Staph infections and unusable tissue almost left him no choice.Surgically placed plastic and metal is the only difference between using a dilapidated wooden cane or being forced into a wheelchair for the rest of his days.But, today, the most striking issue isn’t the markings and wounds you can see – it’s the ones you can’t.The former Wyoming Cowboy offensive lineman and self-made “dirtiest player in the NFL” is now a shell of his former self. The Cardinals front five was anchored by names like After six grueling weeks of training camp, Dobler was released.“They told me they would give me a call if anyone got hurt,” he said.Dobler came back to St. Louis determined to never let a coach cut him again. I looked over his Facebook page and saw a small notice which said he was using a phone in The point is, I was not really talking to Conrad Dobler. Seriously, it’s very sad to see him in such a terrible situation.I have received messages from people I know where it starts out “How are you doing?”. Already, he claims, he receives extra scrutiny from officials. "What you need when you play against Dobler," said one rival, "is a string of garlic buds around your neck and a wooden stake. He skis well, plays racquetball with grace and throws a dart with deadly accuracy.During the off-season the Doblers—Conrad, wife Linda and 7-year-old son Mark—live in Laramie, Wyo. "In one game I was called for tripping a guy who was standing up," he says.

He does certain things well, and you know what he'll do. There are a lot of scammers using other people’s identity to fool other people.Andrea, there is no doubt whatsoever that the person I encountered was not the real Dobler.

What we didn’t know at the time was that the blacks were getting threatened by black groups on campus.

Conrad Dobler still suffers the physical effects of his pro football days, but he takes a lot of pride in his ten-year NFL career. !Excellent article, Richard. She was born after her father’s retirement from the NFL. “I never saw anything like it. Former Cardinals lineman Conrad Dobler gulps down Vicodin to deal with the pain and injuries from a 10-year NFL career that also included stints in New Orleans and Buffalo.
"Dobler's looks belie his 26 years.

In his mind.He was quick to drop a joke – or 20. There have been several like him, I don’t like to see that.I agree, terrible sportsmanship.
As proof he offers a tale about Conrad, then nine, escorting his mother to the doctor after she had cut her hand and fainting at the sight of her blood.Conrad claims he has always been motivated by a lack of peer approval. Only a few days ago, I happened to see the name and visage of former NFL player Conrad Dobler. Dobler used all of his typical tactics on the strait-laced, mild-mannered Mormon defensive lineman.“I got him to quit once,” Dobler said of the Hall of Famer. "How does he get away with it? To gain acceptance he took up football and basketball.

The Cardinals were in the division with Cowboys. Dobler had grand thoughts that he might have a real shot at a national championship. Hanifan calls it a mean streak. It's playing football—and playing it well.Of course, if Conrad Dobler ever does mellow, he can use his own words to bring him back to reality: "If you ever forget that football is a violent game, they'll catch you gazing at the stars and put your lights out. Conrad Dobler's answer was, "It is still the only sport where there is controlled violence mixed with careful technical planning. Some members of the Dobler clan tend to get upset when Conrad's reputation is discussed, but his mother says that she was told by an official that her son is "an intelligent player who has finesse, knows the rules and uses them to the nth degree." He talks about the use of his cane. Despite what others might think, she says she does not need it to handle her husband. But I didn’t think anyone was helping get me to the NFL. Dobler particularly likes to aggravate and intimidate other Pro Bowlers, first-round draft choices and players whose salaries are higher than his $50,000 a year. “They were the best. I had the pleasure of meeting the real Mr. Dobler once. "Surprisingly, Dobler rarely uses his tongue on rivals. When a player complains about Dobler's methods, Conrad simply says, "He'll get over it." I started feeling a little guilty about that. "At the Pro Bowl you get to know and like your opponents," he says. Now, he claims he is only on over-the-counter medications. As mentioned, I wrote to him (on FB) and have yet to hear back.The takeaway for me in this article is the NFL’s insensitive treatment of retired players, with Dobler just another victim.

Luckily for Dobler a number of the Cardinals' offensive linemen were injured early in the '72 season, and they re-signed him in time for their third game. Whether it’s the elbows, shoulders, wrists or knees, his prominent disfigurement dictates a tale all on its own.Gaudy foot-long stitching surrounds large, lumpy swollen masses. "Those things happen at the time. Or his words. Hard to believe he was able to stay alive in the NFL for so long.I had a chance meeting with Conrad Dobler in the San Diego airport.