Age: 23 (Oct.
20)
1st
season in pro football
College: San
Diego State
Height: 6’0” Weight: 190
Prelude:
Curtis
started out in college as a running back at the Univ. of California, where he
was also a track star, but controversy that led to NCAA sanctions against the
school caused him to transfer to San Diego State as a senior. Curtis had an
outstanding year at wide receiver for the 10-1 Aztecs under the guidance of Head
Coach Don Coryell, catching 44 passes for 832 yards (18.9 avg.) and seven
touchdowns. He received first-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association
honors and was chosen by the Bengals in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft
(15th overall). Curtis moved directly into the starting lineup and
developed into a stellar performer over the course of the season.
1973 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 45
[11, tied with Boobie Clark & Mike Siani]
Most
receptions, game – 8 (for 106 yds.) vs. Kansas City 10/21
Yards – 843 [5,
1st in AFC]
Most yards,
game – 144 (on 2 catches) at Houston 12/16
Average gain
– 18.7 [5]
TDs – 9 [4,
tied with Harold Carmichael]
100-yard
receiving games – 3
Rushing
Attempts – 2
Yards – -11
Average gain
– -5.5
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 9 [10,
tied with four others]
Points – 54
Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Miami)
Pass
receptions – 1
Pass
receiving yards – 9
Pass
Receiving TDs – 0
Rushing
attempts – 1
Yards – -1
TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
2nd
team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Bengals went 10-4
to finish first in the AFC Central. Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Miami
Dolphins (34-16).
Aftermath:
Curtis was
selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the next three seasons and was regarded as
one of the league’s more potent deep threats at a time when teams were less
inclined to go to the air. While his catches dropped to 30 in 1974, 10 were for
touchdowns, and he led the NFL by averaging 21.2 yards on 44 receptions in ’75.
Curtis lost half of the 1977 season due to knee surgery but bounced back to
catch a career-high 47 passes in ’78, although his average dropped to 15.7 and
only three were for TDs. He remained with the Bengals until 1984 and, while no
longer an elite receiver, was still capable of making big plays. Overall,
Curtis caught 416 passes for 7101 yards (17.1 avg.) and 53 touchdowns. He
received first- or second-team All-NFL honors three times, first-team All-AFC
recognition after five seasons, and was selected to four Pro Bowls.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
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
