By John Turney 
In 1974, the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) asked its members to select an All-Rookie team, and nothing unusual there. Other organizations did the same thing. But the PFWA outlasted them, asking members this week to choose another All-Rookie team.
Appropriately, for a 50th anniversary squad it was one to remember:
That's because four members of the Los Angeles Rams were picked -- just the sixth time four or more players from one team were selected and a reflection of how special the team's 2023 draft was. Those players are wide receiver Puka Nacua, guard Steve Avila, defensive tackle Kobie Turner and edge rusher Byron Young.
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| Puka Nacua |
In the 50 years of the PFWA award, only one team had more, and that was the 1998 Indianapolis Colts with five. That group was led by Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning wide receiver Jerome Pathon, guard Steve McKinney, defensive tackle Larry Chester, and kicker Mike Vanderjagt.
But only five others had as many all-rookie choices as the Rams: The 1977 Miami Dolphins, the 1996 Patriots and Dolphins and the 1999 Colts.
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| Peyton Manning |
That's it.
The Dolphins' rookie class was composed of defensive end A.J. Duhe, nose tackle Bob Baumhower, outside linebacker Kim Bokamper and safety Vern Roberson. Duhe, Baumhower and Bokamper became integral parts of the famed "Killer Bees" defense in the early 1980s, a unit that took them to two Super Bowls and one Lombardi Trophy. Roberson, a safety out of Grambling, played only one season for Miami and then one more for the 49ers before he was out of the league.
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| Kim Bokamper |
Who else?
In 1996, New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells expertly filled his grocery bag, while Jimmy Johnson, in his first year in Miami, began the post-Shula rebuild of the Dolphins by picking a solid quartet of players. The All-Rookie players selected by Parcells were wide receiver Terry Glenn, safety Lawyer Milloy, defensive tackle Devin Wyman and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Only Wyman didn't do much in the NFL, playing just two years.
However, Glenn caught 90 passes in the 1996 regular season, plus a dozen more in the playoffs. After that, he was injured for much of his career, playing 16 games just three times in his 11 seasons. Milloy ended up playing 15 NFL seasons, was a starter in 14 and made four Pro Bowls.
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| Adam Vinatieri |
Then there's Vinatieri, who will be in the Hall of Fame some day. He's one of the most clutch kickers in the history of the league, with his foot providing the margin of victory in Bill Belichick's first three Super Bowl wins.
Middle linebacker Zach Thomas, 1,000-yard running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar, defensive tackle Daryl Gardener and special teamer Larry Izzo were Jimmy Johnson's All-Rookie haul. Thomas has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while Izzo became one of the best special teams players in NFL history -- for the Patriots.
In 1999, one year after choosing Manning & Co., the Colts hit on Hall-of-Fame running back Edgerrin James, linebacker Mike Peterson, punter Hunter Smith and returner Terrence Wilkins (who also started 11 games as a wide receiver). All were chosen to the PFWA's All-Rookie squad.
James led the NFL in rushing and not only was All-Rookie that season but also a consensus All-Pro who helped the Colts flip their record from 3-13 to 13-3.
This year's Rams are exceptional in that Nacua and Turner received strong support for the PFWA's Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year before losing to two Texans -- quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Nevertheless, they were named finalists this week for the Associated Press Offensive and Rookie of the Year awards.
In any other year, Nacua would have been the OROY. The rookie out of BYU set numerous rookie receiving records, including most receptions and yards. Turner, who sang the National Anthem at Monday's Los Angeles Kings hockey game, provided more music to the ears of Rams' fans by tying future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald's rookie sack record.
Consider that good company for a third-round pick many Rams fans felt was drafted too high.
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