Ben Davidson stood out from the crowd (6’8″, 270) and was scouted in JC to come play football at Washington in 1959.
Amazingly, Ben didn’t really display an appetite before then for the sport, mainly enjoying basketball and track.
He played DT and TE for the Huskies in 59 and 60.
Was a 4th round pick of the New York Giants in 61, but was traded to the Packers before the season began.
In 1962, Davidson was traded again- this time to the Washington Redskins for a 5th rounder.
After a two year stint there, he’d be cut and joined the Oakland Raiders.
The rest would become history as Davidson etched himself in the annuls of NFL history as one of the league’s most feared and dominant defensive players at right defensive end.
1970 was arguably his best year, when he posted 11.5 sacks.
After the 1972 season, Ben briefly retired and began to dabble in acting.
Returned to football in 1974 for a final season with the Portland Storm of the WFL.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1966-’68
All-Pro 1967
NOTES:
You…
– Ben Davidson (as Rexar) Conan the Barbarian
Ben Davidson didn’t have very many impactful or quotable lines in movies, but this by far, was one of the best of the entire film, Conan the Barbarian. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the titular Conan- a barbarian bent on learning the Riddle of Steel, while consumed by lifelong revenge for the murder of his people.
During this scene Conan wrecks havoc on an orgy of evil people and just as he reaches the top of the amphitheater and begins his assault Rexar, played by Ben comes in and sees Conan. Instead of screaming, “YOU!”, He softly states…, “You..” Which just had so much impact when combined with Arnold’s powerful flex with the sword right afterwards. It’s an extremely effective scene.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/a
64.5
2
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
* Note that all stats were not tracked by the NFL during Hendrick’s playing era.
EPITAPH: Ben passed away of prostate cancer in 2012 at the age of 72.
CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Defensive Lineman Stansly Maponga played college ball at TCU from 2010-12.
In 2011 he posted 55 total tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
He was a 5th round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.
After not making the final cuts, he was resigned to the practice squad by the Falcons.
The Giants signed him later in 2017 to their regular season roster, and then retained him on their practice squad after the year.
Maponga then spent the next year or two of and on the practice squad and in the futures contract game with the Cowboys (2017), and Broncos (2017-18).
In late 2019, he’d be the first defender selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL for 2020.
On the 5 game season, he’d post 15 tackles.
After a brief flirtation with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL (2021), he’d be selected by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL 2023.
On the season Stansly posted 22 total tackles, and 2.5 sacks starting 9 games for the Guardians.
NOTES:
Stansly was another player within earshot as he left the field to go back to the locker room after warm-ups. He got past me, but when I called out his name, he was probably impressed that I knew how to pronounce it properly in the first place- turned around and came back to me. He graciously signed this card for me. I was really impressed by the broadness of his shoulders. He had gigantic shoulder pads for his size. We also joked about the fact he played for the Dragons, sans ‘Sea’.
It took a while, as I watched many others get their autographs before me, but my patience paid off as Dave took care of all my set needs. Some great cards here but the odd Action Packed really stands out to me.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
