Moonlighting: Receiver Staroba Doubles as Packers’ Punter

Dec. 7, 1973 – A wide receiver by trade, Paul Staroba gets notice he will be the Packers’ punter for the remainder of the 1973 season. Signed just two days earlier to replace injured receiver Dick Gordon, Staroba will pull double duty because of injuries to others. Regular punter Ron Widby is out with a back injury. His backup, cornerback Willie Buchanon, is on crutches. Punter No. 3 is Chester Marcol, but he will be limited because of a lingering groin injury. That leaves Staroba, who punted in college at Michigan. “He can’t move,” Packers coach Dan Devine says of Widby. “The doctor scratched him this noon.” In two games, Staroba averages 31.1 yards on 12 punts and catches one pass for 23 yards.