Bill Maas

After being a Cheddar Nemesis for several years, we are proud to welcome Bill into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Despite being warned by several members of the media that to attempt to stick a lump of foam cheese on the head of Mr. Maas would result in substantial injuries on our behalf, we persevered for 3 long years before finally the jackpot in 2002.

Bill was born William Thomas Maas in Pennsylvania 1962. He played his college ball at the University of Pittsburgh alongside Dan Marino. Since he's a brother in law of Marino today - we figure there's a good story waiting to be told from their college days!

Mass graduated a year later than Marino, but was picked higher than Dan - as the Chiefs used the 5th pick overall on the feisty nose tackle. It would prove to be a useful selection as Bill would make an immediate impact starting 14 games, registered five sacks, and being named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. He would go on to be a great player on some mediocre Chiefs teams in the 1980's. He was a Pro Bowl selection following the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

Legend has it that the Chiefs was so bad that once when Bill pulled into a gas station on a Sunday morning before a game in December, he figured it would be safe to leave his car unlocked with two Chiefs tickets on his dashboard. He went on in to the gas station, and when he returned there were now four Chiefs tickets on the dash!

1986 might have been his best year, as he made key plays all year on an opportunistic defense as the Chiefs reached the postseason for the 1st time since 1971. His key recovery of a Boomer Esiason fumble in Week 1 highlighted a 24-14 win. He had 2 sacks in a week 3 win over Houston, and he finished the year with 7 sacks. He also played a key role in the Chiefs amazing special teams unit by blocking TWO field goals, one of which was returned for a touchdown. However the Chiefs fell in the wild card round of the playoffs to the New York Jets.

In 1987, there were more big plays from Bill like his first NFL touchdown (a 6 yard fumble return vs. Pittsburgh in Week 9), and his 6 sacks him to return to the Pro Bowl as the AFC's starting nose tacke. But the Chiefs slumped to a 4-11 record.

Bill gives us the thumbs up for his induction

Bill was picked 5th overall by the Chiefs in the 1984 draft

Injuries started to limit Bill's effectiveness at the end of the 1980's. A knee injury ended his 1988 season after 8 games, while a broken arm ended his 1989 season after Week 10. The dominant NT who had totaled 19 sacks between 1985 and 87, could only manage 15 in his final 6 seasons.

Still there were some personal highlights such as a safety in 1988 when he sacked Chargers QB Babe Laufenberg in the end zone in Week 4. Or in 1989, when he scored his 2nd NFL TD (a 4 yard fumble return), again against the Steelers but this time in his home state. After finishing up his Chiefs career in 1992, he moved to the Packers in 1993 for one season before retiring to the broadcast booth.

In recent years, Bill had made the annual pilgrimage to Europe to cover NFLE - and has proved himself to be one of the rising stars on the FOX Sports Network. We've had our run ins with Bill through the years, and his refusal to be "cheddarhead" reached legendary proportions - with NFL Films even documenting the standoff.

Bill is a legend in the broadcast booth

Cheddared! Amsterdam 2002

Finally in 2002, in a Week 5 clash in Amsterdam we were able to get that lump of "plaid cheese" as he calls it, on his head. (We had spent all of half-time running around the Amsterdam ArenA trying to find some food to feed the guy). Clearly the cheddaring must have gone to his head, as he started attempting a dreadful Scottish accent during the broadcast.

Many congratulations on your induction Bill, and we hope you keep plugging the league as hard as you do for years to come!

Ray Bentley (wearing cheddar), Bill (completely ignoring us), Troy Aikman (holding cheddar) and Preston, Barcelona 1999

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