Raising Zona
FanSided

Top five Arizona Cardinals you forgot about

By Aarron Van Buren

ST. LOUIS, MO - CIRCA 1984: Stump Mitchell #30 of the St. Louis Cardinals carries the ball during an NFL football game circa 1984 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Mitchell played for the Cardinals from 1981-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - CIRCA 1984: Stump Mitchell #30 of the St. Louis Cardinals carries the ball during an NFL football game circa 1984 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Mitchell played for the Cardinals from 1981-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – DECEMBER 7: Conrad Dobler #66 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the bench against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game December 7, 1975 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Dobler played for the Cardinals from 1972-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – DECEMBER 7: Conrad Dobler #66 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the bench against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game December 7, 1975 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Dobler played for the Cardinals from 1972-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Next to Dan Dierdorf, Conrad Dobler is one of the most famous offensive linemen to play for the Cardinals, yet he lands third on the list of top five forgotten Arizona Cardinals. Spending six season with the team, he definitely left his mark by the way he would play. Once called the “league’s dirtiest player”, Dobler created a very intimidating presence. Back in the 1970s, not much got called for what would now be unsportsmanlike conduct, as he would hit defensive linemen well after plays, and even went as far as the following:

"It was then that he stumbled across what he considers the key to professional football. He realized that you do not play it, you survive it. So in the interest of survival, he created a monster, the Conrad Dobler who took on quasi-human properties, the Conrad Dobler who punched and kneed and (on special occasions) gnawed on defensive linemen until they became petrified by his mere presence on the field."

The offensive line was a unit with Dierdorf and center Tom Banks that made them one of the best starting five in NFL history. The 1975 team only allowed 7 sacks on the season, which only one other team has matched (1988 Miami Dolphins). Dobler was also inducted to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. To finish his career, he ended up with the Buffalo Bills and the New Orleans Saints.

It almost feels weird to think that he earned that title mentioned earlier. For a franchise not known for much for a long time, he certainly left his mark on the game. The NFL banned his techniques such as the leg whip, and actually made the league safer in an unconventional way. Best wishes and good health to Mr.Dobler.

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