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Lance Rentzel, a promising Buffalo Bills draft pick who seemed to have it all before an infamous fall, died June 7, according to the Dallas Morning News. He was 82.
At the height of his fame, Rentzel was one of the top wide receivers in the NFL and was married to TV star Joey Heatherton. It all came crashing down when he was arrested on indecent exposure charges in Minnesota.
Rentzel was a high-profile player at Oklahoma who earned first team All-Big Eight honors and played in the Senior Bowl.
The Bills grabbed Rentzel in the sixth round of the 1965 AFL Draft, but the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the second round of the 1965 NFL Draft. Rentzel chose to sign with the Vikings.
He played two seasons with Minnesota where he was mostly used on special teams as a kick returner.
The Vikings quietly traded Rentzel to the Cowboys in 1967.
The Cowboys converted Rentzel into a flanker, and he became one of the NFL’s top receivers. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 1968.
Handsome, glib and popular, Rentzel even recorded a single that year, “Lookin’ Like Somethin’ That Ain’t.” The single, with its Northern Soul sound, didn’t become a national hit.
Rentzel married Heatherton in April 1969 in New York City. But their fairy tale life didn’t last.
Rentzel was leading Dallas in receiving yards when he was accused in November 1970 of exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty to the charge in 1971 and was sentenced to probation for five years and ordered to undergo mandatory psychiatric care. He received no jail time.
During the coverage of his Dallas arrest, it was discovered that the star had exposed himself to two girls on a St. Paul, Minnesota, playground. Charges from that incident were reduced to disorderly conduct after he agreed to seek mental health treatment. He served no jail time in that case, either.
Heatherton filed for divorce at the start of the 1971 season. It was finalized in 1972.
The Cowboys sent Rentzel to the Los Angeles Rams in 1971 in a trade. He played two seasons there before police raided his home for marijuana possession. After pleading guilty, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended Rentzel indefinitely at the start of the 1973 season.
The suspension was lifted in 1974, and Rentzel played for one final year.
He caught 268 passes for 4,826 yards and 38 touchdowns over his nine NFL seasons. He also had 26 rushes for 196 yards and two scores.
"To all who knew him, Lance was larger than life – hilariously funny, unfailingly optimistic and happy, warm in spirit, and deeply loyal," according to an obituary in The Oklahoman. "He formed many close friendships over the years, most notably the enduring bonds that he shared with his teammates."
In 1972, Rentzel published a New York Times bestselling autobiography, "When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow", a candid and critically praised account of his high and low points and struggles with his mental health. In the years after NFL retirement, he wrote numerous articles for publications such as Sport and L.A. Magazine.
He is survived by his two brothers, Del and Chris, and his daughter, Jenny.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lance Rentzel, former Buffalo Bills draft pick, dies at 82
Continue reading...
At the height of his fame, Rentzel was one of the top wide receivers in the NFL and was married to TV star Joey Heatherton. It all came crashing down when he was arrested on indecent exposure charges in Minnesota.
Who was Lance Rentzel?
Rentzel was a high-profile player at Oklahoma who earned first team All-Big Eight honors and played in the Senior Bowl.
The Bills grabbed Rentzel in the sixth round of the 1965 AFL Draft, but the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the second round of the 1965 NFL Draft. Rentzel chose to sign with the Vikings.
He played two seasons with Minnesota where he was mostly used on special teams as a kick returner.
Trade to the Dallas Cowboys transformed Rentzel’s career
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The Vikings quietly traded Rentzel to the Cowboys in 1967.
The Cowboys converted Rentzel into a flanker, and he became one of the NFL’s top receivers. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 1968.
Handsome, glib and popular, Rentzel even recorded a single that year, “Lookin’ Like Somethin’ That Ain’t.” The single, with its Northern Soul sound, didn’t become a national hit.
A doomed marriage to a TV star
Rentzel married Heatherton in April 1969 in New York City. But their fairy tale life didn’t last.
Rentzel was leading Dallas in receiving yards when he was accused in November 1970 of exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty to the charge in 1971 and was sentenced to probation for five years and ordered to undergo mandatory psychiatric care. He received no jail time.
During the coverage of his Dallas arrest, it was discovered that the star had exposed himself to two girls on a St. Paul, Minnesota, playground. Charges from that incident were reduced to disorderly conduct after he agreed to seek mental health treatment. He served no jail time in that case, either.
Heatherton filed for divorce at the start of the 1971 season. It was finalized in 1972.
Rentzel traded to the Rams, but trouble followed him
The Cowboys sent Rentzel to the Los Angeles Rams in 1971 in a trade. He played two seasons there before police raided his home for marijuana possession. After pleading guilty, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended Rentzel indefinitely at the start of the 1973 season.
The suspension was lifted in 1974, and Rentzel played for one final year.
He caught 268 passes for 4,826 yards and 38 touchdowns over his nine NFL seasons. He also had 26 rushes for 196 yards and two scores.
Rentzel's obit praises his better nature
"To all who knew him, Lance was larger than life – hilariously funny, unfailingly optimistic and happy, warm in spirit, and deeply loyal," according to an obituary in The Oklahoman. "He formed many close friendships over the years, most notably the enduring bonds that he shared with his teammates."
In 1972, Rentzel published a New York Times bestselling autobiography, "When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow", a candid and critically praised account of his high and low points and struggles with his mental health. In the years after NFL retirement, he wrote numerous articles for publications such as Sport and L.A. Magazine.
He is survived by his two brothers, Del and Chris, and his daughter, Jenny.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lance Rentzel, former Buffalo Bills draft pick, dies at 82
Continue reading...
