| No. 61 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Center Long snapper | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1948-02-05)February 5, 1948 Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | April 15, 2012(2012-04-15) (aged 64) Newport Beach, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 241 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Butler | ||||||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1970: 8th round, 204th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Richard Robert Saul (February 5, 1948 – April 15, 2012) was an American professionalfootballcenter andlong snapper who played from 1970 through 1981 for theLos Angeles Rams of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMichigan State Spartans.
After playing the role of reserve lineman from 1970 to 1974, Saul replacedKen Iman as the startingcenter with the Rams in 1975. That year, the Rams beat theSt. Louis Cardinals in the divisional round of the1975–76 NFL playoffs, rushing for 237 yards. However, the team lost to theDallas Cowboys in the NFC championship game. In 1976, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round of the1976–77 NFL playoffs, rushing for 120 yards. But they lost the NFC championship game to theMinnesota Vikings, and the following year, lost the divisional round of the1977–78 NFL playoffs to the same team. They finally beat the Vikings in the1978–79 NFL playoffs. However, they lost again to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game. In the1979–80 NFL playoffs the Rams defeated the Cowboys and theTampa Bay Buccaneers to win the NFC title, rushing for 159 and 216 yards, respectively. But they had a more difficult time running against thePittsburgh Steelers, only 107 yards, losingSuper Bowl XIV. In the1980–81 NFL playoffs, the Rams lost to the Cowboys again, this time in a wild card game. In Saul's final year, 1981, the Rams deteriorated to a won-lost record of 6–10, his final game being a 30–7 loss to theWashington Redskins.
Saul was selected to sixPro Bowls (1976 to1981) during his career.
He had two brothers that played in the NFL. His older brotherBill Saul and his twin brotherRon Saul, who also played with the Spartans.
Saul died on April 15, 2012, at the age of 64 after having suffered withleukemia for nine years.[1]