Rich Saul

Rich Saul
Career information
No. 61, 87
Date of birth	(1948-02-05)February 5, 1948
Place of birth	Butler, Pennsylvania
Date of death	April 15, 2012(2012-04-15) (aged 64)
Position(s)	Center, Guard
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	241 lb (109 kg)
College	Michigan State
NFL draft	1970 / Round: 8/ Pick 204
Career history
As player
1970–1981	Los Angeles Rams
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls	6× (1976–1981)
Honors	Second-team All-Pro (1980), 1981)
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Richard Robert "Rich" Saul (February 5, 1948 – April 15, 2012) was an American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 through 1981, all with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Michigan State University. He had two brothers that played in the NFL. His older brother Bill Saul and his twin brother Ron Saul, who also played with the Spartans.

Center with the Los Angeles Rams

After playing the role of reserve lineman from 1970 to 1974, Saul replaced Ken Iman as the starting center (American football) with the Rams in 1975. That year, the Rams beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the divisional round of the 1975-76 NFL playoffs, rushing for 237 yards. However, the team lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC championship game. In 1976, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round of the 1976-77 NFL playoffs, rushing for 120 yards. But they lost the NFC championship game to the Minnesota Vikings, and, the following year, lost the divisional round of the 1977-78 NFL playoffs to the same team. They finally beat the Vikings in the 1978-79 NFL playoffs. However, they lost again to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game. In the 1979-80 NFL playoffs the Rams defeated the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the NFC title, rushing for 159 and 216 yards, respectively. But they had a more difficult time running against the Pittsburgh Steelers, only 107 yards, losing Super Bowl XIV. In the 1980-81 NFL playoffs, the Rams lost to the Cowboys again, this time in a wild card game. In Saul's final year, 1981, the Rams deteriorated to a won-lost record of 6-10, his final game being a 30-7 loss to the Washington Redskins.

Saul was selected to six Pro Bowls (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981) during his career.

Death

Saul died on April 15, 2012, at the age of 64 after having suffered with leukemia for nine years.^[1]

References

↑ Florio, Mike (April 15, 2012). "Former Rams center Rich Saul passes at 64". profootballtalk.com. Retrieved 2012-04-15.

Los Angeles Rams 40th Anniversary Team

First-team Offense	QB Bob Waterfield RB Eric Dickerson RB Lawrence McCutcheon FB Dick Bass WR Elroy Hirsch WR Tom Fears TE Bob Klein OT Charley Cowan OT Jackie Slater G Tom Mack G Dennis Harrah C Rich Saul

First-team Defense	DE Jack Youngblood DE Deacon Jones DT Merlin Olsen DT Rosey Grier LB Les Richter LB Jack Pardee LB Jack Reynolds DB Dick (Night Train) Lane DB Eddie Meador DB Nolan Cromwell DB Dave Elmendorf

First-team Special Teams	P-PK Bob Waterfield PR LeRoy Irvin KR Jon Arnett

Second-team Offense	QB Norm Van Brocklin RB Jon Arnett RB Tank Younger FB Dan Towler WR Jack Snow WR Harold Jackson TE Lamar Lundy OT Doug France OT Joe Carollo G Joe Scibelli G Duane Putnam C Ken Iman

Second-team Defense	DE Fred Dryer DE Andy Robustelli DL Lamar Lundy DL Larry Brooks LB Don Paul LB Jim Youngblood LB Isiah Robertson DB Pat Thomas DB Rod Perry DB Johnnie Johnson DB Don Burroughs

Second-team Special Teams	P Pat Studstill K Frank Corral PR Tom Harmon KR Drew Hill

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