1 To call Moore a "former backup" is quite generous. He was a borderline PS squad player for his career. How many years did Wade Wilson play? Jason Garrett? Those guys had careers.
2 And how'd that work out for Dak this year? Did he improve, or regress?
3 They probably value the contributions of the water boys too.
Although he was not drafted in the
1987 NFL Draft, Payton tried out for the
Kansas City Chiefs for one day. In 1987, he played quarterback for the
Chicago Bruisers and
Pittsburgh Gladiators during the inaugural season of the
Arena Football League, before his rights were sold for $1,000.00 to the
Ottawa Rough Riders of the
Canadian Football League. He was also a member of the
Chicago Bears squad of strikebreaking replacement players, known as the "Spare Bears", during the
1987 NFL players strike.
[12] In 3 games he completed 8 of 23 passes (34.8%), for 79 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT, a passer rating of 27.3. He was also sacked 7 times for 47 yards and had one rush attempt for 28 yards. Coincidentally, his one interception came against the
New Orleans Saints, the team he would later go on to coach to a Super Bowl victory.
In 1988, he played for the
Leicester Panthers of the professional UK Budweiser National League. Payton landed the starting quarterback role for the Panthers. Payton led the Panthers to a touchdown on their first possession. That same season saw the Panthers go to the Quarterfinals of the British League, eventually losing to the
London Olympians after Payton returned to the US to take up a coaching position.
[13]