By Chris Willis, NFL Films
Paul Robeson |
As the NFL's 101st season kicks off tonight PFJ takes another look back at some of the game's greatest players. Last season the NFL celebrated its 100th All-Time Team. PFJ listed several former coaches and players All-Time choices last season and will post a few more to celebrate this season's opening week.
Today we feature Paul Robeson's All-Time team from 1941. Robeson, a former Rutgers all-american end, played just 2 seasons in the NFL with the 1921 Akron Pros and 1922 Milwaukee Badgers. He retired from pro football to pursue a successful career as a singer and actor.
As for his All-Time Team he selected the following:
Ends: Larry Kelley, Brick Muller
Guards: Gus Sonnenberg, Bronko Nagurski
Tackles: Duke Slater, Pete "Fats" Henry
Halfbacks: Fritz Pollard, Tom Harmon
Fullback: Ernie Nevers
Quarterback: Sid Luckman
Robeson took liberty with his line by selected "guards" Sonnenberg and Nagurski. He left off Red Grange and saying "Now I'm in a pickle- I'd like to put Jim Thorpe on my team but where would I put him!"
to be fair, this is Robeson's all-time college team (note the team designations)....even with that, leaving off Washington State's Mel Hein and Alabama's Don Hutson seems to make Ole Man River's selections rather off the cuff (and I'm not referring to Marquette's Ward)
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