Sunday, July 6 marks 64 days until the Arizona Cardinals start their 2014 regular season on Monday Night Football.
With our daily countdown continuing, we look now at the history of number 64 and what players have worn it since 1950.
It is worn currently by Philip Blake, a center/guard that spent 2013 on the practice squad. He was a 2012 Denver Broncos fourth round pick who was inactive for two games and then on injured reserve for the rest of the season. After he was cut in 2013 by the Broncos, the Cards added him to the practice squad where he stayed the entire season.
In 2012, 64 belonged to guard Senio Kelemete. He was drafted out of Washington by the Cardinals in the fifth round that year. He got into one game late in the season and is remembered for his 10-yard catch and rumble of a deflected pass against the 49ers. He was unable to make the team in 2013 and was picked up by the Saints.
Before Kelemete, you have to go back to 2005. That season it belonged to tackle Adam Haayer. He appeared in 12 games and started four.
Tackle John Nix wore 64 in 2004. He appeared in one game.
Center Steven Grace donned 64 in 2002. He appeared in one game that year.
It was Norbert Davidds-Garrido who wore it in 2000. He appeared in nine games, starting two.
From 1996-99, it belonged to tackle/guard James Dexter. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round. He was the team's starting right tackle during the 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons, but missed several games to start the season in '97 with a knee injury and much of 1999 with a triceps injury.
In 1995, I was surprised to learn that Jamie Dukes wore 64 for the Cardinals. The now NFL Network analyst played the final of his 10-year NFL career with the Cardinals. He was the team's starting center for the eight games he was healthy for that year. I did not know he had played for the Cardinals.
Rick Cunningham wore 64 from 1992-94. Originally drafted by the Colts in 1990, he was picked up in 1992 after he had not played in 1991. He was the team's starting right tackle those three seasons, although he missed time due to injury in 1992 and 1994.
From 1987-89, 64 was worn by Todd Peat, who started 36 games at left guard. He has resided here in Arizona since his career ended and his son, Andrus Peat, who was a local high school product, is expected to be one of the top tackle prospects in next year's NFL Draft, should he declare a year early.
Center Joe Bock wore it in one game in 1987.
Versatile lineman Randy Clark wore 64 from 1980-86. He was a reserve his first three seasons. He started the next four years at center for the St. Louis Cardinals.
From 1972-79, it was G/DE/DT Bob Young. In eight seasons, he was the starter at right guard one season, a reserve one season and the starter at left guard the other six seasons. He was part of the record-setting offensive line that allowed only eight sacks in 1975.
From 1958-69, it was worn by G/LB Ken Gray, who was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time 1st Team All-Pro at guard.
Here are the rest:
1956-58 -- G/T Doug Hogland
1955 -- G Larry Hartshorn
1953-54 -- G/DE Jerry Watford
1950-51 -- DT Lloyd McDermott
1950 -- T/DT Jim Lipinski
There is the history of 64. The contemporaries aren't so memorable, but Young and Gray make for a pair of great ones, even though they were from forever ago.