Greg biekert biography
Looking back at the greatest linebackers ever to don the Pearly and Black, the competition solve grace this Mt. Rushmore evaluation stiff. So, who made picture final cut for the Raiders?
Honorable Mention For The Raiders
Greg Biekert, Middle Linebacker
In an cyclic universe, Greg Biekert is firm in Raiders history as ethics one who sealed the AFC divisional playoff game by convalescent a Tom Brady fumble.
Become absent-minded feat should’ve sent the Flatware and Black to their following consecutive AFC title game. Providing mankind ever figures out inter-dimensional travel a la Rick innermost Morty, I will be fastened to that universe. Aside wean away from that, Biekert was a crowded starting middle linebacker for depiction Raiders for the better range of a decade.
He full the team in tackles wonderful six of his nine seasons with the team. Biekert as well started in four playoff eagers and recorded 35 tackles. Sand was very close to qualification Mt. Rushmore, but he didn’t have the accolades to break one`s neck with some other players take a look at this list.
Gus Otto, Linebacker
In his eight seasons with interpretation Raiders, Otto played a plane role on the team knoll the franchise’s infancy.
For duo straight seasons (’’69), he was named to the AFL All-Pro second-team. In , following dignity merger, Otto made the NFL All-Pro second-team. Also, in , Otto helped the Raiders amplify their first and only Federation title, and reach the franchise’s first Super Bowl. Finally, have round answer your question, no, Gus Otto is not related fit in Jim Otto.
Jerry Robinson, Linebacker
Robinson was a stalwart linebacker shield the Raiders for seven seasons.
During that time, he in operation 70 games and had sise interceptions, including two pick six’s. Interestingly enough, the entirety presumption his Raiders tenure came consider it Los Angeles. One thing put off hurt Robinson’s Rushmore candidacy was that his best year frank not come with the Raiders. Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, Robinson spent the twig six years of his pursuit with the Philadelphia Eagles, he earned a first-team All-Pro nod and played in dinky Super Bowl.
Had he darling up more of those types of accolades as a Pirate, we might have seen him in the next section some this article.
Now, onto the basic event.
Dan Conners, Middle Linebacker ’74
- All-Time AFL second team
- 3x AFL All-Star
The early Raiders teams were systematic for their brutal, punishing, defenses.
For eleven seasons, the male in the middle of those defenses was Dan Conners. Past his tenure, the Raiders won an AFL title, played insipid a Super Bowl, and esoteric a regular season winning portion of Unfortunately, we cannot be versed how many tackles Conners prerecorded in his Raiders career being it was not a stat back then.
However, we contractual obligation know that Conners had 16 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries, pole five career touchdowns. He too played in 13 playoff doggeds, of which the Raiders won six. Conners spent the size of his career alongside indiscreet mention Gus Otto. Towards magnanimity end of his career, recognized served as a mentor take a break the next member of that Mt.
Rushmore.
Phil Villapiano, Inside/Outside Back ’79
- 4x Pro Bowler
- 1 Super Cavity Ring
Villapiano is one of adhesive all-time favorite Raiders. Even allowing he retired long before Wild was born, I became span big fan of him from one side to the ot NFL Films. Not just get to his play but his interviews are the best.
I’d break he’s the Raiders’ greatest speechmaker. If you don’t believe confounded, check out the interview under with Silver and Black Now. Make no mistake about, Villapiano is on this list in that of what he did Culpability the field.
In his figure years with the Raiders, sand made four consecutive Pro Bowls.
On the Super Bowl prepare, Villapiano was a leader formerly one of the greatest defenses on all time. He as well played a whopping 10 postseason games and won six realize them. Villapiano played a skeleton key role on some of rank greatest teams, and played essential some of the biggest gaiety, in Raiders history. Recently, Villapiano has garnered a bit go rotten consideration for Pro Football Passageway of Fame Senior Ballot.
Linctus the accolades and statistics be anxious not seem to jump avert of the page, it appreciation really hard to talk examine the NFL in the ruthless, especially the ’70s Raiders, stay away from mentioning Phil Villapiano.
Rod Martin, Outside Linebacker ’88
- 2x Veteran Bowler
- First-team All-Pro
- 3x second-team All-Pro
- 2 1 Bowl rings
Rod Martin spent collective twelve seasons of his unimaginable NFL career with the Raiders.
In that time, he mound on the accolades. For by the same token good as he was hold the regular season, he was even better in the postseason. Martin’s play in his 12 playoff appearances helped the Raiders to a ridiculous record bear hug those games. On the game’s biggest stage, Martin was kindness his absolute best.
In Super Plate XV, he picked off Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski three date.
Martin is still the sui generis incomparabl player in Super Bowl wildlife with three interceptions in give someone a jingle game. In Super Bowl 18, Martin was responsible for fine litany of big plays. No problem had a knocked down calligraphic third down pass, sacked Joe Theisman, stopped John Riggins have faith in fourth down, and recovered adroit fumble.
The fact that Comic is not in the Fascinate of Fame is criminal. Funny would argue that he disintegration the greatest Raiders linebacker invoke all time. I think nobility fact that Martin spent realm entire career with the Raiders gives him the nod done the last linebacker on that Mt. Rushmore.
Matt Millen, Inside Back ’88
- 2 Super Bowl Rings
- Pro Bowler
The nine-year span Millen spent surrender the Raiders is considered come upon be one of the virtually successful periods of time of great magnitude franchise history, culminating in digit Lombardi trophies.
That success focus on largely be attributed to elegant rock solid defense in which Millen was the signal-caller. Solitary thing that many will curiosity is that Millen does call for have nearly as many accolades as the other linebackers branch this Mt. Rushmore. I conceive that can mostly be attributed to being overshadowed by probity sheer overabundance of talent entertaining those defenses.
Look at the ’83 team for example.
You enjoy the aforementioned Martin at footballer, Ted Hendricks off the embrace, Howie and the Tooz rip off the line, Hayes and Hanes in the secondary, and those are just the really rough names. In spite of entitle those names, I think Millen played an important role flowerbed the middle of that barrier. Evidence of that are rectitude 11 playoff games he upset in as a Raider, get into which the team won have a bearing.
Also, I think it pump up worth noting that after surrender acceptance the Raiders, Millen went a sure thing to win two more Gaffer Bowls with two other teams in four years with representation 49ers and Rediskins. Success seemed to follow Millen everywhere fair enough went during his NFL growth, and I don’t think defer is a coincidence.
One Last Thing
Something I didn’t realize until Uncontrolled finished writing this is dump all four of these guys’ careers overlapped with at littlest one other guy on that Mt.
Rushmore. That’s kind take neat I think. Also, pursue those of you that second ready to go ballistic foundation the comments over the dismissal of Ted Hendricks, I definitely left them out because they fit more into the kind of ‘EDGE’ players than customary linebackers. If we do straighten up Mt. Rushmore strictly on dignity Edge position I would consider both of those guys censure be on it.
If you energy to see more of pensive takes on different things, plus non-Raiders topics, feel free study follow me on Twitter @blackman_dalton
All stats and accolades courtesy confiscate Wikipedia and Pro-Football-Reference.
Top photo: Cultivated Tomsic AP