Throwback Thursday: All-Time AFL Team

I've been thinking about the American Football League lately. Reading Billy Cannon's biography is the main reason for that. The current entertaining football of the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs is another. I've also been thinking about the challenge that the AFL threw at the NFL in the 1960s in comparison to the less successful challenge from the USFL in the 1980s. The competition for football attention from the USFL was pretty much torpedoed when an idiotic real estate mogul and eventual political buffoon stepped into the arena. Instead of dwelling on the disaster that this dipshit might still bring I drift back to the fun of football in general and the AFL in particular. Here's the Flea Flicker All-Time AFL Team.

Quarterback

Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs

Running backs

Paul Lowe, San Diego Chargers

Cookie Gilchrist, Buffalo Bills

Receiver

Lance Alworth, San Diego Chargers
Don Maynard, New York Jets

Tight end

Billy Cannon, Houston Oilers/Oakland Raiders
-This should probably go to Fred Arbanas but it was Cannon that got me thinking about the AFL's best players. He's the reason for this team so he has to be a part of it. Cannon did play tight end for about half of his AFL career. He might have played the position for his entire career if he wasn't such a terrific runner. He was a natural at the position and he's the pick for this team .

Tackles

Ron Mix, San Diego Chargers
Jim Tyrer, Kansas City Chiefs

Guards

Billy Shaw, Buffalo Bills
Ed Budde, Kansas City Chiefs

Center

Jim Otto, Oakland Raiders

Defensive ends

Rich Jackson, Denver Broncos
Gerry Philbin, New York Jets

Defensive tackles

Tom Sestak, Buffalo Bills
Buck Buchanan, Knasas City Chiefs

Linebackers

Bobby Bell, Knasas City Chiefs
Mike Stratton, Buffalo Bills
Larry Grantham, New York Jets

Cornerbacks

Willie Brown, Denver Broncos/Oakland Raiders
Dave Grayson, Kansas City Chiefs/Oakland Raiders

Safeties

Johnny Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs
George Saimes, Buffalo Bills
-It's ridiculous that Robinson isn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

-Three players from the Buffalo Bills on this defense feels light. That unit was dynamite. 

Kicker

George Blanda, Oakland Raiders

Punter

Jerrel Wilson, Kansas City Chiefs