Dick Shiner - QB

Dick Shiner was a journeyman quarterback from the mid-60s to mid-70s.

Drafted by the Redskins in 1964, he rode the bench for three years in DC (Sonny Jurgensen's first 3 years there also). The record shows he played every game in '65 and '66, but with very few passing attempts. (He must have been holding for field goals.) Shiner started one game in 1965. 

 

During training camp in 1967 he was traded to the Browns for backup QB Jim Ninowski, but saw little playing time in his one season with Cleveland. 

 

In May 1968 he was part of the trade that sent QB Bill Nelsen from the Steelers to the Browns. He finally made 1st-string (it was the 1960s' Steelers, mind you), starting 20 games in his 2 seasons there. 

 

After 2 seasons, the Steelers had seen enough. In the Spring of 1970 they drafted Terry Bradshaw with their well-earned 1st-overall pick. Then they pawned Shiner off on the Giants for running back Frenchy Fuqua and MLB Henry Davis. (That's a lot for the Giants to give up, for someone who was never going to unseat Fran Tarkenton.)

 

Shiner returned to a backup role for the remainder of his career, with the Giants, Falcon, and Patriots. 

 

 

Teams: Redskins (1964-66), Browns (1967), Steelers (1968-69), Giants (1970), Falcons (1971-73), Patriots (1973-74) 

    

John Stofa - QB

John Stofa was signed by the Miami Dolphins in 1966, their first year in the AFL. The Dolphins used 4 quarterbacks that season (Dick Wood, George Wilson Jr, Rick Norton, and Stofa). Wood and Wilson each played in 14 games, and made 11 starts between them. Stofa and Norton each played in 7 games (so maybe they split the #3 QB roster spot?) with Stofa making 1 start to Norton’s 2 starts. 

 

In 1967, Wood and Wilson were gone, but Bob Griese was Miami’s #1 draft pick, and started 10 games as a rookie. Stofa was still stuck in the #3 slot, this time only playing 1 game. 

 

Stofa had a change of scenery in 1968, spending the season as the expansion Bengals’ primary quarterback. He was the first player signed by the new team, acquired from Miami 3 days after the close of the 1967 season, and a month before the expansion draft. He played in 10 games (starting 7), and threw the first TD pass in Bengals’ history. 

 

That was the extent of his starting career, as the Bengals drafted hometown hero Greg Cook from the University of Cincinnati with the 5th overall pick in 1969, and Stofa was released in July. A month later, the Dolphins picked him up, and he backed up Griese for another 2 seasons, making no starts. 

 

After a 3-year absence, Stofa played for the WFL’s Jacksonville Sharks in 1974, backing up QB Reggie Oliver. (Oliver had played college ball at Marshall University, and as a freshman in 1970, did not make that fatal plane trip.) 

 

 

Teams: Dolphins (1966-67, 69-70), Bengals (1968), WFL (1974)

 

 

For this first card, I will show the back as well.