Conrad Dobler
Encyclopedia
Conrad Francis Dobler is a retired American football
offensive lineman in the NFL
.
in the 1972 NFL Draft
by the St. Louis Cardinals
. He played right offensive guard for the Cardinals from 1972 to 1977, next to Hall-of-Famer Dan Dierdorf
at right tackle. In those years, the Cardinals had solid offensive lines, especially for pass blocking, as shown by their then-record 8 sacks allowed in 1975, though helped by quick releases from quarterback
Jim Hart. Dobler was an important cog of this success, making three consecutive Pro Bowl
appearances from 1975 to 1977.
Dobler quickly developed a reputation as a nasty player. He did nothing to tone down that image. On the contrary, he seemed to revel in it, probably believing that this would intimidate some defensive players, as indicated by the following quote: "I see defensive linemen jump to knock a pass down. When that happened near me, I'd smack 'em in the solar plexus, and that got their hands down real quick." As sportswriter Paul Zimmerman said: "Conrad Dobler was mean dirty. He tried to hurt people in a bad way...he made teams that he played on better. He played hurt, didn't complain, but he was a filthy, filthy player." He made the cover of Sports Illustrated
, who heralded Dobler as "Pro Football's Dirtiest Player".
, where he played two years. He then played two final seasons with the Buffalo Bills
, retiring after the 1981 campaign.
Bill Bradley) and kicking Merlin Olsen
in the head, parodied his image in a Miller Lite
beer commercial by getting a section of fans to argue the eternal question, "Tastes Great! Less Filling!" (Olsen got a measure of revenge by placing Dobler's name on a headstone in a scene from Olsen's TV series Father Murphy
).
Dobler paid a high price for his NFL career; today he is 90% disabled having suffered through numerous operations to repair his battered body. Dobler has had nine knee replacements. Still in need of further surgeries, Dobler, like many other disabled NFL veterans, has been unable to gain disability assistance from the NFL
. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=conraddobler
On April 5, 2007, The Buffalo News
reported that as a result of falling out of a hammock in 2001, Dobler's wife Joy became a paraplegic. Substantial medical bills for Joy's care put the Dobler family in financial hardship, to the point they could no longer pay for their academically gifted daughter, Holli, or their son, Stephen, to attend college. Champion golfer and philanthropist Phil Mickelson
heard of the Dobler family situation on ESPN
and volunteered to pay for Holli and Stephen's college education at Miami University
in Ohio and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, respectively. Stephen is a member of Kappa Sigma.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Cardinals
Dobler was drafted in round 5 out of the University of WyomingUniversity of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
in the 1972 NFL Draft
1972 NFL Draft
The 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
by the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played right offensive guard for the Cardinals from 1972 to 1977, next to Hall-of-Famer Dan Dierdorf
Dan Dierdorf
Daniel Lee "Dan" Dierdorf is a former American football player and current television sportscaster. He played 13 NFL seasons and has worked for ABC's Monday Night Football and CBS as a color commentator since retiring from football....
at right tackle. In those years, the Cardinals had solid offensive lines, especially for pass blocking, as shown by their then-record 8 sacks allowed in 1975, though helped by quick releases from quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jim Hart. Dobler was an important cog of this success, making three consecutive Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances from 1975 to 1977.
Dobler quickly developed a reputation as a nasty player. He did nothing to tone down that image. On the contrary, he seemed to revel in it, probably believing that this would intimidate some defensive players, as indicated by the following quote: "I see defensive linemen jump to knock a pass down. When that happened near me, I'd smack 'em in the solar plexus, and that got their hands down real quick." As sportswriter Paul Zimmerman said: "Conrad Dobler was mean dirty. He tried to hurt people in a bad way...he made teams that he played on better. He played hurt, didn't complain, but he was a filthy, filthy player." He made the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, who heralded Dobler as "Pro Football's Dirtiest Player".
Saints and Bills
In 1978, the Cardinals traded him to New OrleansNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, where he played two years. He then played two final seasons with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, retiring after the 1981 campaign.
After football
Dobler, known for such transgressions as punching Mean Joe Greene, spitting on a downed and injured opponent (the Eagles'Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Bill Bradley) and kicking Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
in the head, parodied his image in a Miller Lite
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by MillerCoors of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
beer commercial by getting a section of fans to argue the eternal question, "Tastes Great! Less Filling!" (Olsen got a measure of revenge by placing Dobler's name on a headstone in a scene from Olsen's TV series Father Murphy
Father Murphy
Father Murphy is an American television drama series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and also directed the show in partnership with William F...
).
Dobler paid a high price for his NFL career; today he is 90% disabled having suffered through numerous operations to repair his battered body. Dobler has had nine knee replacements. Still in need of further surgeries, Dobler, like many other disabled NFL veterans, has been unable to gain disability assistance from the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=conraddobler
On April 5, 2007, The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News is the primary newspaper of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area, and the area's only daily newspaper. It is the only newspaper owned by Berkshire Hathaway.-History:...
reported that as a result of falling out of a hammock in 2001, Dobler's wife Joy became a paraplegic. Substantial medical bills for Joy's care put the Dobler family in financial hardship, to the point they could no longer pay for their academically gifted daughter, Holli, or their son, Stephen, to attend college. Champion golfer and philanthropist Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
heard of the Dobler family situation on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and volunteered to pay for Holli and Stephen's college education at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Ohio and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, respectively. Stephen is a member of Kappa Sigma.
External links
- Career stats
- ESPN.com list of dirtiest players ever
- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/402814-the-top-ten-most-hatedhateable-beings-in-nfl-history#page/2