“He was a doubting Thomas, he had to see to believe,” wrote Rooney Jr. “Noll could be maddening.” As is still the tradition, NFL coaches took over each Senior Bowl squad, and Bradshaw’s was coached by Don Shula. “We’ll see how he picks up teaching,” Noll told his scouts before the trip. This was, of course, paramount to Noll. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe his scouts when they said that Bradshaw had otherworldly talent. He trusted their instincts on dozens of prospects he never saw. But this was his potential quarterback, his extension on the field.
