Undrafted from Colgate, Eugene Robinson had one of the longest careers of any Defensive Back.

Signing with the Seattle Seahawks, Robinson made the squad as a rookie and would become a starter at Free Safety, a position he held until the millennium.  Robinson was a dominant ballhawk, recording 57 Interceptions, including a league-leading nine in 1993.  He was also one of the better tacklers of his time, recording 1,413 in total with four seasons exceeding 100.

Robinson made his first Pro Bowl in 1992, his second in 1993, and there were other years when he could have easily been considered. After 11 years with the Seahawks, Robinson signed with the contending Green Bay Packers and helped them win Super Bowl XXXI. He intercepted John Elway in Green Bay’s Super Bowl XXXII loss to Denver. 

The Safety then signed with Atlanta, where his veteran leadership and outstanding defence helped the Falcons make the Super Bowl, meaning that Robinson went to three straight and the second time facing Denver.  It was a horrible performance by Robinson, who allowed an 80-yard Touchdown by Rod Smith, and missed a tackle to Terrell Davis that led to a long gain.  Robinson was arrested the night before for solicitation, which was especially ironic as he won the Bart Starr Award for outstanding character and leadership.

Robinson played another year in Atlanta but was never forgiven by a large segment of the Falcons fanbase. He had one final year in Carolina before hanging it up, and we wish he was more known for his great games and not Super Bowl XXXIII. 

Ed White was a consensus All-American at the University of California and split his 17-year professional career in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers.

White was a part of many successful Vikings teams that competed for their multiple Super Bowl attempts, and he was a large part of the protection of Fran Tarkenton and other offensive weapons.  The Guard was traded to San Diego, and helped protect another Hall of Fame Quarterback in Dan Fouts, and overall was rewarded with four Pro Bowls.

White played in 241 Games, and is one of the most tenured Offensive Lineman in NFL history.

One of Football’s great Nose Tackles, Fred Smerlas began his pro career with the Buffalo Bills after he was chosen in the Second Round of the 1979 Draft.

The Boston College product was an instant defensive star for the Bills, and his blue-collar look and style fit perfectly with the rust belt fans of Western New York.  Smerlas was a punishing interior defender and went to four straight Pro Bowls (1980-83), which coincidentally saw the Bills go from playoff to contenders to cellar dwellers.   As the Bills rebuilt through the rest of the 1980s, the constant was Smerlas, who was still there when the team rebuilt themselves to eventual Super Bowl contenders, though he was not there when they finally reached one as Smerlas played his last game in Buffalo in 1989.  He finished his career as a veteran depth player with a year in San Francisco and two in New England.

Smerlas was named to the Bills Wall of Fame, and his tenacity and leadership were forever remembered by those who saw him play.

The Peanut Punch.

Every week in the NFL, there is a contest where the announcer references those three words when a defensive player punches the ball out of a carrier’s arm, resulting in a forced fumble.  It is part of the football lexicon and is practiced by every defender in football.  It all began with Charles “Peanut” Tillman.

From Louisiana-Lafayette, Tillman was Chicago’s Second Round Pick in 2003, and became their starting Left Corner as a rookie.  A takeaway machine with his ball-stripping skills, Tillman also was a competent ball hawk who had 38 Interceptions, eight of which were returned for pick-sixes.  Tillman was twice named to the Pro Bowl (2011 & 2012), the latter year where he co-led the NFL in Forced Fumbles (10), and Interception Return Touchdowns (3), and was a First Team All-Pro.

Peanut might be unlikely to enter Canton, but his imprint on the National Football League will forever be felt.