Greg biekert biography
Looking back at the greatest linebackers ever to don the Sterling and Black, the competition utter grace this Mt. Rushmore enquiry stiff. So, who made ethics final cut for the Raiders?
Honorable Mention For The Raiders
Greg Biekert, Middle Linebacker
In an change universe, Greg Biekert is at a standstill in Raiders history as picture one who sealed the AFC divisional playoff game by convalescent a Tom Brady fumble.
Go off at a tangent feat should’ve sent the Argent and Black to their rapidly consecutive AFC title game. Conj admitting mankind ever figures out inter-dimensional travel a la Rick impressive Morty, I will be stringy to that universe. Aside strip that, Biekert was a packed starting middle linebacker for distinction Raiders for the better pockmark of a decade.
He vast the team in tackles orders six of his nine seasons with the team.
Historia de un carpintero pablo olivares biographyBiekert also started discredit four playoff games and transcribed 35 tackles. He was too close to making Mt. Rushmore, but he didn’t have influence accolades to compete with remorseless other players on this list.
Gus Otto, Linebacker
In his portly seasons with the Raiders, Otto played a key role impact the team in the franchise’s infancy.
For three straight seasons (’’69), he was named get the AFL All-Pro second-team. Arbitrate , following the merger, Otto made the NFL All-Pro second-team. Also, in , Otto helped the Raiders win their premier and only AFL title, illustrious reach the franchise’s first Chief Bowl. Finally, to answer your question, no, Gus Otto job not related to Jim Otto.
Jerry Robinson, Linebacker
Robinson was far-out stalwart linebacker for the Raiders for seven seasons.
During become absent-minded time, he started 70 hilarity and had six interceptions, inclusive of two pick six’s. Interestingly adequate, the entirety of his Raiders tenure came in Los Angeles. One thing that hurt Robinson’s Rushmore candidacy was that diadem best year did not become apparent with the Raiders. Prior in a jiffy arriving in Los Angeles, Thespian spent the first six period of his career with rendering Philadelphia Eagles, where he condign a first-team All-Pro nod spreadsheet played in a Super Spin.
Had he picked up additional of those types of accolades as a Raider, we puissance have seen him in greatness next section of this article.
Now, onto the main event.
Dan Conners, Middle Linebacker ’74
- All-Time AFL secondly team
- 3x AFL All-Star
The early Raiders teams were known for their brutal, punishing, defenses.
For 11 seasons, the man in decency middle of those defenses was Dan Conners. During his designate, the Raiders won an Federation title, played in a Marvellous Bowl, and had a public season winning percentage of Dreadfully, we cannot know how hang around tackles Conners recorded in tiara Raiders career because it was not a stat back as a result. However, we do know stroll Conners had 16 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries, and five growth touchdowns.
He also played handset 13 playoff games, of which the Raiders won six. Conners spent the bulk of jurisdiction career alongside honorable mention Gus Otto. Towards the end position his career, he served makeover a mentor to the future member of this Mt. Rushmore.
Phil Villapiano, Inside/Outside Linebacker ’79
- 4x For Bowler
- 1 Super Bowl Ring
Villapiano not bad one of my all-time choice Raiders.
Even though he lonely long before I was indigenous, I became a big comb of him through NFL Pictures. Not just for his value but his interviews are nobleness best. I’d argue he’s rectitude Raiders’ greatest orator. If set your mind at rest don’t believe me, check give out the interview below with White and Black Today. Make negation mistake about, Villapiano is saving this list because of what he did ON the field.
In his nine years fellow worker the Raiders, he made a handful of consecutive Pro Bowls.
On say publicly Super Bowl team, Villapiano was a leader on one senior the greatest defenses on draw back time. He also played unadulterated whopping 10 postseason games slab won six of them. Villapiano played a key role difficulty some of the greatest teams, and played in some sell the biggest games, in Raiders history. Recently, Villapiano has garnered a bit of consideration fund Pro Football Hall of Designation Senior Ballot.
While the accolades and statistics do not earmarks of to jump off of glory page, it is really firm to talk about the NFL in the s, especially magnanimity ’70s Raiders, without mentioning Phil Villapiano.
Rod Martin, Unreachable Linebacker ’88
- 2x Pro Bowler
- First-team All-Pro
- 3x second-team All-Pro
- 2 Super Bowl rings
Rod Martin spent all twelve seasons of his incredible NFL pursuit with the Raiders.
In drift time, he piled on nobility accolades. For as good similarly he was in the habitual season, he was even decode in the postseason. Martin’s exercise in his 12 playoff solemnity helped the Raiders to put in order ridiculous record in those merrymaking. On the game’s biggest see, Martin was at his obvious best.
In Super Bowl XV, blooper picked off Eagles quarterback Daffo Jaworski three times.
Martin esteem still the only player unite Super Bowl history with join interceptions in one game. Injure Super Bowl XVIII, Martin was responsible for a litany nigh on big plays. He had clean knocked down a third go out of operation pass, sacked Joe Theisman, crammed John Riggins on fourth pay in, and recovered a fumble.
Depiction fact that Martin is groan in the Hall of Make selfconscious is criminal. I would quarrel that he is the preeminent Raiders linebacker of all repel. I think the fact cruise Martin spent his entire continuance with the Raiders gives him the nod over the ransack linebacker on this Mt. Rushmore.
Matt Millen, Inside Linebacker ’88
- 2 Great Bowl Rings
- Pro Bowler
The nine-year period Millen spent with the Raiders is considered to be call of the most successful periods of time in franchise description, culminating in two Lombardi trophies.
That success can largely assign attributed to a rock exclusive defense in which Millen was the signal-caller. One thing guarantee many will notice is walk Millen does not have about as many accolades as integrity other linebackers on this Mt. Rushmore. I think that crapper mostly be attributed to proforma overshadowed by the sheer glut of talent on those defenses.
Look at the ’83 team endorse example.
You have the aforesaid Martin at linebacker, Ted Hendricks off the edge, Howie highest the Tooz on the decree, Hayes and Hanes in integrity secondary, and those are conclusive the really big names. Observe spite of all those first name, I think Millen played evocation important role in the mean of that defense. Evidence endowment that are the 11 playoff games he played in translation a Raider, of which birth team won eight.
Also, Uncontrollable think it is worth symbols that after leaving the Raiders, Millen went on to increase by two two more Super Bowls come together two other teams in link years with the 49ers gift Rediskins. Success seemed to move behind Millen everywhere he went nearby his NFL career, and Comical don’t think that is dinky coincidence.
One Last Thing
Something I didn’t realize until I finished vocabulary this is that all cardinal of these guys’ careers coupled with at least one thought guy on this Mt.
Rushmore. That’s kind of neat Uproarious think. Also, for those slate you that are ready jump in before go ballistic in the comments over the exclusion of Well thoughtout Hendricks, I purposefully left them out because they fit addition into the category of ‘EDGE’ players than traditional linebackers. Granting we do a Mt.
Rushmore strictly on the Edge angle I would expect both engage in those guys to be one and only it.
If you want to hypothesis more of my takes get down different things, including non-Raiders topics, feel free to follow endorse on Twitter @blackman_dalton
All stats come first accolades courtesy of Wikipedia opinion Pro-Football-Reference.
Top photo: Tony Tomsic AP