Had the NFL officially tracked Sacks in the years leading up to 1982, Al “Bubba” Baker might have gained some Hall of Fame traction.

Baker began his professional career with the Detroit Lions and instantly became the heart of Detroit’s Silver Rush Defense.  The former Colorado State Ram led the league (unofficially) in Sacks as a rookie with 23.  He easily won the Defensive Rookie of the Year, was a First Team All-Pro, and was the scariest pass rusher in the league.  He dominated again in 1979 with 16 Sacks and had his second “unofficial” sack crown with 17.5 in 1980.   Yep, 56.5 in his first three years!

Baker remained a potent player, but he ne did not go to another Pro Bowl beyond his first three seasons.  He was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals following a contract dispute, and in his four years under the Arch, he recorded 37.5 Sacks, with three double-digit years.  Baker played four more years, mostly in a reserve capacity, with three years in Cleveland and one in Minnesota.

He retired with 131.0 Sacks, a colossal number that remains unofficial, but those are not disputed metrics.

An All-American at Louisville, where he eventually joined their Ring of Honor, Sam Madison joined the Miami Dolphins as a Second Round Pick in 1997.  Madison started three games as a rookie and became the Dolphins' starting right cornerback in his second year. From that year to 2002, he was one of the best shutdown defensive backs in football.

Madison had eight picks in 1998 and was a Pro Bowl snub, though he earned a Second Team All-Pro selection and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Madison then led the NFL in Interceptions in 1999 (7) and began a string of four Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.  Paired with Patrick Surtain, the duo played a large part in Miami’s regular trips to the postseason in that period.

Madison was released by the Dolphins and signed with the New York Giants, adding veteran depth to their secondary. He helped them win Super Bowl XLII in that shocking win over New England and retired a year after with 36 career Interceptions.

An All-American at Syracuse, Daryl Johnston became the “Moose” in Big D when Dallas chose him with their Second Round Pick in 1989.

Johnston was listed as a Fullback/Running Back, but he was mostly a blocker and had far more yardage as a receiver.  Paving the way for Emmitt Smith, Johnston was integral in Dallas’s three Super Bowls in the early 1990s dynasty, and he parlayed that popularity into a broadcasting and executive career.

Johnston is never in the Pro Football Hall of Fame conversation, but to Cowboy Nation, he was a legend.  Many non-Cowboys fans will say the same.

Archie Clark was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers 37^th overall from Minnesota in 1966.  With that draft spot, it can be ascertained that he took the NBA by surprise when he averaged over 10 Points per Game and was third in Rookie of the Year voting.

One of the early utilizers of the crossover dribble, Clark was often referred to as “Shake and Bake.” Stylistically, he has one of the sweetest shots in the game and was an All-Star in his second season. However, he was traded to Philadelphia on the other coast, where he was part of the large deal that sent Wilt Chamberlain the other way.

Clark did not assimilate well in his first season with the Sixers but regained his scoring touch the years after with 19.7 and 21.3 PPG seasons, respectively.  After one game in the 1971/72 campaign, Clark was traded to the Baltimore Bullets (later Capitol Bullets), where he had the season of his life.  The Guard averaged 25.2 Points per Game, was an All-Star for the second time, and earned his first All-NBA Selection.  After another good year, Clark wound down his career with a season each for Seattle and Detroit.