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O.T.-Ben Agajanian,kicker, dead at 98

RUhasarrived

All American
May 7, 2007
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He kicked for several NFL and AFL teams,including the Giants for whom he kicked two field goals in their 47-7 romp over the Bears in the 1956 NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium.

He was involved in a secret trade between the Packers and the Dallas Texans,as both league offices didn't raise an eyebrow to the transaction between Lombardi and Stram.

Ben lost 4 toes in an accident,so he wore a special boot enabling him to kick.

After he retired,he became the Cowboys kicking coach.Though a straight on kicker,he deduced that the soccer style was actually better for distance,so he taught that style after modifying it to the style used today.

In a Raiders game in 1962,he jumped off of the bench to tackle a punt returner going for a touchdown.No one except his teammates noticed his infraction.
 
Remember the square towed cleat. RIP Ben.
All the kickers had them early on until the soccer players showed up. Lou Gross played guard and kicked figs. There was an offensive tackle on Lehigh in the 50' s who did the punting, John Wotten. Saw him punt one year with his hand wrapped in bandage and tape against us. BC had a center that was their fg and KO guy. Tied the front of his shoe with laces to keep his toes bent for greater height, John Tracy.
 
All the kickers had them early on until the soccer players showed up. Lou Gross played guard and kicked figs. There was an offensive tackle on Lehigh in the 50' s who did the punting, John Wotten. Saw him punt one year with his hand wrapped in bandage and tape against us. BC had a center that was their fg and KO guy. Tied the front of his shoe with laces to keep his toes bent for greater height, John Tracy.
Don't think their cleats were the same as Ben's. His was absolutely squared off if I remember correctly.
 
Don't think their cleats were the same as Ben's. His was absolutely squared off if I remember correctly.
He was. These guys just had the front portion of the shoe squared off. If their foot was in line at contact, the ball usually went straight.
 
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