Thomas Lance Rentzel (born October 14, 1943) is a former American football flanker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.
Video Lance Rentzel
Early years
Rentzel was a four-sport star at Casady School (football, basketball, baseball and track) in Oklahoma City, and also an All-American high school halfback.
He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Oklahoma under famous coach Bud Wilkinson. As a sophomore, he came off the injured list too late and had to hitchhike to Texas to play in the third game against the #2 ranked Longhorns (he had 2 long receptions).
As a junior, he posted 59 carries for 387 yards (second on the team) with a 6.6-yard average and 2 touchdowns. He was a versatile all-around halfback and was known for his open-field speed and propensity for big plays rushing, receiving passes and returning kicks.
During his senior year in 1964, he was the team's top pass catcher (268 receiving yards) and punter (40.5-yard average). His 491 rushing yards ranked second on the team. In the Big Eight Conference, his 5.4 rushing average was second only to Gale Sayers. He also was the conference's No. 3 pass receiver, as well as No. 2 punter.
He was one of four Sooners players who missed the 1965 Gator Bowl game against Florida State University. Rentzel, offensive lineman Ralph Neely, Jim Grisham, and Wes Skidgel had signed with professional teams before the game and were ruled ineligible for the contest. Florida State won 36-19 on the strength of 4 touchdown catches by Fred Biletnikoff.
Maps Lance Rentzel
Professional career
Minnesota Vikings
Rentzel was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round (23rd overall) of the 1965 NFL draft. He was also selected in the sixth round (48th overall) of the 1965 AFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
He played sparingly as a backup running back due to recurring injuries and his contributions came mainly as a kickoff returner during his first two seasons. He set the record for the longest kickoff return (101 yards) in franchise history as a rookie, which was broken by Aundrae Allison's 104-yarder in 2007.
In 1966, he only played in 9 games because of ankle injuries, averaging 20.1 yards on 9 kickoff returns and catching 2 passes for 10 yards. On May 2, 1967, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a third-round draft choice (#76-Mike McGill).
Dallas Cowboys
In 1967, the Dallas Cowboys converted him into a flanker, where he became not only an immediate starter over Pete Gent, but also one of the best wideouts in the league. He led the team in receptions with 58 for 996 yards (two yards less than Bob Hayes). Had Rentzel gotten 4 more yards and Hayes 2 more, it would have been the first time in NFL history, that a club had two 1,000-yard wide receivers. In the tenth game against the Washington Redskins, he set a franchise record with 13 receptions for 223 yards. He also starred in the 1967 NFL Championship, known since as the "Ice Bowl", scoring a fourth quarter, go-ahead touchdown later negated by the Packers' game-clinching drive.
In 1968, he registered 54 receptions (led the team) for 1,009 yards (led the team) with an 18.7-yard average and 5 touchdowns. In 1969, he posted 43 receptions (led the team) for 960 yards (led the team) with a 22.3-yard average (led the team) and 12 receiving touchdowns, tying Tom Matte as the league's touchdown leader (13).
In 1970, he was leading the team in receiving yards, when he was arrested for exposing himself to a ten-year-old girl. At the time the accusation was made, the press revealed a nearly forgotten incident that happened when as a Minnesota Viking in September 1966, he was charged with exposing himself to two young girls in St. Paul, and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of disorderly conduct. He was not sentenced to jail, but merely ordered to seek psychiatric care. Because of the nationwide reaction and publicity from the scandal, his wife, the singer and actress Joey Heatherton, divorced him shortly thereafter. Rentzel asked the Cowboys to place him on the inactive list so he could devote his time to settling his personal affairs. He would miss the last three games of the 1970 regular season, including the Cowboys' playoff drive to its narrow Super Bowl V loss to the Baltimore Colts. He finished with 28 receptions (second on the team) for 556 yards (second on the team) with a 19.9-yard average and 5 touchdowns.
On May 19, 1971, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, in exchange for tight end Billy Truax and wide receiver Wendell Tucker. Head coach Tom Landry said after the trade, "We know we are giving up on one of the top flankers in the league, but I thought he would be better off in another city where he had the same opportunity regularly. We found this in Los Angeles, and it was one of the teams Lance wanted to be traded to if he were traded". To replace him, the Cowboys also obtained Lance Alworth from the San Diego Chargers, in exchange for the left tackle Tony Liscio, the tight end Pettis Norman, and the defensive tackle Ron East.
Although he spent only four seasons with the Cowboys, Rentzel left as the team's fourth all-time wide receiver in addition to other franchise records:
- Most receptions in a game (13 in 1967), which was broken by Jason Witten (15 in 2007).
- Most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (three), until Michael Irvin passed him in 1995 with four.
- Second in yards per reception (19.2), behind Bob Hayes and Alvin Harper (20).
- Still fourth for most receiving touchdowns in a season (12).
- Still fourth for most career postseason receiving yards (242).
- Still fourth for most receiving yards in a game (233).
Los Angeles Rams
Rentzel led the Los Angeles Rams in receptions (38) in 1971, but was never able to regain his previous level of play. In October 1972, he was the subject of a lengthy feature article in SPORT Magazine written by Gary Cartwright. Also that year, Rentzel wrote When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow, about his professional football experiences and personal life.
In 1973, while on probation for the indecent exposure charge, Rentzel was suspended indefinitely by the National Football League at the start of the 1973 season for conduct detrimental to the league after being convicted for possession of marijuana. He was reinstated in 1974 after a ten-month suspension.
Rentzel was one of three men credited with inspiring the eccentricities that surround Media Day at the Super Bowl. In January 1975, SPORT Magazine editor Dick Schaap hired Rentzel and teammate Fred Dryer to cover Super Bowl IX. Donning costumes inspired by The Front Page, "Cubby O'Switzer" (Rentzel) and "Scoops Brannigan" (Dryer) peppered players and coaches from both the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers with questions that ranged from the clichéd to the downright absurd. Rentzel humorously explained, "We're here to ask the dumbest questions we can and to mooch as much food and beer as we possibly can."
On August 27, 1975, he was placed on waivers, effectively ending his career. After playing in nine NFL seasons, he had accumulated 4,826 yards receiving, 196 yards rushing, and 1,000 yards returning punts and kickoffs. He also had a perfect passer rating by completing his lone pass attempt for a 58-yard touchdown.
Personal life
In April 1969, Rentzel married Joey Heatherton, an actress, dancer, and singer, in New York City. In November 1970, Rentzel was arrested for exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. He pled guilty to the charge and promised to undergo psychiatric treatment. Rentzel was given a suspended sentence. Heatherton filed for divorce in September 1971. It became final the following year. Rentzel later wrote a book, When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow, reflecting upon those events.
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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