwing 14 TDs and only 17 Ints, but by 1973 a better known Bills QB had replaced Shaw as the Buffalo starter.  Joe Ferguson lead the Bills to 9 wins in what would be Dennis Shaw's last year in Buffalo.  Shaw caught on with St Louis (not the Rams, the Cardinals). He played two seasons in St Louis and then moved on to the Giants and finally the Chiefs in 1978.

Shaw's talents impressed Coach Johnny Rauch in 1970 so much that he felt Buffalo had a better chance winning passing the ball and using the Bills former 1969 # 1 overall pick from USC RB Orenthal James Simpson as a decoy for most of the season. It's also of note that a number of former AFL Bills great retired in 1970, including Jack Kemp and Billy Shaw.  In 1970 the Bills also lost a promising young guard Bob Kalsu, who was killed in Vietnam. He was the only active professional football player to become to lose his life in Vietnam.  Without a doubt the loss of those great players and the emotional toil of losing a teammate in war, along with the merger with the NFL all contribute to why Dennis Shaw is your Lesser Known Bills Player of the Day.

  Brought to you by:  "To be the man, you have to beat the man, and brotha, I'm the man.  Whooooooooooo!"- Ric Flair

And the man has been kicking the Bills can, so it's time for the Bills to beat the man and then they’ll be the man, if you understand.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.