Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I happened to watch the NFL Films Game of the Week for the first week of the 1971 season. In it, the narrator said Plunkett was supposed to start as the backup to Kapp but ended up being the starter when Kapp bailed. So, in checking on the Pats' '71 roster from two online sources Plunkett was the only QB listed on the roster. Obviously, the had a reserve QB but none are listed maybe because Plunkett took every snap that season? Who could it have been?

Mike Taliaferro was the backup QB for the Pats. I believe Brian Dowling of Doonesbury fame was on the taxi squad as the third QB option that year.

Alternatively, Bob Gladieux is listed as the only other QB to play for the '71 Pats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... e/1971.htm

Taliaferro is listed as not having played in 1971:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... liMi00.htm

My 1972 "Digest of Pro Football" shows the same thing.... Gladieux in '71 and Taliaferro in '72.

As a rookie Plunkett played every down in 1971 (I don't know if that was a first or not). Taliaferro was on the roster but never saw the field. Fun fact, he was the starting QB for the East in the last AFL All-Star game in 1969-70. "Harpo" Gladieux did throw two option passes in 1971 though, one a 48-yarder!

JuggernautJ wrote:Alternatively, Bob Gladieux is listed as the only other QB to play for the '71 Pats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... e/1971.htm

Taliaferro is listed as not having played in 1971:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... liMi00.htm

My 1972 "Digest of Pro Football" shows the same thing.... Gladieux in '71 and Taliaferro in '72.

Gladieux was a running back.

rhickok1109 wrote:

JuggernautJ wrote:Alternatively, Bob Gladieux is listed as the only other QB to play for the '71 Pats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... e/1971.htm

Taliaferro is listed as not having played in 1971:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... liMi00.htm

My 1972 "Digest of Pro Football" shows the same thing.... Gladieux in '71 and Taliaferro in '72.

Gladieux was a running back.

Ahhh, thank you, Ralph.
As always I bow to your superior knowledge.

His two attempts must have been halfback option passes.
That (my error) is what happens when you only look at half the evidence and don't have the proper context.
Apologies for the misinformation and thanks again for the correction!