PRO: "Mike was our biggest surprise on offense last season,"
Michaels said. "He came in as a free agent and became a starter.
Mike is a hard-nosed player with a great deal of enthusiasm and
desire. He has a real love of the game and no one can question his
heart." ... had fine rookie season cut short by severe rib
injury ...played in 10 games and started 8 at FB...wound up as
club's 3rd leading rusher with 339 yards on 85 carries (4.0 avg.) ...
scored only TD at Baltimore ...also had 18 receptions for 144 yards
(8.0 avg.) ...missed large part of first 3 games due to broken rib suffered in 3rd preseason game ...started next 8 before going
down in New England with another broken rib which caused
bleeding in the pleural cavity ...was hospitalized for a week in New
England and placed on injured reserve Nov. 18 ...enjoyed best
game vs. Buffalo when he picked up 80 yards on 20 carries ...was
involved in one of the most exciting plays of 1981 when he
combined with Richard Todd on a flea-flicker vs. Houston which
resulted in a Wesley WalkerTD ...also caught 4 passes for 48 yards
that game ...signed as free agent with the Jets in 1981 ...originally
was free agent with New Orleans in 1980 but was released on final
cut was hampered by ankle injury during Saints training camp
and carried the ball only once in preseason.
COLLEGE: Two-year letterman at Purdue started as a "walkon"
and eventually earned his scholarship carried the ball 90
times as a senior for 353 yards (3.6 avg.) and 4 TDs ...rushed for
308 yards as a junior on 52 carries (5.9 avg.) ...played in 1978
Peach Bowl and 1979 Bluebonnet Bowl. ..college teammate of
Jets' Scott Dierking.
PERSONAL: Single ...nicknamed "Augie" ...majored in physical
education ...was one of 5 NFL players who visited U.S. military
installations in Europe during a 21-day tour in April (Ronnie Lott,
Cris Collinsworth, Matt Blair and Effren Herrera were the
others.) ...was a football standout at Leo High in his hometown
and birthplace of Leo, Ind.