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Ray Didinger: The Day Wilbert Montgomery's Career Took Flight

It was Wilbert Montgomery's coming out party and it happened in Washington on September 10, 1978. The fact that the Eagles will be opening the regular season in Washington on the same date this year stirs the memory.

Montgomery was a part-time player as a rookie in 1977. He was a sixth-round draft pick from Abilene Christian, painfully shy and not at all certain he belonged in the NFL. Coach Dick Vermeil wisely brought him along slowly, using him on kick returns (he led the NFC with a 26-yard average) but not playing him very much at running back.