Sam Bam was the workhorse for the college champion USC Trojans when he was drafted in the first round in 1973. He became the plow horse for the Patriots offense just as I started watching football. He was a fullback and me along with every other Patriot fa
n of that time loved watching him pound through would-be tacklers to become the team's all-time leading rusher.Cunningham's style of play is largely responsible for my love of fullbacks. Kevin Turner. Mosi Tatupu. Heath Evans. Marc Edwards. Keith Byars. Sam Gash. Oh. Sam Gash. And they are just some of my favorite Patriots fullbacks. Some of my favorite NFL players are also fullbacks. Alstott. Bleier. Csonka. Love fullbacks. The Pats haven't won a Super Bowl since they decided they didn't really need one. And that with an NFL historian like Belichick as coach. He of all people should know you don't play NFL football without a fullback.
Sam Bam was not your typical fullback, bringing a combination of power and speed rarely seen. He finished his career in 1982 with 5,543 yards rushing, still a team record. Cunningham was part of the 1978 Patriots team that totalled 3,165 yards rushing. That is still the single season NFL record. Watching defenses trying to stop the '78 Patriots was like watching a bunch of children trying to stop a locomotive. It couldn't be done. I still can't believe that team didn't win a Super Bowl. They had been building towards it since 1973 with Grogan, Hannah, Morgan, Nelson, Clayborn, Haynes, and of course, Sam Bam. But that's a heartbreaking story for another day.
Cunningham was one of three first round picks the Patriots had in '73. The first one was John Hannah. The greatest offensive lineman to play the game. The last one was Darryl Stingley. The greatest tragedy the game has ever seen. In the middle of those picks the Pats took Sam Cunningham. In my book, the greatest fullback the NFL has even seen.
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