football season is here!!!!!!!!!! (1 Viewer)

Look, I wasn't born yet, so I can't speak to 50's toughness from personal experience. However, I find it hard to believe that the players in the 50's were "sooooo touuuggh" (like most people 15+ years older then me love to say) when the biggest guys on the field were not much bigger than small quarterbacks are today. Dirtier, meaner, absolutely. Without any rules to protect the safety of players, certainly. But could Unitas have played with and survived being hit by the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Ray Lewis, or Howie Long? According to Ron Jaworski, a quarterback who bridged two eras or pro football(70's into the 80's), the advent of Lawrence Taylor changed the quarterback position - QB's had to be either (1) bigger and able to take resounding hits or (2) more athletic and able to move in the pocket or scramble to avoid hits. LT and his progeny dramitically shortened Jaw's career. I don't think any of the smaller, weaker, slower, less athletic players of the 50's would have made it in todays NFL. Besides the fact that in the 30-50's when those players were growing up, football, especially pro-football, was not a big deal, there was far less competition to get into a major college program or the NFL, as the best atheletes played baseball, not football, all things which radically changed in the last 40 years.

Also, back on the 50's (until the Giants changed the practice with players like Sam Huff and Rosie Greer) the most talented players played offense, and the second rate players played defense. Did Unitas ever throw at a safety of Ed Reed's caliber or a cornerback who could run like Dion Sanders? Not likely, they would have eaten the passes I saw thrown in "the greatest game" for breakfast.
 
Time and place, time and place. Comparing athletes from era to era is futile. I do believe that "Night Train" Lane, Larry Wilson or Paul Krausse might not concede that they were inferior athletes. -- lancer
 
Not that this really speaks to Johnny Unitas as a player, how great he was or how he would compare to todays quarterbacks but my dad had the opportunity to meet Unitas some years back. After his playing days Unitas worked in the telecommunications business, or atleast something to do with it. My dad went to a meeting to discuss a new project with Unitas' company being unaware Unitas worked there. Needless to say my dad was in awe that he got to spend time with the great Johnny Unitas. The thing my dad remembers most is how nice Unitas was and how well he knew his stuff.
 
My brother and I met Mr. Unitas in a Howard Co., Md. restaraunt in passing one night and he was extremely gracious. He personally autographed some 8x10's for us at a later date that my brother got from him. The thrill of my life. -- lancer
 
Louis Badolato said:
Look, I wasn't born yet, so I can't speak to 50's toughness from personal experience. However, I find it hard to believe that the players in the 50's were "sooooo touuuggh" (like most people 15+ years older then me love to say) when the biggest guys on the field were not much bigger than small quarterbacks are today. Dirtier, meaner, absolutely. Without any rules to protect the safety of players, certainly. But could Unitas have played with and survived being hit by the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Ray Lewis, or Howie Long? According to Ron Jaworski, a quarterback who bridged two eras or pro football(70's into the 80's), the advent of Lawrence Taylor changed the quarterback position - QB's had to be either (1) bigger and able to take resounding hits or (2) more athletic and able to move in the pocket or scramble to avoid hits. LT and his progeny dramitically shortened Jaw's career. I don't think any of the smaller, weaker, slower, less athletic players of the 50's would have made it in todays NFL. Besides the fact that in the 30-50's when those players were growing up, football, especially pro-football, was not a big deal, there was far less competition to get into a major college program or the NFL, as the best atheletes played baseball, not football, all things which radically changed in the last 40 years.

Also, back on the 50's (until the Giants changed the practice with players like Sam Huff and Rosie Greer) the most talented players played offense, and the second rate players played defense. Did Unitas ever throw at a safety of Ed Reed's caliber or a cornerback who could run like Dion Sanders? Not likely, they would have eaten the passes I saw thrown in "the greatest game" for breakfast.
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Like you said you weren't born yet; based on the above remarks, you would be better off to leave it at that.:cool: You want to think today's players are tougher and that Ed Reed and Dion Sanders:rolleyes: were better than Night Train Lane, enjoy your fantasy.;) I have had the pleasure of watching the game in each of these time frames and the only thing Dion would have eaten if he had been playing at that time was a lot of turf; in fact I am not sure he would have taken the field.;):D Obviously I am exaggatering for fun but if any QB from an earlier era could play the game today, it would be Unitas. It is your loss really you didn't see enough of him to appreciate that; maybe NFL films can help.
 
Spitfrnd said:
Like you said you weren't born yet; based on the above remarks, you would be better off to leave it at that.:cool: You want to think today's players are tougher and that Ed Reed and Dion Sanders:rolleyes: were better than Night Train Lane, enjoy your fantasy.;) I have had the pleasure of watching the game in each of these time frames and the only thing Dion would have eaten if he had been playing at that time was a lot of turf; in fact I am not sure he would have taken the field.;):D Obviously I am exaggatering for fun but if any QB from an earlier era could play the game today, it would be Unitas. It is your loss really you didn't see enough of him to appreciate that; maybe NFL films can help.
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I wish I could have see more of him. I only have seen him play in two complete games (the "Greatest Game" and Superbowl III), neither of which impressed me all that much. His team put 17 points on the board in regulation of the first, and 7 points in the other. I used to love watching Art Donovan (a Bronx boy who played for the Colts in the 50's) talk about this era on the Letterman show about 20 years ago.

I certainly have a great deal of respect for many of the players of this era, especially defensive players like Night Train lane, but I have only seen highlight real footage of most of them. Its much easier to get footage of guys who played once the superbowl era began, so that is where most of my "first hand" or "eyewitness" knowledge of players begins.
 
It is a pity more of todays fans did not get to see Unitas play but such is life. Those of us that did will always remember and know we were fortunate to be of his era. In an interesting side note, Unitas and Super Peyton have the same career TD pass to pass attempt percentage while Unitas has a better percentage than such notables as Montana and Starr. Unitas' yards per completion is also higher than those mentioned. Stats are dry and do not give a complete picture but Unitas' career stats still rank pretty high in some catagories, for what it is worth. Anyway, go Ravens! -- lancer
 
lancer said:
It is a pity more of todays fans did not get to see Unitas play but such is life. Those of us that did will always remember and know we were fortunate to be of his era. In an interesting side note, Unitas and Super Peyton have the same career TD pass to pass attempt percentage while Unitas has a better percentage than such notables as Montana and Starr. Unitas' yards per completion is also higher than those mentioned. Stats are dry and do not give a complete picture but Unitas' career stats still rank pretty high in some catagories, for what it is worth. Anyway, go Ravens! -- lancer
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Indeed, the Ravens could have sure used him at this point.;)
 
lancer said:
My brother and I met Mr. Unitas in a Howard Co., Md. restaraunt in passing one night and he was extremely gracious. He personally autographed some 8x10's for us at a later date that my brother got from him. The thrill of my life. -- lancer
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Good for you Lancer. That would have been the thrill of a life time for me. I did meet Tom Matte, he of the plays taped on the arm game and a good halfback but Unitas would have been special indeed.
 
Speaking of autographs, there is a great show coming up in Houston. Staubach, Bradshaw, Butkus, Deacon Jones etc. You can even order online without going to the show. I usually have mixed feelings about paying for sports autographs, but many of these old timers missed out on the big money. Here is the link: http://www.tristarproductions.com/shows/HOU109/schedule.htm
 
Spitfrnd - As you can well see I am an old Colts fan from the late 50's as a tyke up until, well, you know when. At any rate, Tom Matte is a big hero of mine, as all the old Colts are. Up until recently there was a local (Baltimore & area cable) t.v. show that Tom Davis co-hosted with Ordell Brasse and Art Donovan that covered current football. It was an absolute riot to watch as you might imagine. I lost track of it and do not think it is on anymore but it was a pleasure to hear about the old days and hear the show's theme music which was the Colt's old fight song. Long live the Baltimore Colts! -- Al
 
Louis Badolato said:
Corrrected list:

Postseason Record:

Bart Starr 9-1 (5)

Tom Brady 14-3 (3)

Jim Plunkett 8-2 (2)

Terry Bradshaw 14-5 (4)

Joe Montana 17-7 (4)

Troy Aikman 11-4 (3)

John Elway 14-7 (2)

Roger Staubach 11-6 (2)

Phil Simms 6-4 (1)

Steve Young 8-6 (1)

Brett Favre 12-10 (1)

Bob Greise 6-5 (1)

Fran Tarkenton 6-5 (0)

Jim Kelly 9-8 (0)

Peyton Manning 7-8 (1)

Dan Marino 8-10 (0)

Warren Moon 3-7 (0)

I had left Elway and Tarkenton off the original list!
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I found two other qualified quarterbacks, Kenny Stabler and Donovan McNabb:

Bart Starr 9-1 (5)

Tom Brady 14-3 (3)

Jim Plunkett 8-2 (2)

Terry Bradshaw 14-5 (4)

Joe Montana 17-7 (4)

Troy Aikman 11-4 (3)

John Elway 14-7 (2)

Roger Staubach 11-6 (2)

Donovan McNabb 8-5 (0)

Kenny Stabler 7-5 (1)

Phil Simms 6-4 (1)

Steve Young 8-6 (1)

Brett Favre 12-10 (1)

Bob Greise 6-5 (1)

Fran Tarkenton 6-5 (0)

Jim Kelly 9-8 (0)

Peyton Manning 7-8 (1)

Dan Marino 8-10 (0)

Warren Moon 3-7 (0)
 
That list need the Mad Bomber, Daryle Lamonica. Man, that guy was a great passer. I think you were still in diapers when he was playing Louis :)

Unfortunately, he had a horrendous super bowl against the Pack.
 
jazzeum said:
That list need the Mad Bomber, Daryle Lamonica. Man, that guy was a great passer. I think you were still in diapers when he was playing Louis :)

Unfortunately, he had a horrendous super bowl against the Pack.
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He just misses the list at 4-5.
 
Well the Titan rematch is here!!!!!!! tommorow's game in Tenneessee is gonna be a slober knocker, put the wife and kids to bed early, if you don't like blood, fighting, black and blue hitting well then don't watch this game, if my Ravens play defense like they have in the last three or four weeks and Flacco and the offense can put some points on the board then we should be o.k. but this will be a low scoring game, coming down to turnovers and field position, gooooooo ravens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

prediction

Ravens...16 ...Sammy
Titans....13
 
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