Jim Gehman Posted September 3, 2010 Posted September 3, 2010 Many rookies know that the preseason is the best opportunity they have to prove they can play in the NFL. They realize it’s a long shot to make a team’s roster. For most of them, that opportunity has all but closed with the final cut down date now less than two days away. But there’s always hope. Two former long shots, Merv Krakau and Shane Nelson, proved that, and were standout linebackers for the Bills. Their stories are included in my book: “Then Levy said to Kelly…” Late Round Pick to Starting Linebacker Merv Krakau knew that it was a long shot to even make it through his first training camp with the Bills in 1973 without seeing his name on the league’s waiver wire. Selected in the 14th round of the draft, the 344th player chosen overall, the Iowa State defensive end quickly found he would be playing as a linebacker. "They felt that they wanted a little bit more size as far as height and weight," said the 6’3”, 230-pound Krakau. "I think one of the things that really helped me was that I played in the Senior Bowl that year, and the coaches from Buffalo – Lou Saban and his assistants – were the coaches of the North team, which I was on. So they got the opportunity to watch me practice for a week and then play the game and see what I could do. I probably made enough of an impression on them to give me that opportunity." Having made the roster, when the season opened against New England, Krakau had the unexpected opportunity to be the starting middle linebacker. "The linebacker that was going to start, Jim Cheyunski, had hurt his knee in a preseason game," Krakau said. "So I had the opportunity and, believe me, it was an experience, because at first you weren’t planning on it. To come in and think the chances of making the team were pretty slim and then changing positions and then starting the season opener.... It was a thrill." And it turned out to be a thrilling game. The Bills won their season opener for the first time in six years by pounding the Patriots, 31-13. Buffalo’s O.J. Simpson set an NFL record by rushing for 250 yards, while fullback Larry Watkins added 105 yards more. Meanwhile, Krakau and his defensive teammates held New England’s star running back Sam Cunningham to just 53 yards on the ground. Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain It did not matter that Shane Nelson was not one of the 335 players chosen during the 1977 NFL draft. The Baylor linebacker would arrive at Buffalo’s training camp with the same attitude, whether he was a free agent, which he was, or a first-round selection. "My mind-set pretty much was all or nothing. There was no tomorrow," said Nelson. "As a rookie free agent, you’ve got to be able to strike quickly as far as getting the coaches to be aware of your talent. You don’t come in with any kind of guarantee. Maybe a first- or second-round draft pick has time to develop because they’ve invested in them. As a rookie free agent, boy, you’d better make things happen quickly to allow coaches to really recognize you. I had nothing to lose, everything to gain." It is not often when a rookie free agent is acknowledged right away by veterans. The newcomer is trying to take a job from them or their teammates. But Nelson’s “nothing to lose, everything to gain” mentality caught the attention of two veterans in the defensive huddle: linebacker John Skorupan and safety Tony Greene. "John really talked to me a lot about the game and helped me become even a better student of the game. He taught me a lot about preparation for a game. In college, you prepared yourself. But it’s a whole ‘nother level when you really start breaking down game films, understanding tendencies, down, and distance. All that means so much more in the NFL! "And Tony just was there, just constantly supportive and always encouraging me. He really was instrumental in helping me from the standpoint that it gave me somebody to go to. He constantly encouraged me and gave me little tidbits on the field." While Skorupan and Greene saw something in the young linebacker after making the Bills’ roster, opposing running backs did as well – a No. 59 jersey in their faces! Nelson started every game and totaled 168 tackles, earning a place on the NFL’s All-Rookie team.
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