No. 9
Texas
"Last year George played as a split end at the beginning of the season, but midway through the campaign switched to tight end. He rounded into shape quickly after missing the preseason training camp because of a pulled muscle.
George was a math major at Texas."
-1966 Topps No. 101
"They are tuning up the publicity drums for young George Sauer as the league's next glamour-boy pass catcher.
In what was only his sophomore year in 1966, George finished second in receptions with 63 catches for 1,079 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-2, 195-pound split end averaged 17.1 yards a catch and made one that was good for 77 yards.
A quiet, diligent type, he worked extra hard during the daily practice sessions, remaining on the field as long as there was someone to throw the ball to him.
The son of the Jets' player personnel director, he was a future pick while he still attended Texas. As a rookie, he caught 29 passes for 301 yards while trying to shake off injuries."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Last year George had a sensational season as he finished second in the A.F.L. in receiving. The big youngster has a good pair of hands and top speed which enables him to haul in teammate Namath's passes."
-1967 Topps No. 101
"Who was voted MVP of the Jets in 1966? George Sauer."
-1967 Topps No. 89
"It could be that while studying towards his master's degree in math in the off-season, George Sauer figured out that the more passes you catch, the more yards you gain. The 6-2, 195-pound split end, in his fourth season with the Jets, went on to do just that in 1967 by catching a league-leading 75 passes for 1,189 yards and an average of 15.9 - 12 more catches and 110 more yards than he had in his sophomore year.
The All-AFL receiver has good speed, strong hands and lots of determination. With his diligence and hard work he'll continue to improve his moves as long as he continues to play, which should be for quite a while."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
"For the second straight year, George led the Jets in pass receptions. His 75 catches topped the American Football League. In 1966, George was the Jets' MVP."
-1968 Topps No. 13
"In contrast to his wing-mate Don Maynard, George Sauer is a classic receiver. He has the right physique at 6-2 and 195 pounds, the dazzling array of moves, and the supple hands. Perhaps the one thing he lacks is great straightaway speed, but he's fast enough, and there have been other top-caliber receivers, like Raymond Berry, who didn't run that fast.
George also comes up with the good figures every season, as he did last year when he finished a close second behind Lance Alworth for the league's receiving title. He caught 66 passes for 1,141 yards and three touchdowns. Actually, it was turnabout time in '68, for Sauer edged Alworth for the same title in 1967 when he caught 75 passes for 1,189 yards.
Now in his fifth AFL year, he came to the Jets as their future draft pick in 1965 after an outstanding career at Texas."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969
"In 1966, George's teammates voted him the club's most valuable player. In '67, he set a Jets club record, and led the American Football League, when he hauled down 75 passes.
He is powerfully built, sure-handed and makes moves like a cat."
-1969 Topps No. 231
"Weeb Ewbank coached one of the greatest of all-time receivers, Raymond Berry, when he was at Baltimore. Weeb calls George 'a fast Ray Berry,' a high compliment indeed, for what Weeb means is that George has the elusive moves of the great Berry and more speed.
In 1969 George latched onto eight touchdown passes, the most of his career, and he was ranked seventh in the league in pass catching. He started off badly, being shut out in the opening game at Buffalo. It was the first time in 54 straight games that he had failed to catch a pass.
When the Jet coaches call for blocking practice, they smile when they see the skinny 6-2, 180-pound George throw himself at a dummy. But George is a good blocker who once filled in for the Jets at tight end. He showed his versatility in the AFL All-Star Game when he punted for the first time since high school. He boomed out eight good ones for a healthy 37.5 average.
In the off-seasons George, a scholarly type who majored in math at Texas, is writing a novel."
-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970
"An offensive end for Texas for two varsity seasons, George starred in the 1965 Orange Bowl, scoring on a 69-yard pass from fellow Jet Jim Hudson as the Longhorns beat Joe Namath and Alabama. With the Jets, George broke into the starting lineup as a rookie and teams up well with quarterback Namath, who uses George's elusive qualities to the fullest.
George would like to become an author."
-1970 Topps No. 176
Sauer topped the receivers in Super Bowl III with eight catches for 133 yards and was second only to Lance Alworth in the AFL in receptions in 1968 with 66. His touchdown high was in 1968 with eight and his highest reception total was 75 in 1967, a Jet season record.
Drafted as a future by the Jets, George was first-string as a rookie in 1965. His streak of 53 straight games in which he caught a pass was broken on September 14, 1969 in Buffalo. He has punted in the pros, kicking for the East in the 1970 AFL All-Star Game, and has also held on kicks. George was Jet MVP and CYO Most Popular Jet in 1966. He rejoins former Jet Super Bowl teammates Babe Parilli, John Elliott, Gerry Philbin, Joe Walton and Randy Beverly on the Stars.
Sauer has deceptive speed. His longest pass reception in the pros was a 77-yarder in 1966. He starred in the Texas Orange Bowl victory over Alabama in 1965, catching a 69-yard touchdown pass.
He's the son of George Sauer, Sr., a former Green Bay pro, Director of Player Personnel for the Jets and General Manager for the Patriots. A mathematics major in college, he has written for the Washington Star and is working on a novel. George is an avid reader and also plays guitar and piano. He coached on offense at Oberlin College in 1973. His birthplace is Waco, Texas."
-1974 New York Stars Press/TV/Radio Guide
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