Lafayette “Fat” Lever was a two-time All-PAC 10 Selection at Arizona State, and the defensively skilled Point Guard was drafted by Portland 11^th Overall in 1982.  Lever played for Portland for only two years before he was traded to Denver, and in Mile High he became s atarter.

Lever’s first two seasons as a Nugget saw him average 13.3 Points, 7.5 Assists and 2.4 Steals, but the four years that followed were the best of his life.  In 1986-87, Lever increased his totals to 18.9 Points, 8.0 Assists and 2.5 Steals, and along with his good rebounding skills, was a constant threat to have a triple-double game.  Lever was a Second Team All-NBA, and was ninth in MVP voting.and was one of the most well-rounded players in basketball.  Lever remained strong in 1987-88 with his second straight 18.9 PPG and ninth-place MVP finish, with his first trip to the All-Star Game.

Lever never had MVP votes again, but he arguably had his best season in 1988-89 when he had career-highs in Points (19.8) and Rebounds (9.3) without sacrificing his anything in Steals (2.7) and Assists 6.7).  He landed his second and final All-Star, and in the season after had another excellent campaign (18.3 PTS/9.3 Rebounds).  The Nuggets traded Lever to the Dallas Mavericks in 1990, but his peak period was over.

Lever began succumbing to injuries, specifically his knee.  He only played four Games in 1990-91, and 31 in 1991-92, but averaged only 11.2 Points per Game.  Laver missed the entirety of the 1992-93 campaign, and though he played 81 Games in 1993-94, he was ineffective with 6.9 Points with 24.0 Minutes per Game.  He retired after that, and had his knee not betrayed him, Lever might have had another All-Star in him.

The third player in Baltimore Ravens history to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs is the all-time franchise leader in Quarterback Sacks with 131.5 and in Forced Fumbles with 33. Suggs was also the Defensive Rookie of the Year (2003), and he would play for the Ravens for 16 seasons before signing with the Arizona Cardinals before the 2019 season.  The exceptionally versatile defender would be selected for seven Pro Bowls and was a key figure in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII championship.  Suggs would leave Baltimore having played 229 Games and is one of the best defensive players in franchise history.

Suggs’ 132.5 Sacks and 229 Games are the most in Ravens history.  After a season split with Arizona and Kansas City, he won a second Super Bowl as a Chief.  He entered the Ravens Ring of Honor in 2022 and, as of this writing, is the all-time leader in Tackles for Loss (202), and he had 139.0 Sacks in total, currently placing him in the top 15 overall.

Playing his entire career with the Washington Redskins, Jerry Smith was one of the new breed of Tight Ends who were redefining the position.  Smith was an adequate blocker, but he caught passes at the same rate as wide receivers, a trait uncommon in the 1960s and 1970s.  Smith would help the Redskins reach their first Super Bowl, and he finished in the top ten in Receptions four times and Receiving Touchdowns five times.  He was a Pro Bowl twice, and in 1969, he was named a First Team All-Pro.

At the time of his retirement, Smith had the most Touchdowns by a Tight End.

We would be remiss if we did not mention that Smith passed away in 1986 due to complications from AIDS.  He was a closeted player, though some of his teammates were aware of his sexual orientation.  Considering that there has yet to be a player in the NFL as of 2019 who played while openly gay, it can only be imagined the internal struggle that he had.

Considered a shutdown Cornerback before there was such a term, Louis Wright would play his entire career with the Denver Broncos.  Drafted in the 1^st Round (17^th Overall) from San Jose State, Wright paid immediate dividends by being named to the First Team All-Rookie squad.  Denver was developing a reputation for their Orange Crush Defense, but if anyone got past them, they would have Louis Wright to contend with.  Wright was easily one of the best Corners in the late ‘70s, earning Pro Bowl selections in 1977, 1978, and 1979, and First Team All-Pro honors in the latter two seasons.  He was also crucial in helping Denver reach its first Super Bowl, losing to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII.

Despite Denver's Super Bowl appearance, Wright's exploits didn't get national recognition.  One of the most adept at shadowing a receiver, Wright's instincts were incredible, and in every game he played, his opposing offensive coordinator planned schemes to avoid throwing to Wright.

Wright would go to two more Pro Bowls in the 1980s and was named to the Second Team All-Decade team of the 1970s.  Now that Randy Gradishar has received his due, could Wright follow him?

Although Quarterback sacks have always happened in football, the NFL didn't officially track them until 1982.  The first labeled “sackmaster” of American football would have to be the flamboyant and somewhat controversial Mark Gastineau, who terrorized Quarterbacks; and not because he had sex with Brigitte Nielsen.

Mark Gastineau seemed built to terrorize gunslingers.  It was what he was best at, and it could be assured that if the Jets were on the schedule, the opposing QB would have a sleepless night before the game.  Gastineau twice led the league in the new official statistic and set a season record that Michael Strahan wouldn't break until 2001.  As the sack became in vogue, Gastineau became synonymous with it, especially as he developed his “sack dance”.

For a four-year period, it was hard to argue that Mark Gastineau was not among the top three pass rushers in the NFL.  Some have accused him of being too one-dimensional, and while he did rub some people the wrong way, he faces a long climb if he ever wants to see himself in Canton, though Joe Klecko's induction does help.

Byron Scott is one of the most heralded shooters and finishers in league history. His run with the great Laker teams of the 80s proved he was a winner. Scott came from Arizona State as he 4th pick overall in the draft and was the perfect piece missing for Showtime. So the Lakers went out and got him. Trading Norm Nixon to the Clippers for Scott before he played a minute Scott was the perfect complement to Magic in the backcourt.