NFL week 11 2014

[Westside]

Westside, my story is similar to yours. I as most here know was a Dallas fan in the 70's where Tom Landry played a lot of white players, including white DB's Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters as well as a few white RB's such as, Walt Garrison. I did not like the Redskins, but wanted to see Riggins do well every time I saw Washington play.

There was a white CB for the Rams named Nolan Cromwell in the 70's/80's! Although he started as QB, then moved to CB, he eventually settled in as a SS and FS and had 37 career interceptions!

Yes, I remember Nolan Cromwell as a great safety for the Rams. I just could not remember his name and too lazy to research his name. He was one of my heroes as a teenager. I even took his number when I played safety for my HS football team, #21. Those years he played there were a lot of White on the Rams.

 

[sport historian]

Westside, my story is similar to yours. I as most here know was a Dallas fan in the 70's where Tom Landry played a lot of white players, including white DB's Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters as well as a few white RB's such as, Walt Garrison. I did not like the Redskins, but wanted to see Riggins do well every time I saw Washington play.

There was a white CB for the Rams named Nolan Cromwell in the 70's/80's! Although he started as QB, then moved to CB, he eventually settled in as a SS and FS and had 37 career interceptions!

Nolan Cromwell never played CB for the Rams. He was a wishbone QB at Kansas and was a reserve safety his first two years in LA, 1977-78. He became a starting FS in 1979.

 

[celticdb15]

Cool to hear about Cromwell I had never heard about the guy until now!

 

[sport historian]

Cool to hear about Cromwell I had never heard about the guy until now!

Nolan Cromwell was also a world class hurdler at Kansas in the 400 meter hurdles.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Nolan Cromwell never played CB for the Rams. He was a wishbone QB at Kansas and was a reserve safety his first two years in LA, 1977-78. He became a starting FS in 1979.

I don't claim to know everything about every football player that ever lived or, have seen every down that every NFL player has ever played, but Cromwell was listed as a CB on some Ram rosters early in his NFL career!

 

[sport historian]

I don't claim to know everything about every football player that ever lived or, have seen every down that every NFL player has ever played, but Cromwell was listed as a CB on some Ram rosters early in his NFL career!

So what is your point? I said Cromwell never played CB. BTW, I just checked the 1978 and 1979 Complete Handbook of Pro Football and Nolan Cromwell is listed at safety on the Ram rosters.

In Cromwell's first two seasons, 1977-78, he was an extra DB on passing downs and backed up Bill Simpson at Free Safety, taking over as the starter when Simpson was traded to Buffalo after the 1978 season.

 

[Carolina Speed]

So what is your point? I said Cromwell never played CB. BTW, I just checked the 1978 and 1979 Complete Handbook of Pro Football and Nolan Cromwell is listed at safety on the Ram rosters.

In Cromwell's first two seasons, 1977-78, he was an extra DB on passing downs and backed up Bill Simpson at Free Safety, taking over as the starter when Simpson was traded to Buffalo after the 1978 season.

I think the point is simple. However, I'll try again. If you haven't seen every down Cromwell played in the NFL, how can you say he never played CB?

It's not that big a deal for me. I was just trying to help Westside remember a great white DB whom I remember watching when I was young man.

I'm not going to argue with you whether someone played a position or not. I told you he's listed as a CB during one season on the Ram roster I've seen. If you disagree with that, so be it.

 

[sport historian]

I think the point is simple. However, I'll try again. If you haven't seen every down Cromwell played in the NFL, how can you say he never played CB?

It's not that big a deal for me. I was just trying to help Westside remember a great white DB whom I remember watching when I was young man.

I'm not going to argue with you whether someone played a position or not. I told you he's listed as a CB during one season on the Ram roster I've seen. If you disagree with that, so be it.

It's where someone actually plays, not where he is supposedly "listed."

 

[celticdb15]

Big effin deal ok he is a FS.. lol

 

[dwid]

So what is your point? I said Cromwell never played CB. BTW, I just checked the 1978 and 1979 Complete Handbook of Pro Football and Nolan Cromwell is listed at safety on the Ram rosters.

In Cromwell's first two seasons, 1977-78, he was an extra DB on passing downs and backed up Bill Simpson at Free Safety, taking over as the starter when Simpson was traded to Buffalo after the 1978 season.

if he was an extra db on passing downs, that is what we call a nickelback, which can be classified as corner. Only recently have I seen nickelbacks being called safeties, surprise, all of the ones I have seen are White.


Now this is usually the case, now if a safety is used as a nickelback, he probably has enough talent to play corner. When its a White guy playing the nickel, 90 percent of the time he is listed as a safety because of his skin color. Contrary to popular belief, its not easier to play the nickel. Guys like Revis struggle to play on the inside.
"In American football, a nickelback is a cornerback who serves as the fifth (in addition to the typical four) defensive back on the defense."

 

[sport historian]

if he was an extra db on passing downs, that is what we call a nickelback, which can be classified as corner. Only recently have I seen nickelbacks being called safeties, surprise, all of the ones I have seen are White.


Now this is usually the case, now if a safety is used as a nickelback, he probably has enough talent to play corner. When its a White guy playing the nickel, 90 percent of the time he is listed as a safety because of his skin color. Contrary to popular belief, its not easier to play the nickel. Guys like Revis struggle to play on the inside.
"In American football, a nickelback is a cornerback who serves as the fifth (in addition to the typical four) defensive back on the defense."

A nickleback can be classified as a safety. He's in there for extra coverage. In 1979, the Rams frequently had Eddie Brown in for extra coverage. Cromwell was the starting free safety.

 

[dwid]

A nickleback can be classified as a safety. He's in there for extra coverage. In 1979, the Rams frequently had Eddie Brown in for extra coverage. Cromwell was the starting free safety.

Yes, a nickelback can be a safety, thats what i just said, but most often they are referred to as the third corner on the team, just like dimeback is considered the 4th corner on the team. Like when Antone Cason was the nickelback, he was a corner but Steve Gregory playing the same position, is a safety. Its basically a bunch of bs labeling. Julian Edelman played the nickelback role, he was originally a wide receiver (and thats what he is now) so do you suggest that for that year he wasn't really a nickelback as well? Ask around, nickelback can be harder than corner, it shouldn't take away from what the player accomplished, it should actually add to it.

 

[sport historian]

Yes, a nickelback can be a safety, thats what i just said, but most often they are referred to as the third corner on the team, just like dimeback is considered the 4th corner on the team. Like when Antone Cason was the nickelback, he was a corner but Steve Gregory playing the same position, is a safety. Its basically a bunch of bs labeling. Julian Edelman played the nickelback role, he was originally a wide receiver (and thats what he is now) so do you suggest that for that year he wasn't really a nickelback as well? Ask around, nickelback can be harder than corner, it shouldn't take away from what the player accomplished, it should actually add to it.

I think we agree on this.