Filed under 50 Seasons Series
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This post is part of the 50 Seasons in 50 Weeks Series.
The labor problems that the league experienced in 1974 continued in 1975. Nearly half the teams in the league reportedly finished in the red in 1974, but the players continued to press for more money. Of the Cowboys, one of the more outspoken Cowboys was future Hall-of-Famer Bob Hayes.
In February 1975, Hayes testified in an antitrust suit brought against the NFL. Although Hayes had claimed that he made only $23,000 between 1968 and 1970, he admitted on cross-examination that he had averaged $87,000 a year between 1971 and 1974.
Hayes’ productivity had dropped precipitously since he gained 840 yards in 1971. Heading into the 1975 season, Drew Pearson had emerged as the top receiver, and Golden Richards was developing into a quality #2 receiver. With Hayes about to turn 33 before the 1975 season, Dallas in July traded him to San Francisco for a third-round pick in 1976. He only lasted one season with the 49ers before retiring.
In 10 seasons in Dallas, Hayes caught 365 passes for 7,295 yards and 71 TDs. He still owns the team record for career touchdowns. He ranks fourth on the team’s all-time list for receiving yards and seventh on the team’s all-time reception list.
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Note: I should have included Hayes in the previous post about the retirement of Bob Lilly, Walt Garrison, and Cornell Green. In fact, the Cowboys traded Hayes before those retirements were announced. The timeline, per dates that the news appeared in the Dallas Morning News:
July 18: Hayes traded.
July 20: Lilly retired.
Aug. 16: Garrison retired.
Sept. 10: Green retired.
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Another player who left during the 1975 offseason was guard John Niland. The team shipped the six-time Pro Bowl selection to Philadelphia, where he played one final season. His replacement at left guard for most of the 1975 season was rookie Burton Lawless.
Hayes’ career from ’65-’71 vs. ’72-’75 was like night and day.
He averaged almost a thousand yards a season and almost 46 receptions a year between ’65 and ’71; whereas he averaged less than 13 catches and 370 yards from ’72 to ’75.
It was the precipitous drop-off in production (as well as his off-field problems) that kept him out of the HOF for so long; some still don’t think he merits inclusion based on the drop-off the last four years.
Not saying I agree . . .
Bobby Hayes belongs in the Hall of Fame,end of story.The man completely,totally,changed the way defenses played.People today forget,or don’t know that most defensive pass coverage in those days was man to man,or the most basic of zone coverage.Keep in mind also,a defender could knock a receiver off his feet at the line of scrimmage,and IF they got off the line, a safety could knock him into next Sunday.The one thing defenders could’nt do was hold.Hayes revolutionized zone coverage which we see today.To be able to average 20 yards per catch over a 10 year NFL career against what was allowed then is amazing.Bob made mistakes,paid his debt humbly,what more can a guy do?The honor of the Hall is long overdue for him,and his memory.Bullet said,I’m a football player first,and a track runner second.Incredible statement from an Olympic Gold Medal Winner,and world record holder.
Fred’s points are well taken. If Bob Hayes had maintained at least a modicum of production his last 3 seasons (maybe 25-25 catches/season 5-7 TD’s per year) he would have finished with Paul Warfield like #’s and not had to wait so long to get in to the HOF. His legendary status diminished alot those last three years.
In watching the Cowboys then, I was often frustrated that they did not try to get the ball to him more. Perhaps the opportunities were not there. Those years too, pass production was dropping off alot in the NFL what with zone defenses were being perfected.
On Mike’s comments–yes–important to point out that DB’s could make contact all over the field when the ball was not in the air. I’m figuring that with Bob Hayes smaller size that getting open at times was problematic for him. Plus, blocking rules then made pass protection harder and sacks were easier to come by. I could probably answer my own question–the league had changed some and Bob Hayes did not do so.
Still, I’m glad he’s in the HOF. He was my favorite player when I was really young. Glad Mike and Fred are part of this chat group being y’all experienced what I did in the early days.
I saw Hayes play (not in person of course, just on TV), and he was awesome to see in his prime.
But I have to respond to this idea that Hayes’ speed was responsible for the development of zone defenses. That is simply not true; defenses were playing zones as early as the Fifties.
The Detroit Lions won two NFL titles in the ’50s playing zone with the likes of Yale Lary and Jack Christiansen in the defensive backfield (see “The First Fifty Years”, page 147). The Colts deployed a zone defense in a losing effort against the Browns in the ’64 NFL title game (see “Real Football”, page 43).
Look, as a one-time football player and track runner myself, I love Bob Hayes as much as anyone does. But I think we need to put to rest this myth that he alone was responsible for the development of the zone defense — it simply isn’t true.
I don’t think debunking the myth detracts in any way from Hayes’ accomplishments or his worthiness for the HOF.
Thanks for the good history Fred. Zone defenses existed before Bob Hayes. And attempts by teams to zone for Bob Hayes were not always successful because of other factors, not just his speed. Bob Hayes was special in the NFL for about 6-8 years, depending on how you evaluate his record.
Thanks for this posting Fred.
My most vivid memory of Hayes is from a game in 1966. Hayes caught a slant pass & ran 50 or 60 yards for a TD. Not unusual for Bullet Bob. What is memorable is that the D-Back for the Giants stayed with Hayes. Of course he did not catch Hayes, but he did not lose any appreciable ground either. I read in the Morning News the next day that the D-Back ran a leg on the 440 yard relay team in the 1960 Olympics & won a Gold Medal along with Bob Hayes.
There wasn’t anything more exciting than watching Bullet Bob bring one in at full speed and head for the endzone! I witnessed most of his big plays, many in person, and every single one of them had me jumping up and down screaming my head off!