Here's a Flea Flicker look at another of the NFL's All-Decade Team. The 1960s All-Decade Team was the first to be done in real time. As the NFL approached their 50th Anniversary in 1970 the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters put together All-Decade teams. The 1920s-1950s All-Decade Teams were done retroactively. The 1960s All-Decade Team was the first to be done when the decade was still fresh in the mind of the voters. Here it is:
Quarterback
Sonny Jurgensen
Bart Starr
Johnny Unitas
Halfback
John David Crow
Paul Hornung
Leroy Kelly
Gale Sayers
Fullback
Jim Brown
Jim Taylor
Split end
Del Shofner
Charley Taylor
Flankers
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Tight end
John Mackey
Tackle
Bob Brown
Forrest Gregg
Ralph Neely
Guard
Gene Hickerson
Jerry Kramer
Howard Mudd
Center
Jim Ringo
Defensive end
Doug Atkins
Willie Davis
Deacon Jones
Defensive tackle
Alex Karras
Bob Lilly
Merlin Olsen
Linebacker
Dick Butkus
Larry Morris
Ray Nitschke
Tommy Nobis
Dave Robinson
Cornerback
Herb Adderley
Lem Barney
Bobby Boyd
Safety
Eddie Meador
Larry Wilson
Willie Wood
Kicker
Jim Bakken
Punter
Don Chandler
It's always interesting to look at these All-Decade Teams and see which players haven't been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's been said that to make the Hall of Fame a player has to be among the best at their position in the era in which they played. Appearing on an All-Decade is a pretty clear indication that the player was among the best at their position at the time that they played. The 1960s All-Decade Team includes 14 players that have not been inducted.
John David Crow
Del Shofner
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Ralph Neely
Jerry Kramer
Howard Mudd
Alex Karras
Larry Morris
Tommy Nobis
Bobby Boyd
Eddie Meador
Jim Bakken
Don Chandler
Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer has been the poster boy of Hall of Fame exclusion for years. I'd put Alex Karras right up there with him. His exclusion has been a joke. Maybe it's because of his suspension for the entire 1963 NFL season for gambling. Paul Hornung served the very same suspension and his bust is in Canton. Who knows? Karras was one of the best defensive tackles of his generation.
One omission from this team that's a bit of a surprise is Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka. He shouldn't replace John Mackey but he should be there with Mackey. The voters included at least one extra player for each position but kicker, punter, center, and tight end. I can understand leaving it to one punter and kicker by why only a single center and tight end? Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff would be a fine choice as a second center. He succeeded Jim Ringo as the best center in the NFL and he'll receive his much deserved induction into the Hall of Fame in a few weeks.
One curious aspect of the 1960s All-Decade Team is the listing of receivers as split end and flanker. The terms are certainly accurate but they aren't used on the teams of previous or later decades. They were ends before and wide receivers after. Today we here x-, and z-receivers far more often than split end and flanker.
No AFL players but that should be expected. It's an NFL team. The All-Time AFL Team will be looked at later. They had some keepers.
A much belated congratulations to the 1960s All-Decade Team.
No comments:
Post a Comment