This Day in Buffalo Sports History: Clark starts packing

   July 16, 1984 -- The tenure of a starting cornerback in the National Football League can be a short and nervous one. You can be only a couple of touchdown passes from the bench and oblivion.

   The Bills' Mario Clark, therefore, had a nice run in Buffalo. He was a first-round draft choice in 1976, and started for the team in eight full seasons. In fact, he didn't miss a game in his time here and made 26 interceptions.

   Then on this date, the Bills send Clark to San Francisco for a draft choice. You could say Buffalo struck at just the right time. Clark only started six games the following season with the Niners, and was out of football in 1985.

--- Budd Bailey