Age: 23
2nd
season in pro football & with Cardinals
College: Southwestern
Oklahoma State
Height: 6’0” Weight: 192
Prelude:
After
averaging 42.3 yards in two college seasons (he transferred from West Texas State
to Southwestern Oklahoma State for academic purposes), Birdsong signed with the
Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1981. Failing to make it to the
regular season, he was picked up by the Cardinals and averaged 41.8 yards on 69
punts, which included a NFL-high 75-yard kick.
1982 Season Summary
Appeared in all
9 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Punting
Punts – 54 [3]
Most punts,
game – 10 at Washington 1/2
Yards – 2365
[3]
Average – 43.8
[3, 1st in NFC]
Best average,
game – 48.0 (on 6 punts) vs. Dallas 9/19
Punts blocked
– 0
Longest punt
– 65 yards
Postseason: 1
G (NFC First Round playoff at Green Bay)
Punts – 0
Awards &
Honors:
2nd
team All-NFC: UPI
Cardinals
went 5-4 in the strike-shortened season and were sixth seed in the NFC playoff
tournament that replaced the usual postseason format. Lost First Round playoff
to Green Bay Packers (41-16).
Aftermath:
Birdsong
averaged 41.5 yards on 85 punts in 1983 and was selected to the Pro Bowl as
well as receiving All-NFC honors from UPI and Pro Football Weekly. His
performance dropped off in ’84 and he was released by the Cards after the 1985
season and went on to a career in pharmacology, having obtained his degree
during his playing career. Overall, over five seasons Birdsong punted 360 times
for a 41.4-yard average. He received first- or second-team All-NFC honors twice
and was chosen to the Pro Bowl once.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
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