Scott from St. Charles, IL
Have you ever thought of doing a story on Lombardi-era halfback Tom Moore? I was too young to have watched him play, but I heard about him and like many backup players, he doesn’t seem to have a high profile. Looking at his stats, he didn’t get much playing time except when Hornung was injured in 1962 and suspended in ’63, but it sure looks like the guy could really run. He ripped off at least three really long runs, has a YPC figure just shy of Hornung’s, and looked like a pretty good receiver and great kick returner, too. And, he was the No. 5 pick in the entire 1960 draft, so he must have had some talent. He even made the Pro Bowl one year! Was this a guy who just had the misfortune to play behind one of the most versatile halfbacks ever, or was there more to it?
Bill from Manitowoc asked the same question and wondered how Moore was acquired. First, I’ll elaborate on that.
The entire 1960 NFL Draft was held on Nov. 30, 1959, in advance of the AFL’s first season. By acquiring rights to college seniors in late November, they could sign those players who had already completed their season and at least make contact with those who still had bowl games to play.
The AFL held its draft a week earlier, and Moore was selected by the Dallas Texans (now the Kansas City Chiefs). Meanwhile, the Packers had played Detroit on Thanksgiving, four days before the NFL Draft. Thus, Vince Lombardi, defensive assistant Phil Bengtson and talent scout Jack Vainisi were able to leave for Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. The draft was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. (EST) Monday morning. That same day, after having Sunday off, Packers players and other staff members flew to Los Angeles to prepare for their next game against the Rams.
This was Lombardi’s first draft as coach and general manager of the Packers. When the last 26 rounds of the 1959 draft were held (on Jan. 21, 1959), Lombardi was still an assistant with the New York Giants. This also was Jack Vainisi’s final draft as a Packers scout. He would die Nov. 27, 1960, a month before the 1961 draft.
Shortly before the draft, Vainisi explained that the Packers were operating under a new system under Lombardi, where there was more staff involvement, although Lombardi would have the final say on the selections.
Vainisi said he, Lombardi, all four assistant coaches – Bill Austin, Red Cochran, Norb Hecker and Bengtson – and business manager Verne Lewellen had graded each prospect in advance. He further…
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