October 19, 2011

MVP Profile: Tommy Reamon, 1974

Running Back, Florida Blazers



Age: 22
1st season in pro football
College: Missouri
Height: 5’9” Weight: 191

Prelude:
Chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 9th round of the 1974 NFL draft, Reamon instead signed with the WFL’s Virginia Ambassadors, who became the Florida Blazers by the time the season started. The youngest player on the team, he nevertheless became the feature back.

1974 Season Summary
Appeared in all 20 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 386 [1]
Most attempts, game - 35 (for 189 yds.) at Charlotte 10/23
Yards – 1576 [1]
Most yards, game – 189 yards (on 35 carries) at Charlotte 10/23
Average gain – 4.1 [13]
TDs – 11 [3, tied with J.J. Jennings & Bubba Wyche]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 38
Yards – 336
Average gain – 8.8
TDs – 3

Passing
Pass attempts – 4
Pass completions – 3
Passing yards – 152
TD passes – 2
Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 6
Yards – 168
Average per return – 28.0
TDs – 0
Longest return – 42 yards

Punt Returns
Returns – 1
Yards – 0
Average per return – 0.0
TDs – 0

Scoring
TDs – 14 [5]
Action Points – 3 [9, tied with twelve others]
Points – 101 [5]
(Note: Touchdowns counted for 7 points in the WFL)

Postseason: 3 G
Rushing attempts – 55
Most rushing attempts, game - 25 at Memphis, Second Round playoff
Rushing yards – 238
Most rushing yards, game - 125 at Memphis, Second Round playoff
Average gain rushing – 4.3
Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 2
Most pass receptions, game - 1 vs. Philadelphia, First Round playoff, at Birmingham, World Bowl
Pass receiving yards - 52
Most pass receiving yards, game - 39 at Birmingham, World Bowl
Average yards per reception – 26.0
Pass Receiving TDs - 1

Awards & Honors:
WFL MVP: League (co-winner)
1st team All-WFL: League, Sporting News

Blazers went 14-6 to finish first in the WFL Eastern Division, despite deep financial problems that led to the players often not receiving paychecks. Won First Round playoff over Philadelphia Bell (18-3) and Second Round playoff over Memphis Southmen (18-15). Lost World Bowl to Birmingham Americans (22-21).

Aftermath:
The Blazers disbanded following the ’74 season and Reamon played for the WFL’s Jacksonville Express in 1975 but was injured by the time the league folded in October – he ended up with just 278 yards rushing and 16 pass receptions. Reamon signed with the Steelers in ’76 and played in the preseason, but was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs and gained 314 yards rushing and caught 10 passes while also returning kickoffs. After failing to make the Chicago Bears in ’77, where he had been reunited with ex-Blazers Head Coach Jack Pardee, Reamon moved on to the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. He failed to catch on with the NFL Redskins in 1978 and his pro football career ended. Afterward, he appeared in the movie “North Dallas Forty” and did some television acting before moving into high school and college football coaching.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).

[Updated 2/13/14]