Green Bay Packers

Red Cochran, 82, has seen just about all there to see in an NFL career that has spanned parts of six decades. Now he wants to see more.

Last fall, Cochran thought his 56-year career as an NFL player, assistant coach and scout was coming to a sad end. Cataracts were giving him double vision, and for a scout used to logging hundreds of miles each year in his old pickup truck the ability to get behind the wheel meant job or no job.

Despite his age, Cochran didn't want to hang up his stopwatch. But eye surgery had been recommended and the ravages of time seemed to be making his decision for him.

"I told Mike that I was a danger on the highway and probably should go ahead and retire," Cochran said.

Coach Mike Sherman, the sixth general manager or personnel director whom Cochran has worked for in Green Bay since 1975, sensed just how much the job and the organization meant to Cochran.

"He said, 'No, don't do that,'" Cochran said. "'Instead of driving, come in the office and do your film work and your phone work. Then we'll decide after the draft what we want to do about next year.'"

Knowing there was a chance of getting back to work, Cochran optimistically underwent cataract surgery on his right eye in September and then on his left eye in October.

The operations were successful. Cochran could drive. He would work. Again.

Now Cochran faces another physical hurdle. On Sept. 1, he will undergo hip replacement surgery.

If you think a bad hip will threaten Cochran's capacity for scouting, think again.

"The doctor said it would be four to six weeks," Cochran said matter-of-factly. "I've already got my schedule fixed. I'll get film in here latter part of September that I can work on until I can get back on the road."

At some point in October, Cochran will climb into his new red Dodge pickup and set sail across the Upper Midwest. He will visit colleges throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, northern Illinois and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and if there isn't a well-known prospect at a school in his area he will talk to the coach and determine if there are any in the future.

"I know all these guys out there," Cochran said. "I can go in and sit down and bull---- with (St. John's John) Gagliardi and (Minnesota's Glen) Mason. They're all old-time friends and I find out about who's what. If I see a guy I can talk to them and get an answer."

Cochran files reports just like the Packers' eight other scouts who crisscross the country evaluating college players. What he doesn't do is use a computer.

He writes his reports by hand in a pithy, concise fashion.

In late February, Cochran will spend a week in Indianapolis stationed at the 10-yard marker in the RCA Dome where more than 300 draft-eligible players will run the 40-yard dash. Each year, the National Football Scouting combine enlists Cochran to provide one of two hand-held times at the 10.

When the scouting staff reconvenes before the draft, Cochran will sit with them from dawn to dusk. The average age of his colleagues is only 36 but Cochran still goes out with the group once or twice each spring and knocks back more than his share of beers.

Ron Wolf used to relish comparing former players to current ones, and he often relied on Cochran's sharp memory. Not only did Cochran coach in the NFL for 18 seasons but he also played for the Chicago Cardinals from 1947-50. The team's coach in 1950 was Curly Lambeau.

"The guy has forgotten more football than we'll know," Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey said. "He's argued with George Halas at halftime, he coached Paul Hornung, he stood up for Joe Montana and he stood up to Ron Wolf. You have to have so much great respect for him."

Cochran played in the backfield behind Hall of Famer Charlie Trippi, Pat Harder and Elmer Angsman in his first three seasons. The Cardinals won the 1947 NFL championship and lost the '48 title game to the Philadelphia Eagles, 7-0, despite Cochran's two interceptions.

His name would be in the NFL record book for his 20.9-yard average on punt returns in 1949 but his 15 attempts were too few to qualify him as the league leader.

Cochran coached the backfield for Wake Forest (1951-'55), the Detroit Lions (1956-'58) and Green Bay (1959-'66) under Vince Lombardi before he decided to try his hand in business for one year.

"I decided I wasn't a businessman and got back into football," he said.

In 1975, Bart Starr offered Cochran a position in scouting, which he held on a full-time basis until his 65th birthday in 1987. He has been part-time ever since.

Today, Cochran is the oldest scout in the NFL still out on the road making school calls. New England's legendary Bucko Kilroy, 83, still spends most mornings in the office as a scouting consultant.

Otherwise, there aren't any scouts older than 75.

Cochran was hit hard in 2001 when former Packers scout Bobo Cegelski died within a month after retirement at 65. New York Jets scout Bob Schmitz, a native of New Holstein, Wis., also was 65 when he died this spring just after his final draft.

"It makes you scared to think about retiring," Cochran said.

Blessed with clear eyes, a keen mind and what soon will be a new hip to replace an arthritic old one, Cochran still is having too much fun to quit.

"As long as I think I can still make a judgment and come up with a name once in a while ... I can't think of anything I could have had any more enjoyment out of," Cochran said. "Football's been awful damn good to me."