Part I: Air Coryell’s flight to Pro Football Hall of Fame began with simple team meeting on a chaotic day turned tragic

PHOTO: Don Coryell and Dan Fouts on the Chargers' sideline. Click here: Coryell's influence on first-time Cardinals and Chargers Pro Bowlers Click here: Walsh to Coryell on Super Bowl XVI: Old Man Winter spared the 49ers Visit my website homepage, TomShanahan.Report By TOM SHANAHAN Football game plans decide matchups, but football seasons are won or lost when a coach meets his new team. Don Coryell was a master at quickly winning over the players he inherited en route…

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Air Coryell legend Doug Wilkerson’s path to NFL was supposed to ride Duffy’s Underground Railroad

PHOTO: Doug Wilkerson is a member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame from his career at N.C. Central, but he planned to ride Duffy Daugherty's Michigan State Underground Railroad. That was until a schoolyard bet gone bad. By TOM SHANAHAN Doug Wilkerson’s death Monday at age 73 generated stories reflecting reverently on his career at three levels of football, professional, college and high school. And he deserved all the words of praise. He was as a…

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Carson Wentz could use teammate lesson from Brees, Rivers and Flutie

PHOTO: Philip Rivers (L) and Drew Brees as new teammates at the Chargers' 2004 mini-camp in San Diego. By TOM SHANAHAN The long simmering Carson Wentz trade discussions have included debate discussing more than simply what teams were willing to give up for the Philadelphia Eagles’ former golden boy quarterback. The answer to the first question has boiled over to a conclusion. The Indianapolis Colts are sending the Philadelphia Eagles a 2021 third-round draft pick and a conditional…

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