By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
Booker Edgerson – Signed by the Bills in 1962
Booker Edgerson’s path to the Bills was an odd one. It started at Western Illinois, where he played under Lou Saban. After Saban jumped to the pros with the Boston Patriots, he told Edgerson that he thought Booker could be a pro player someday. In fact, Edgerson even signed a contract with the Pats, only to have it torn up when he found out if could end his college eligibility in other sports.
Edgerson joined Saban – now with the Bills as head coach – in Buffalo in 1962. Pro ball was no problem for Edgerson, who jumped into the starting lineup as a rookie and had six interceptions. He and Butch Byrd eventually teamed up as the starting cornerbacks on Buffalo’s championship teams in 1964 and 1965. Edgerson was the fast one of the pair.
He stayed with the Bills through 1969. Edgerson was traded to Denver in 1970, but a knee injury there ended his career. Booker hung around Buffalo after retirement, serving in a variety of roles in the community. He remains one of the most popular individuals to ever play for the Bills.
Let’s hear from Booker himself:
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)
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