plasticman
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There was a time when professional football was played on a field...of grass....sometimes during a heavy rain. One thing was for sure. By the end of the game you knew who the starters were, the special teams, and the backups that didn't play a single down.
This is Blaine Nye, RG for the Cowboys from 1968 to 1976, nine seasons. He was a starter for 7 seasons, made the Pro Bowl twice, started in three Super Bowls. During the last 6 seasons, he never missed a game.
I think this image gives the phrase "in the trenches", a significant perspective. The guy was obviously in a battle for three and a half hours. Covered from head to toe in mud, you can't see the star on his helmet, you can barely make out the six on his jersey.
This is one of my favorite images of the Dallas Cowboys. He is looking, I believe, at the Cowboy defense on the field with intense interest. It appears obvious that he outcome of the game has not been determined.
As a junior at Stanford, Nye was a defensive tackle, recording 104 tackles that season. He graduated from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in Physics.
Blaine Nye was drafted by the Cowboys in the 5th round as a DT. However, in 1970, the Cowboys needed help on the offensive line. After two games he was named the starter and he lined up next to Hall of Famer Rayfield Wright.
During his career, Blain Nje was co-founder of "The Zero Club" comprised of players who swore never to seek publicity or attention. They were also dedicated to doing nothing that required planning. Dan Reeves once requested membership in the Zero Club and he was flatly rejected simply for expressing an interest.
Nye was considered to be one of the smartest players in the league. During the offseasons he earned two Masters degrees, one in Physics and one in Business Administration. After retiring, Nye earned his PHD in Finance. His dissertation was titled "Demand and Pricing for Health Care and Guaranteed Insurability".
Nye founded Stanford Consulting Group. Inc. He performed numerous economic analyses and research, providing expert testimony in multiple areas including securities litigation, intellectual property, business litigation, damages, and insurance economics. Contrast this with the image you see.