Sports and Torts: Dave Robinson and Herb Adderly

Very little has been written about the defensive side of the ball during the Lombardi era of the Packers. Lombardi’s Left Side is the first book about the great Green Bay Packers defenses of the Lombardi Era as told by two of Lombardi’s greatest defensive players: Herb Adderley and Dave Robinson.
These two players were critical elements in winning championships and moving our country forward in a racially explosive time. The two men who were athletic, bright, courageous, disciplined, hungry, confident, proud, spiritual, decent and black, blazed a trail. They played on the left side of Green Bay’s great defenses of the Lombardi Era.

Herb Adderly

Herb Adderley was the Packers’ number one draft choice in 1961 following a stellar career at Michigan State University. Adderley struggled in his first training camp as Vince Lombardi tried to make him a receiver.

“I had been so stubborn,” Vince Lombardi wrote in Run to Daylight, “trying to make him something that he didn’t want to be. He didn’t want to be a flanker. He wanted to be a defensive back.”At 6’1”, 200-pounds, Adderley became a prototype of what a cornerback should be – tall, fast and an intelligent competitor. He redefined the position throughout the 1960s.

Adderley intercepted 39 passes as a Packer and returned seven for touchdowns. His great speed also made him a threat as a kick returner. He averaged more than 25 yards per return throughout his nine Packer seasons. He intercepted four passes in nine postseason Packer games.

His interception of a Milt Plum pass and 40-yard return in a 1962 game versus the Detroit Lions propelled the Packers to a key 9-7 win. Adderley intercepted seven passes that season.

In Super Bowl II against the Oakland Raiders at Miami’s Orange Bowl, Adderley stepped in front of receiver Fred Biletnikoff, picked off a Daryle Lamonica pass and returned it for a 60-yard touchdown.

Adderley played on five NFL championship teams with the Packers and also was a starter in Super Bowls I and II. Traded to Dallas in 1970, Adderley played in two more Super Bowls with the Cowboys, winning once.

He is second in NFL history to former Oiler and Redskin safety Ken Houston with seven interceptions returned for touchdowns.

After Adderley retired, he returned to Philadelphia to broadcast football games for Temple University and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also coached as an assistant at Temple and with the Philadelphia Bell of the now defunct World Football League. On August 2, 1980, Adderley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Herb\'s Website

Dave Robinson

Penn State All-American tight end and linebacker, Dave Robinson, was the Packers’ Number One draft choice in 1963. The 6’3”, 245-pound Robinson became a star at outside linebacker with the Packers.

In the 1966 NFL Championship game, he blitzed Dallas quarterback Don Meredith forcing a wobbly throw that Packer safety Tom Brown intercepted clinching the victory.

Robinson played 10 seasons with the Packers, from 1963-’72. He intercepted 21 passes as a Packer. In addition to being a member of the College Football and Gator Bowl Halls of Fame, Robinson was also inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in February 1982.While he has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Robinson was named as a senior nominee for the Class of 2013 on August 22, 2012.

Dave\'s Website