1971 Profiles: Bobby Howfield and Steve O'Neal

BOBBY HOWFIELD

Place Kicker

No. 3

"Howfield was obtained from Denver in a trade for Jim Turner the day before the draft last January. Weeb Ewbank says he will solve the Jets' kickoff problems and can handle the field goal kicking as well. Howfield is the first soccer-style kicker Ewbank has coached.

He came to the United States with the Chiefs after a Chiefs kicking clinic found him in England, playing soccer. He was cut by the Chiefs and went to Denver in 1968. Howfield has handled the Broncos' kicking for the past three seasons.

Last year was his finest as he scored 81 points to lead the Broncos. Bobby hit on 18 of 32 field goal tries and 27 of 27 extra points. He boomed a 53-yarder for his longest and was 2-for-6 beyond the 50 and 8-for-16 beyond the 40.

Bobby has been a consistent kickoff artist. Over the past two seasons only 45 of his 124 kickoffs were returned. He has a career total of 213 points (93 conversions, 40 field goals).

He has worked in the insurance department of a bank in Denver, where he makes his home in the off-season. His hometown is Bushey, England."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

STEVE O'NEAL

Punter-Wide Receiver

No. 20

Texas A&M

"The Jets punter for the past two seasons, Steve holds the all-time pro record with a 98-yard boot against Denver in his second game as a pro in 1969. He had his finest day ever in that game with a 57.4 average on five punts. That year O'Neal got off a remarkable left-footed punt from the end zone with three defenders hanging on to him to help save the Buffalo game. That punt cost him the league punting crown but helped win the game. He was drafted 13th in 1969 and saw brief action as a wide receiver in his rookie season. He has good potential there and will continue to work at that spot as a backup.

Steve slipped to 10th in the AFC in 1970 with a 40.1 average- his leg tired late in the season. He boomed punts of 64, 61, 54 and 53 last year, the longest one coming against Oakland. He had two punts blocked at Los Angeles following bad snaps but neither affected the game. 

He spends much of his free time carving models of teeth- he wants to become a dentist. He has attended the University of Tennessee Medical School in the off-season. O'Neal holds the Texas A&M record for the indoor long jump. His hometown is Hearne, Texas."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos