Bob Chandler

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Dec 18, 2004
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I thought I would put up a thread about Bob Chandler, Wide Receiver for the Bills and Raiders 1971-82. From 1975-78 Chandler caught 220 passes for the Buffalo Bills, more than any other receiver in the NFL during those years. He never made the Pro Bowl or higher than second-team All-Pro.

After missing the 1979 season, Chandler was traded to the Raiders, who won the Super Bowl with Chandler leading them in receptions with 49, including 10 TDs. Chandler received almost no national publicity until 1982.

What did he do to become famous? Bob Chandler posed for Playgirl. Here (https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/07/12/the-bare-facts-are-hes-a-star) is a July 12, 1982 Sports Illustrated article.

There were some notable things in it. Chandler "doesn't look like a football player." He went to and graduated from law school. He wanted to be a sportscaster and eventually was. One Sam Dickerson, who caught half as many passes for USC as Chandler was drafted in the 3rd round and never rose higher than the taxi squad. Another USC track-football type (who never played a down for USC) was also drafted ahead of Chandler.

Bob Chandler was finally drafted in the 7th round by Buffalo. Its possible O.J. recommended him. Chandler had some interesting quotes in the article:

"In the total scope of life, I've accomplished nothing. Except that I got a chance to be a kid for a long while. And it's fun being paid a lot of money to be a kid."

Mention is made of Chandler being thought of as "slow," even though he ran stride for stride with fast RB Kenny King going for a TD during Super Bowl XV.

Speaking of being drafted low, Chandler said, "I was so embarrassed, that I wanted to show them I could do it. There's not that much talent in the NFL."

Bob Chandler, a nonsmoker, contracted a rare form of lung cancer and died on January 27, 1995, age 45.
 

Westside

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I thought I would put up a thread about Bob Chandler, Wide Receiver for the Bills and Raiders 1971-82. From 1975-78 Chandler caught 220 passes for the Buffalo Bills, more than any other receiver in the NFL during those years. He never made the Pro Bowl or higher than second-team All-Pro.

After missing the 1979 season, Chandler was traded to the Raiders, who won the Super Bowl with Chandler leading them in receptions with 49, including 10 TDs. Chandler received almost no national publicity until 1982.

What did he do to become famous? Bob Chandler posed for Playgirl. Here (https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/07/12/the-bare-facts-are-hes-a-star) is a July 12, 1982 Sports Illustrated article.

There were some notable things in it. Chandler "doesn't look like a football player." He went to and graduated from law school. He wanted to be a sportscaster and eventually was. One Sam Dickerson, who caught half as many passes for USC as Chandler was drafted in the 3rd round and never rose higher than the taxi squad. Another USC track-football type (who never played a down for USC) was also drafted ahead of Chandler.

Bob Chandler was finally drafted in the 7th round by Buffalo. Its possible O.J. recommended him. Chandler had some interesting quotes in the article:

"In the total scope of life, I've accomplished nothing. Except that I got a chance to be a kid for a long while. And it's fun being paid a lot of money to be a kid."

Mention is made of Chandler being thought of as "slow," even though he ran stride for stride with fast RB Kenny King going for a TD during Super Bowl XV.

Speaking of being drafted low, Chandler said, "I was so embarrassed, that I wanted to show them I could do it. There's not that much talent in the NFL."

Bob Chandler, a nonsmoker, contracted a rare form of lung cancer and died on January 27, 1995, age 45.
I remember him clearly!
 
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