Burton Lawless Richard Burton Lawless ( born November 1 , 1953 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League ( NFL ) for six seasons during the 1970s and 1980s . Lawless played college football for the University of Florida , and earned All - American honors . A second - round pick in the 1975 NFL Draft , he played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions of the NFL . Early years . Lawless was born in Dothan , Alabama in 1953 , before his family moved to Florida . He attended Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda , Florida , where he first drew recognition as an all - state tight end for the Charlotte Fighting Tarpons high school football team . In 2007 , thirty - six years after he graduated from high school , the Florida High School Athletic Association ( FHSAA ) recognized Lawless as one of the " 100 Greatest Players of the First 100 Years " of Florida high school football . In 2001 , he was inducted into the Charlotte High School Hall of Fame . College career . Lawless received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville , Florida , where he played for coach Doug Dickey ' s Florida Gators football team from 1971 to 1974 . As a freshman he broke his shoulder on his first practice and was moved to offensive tackle when he returned to the team , and eventually to offensive guard , where he arguably became the best pulling guard in gators history . He was a three - year starter , a second - team All - Southeastern conference ( SEC ) selection in 1973 and 1974 , and a first - team All - American during his senior season in 1974 . He also played in the 1975 Chicago College All - Star Game . Lawless returned to the university during the NFL off - season to finish his bachelor ' s degree in exercise and sport sciences 1977 , and he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a " Gator Great " in 1978 . In one of a series of articles published by " The Gainesville Sun " in 2006 , he was recognized as one top 100 Gators ( No . 42 ) of the first 100 years of Florida football . Professional career . Dallas Cowboys . Lawless was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round ( forty - fourth pick overall ) of the 1975 NFL Draft , also known as the Dirty Dozen draft . Mitch Hoopes and him were the only rookies to earn starting jobs , with Lawless replacing John Niland at left guard and becoming the first team rookie to start in the offensive line ( including Super Bowl X ) since 1965 . At the end of the season he was named to the 1975 NFL All - Rookie team . In 1976 the play of Herbert Scott forced him into a platoon role . In 1977 injuries allowed him to regain his starting position , but by the next year , he was back to serving as a messenger guard , alternating mainly with Tom Rafferty . He retired in 1980 during training camp and was subsequently traded to the Miami Dolphins for a draft choice . During his time with the team he was a part of three Super Bowl teams , winning Super Bowl XII . Miami Dolphins ( first stint ) . The Miami Dolphins released him during training camp in 1980 . Detroit Lions . After his release , he signed as free agent with the Detroit Lions , where he played in 9 games in 1980 . Miami Dolphins ( second stint ) . Lawless was signed to the Miami Dolphins roster for the last 5 games of the 1981 season . Chicago Bears . Burton signed a contract with the Chicago Bears for the 1982 NFL season . However , in May during the offseason , a 12 - foot , 5 , 000 - pound plow - arm fell on his head and neck , causing him to be paralyzed from the neck down for 17 days and ending his professional career . During his seven - season NFL career , Lawless played in eighty - two games , and started in twenty - three of them . Personal life . Lawless attended the Cowboys alumni reunion and closing ceremony at Texas Stadium in Dallas on December 20 , 2008 .