Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
LEAGUE CITY, Texas - Charlie Tolar, the 5-foot-5 running back who was one of the best-known players in the early days of the American Football League, died of cancer Tuesday at 65.
Tolar, who weighed 210 and was nicknamed the "Human Bowling Ball," played with the Houston Oilers from 1960, the first year of the AFL, until 1966. His best season was 1962, when he gained 1,012 yards in 14 games and led the league with 244 carries.
For his career, he gained 3,277 yards in 907 carries and rushed for 21 touchdowns. He had 175 passes for 1,266 yards and two TDs.
He was voted by fans to the Oilers' 25th anniversary team in the offensive backfield alongside Earl Campbell.
Twice an All-AFL pick, Tolar led an adventurous life apart from football, working for noted oil field firefighter Red Adair during offseasons.
Born in Nachitoches, La., Tolar played at Northwestern State, setting scoring records that stood for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
His widow, Barbara, is a longtime athletic administrator at Rice.
BENGALS: Starting center Rich Braham was re-signed to a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent.
COWBOYS: Offensive lineman Tyson Walter was awarded $6,000 by a Columbus, Ohio, jury in a lawsuit against the Saints' LeCharles Bentley, who punched him in the face when they were teammates at Ohio State in 2000. Walter said he suffered a broken nose and broken teeth from a sucker punch and also contended it caused an infection that spread to his hip and forced him to sit out the following season at Ohio State. After Walter came back for the 2001 season, he and Bentley played next to each other.
PACKERS: Backup tight end Tyrone Davis and punter Josh Bidwell re-signed.
RAIDERS: Center Barret Robbins, who was sent home from the Super Bowl because of his erratic behavior in the days leading up to the game, will play again for the Raiders if he continues treatment for bipolar disorder, he and the team's top official said. Robbins, who spent 35 days in a treatment center, said his bouts of drinking and depression are under control.
SAINTS: Guard Wally Williams was waived.