Lance Rentzel
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lance Rentzel is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League (NFL)
for the Dallas Cowboys
and the Los Angeles Rams
from 1965 to 1974.
(football
, basketball
, baseball
and track
), and also an All-America
high school halfback
.
Rentzel played college football
at the University of Oklahoma
under famous coach Bud Wilkinson
, where he starred as a versatile all-around halfback
from 1962 to 1964. At Oklahoma, Rentzel was known for his open field speed and propensity for big plays rushing, receiving and returning kicks.
During his senior year in 1965, he was named to the All-Big Eight Conference
team. That year he was Oklahoma's top pass catcher and punter. In the Big Eight Conference
his 5.4 rushing average was second only to Gayle Sayers. He was also the conference's No. 3 pass receiver and No. 2 punter with a 40.5-yard average.
He was one of three Sooners
stars who missed the 1965 Gator Bowl
game against Florida State University
. Rentzel, offensive lineman Ralph Neely
and fullback
Jim Grisham
signed with professional teams before the game, and were ruled ineligible for the contest, which Florida State University
won 36–19 on the strength of four touchdown
catches by Fred Biletnikoff
.
in the second round of the 1965 NFL Draft
by the Minnesota Vikings
, where he played sparingly as a backup running back
, because of recurring injuries. During his first two seasons, his contributions came mainly as a kickoff returner
, as a rookie in 1965
he set the record for the longest kickoff
(101 yards) in franchise history, that was eventually broken by Aundrae Allison
's 104-yarder in 2007
.
He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys
after the 1966 season
for a third round draft choice.
, where not only did he became an immediate starter, but also one of the best players in the NFL at his position, while leading the team in receptions from 1967
through 1969
and in receiving yards from 1968
through 1969
.
The prime of his career was spent with the Cowboys, where he formed the best NFL wide receiver
duo with hall of famer Bob Hayes
. Rentzel notably played in the "Ice Bowl
," scoring a fourth quarter, go-ahead touchdown
. His best season came in 1968
when he caught 54 receptions for 1,009 yards. In 1969
he had a career high 12 touchdown
s receptions, that helped him finish tied with Tom Matte
as the NFL touchdown
leader (13).
He was leading the team in receiving yards in 1970
when he was arrested for exposing himself to a ten-year-old girl. At the time the accusation was made, the press revealed a nearly forgotten incident that happened with the Vikings in september 1966
, where he had been charged with exposing himself to two young girls in Saint Paul Minnesota. The charges at the time had been reduced to disorderly conduct to which he had pled guilty (he was not sentenced and ordered to seek psychiatric care).
Because of the nationwide reaction and publicity his scandal received, Rentzel requested the Cowboys to place him on the inactive list so he could devote his time to settling his personal affairs. He missed the last three games of the 1970 regular season
, including the team's playoff drive to the Super Bowl V
loss against the Baltimore Colts
.
During the offseason he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for tight end
Billy Truax
and wide receiver
Wendell Tucker
. Head coach Tom Landry
said after the trade, "We know we are giving up on one of the top flankers in the league, but i thought he would be better off in another city where he had the same opportunity regularly. We found this in Los Angeles and it was one of the teams Lance wanted to be traded to, if he were traded".
To replace him, the Cowboys also obtained Lance Alworth
from the San Diego Chargers
, in exchange for left tackle Tony Liscio
, tight end
Pettis Norman
and defensive tackle Ron East
.
Although he spent only four seasons with the team, he left ranked as the fourth all-time Cowboys wide receiver
, among other franchise accomplishments:
, he would never regain his previous high level of performance.
He had completed 2 seasons with the Rams, when Rentzel was suspended indefinitely by the league at the start of the 1973 season
for conduct detrimental to the National Football League
, after he was convicted of marijuana posession. He was later reinstated in 1974
after a 10 month suspension.
On august 1975
during the offseason, he was put on waivers by the Rams, effectively ending his career.
After playing in nine NFL seasons, he accumulated 4,826 yards receiving, 196 yards rushing, and 1,000 yards returning punts
and kickoffs
. He also had a perfect passer rating
, by virtue of his lone pass attempt being completed for a 58-yard touchdown
.
to a 10-year-old girl in University Park
, a suburb of Dallas, Texas
. His wife, singer/actress, Joey Heatherton
, divorced him shortly thereafter. Four years earlier he had a similar incident at a playground in Minnesota
, when playing for the Vikings, but was charged with disorderly conduct
in exchange for promising to attend therapy. He was subsequently traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to the 1971 season, the Cowboys traded Rentzel to the Rams for Billy Truax
and Wendell Tucker
. In 1973, while on probation for the indecent exposure charge, Rentzel was arrested for possession of marijuana. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle
suspended him for the entire 1973 season. Rentzel was allowed to return for a final season with the Rams in 1974, before retiring.
. Then-SPORT
magazine editor Dick Schaap
hired Rentzel and teammate Fred Dryer
to cover Super Bowl IX
. Donning costumes inspired by The Front Page
, "Cubby O'Switzer" (Rentzel) and "Scoops Brannigan" (Dryer) peppered players and coaches from both the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers
with questions that ranged from cliché
d to downright absurd. This wasn't Rentzel's first association with SPORT magazine; he was the subject of a lengthy feature article written by author Gary Cartwright in the October 1972 issue.
In 1972, Rentzel authored a book about his professional football experiences and personal life entitled When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow.
Cyclist Lance Armstrong
was named after him.
Rentzel reportedly lives in Dallas, Texas
, after living for several years in the Washington, D.C.
area.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League (NFL)
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
from 1965 to 1974.
Early years
He was a four-sport star at Casady SchoolCasady School
Casady School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma founded in 1947 by Bishop Thomas Casady and the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. Casady serves children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th. Casady believes in educating mind, body, and...
(football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
), and also an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
high school halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
.
Rentzel played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
under famous coach Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
, where he starred as a versatile all-around halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
from 1962 to 1964. At Oklahoma, Rentzel was known for his open field speed and propensity for big plays rushing, receiving and returning kicks.
During his senior year in 1965, he was named to the All-Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
team. That year he was Oklahoma's top pass catcher and punter. In the Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
his 5.4 rushing average was second only to Gayle Sayers. He was also the conference's No. 3 pass receiver and No. 2 punter with a 40.5-yard average.
He was one of three Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
stars who missed the 1965 Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
game against Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. Rentzel, offensive lineman Ralph Neely
Ralph Neely
Ralph Eugene Neely is a former American football offensive tackle who played 13 seasons and 172 games for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1977.-Early years:...
and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Jim Grisham
Jim Grisham
Jim Grisham is a former American football fullback and linebacker who played at the University of Oklahoma from 1961 to 1964.-Early years:He attended Olney High School where as a junior in 1959 he played halfback. The level of talent the team had, allowed them to reach the Texas Class 2A semifinal...
signed with professional teams before the game, and were ruled ineligible for the contest, which Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
won 36–19 on the strength of four touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
catches by Fred Biletnikoff
Fred Biletnikoff
Frederick S. "Fred" Biletnikoff is a former American football wide receiver and coach. He spent the majority of his professional playing and coaching days with the Oakland Raiders...
.
Minnesota Vikings
Rentzel was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the second round of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, where he played sparingly as a backup running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, because of recurring injuries. During his first two seasons, his contributions came mainly as a kickoff returner
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
, as a rookie in 1965
1965 NFL season
The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the...
he set the record for the longest kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
(101 yards) in franchise history, that was eventually broken by Aundrae Allison
Aundrae Allison
Aundrae Akeem Allison is an American football wide receiver for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at East Carolina.He has also been a member of the New York Jets, and...
's 104-yarder in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
.
He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
after the 1966 season
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
for a third round draft choice.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys gave him a second chance and converted him to wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, where not only did he became an immediate starter, but also one of the best players in the NFL at his position, while leading the team in receptions from 1967
1967 NFL season
The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and...
through 1969
1969 NFL season
The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the...
and in receiving yards from 1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
through 1969
1969 NFL season
The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the...
.
The prime of his career was spent with the Cowboys, where he formed the best NFL wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
duo with hall of famer Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes
Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was an Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. An American track and field athlete, he was a two-sport stand-out in college in both track and football at Florida A&M University...
. Rentzel notably played in the "Ice Bowl
NFL Championship Game, 1967
The 1967 National Football League Championship Game between the Western Conference champion Green Bay Packers and the Eastern Conference champion Dallas Cowboys was the 35th championship game in NFL history. The game was held at Lambeau Field on December 31, 1967. The winner of the game was...
," scoring a fourth quarter, go-ahead touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. His best season came in 1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
when he caught 54 receptions for 1,009 yards. In 1969
1969 NFL season
The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the...
he had a career high 12 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s receptions, that helped him finish tied with Tom Matte
Tom Matte
Thomas Roland Matte was an American football player who played quarterback in college and primarily running back in the NFL in the 1960s and 1970s and earned a Super Bowl Ring. He attended Shaw High School in East Cleveland and is an Eagle Scout...
as the NFL touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
leader (13).
He was leading the team in receiving yards in 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
when he was arrested for exposing himself to a ten-year-old girl. At the time the accusation was made, the press revealed a nearly forgotten incident that happened with the Vikings in september 1966
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
, where he had been charged with exposing himself to two young girls in Saint Paul Minnesota. The charges at the time had been reduced to disorderly conduct to which he had pled guilty (he was not sentenced and ordered to seek psychiatric care).
Because of the nationwide reaction and publicity his scandal received, Rentzel requested the Cowboys to place him on the inactive list so he could devote his time to settling his personal affairs. He missed the last three games of the 1970 regular season
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
, including the team's playoff drive to the Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
loss against the Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts may refer to the following football teams:* Baltimore Colts , an All-America Football Conference franchise and National Football League franchise that disbanded after the 1950 season...
.
During the offseason he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Billy Truax
Billy Truax
William Frederick Truax is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League from 1964-1973 for the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Louisiana State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft...
and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Wendell Tucker
Wendell Tucker
Wendell Edward Tucker is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the Los Angeles Rams....
. Head coach Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
said after the trade, "We know we are giving up on one of the top flankers in the league, but i thought he would be better off in another city where he had the same opportunity regularly. We found this in Los Angeles and it was one of the teams Lance wanted to be traded to, if he were traded".
To replace him, the Cowboys also obtained Lance Alworth
Lance Alworth
Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
from the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, in exchange for left tackle Tony Liscio
Tony Liscio
Anthony Liscio is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League from 1963 through 1971. He played college football at the University of Tulsa...
, tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Pettis Norman
Pettis Norman
Pettis Burch Norman is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League from 1962-1973 for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers.-College career:...
and defensive tackle Ron East
Ron East
Ronald Allan East is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League from 1967 to 1977. He played for Oregon State University and Montana State University in college following his completion of service to the United States Marine Corps.Ron East was the fifth defensive...
.
Although he spent only four seasons with the team, he left ranked as the fourth all-time Cowboys wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, among other franchise accomplishments:
- Most receptions in a game (13 in 19671967 NFL seasonThe 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and...
), which was broken by Jason WittenJason WittenChristopher Jason Witten is an American football tight end who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Tennessee....
(15 in 20072007 NFL seasonThe 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
). - Most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (3), until Michael IrvinMichael IrvinMichael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
passed him in 19951995 NFL seasonThe 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
with 4. - He is second in yards per reception in Cowboys history (19.2), behind Bob HayesBob HayesRobert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was an Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. An American track and field athlete, he was a two-sport stand-out in college in both track and football at Florida A&M University...
and Alvin HarperAlvin HarperAlvin Craig Harper is a former American football player in the National Football League. After going 1-15 in 1989 and 7-9 in 1990, the Dallas Cowboys were poised to capitalize on some key draft opportunities...
(20). - He is currently fourth for most receiving touchdownTouchdownA touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in a season (12). - He is currently fourth for most career postseason receiving yards (242).
- He is currently fourth for most receiving yards in a game (233).
Los Angeles Rams
Although he led the Los Angeles Rams in receptions (38) in 19711971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
, he would never regain his previous high level of performance.
He had completed 2 seasons with the Rams, when Rentzel was suspended indefinitely by the league at the start of the 1973 season
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
for conduct detrimental to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, after he was convicted of marijuana posession. He was later reinstated in 1974
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
after a 10 month suspension.
On august 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
during the offseason, he was put on waivers by the Rams, effectively ending his career.
After playing in nine NFL seasons, he accumulated 4,826 yards receiving, 196 yards rushing, and 1,000 yards returning punts
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
and kickoffs
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
. He also had a perfect passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
, by virtue of his lone pass attempt being completed for a 58-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
.
Criminal convictions
In November 1970, Rentzel was arrested for exposing himselfIndecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
to a 10-year-old girl in University Park
University Park, Texas
University Park is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States, and a inner suburb of Dallas. The population was 23,324 at the 2000 census. The city is home to Southern Methodist University. Like its neighbor, Highland Park, it is a city partially surrounded by the municipality of Dallas...
, a suburb of Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. His wife, singer/actress, Joey Heatherton
Joey Heatherton
Joey Heatherton is an American actress, dancer, and singer.-Early life:Christened Davenie Johanna Heatherton and nicknamed "Joey," she was raised in Rockville Centre, New York, a suburb of New York City. There she attended St. Agnes Cathedral School, a Catholic grade and high school...
, divorced him shortly thereafter. Four years earlier he had a similar incident at a playground in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, when playing for the Vikings, but was charged with disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
in exchange for promising to attend therapy. He was subsequently traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to the 1971 season, the Cowboys traded Rentzel to the Rams for Billy Truax
Billy Truax
William Frederick Truax is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League from 1964-1973 for the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Louisiana State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft...
and Wendell Tucker
Wendell Tucker
Wendell Edward Tucker is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the Los Angeles Rams....
. In 1973, while on probation for the indecent exposure charge, Rentzel was arrested for possession of marijuana. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle
Pete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....
suspended him for the entire 1973 season. Rentzel was allowed to return for a final season with the Rams in 1974, before retiring.
Personal life
Rentzel was one of three men credited with inspiring the eccentricities that surround "Media Day" at the Super BowlSuper Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. Then-SPORT
Sport magazine
SPORT magazine was an American sports magazine. Launched in September 1946 by the New York-based publisher, Macfadden Publications, SPORT pioneered the generous use of color photography – it carried eight full colour plates in its first edition – and almost immediately became half-bible, half-guru...
magazine editor Dick Schaap
Dick Schaap
Richard Jay Schaap was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author.-Early life and education:...
hired Rentzel and teammate Fred Dryer
Fred Dryer
John Frederick "Fred" Dryer is an American actor and former football defensive end in the National Football League . Dryer played 13 years in the NFL, playing 176 games, starting 166, and recording 104 career sacks with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams...
to cover Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX was an American football game played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1974 regular season. It would be the last pro game at legendary Tulane Stadium...
. Donning costumes inspired by The Front Page
The Front Page
The Front Page is a hit Broadway comedy about tabloid newspaper reporters on the police beat, written by one-time Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur which was first produced in 1928.-Synopsis:...
, "Cubby O'Switzer" (Rentzel) and "Scoops Brannigan" (Dryer) peppered players and coaches from both the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
with questions that ranged from cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
d to downright absurd. This wasn't Rentzel's first association with SPORT magazine; he was the subject of a lengthy feature article written by author Gary Cartwright in the October 1972 issue.
In 1972, Rentzel authored a book about his professional football experiences and personal life entitled When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow.
Cyclist Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
was named after him.
Rentzel reportedly lives in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, after living for several years in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area.