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posted 07/17/01
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| Billy Joe Tolliver |
The 35-year-old Tolliver, expected to compete with fellow veteran Doug Pederson and former CFL standout Henry Burris for the backup quarterback role behind Brett Favre, brings wide experience, impressive arm strength, and strong leadership skills to the position, having played in 79 games and started 47 over his National Football League career.
He also brings a friendship with Favre, the pair having been teammates with Atlanta in 1991, when Brett was a rookie, and the year before the Packers were to acquire his services in a trade with the Falcons.
Tolliver, a member of the NFC Western Division champion New Orleans Saints for a portion of the 2000 season, although he did not see game action, previously had been a prominent factor in the Saints' offense in 1999, starting seven among 10 games played. Sharing the duties primarily with Billy Joe Hobert, he completed 139 of 268 passes for 1,916 yards and 7 touchdowns, with 16 interceptions.
A year earlier, the 6-1, 217-pound Texan played in seven games in his first season with New Orleans, starting four contests, and emerged with an 83.1 passer rating on 110 completions of 199 attempts for 1,427 yards and 8 touchdowns - with only 4 interceptions. He equaled his career-best with 3 touchdown passes against Buffalo (Dec. 27) in the Saints' season finale, completing 23 of 41 passes for 296 yards in coming off the bench in relief of Kerry Collins.
Originally a second-round draft selection by San Diego out of Texas Tech in 1989 (the 51st player chosen), Tolliver had the most productive year of his career to date with the Chargers in 1990, starting 14 games and completing 216 of 410 passes for 2,574 yards - all of the numbers representing career highs.
Three years later, he started 7 of 10 games played while with the then-Houston Oilers, completing 121 of 240 passes for 1,287 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 7 interceptions, over the 1994 season.
Tolliver subsequently spent the 1995 season with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League, completing 273 of 461 passes for 3,767 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 15 interceptions.
As a collegian, he had been a four-year starter at Texas Tech (1985-88) and set school records for passing attempts (1,007), completions (493), passing yards (6,756) and touchdown passes (38). He was intercepted 40 times.
Earlier, as a senior at Boyd (Texas) High School, he led his team to the Class AA state title and was named 'Player of the Year' by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He also compiled a 16-4 record as a pitcher for the school's baseball team, throwing 14 no-hitters with the aid of a fast ball clocked at 92 miles per hour. Tolliver also is a scratch golfer and won the $75,000 "Isuzu Celebrity Golf Challenge" in 1996.
Tolliver and his wife, Sheila, have five children - sons Charles, 16; Austin, 12; Bryce, 4; and Brody, 10 months; and a daughter, Mackenzie, 10.
In another transaction, the Packers have placed rookie quarterback Jonathan Beasley of Kansas State on waivers.
Tolliver's Career Stats