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1952 Philadelphia Eagles season

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1952 Philadelphia Eagles season
OwnerHappy Hundred
Head coachJim Trimble
Home fieldShibe Park
Results
Record7–5
Division place2nd (tied) NFL American
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1952 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 20th in the league. The team improved on their previous output of 4–8, winning seven games.[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Off season

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Head coach Wayne Millner took over, for ailing head coach Bo McMillin in 1951, would resign on September 8, 3 weeks before the 1952 season started, citing health as the reason for stepping down.

NFL Draft

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The 1952 NFL draft was held on January 17, 1952. Picks made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans franchise. There were 12 teams picking for 32 rounds.

The Eagles made the 4th pick in each round and made 31 picks in the 32 rounds they had picks in. The New York Yanks had the Eagles pick in the 5th round.

The Los Angeles Rams received this year's lottery bonus pick. The Rams used it to pick Bill Wade a quarterback out of Vanderbilt University. The Eagles used their number-4 pick in the 1st round to take Johnny Bright a back of Drake University. Johnny Bright, was chosen before fellow backs and future NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame members Frank Gifford from University of Southern California and Hugh McElhenny out of University of Washington, passed up playing for the Eagles. Bright later commented:

I would have been their (the Eagles') first Negro player. There was a tremendous influx of Southern players into the NFL at that time, and I didn't know what kind of treatment I could expect.[2]

Player selections

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The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

= Pro Bowler [3] = Hall of Famer =Canadian Football Hall of Famer
Rd Pick Player Position School Rd Pick Player Position School
1 5 Johnny Bright Back Drake 2 17 Jim Weatherall Tackle Oklahoma
3 29 Lum Snyder Tackle Georgia Tech 4 41 Chuck Ulrich Tackle Illinois
5 53 Pick Taken By New York Yanks 6 65 Dick Lemmon Back California
7 77 John Thomas End Oregon State 8 89 Wayne Robinson Center Minnesota
9 101 Maury Nipp Guard Loyola (CA) 10 113 Gerry McGinley Guard Pennsylvania
11 125 Ralph Goldston Back Youngstown State 12 137 Jack Blount Tackle Mississippi State
13 149 Ed Hamilton Back Kentucky 14 161 Bob Stringer Back Tulsa
15 173 Malcolm Schmidt End Iowa State 16 185 Jim Brewer Guard North Texas State
17 197 John Weigle End Oklahoma State 18 209 Ed Romanowski Back Scranton
19 221 Talbott Trammell End Washington & Lee 20 233 Bobby Blaik Back Army/Colorado College
21 245 Les Wheeler Guard Abilene Christian 22 257 Johnny Turco Back Holy Cross
23 269 Maury Schnell Back Iowa State 24 281 Joe Tyrrell Guard Temple
25 293 Bob Kelley Center West Texas State 26 305 Bob Albert Back Bucknell
27 317 Chuck Hill Back New Mexico 28 329 Johnny Brewer Back Louisville
29 341 Tony "Zippy" Morocco Back Georgia 30 353 Don Stevens Back Illinois

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record
1 September 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–25 1–0
2 October 4 New York Giants L 7–31 1–1
3 October 12 Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–21 2–1
4 October 19 Cleveland Browns L 7–49 2–2
5 October 26 at New York Giants W 14–10 3–2
6 November 2 at Green Bay Packers L 10–12 3–3
7 November 9 Washington Redskins W 38–20 4–3
8 November 16 Chicago Cardinals W 10–7 5–3
9 November 23 at Cleveland Browns W 28–20 6–3
10 November 30 at Chicago Cardinals L 22–28 6–4
11 December 7 Dallas Texans W 38–21 7–4
12 December 14 at Washington Redskins L 21–27 7–5

Game recaps

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Week 1: at the Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 31 (1–0–0)  at  Pittsburgh Steelers 25 (0–1–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 14 3 7731
Pittsburgh Steelers 0 12 01325

at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Eagles Bud Grant 84-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – Pitt 0
  • Eagles Frank Ziegler 4-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 14 – Pitt 0
2nd
  • Steelers Jim Finks 20-yard rush (kick failed) Phila 14 – Pitt 6
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 32-yard field goal Phila 17 – Pitt 6
  • Steelers Ed Modzelewski 1-yard rush (kick failed) Phila 17 – Pitt 12
3rd
  • Eagles Frank Ziegler 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 24 – Pitt 12
4th
  • Steelers Jim Finks 1-yard rush (Gary Kerkorian kick) Phila 24 – Pitt 19
  • Eagles Pete Pihos 25-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 31 – Pitt 19
  • Steelers Ray Mathews 27-yard pass from Jim Finks (kick failed) Phila 31 – Pitt 25

Week 2: vs New York Giants

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Week 2: New York Giants 31 (2–0–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 7 (1–1–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
New York Giants 7 14 7331
Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 007

at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Giants Bob McChesney 18-yard pass from Frank Gifford (Ray Poole kick) Phila 7 – NY 0
  • Eagles John Brewer 71-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – NY 7
2nd
  • Giants Joe Scott 30-yard rush (Ray Poole kick) Phila 14 – NY 7
  • Giants Bill Stribling 20-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Ray Poole kick) Phila 21 – NY 7
3rd
  • Giants Joe Scott 10-yard rush (Ray Poole kick) Phila 28 – NY 7
4th
  • Giants Ray Poole 16-yard field goal Phila 31 – NY 7

Week 3: vs Pittsburgh Steelers

[edit]
Week 2:Philadelphia Eagles 26 (2–1–0)  vs  Pittsburgh Steelers 21 (0–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 7 7021
Philadelphia Eagles 3 10 01326

at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 25-yard field goal Pitt 0 – Phila 3
2nd
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 20-yard field goal Pitt 0 – Phila 6
  • Steelers Lynn Chandnois 93-yard kickoff return (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 7 – Phila 6
  • Eagles John Brewer 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Pitt 7 – Phila 13
3rd
  • Steelers Ray Mathews 25-yard pass from Jim Finks (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 14 – Phila 13
4th
  • Steelers Elbie Nickel 54-yard pass from Jim Finks (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 21 – Phila 13
  • Eagles Bud Grant 17-yard pass from Fred Enke (Bobby Walston kick) Pitt 21 7 – 20
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 24-yard field goal Pitt 21 – Phila 23
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal Pitt 21 – Phila 26

Week 4 vs Cleveland Browns

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Week 4:Cleveland Browns 49 (3–1–0)  at  Philadelphia Eagles 7 (2–2–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cleveland Browns 14 7 21749
Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 0714

at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Browns Len Ford unknown-yard fumble return (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 7 – Phila 0
  • Browns Pete Brewster 47-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 14 – Phila 0
2nd
  • Browns Sherman Howard 35-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 21 – Phila 0
3rd
  • Browns Dub Jones 63-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 28 – Phila 0
  • Browns Mac Speedie 8-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 35 – Phila 0
  • Browns Dub Jones 16-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 42 – Phila 0
4th
  • Browns Horace Gillom 11-yard pass from George Ratterman (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 49 – Phila 0
  • Eagles Ralph Goldston 4-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Cleve 49 – Phila 7

Week 5 at New York Giants

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Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 37 (1–0–0)  at  New York Giants 25 (0–1–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 0 14 0014
New York Giants 3 0 7010

at Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York

Game information
1st
  • Giants Ray Poole 30-yard field goal Phila 0 – NY 3
2nd
  • Eagles Bibbles Bawel 52-yard punt return (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – NY 3
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 19-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 14 – NY 3
3rd
  • Giants Bud Sherrod unknown-yard fumble return (Ray Poole kick) Phila 14 – NY 10

Week 6 at Green Bay Packers

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Week 1: Green Bay 12 (3–3–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 10 (3–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 3 0 0710
Green Bay Packers 6 0 0612

at City Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information
1st
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 23-yard field goal Phila 3 – Green Bay 0
  • Packers Breezy Reid 21-yard pass from Babe Parilli (kick failed) Phila 3 – Green Bay 6
4th
  • Eagles Russ Craft 32-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 10 – Green Bay 6
  • Packers John Martinkovic 5-yard blocked punt return (kick failed) Phila 10 – Green Bay 12

Week 7 vs Washington Redskins

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Week 7:Philadelphia Eagles 38 (4–3–0)  vs  Washington Redskins 20 (4–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Washington Redskins 0 7 6720
Philadelphia Eagles 14 14 7338

at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Eagles Don Stevens 56-yard punt return (Bobby Walston kick) 0 7
  • Eagles Bud Grant 7-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) 0 14
2nd
  • Redskins Johnny Williams 74-yard punt return (George Buksar kick) 7 14
  • Eagles John Huzvar 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) 7 21
  • Eagles Mike Jarmoluk 16-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick) 7 28
3rd
  • Eagles Bud Grant 4-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) 7 35
  • Redskins Chuck Drazenovich 1-yard rush (kick failed) 13 35
4th
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 26-yard field goal 13 38
  • Redskins Hugh Taylor 55-yard pass from Harry Gilmer (George Buksar kick) 20 38

Week 8 vs Chicago Cardinals

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Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles 10 (5–3–0)  vs  Chicago Cardinals 7 (3–5–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chicago Cardinals 0 7 007
Philadelphia Eagles 0 10 0010

at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
2nd
  • Eagles Pete Pihos 12-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick) Chi 0 – Phila 7
  • Cardinals Cliff Anderson 14-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Joe Geri kick) Chi 7 – Phila 7
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 20-yard field goal Chi 7 – Phila 19

Week 9 at Cleveland Browns

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Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles 28 (4–3–0)  at  Cleveland Browns 20 (4–3–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 14 0 01428
Cleveland Browns 7 3 10020

at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Game information
1st
  • Eagles Frank Ziegler 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7   –   Cleve 0
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 3-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)Phila 14   –   Cleve 0
  • Browns Mac Speedie 28-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Phila 14   –   Cleve 7

2nd

  • Browns Lou Groza 18-yard field goal Phila 14   –   Cleve 10
  • 3rd
  • Browns Mac Speedie 48-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Phila 14   –   Cleve 17
  • Browns Lou Groza 19-yard field goal Phila 14   –   Cleve 20

4th

  • Eagles Ralph Goldston 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 21   –   Cleve 20
  • Eagles Ralph Goldston 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 28   –   Cleve 20

Week 10 at Chicago Cardinals

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Week 10:Chicago Cardinals 28 (4–6–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 22 (6–4–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 0 3 12722
Chicago Cardinals 0 14 14028

at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois

Game information
2nd
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 35-yard field goal       PHIL 3 – 0
  • Cardinals – Johnny Karras 4-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Joe Geri kick)      Tied 3 – 7
  • Cardinals -Volney Peters 10-yard fumble return (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 3 – 14
3rd
  • Eagles – Safety, Matson tackled in end zone by E. Van Buren       CHI C 5 – 14
  • Cardinals – Ollie Matson 13-yard rush (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 5 – 21
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal       CHI C 8 – 21
  • Cardinals – Ollie Matson 79-yard kickoff return (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 8 – 28
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 8-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)       CHI C 15 – 28
4th
  • Eagles – Bud Grant 30-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)       CHI C 22 – 28

Week 11 vs Dallas Texans

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Week 11: Philadelphia Eagles 38 (7–4–0)  vs  Dallas Texans 21 (0–10–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dallas Texans 0 7 01421
Philadelphia Eagles 17 7 14038

at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Eagles John Huzvar 5-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)        Dallas 0  –   Phila   7
  • Eagles Bud Grant 41-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Dallas 0   –   Phila   14
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 29-yard field goal    Dallas 0  –   Phila   17
2nd
  • Eagles Ebert Van Buren unknown-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick)    Dallas 0  –   Phila   24
  • Texans Buddy Young 1-yard rush (Pat Cannamela kick)    Dallas 7  –   Phila   24
3rd
  • Eagles Bud Grant 23-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Dallas 7  –   Phila   31
  • Eagles Vic Sears 9-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) ,    Dallas 7  –   Phila   38
4th
  • Texans Stan Williams 24-yard fumble return (Pat Cannamela kick) ,    Dallas 14  –   Phila   38
  • Texans Dick Wilkins 42-yard pass from Frank Tripucka (Pat Cannamela kick),    Dallas 21  –   Phila   38

Week 12 at Washington Redskins

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Week 12: Washington Redskins 27 (4–8–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 21 (7–5–0)  – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 7 7 0721
Washington Redskins 7 7 01327

at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Game information
1st
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 19-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)
  • Redskins – Gene Brito 23-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron (George Buksar kick)
2nd
  • Eagles – Al Pollard 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)
  • Redskins – Johnny Williams 38-yard interception return (George Buksar kick)
4th
  • Eagles – Mike Jarmoluk 45-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick)
  • Redskins – Hugh Taylor 16-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron (George Buksar kick)
  • Redskins – Eddie LeBaron 1-yard rush (kick failed)

Standings

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NFL American Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns 8 4 0 .667 7–3 310 213 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 7 5 0 .583 6–4 252 271 L1
New York Giants 7 5 0 .583 5–4 234 231 W1
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 7 0 .417 4–5 300 273 L1
Chicago Cardinals 4 8 0 .333 3–7 172 221 L2
Washington Redskins 4 8 0 .333 4–6 240 287 W2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Playoffs

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With a record of 7–5, the Eagles fall one game back of Cleveland and failed to make the playoffs. The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams would tie for the National Division title and had to play a Division Championship game before meeting Cleveland in the 1952 NFL Championship Game

Roster

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(All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history)

= 1952 Pro Bowl[4] = Hall of Famer
NO. Player AGE POS GP GS WT HT YRS College
Jim Trimble 35 COACH 1952
record
7–5–0		 NFL-Eagles
Lifetime
7–5–0		 1st Indiana University
81 Bibbles Bawel 22 DB 12 0 185 6–1 Rookie Evansville
60 Chuck Bednarik+ 27 LB-C 12 0 233 6–3 3 Pennsylvania
36 John Brewer 24 FB 12 0 230 6–4 Rookie Louisville
10 Adrian Burk 25 QB 12 3 190 6–2 2 Baylor
33 Russ Craft* 33 DB-HB 12 0 178 5–9 6 Alabama
17 Fred Enke 28 QB 9 0 208 6–1 4 Arizona
53 Ken Farragut 24 C-LB 12 0 240 6–4 1 Mississippi
27 Neil Ferris 25 DB-HB 8 0 181 5–11 1 Loyola Marymount
22 Ralph Goldston 23 HB-DB 9 0 195 5–11 Rookie Youngstown State
86 Bud Grant 25 E-DE 12 0 199 6–3 1 Minnesota
62 Bill Horrell 22 G 4 0 222 5–11 Rookie Michigan State
38 John Huzvar 23 FB 12 0 247 6–4 Rookie North Carolina State, and
Pittsburgh
78 Mike Jarmoluk 30 DT-T-MG 12 0 232 6–5 6 Temple
76 Bucko Kilroy 31 G-MG-T-DT 12 0 243 6–2 9 Temple
67 John Magee 29 G 12 0 220 5–10 4 La-Lafayette, and
Rice
68 Maury Nipp 22 G 10 0 219 6–0 Rookie Loyola Marymount
89 Bob Oristaglio 28 DE-E 4 0 214 6–2 Pennsylvania
43 Jim Parmer 26 FB-HB 6 0 193 6–0 4 Oklahoma State
35 Pete Pihos+ 29 E-DE 12 0 210 6–1 5 Indiana
21 Al Pollard 24 HB-FB 12 0 196 6–0 1 Army
62 Knox Ramsey 26 G 3 0 216 6–1 4 William & Mary
82 Joe Restic 25 E 3 0 180 6–2 Rookie Villavova
52 Wayne Robinson 22 LB-C 12 0 225 6–2 Rookie Minnesota
65 Dan Rogas 26 G-DT-T 10 0 230 6–1 1 Tulane
27 Clyde Scott 28 HB-DB 2 0 174 6–0 3 Arkansas, and
Navy
79 Vic Sears 34 T-DT 12 0 223 6–3 11 Oregon State
73 Lum Snyder 22 T 11 0 228 6–5 Rookie Georgia Tech
20 Don Stevens 24 HB 11 0 176 5–9 Rookie Illinois
44 Bob Stringer 23 LB-FB 12 0 197 6–1 Rookie Tulsa
45 Joe Sutton 28 DB-HB 10 0 180 5–11 3 Temple
11 Bobby Thomason 24 QB 12 9 196 6–1 3 VMI
69 Joe Tyrrell 23 G 2 0 215 5–11 Rookie Temple
31 Ebert Van Buren 28 DB-LB-FB-HB 12 0 210 6–2 1 LSU
83 Bobby Walston 24 E-HB-K 12 0 190 6–0 1 Georgia
63 Norm Willey 25 DE-G-E 12 0 224 6–2 2 Marshall
75 Frank Wydo 28 T-DT 12 12 225 6–4 5 Cornell
41 Frank Ziegler 29 HB-DB 11 0 175 5–11 3 Georgia Tech
88 Jack Zilly 31 DE-E 12 0 212 6–2 5 Notre Dame
38 Players
Team Average		 26.1 12 208.2 6–1.2 2.4

Postseason

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At the end of the season, Bud Grant was offered a pay raise in his contract. He chose to play football in the CFL(Canadian Football League) instead. He had a career worthy of being named to the CFL's Hall of Fame as a player. Later on he made the Pro Football Hall of Fame as coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

Awards and honors

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Pro Bowl Players

  • Chuck Bednarik and Pete Pihos both make the Pro Bowl 1st team.
  • Russ Craft and Bucko Kilroy selected to the Pro-Bowl team as back-ups.

League leaders

  • Bud Grant finishes 2nd in receptions with 56.
  • Bud Grant finishes 2nd in receiving yards with 997 yds.
  • Adrian Burk leads league in number of punts with 83 and 40.2 yds avg
  • Bobby Walston finishes 2nd with 11 field goals made.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1952 Philadelphia Eagles
  2. ^ Soutar, Ted. "CFL Legend: Johnny Bright". CFL.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  3. ^ Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.
  4. ^ Players are identified as a 1952 All-Star.
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