| No. 70 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | (1947-04-26)April 26, 1947 (age 78) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | ||||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||
| Weight | 280 lb (127 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Villa Angela-St. Joseph | ||||
| College | Villanova | ||||
| NFL draft | 1969: 1st round, 12th overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
Richard Clifton Moore (born April 26, 1947) is an American former professionalfootball player who was adefensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL) who played 20 games for theGreen Bay Packers. He playedcollege football for theVillanova Wildcats before being selected by the Packers with the 12th pick in the first round of the1969 NFL/AFL draft. He had previously been named as a first-team tackle on the East Coast Athletic Conference all-conference team in 1968, his senior season at Villanova.[1] Moore went on to play for two seasons with the Packers. He tore an Achilles tendon in a win over thePhiladelphia Eagles in the 1970 season, and had surgery shortly thereafter, putting him out for the season.[2] After trying him on offense during training camp in 1971, the Packers traded him to theNew England Patriots for linebackerJohn Bramlett in late July 1971.[3] However, Moore was unable to play for the Patriots in 1971 due to injury. He was then released by the Patriots in June 1972.[4]
Moore's only known statistic is a single fumble recovery in the 1969 season. His son, Brandon Moore, later played offensive tackle for theNew England Patriots from 1993 through 1995.
Moore's selection is still remembered by Packers fans and observers as one of the most ill-fated in team history. Multiple writers have listed his selection as one of the most disappointing Packers draft picks of all time (though most do not make note of his career-ending injury).[5][6] Packers' head coachPhil Bengtson overruled personnel director Pat Peppler, who had rated other players higher and who thought Moore would be available later in the draft.Vince Lombardi was still the Packers' general manager during the draft, but he was in negotiations to become head coach and general manager of theWashington Redskins, a deal which was finalized the next week.[7] Peppler later said, "Rich Moore was a disaster. Phil Bengtson fell in love with his size."[8] Three players available when the Packers took Moore went on the Pro Football Hall of Fame:Roger Wehrli,Ted Hendricks andCharlie Joiner, and they also passed up other players who starred in the NFL for many years, such asFred Dryer,Calvin Hill andEd White.[9] Other Packers selections in the 1969 draft were also weak. The Packers' next pick, second round choiceDave Bradley, played in only 16 games in a career that ended in 1972, and by 1974 not one 1969 Packers pick remained on the team. Only 9th round choiceDave Hampton was in the NFL at all by 1975, finishing his NFL career with the Falcons and Eagles in 1976.[10]