It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed since I was in Canton for Cris Carter's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was a beautiful time and place. Carter had to wait about six years longer than he should have had to wait for the Hall to call. There are many former players that have been waiting far longer than Cris Carter. Several have even died waiting. Here are a few of the players that should be in the Hall of Fame.
Lavvie Dilweg
End
Milwaukee Badgers 1926, Green Bay Packers 1927-31
I get the feeling that the voters have shut the book on players from the first decade of the NFL. They forgot one. Dilweg is widely regarded as the best all-around end of the 1920s. He was a big part of the Packers championship teams of 1929-31.
Glenn Presnell
Back
Portsmouth Spartans 1931-33, Detroit Lions 1934-36
He also played on an Ironton Tanks semi-pro team that defeated the Bears and Giants in 1930. Great all-around football player. 1st in the league in scoring , 2nd in passing, 4th in rushing in 1933. Won an NFL title with the Lions in 1935. Kicked a 54-yard field goal in 1934 that stood as the NFL record for nearly twenty years. Playing in the shadow of Dutch Clark might have darkened his deserving Hall of Fame recognition.
Spec Sanders
Back
New York Yankees(AAFC)1946-49, New York Yanks 1950
Sanders had one of the greatest seasons in professional football history in 1947. 1,432 yards rushing. 18 rushing touchdowns. 1,442 yards passing. 14 passing touchdowns. One kickoff returned for a touchdown. Three interceptions. A 42.1 yard punting average. He did everything and he did everything great. He was named to the Pro Bowl in his one NFL season. Sanders was the sixth pick of the 1942 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. World War II had other plans for Spec Sanders. As it did for many professional football players, the war gave Sanders a later start to his career. He was a 27-year old rookie in 1946.
Ken Kavanaugh
End
Chicago Bears 1940-41, 1945-50
The three years taken by World War II may be what has kept Kavanaugh out of Canton. He averaged an amazing 28.5 yards per catch in 1941. Averaged 22.4 for his career. 50 of his 162 career catches were touchdowns. Kavanaugh helped lead the Bears to three NFL titles and scored touchdowns in all three games.
Al Wistert
Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles
Strong on defense. Excelled as a blocker. All-NFL from 1944-48. Wistert led the Eagles lines of the 1948-49 championship years.
Alex Karras
Defensive tackle
Detroit Lions 1958-62, 1964-70
One of the musts for a player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is to be among the best at his position during his career. Karras was one of the best defensive tackles throughout his twelve-year career. The best indication of his great play can be found in the way that his peers speak of him. He was Warren Sapp about thirty years before Warren Sapp was Warren Sapp. His suspension for gambling in 1963 must be the reason for his exclusion from the Hall. That doesn't make much sense since Paul Hornung was suspended for the same season and the same reason.
Jerry Kramer
Guard
Green Bay Packers 1958-68
This one is probably the biggest mystery. He was one of the top players on some of the best teams in NFL history. It was sort of assumed that enough Packers from the 1960s were already honored in Canton. Then Dave Robinson makes it last year. Kramer's missing bust is a joke.
Ken Anderson
Quarterback
Cincinnati Bengals 1971-86
Anderson was one of the best quarterbacks of his era. Extremely accurate. MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1981 when he led the Bengals to an improbable Super Bowl appearance.
Ken Riley
Cornerback
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals of this era are pretty much ignored by the voters. Riley had an incredible 65 interceptions in his career. 5th all-time. The only player ahead of him that spent his entire career at corner was "Night Train" Lane.
These are just a few of the players that are at the mercy of the Senior Committee.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
The Next Hall of Fame Class
As soon as the final induction speech ends talk begins on the next Hall of Fame class. It feels a bit sudden but this is a rush-rush world. Always moving onto the next thing as soon as the book is closed on the last thing. Here's the Flea Flicker Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
As I understand it, the Selection Committee will be selecting up to two new members next year in a separate contributors category. Separating contributors from players and coaches is an excellent idea. While I'd like to see long ignored, original team owner Carl Storck inducted into the Hall of Fame, I doubt that it will happen. It's likely that none of the 46 members of the Selection Committee have even heard of Storck. That's very sad. They should know better the history that they are judging. On the plane to Canton last year, I overheard Dan Pompei wonder if the Kansas City Chiefs had even won a Super Bowl. He's on the Senior Committee that just voted Curley Culp into the Hall of Fame. Culp played in the Super Bowl that the Chiefs won. Pompei was also being honored by the Hall of Fame. Terrific. My guess is that the two new members from the contributors category will be Art Modell and either Eddie DeBartolo Jr. or Paul Tagliabue. I think that the selections should be:
Carl Storck
Carl Storck
Steve Sabol
Every bit of the NFL is touched by Steve Sabol. The good parts. And he made them better. Sabol went into the Hall of Fame when his father did. At least he survived long enough to be a part of that.
If it was up to me the Senior members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015 would be:
Lavvy Dilweg
Jerry Kramer
Both were Packers. Both should have been in the Hall long ago. Dilweg should have been inducted while Kramer was still playing. Lavvie Dilweg was regarded as one of the best ends of the 1920s. He was one of the best players of that first decade and a key member of the Packers championship teams of 1929-31. Kramer's absence from the Hall of Fame has long been a mystery. Too many players from the Lombardi Packers? Well, it really shouldn't matter. They are either Hall of Famers or they aren't and Jerry Kramer is.
The most notable of the players in their first-year of eligibility are: Junior Seau, Kurt Warner, Orlando Pace, Isaac Bruce, and Tory Holt. In my opinion, Seau is the only automatic. His induction next summer will be a very sad one. Warner was a Trent Green-injury away from being just another quarterback that gave the NFL a shot. It's the middle part of his 13-year career that will be the biggest obstacle in getting to Canton in his first year. Five years can be an NFL lifetime and Warner was mediocre, at best, from 2002-06. The rest of his career was awesome. With the St. Louis Rams at the front end of his career and the Arizona Cardinals at the back end, he was every bit the Hall of Fame quarterback. He was great enough that I would put him in Canton next summer. Pace, Bruce, and Holt are also Hall of Fame players but I don't see them as first ballot Hall of Fame players. So, we (I) have another two members of the 2015 Hall of Fame Class
Junior Seau
Kurt Warner
There are three spots left. The Selection Committee has created a much discussed logjam at the receiver position. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are added to that logjam this year. Hines Ward, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens will be added to it in the coming years. This will be a good year to add two deserving receivers.
Tim Brown
Marvin Harrison
For the last spot, I see this a fine time to add:
Kevin Greene
The last spot comes down to Greene and Charles Haley in my little book. I could see either one making it. And tomorrow I might have Haley in there instead. Both have been waiting the same length of time. Haley has those five Super Bowl rings. Greene had 160 career sacks. Haley had 100.5. Haley played on far better teams and had far better players around him. Both could take over games. It's a toss-up and that is probably a big reason why both have been left waiting.
The Flea Flicker 2015 Hall of Class:
Carl Storck
Steve Sabol
Lavvie Dilweg
Jerry Kramer
Junior Seau
Kurt Warner
Tim Brown
Marvin Harrison
Kevin Greene
A nine member class. With the speeches getting longer this one could be a two day affair. Although four members of my Class are no longer with us. Seau's sad death will probably shine a bright light on the hazards of football rather than his brilliant career.
The 2015 Hall of Fame Class will probably look more like this:
Art Modell
Paul Tagliabue
Ken Riley
Tommy Nobis
Junior Seau
Kurt Warner
Orlando Pace
Tim Brown
Marvin Harrison
The 2015 Hall of Fame Class will probably look more like this:
Art Modell
Paul Tagliabue
Ken Riley
Tommy Nobis
Junior Seau
Kurt Warner
Orlando Pace
Tim Brown
Marvin Harrison
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Hall of Fame Thoughts
The Hall of Fame Class of 2014 is the second in a that's filled with players that played in my football fan lifetime. I saw all of these guys play the game. I'm afraid that will become an annual occurrence in the coming years. There are still many deserving players from the earlier years that the Senior Committee appear to have forgotten. That's a complaint for another day. These days are for the seven football players that were honored yesterday.
Derrick Brooks
Walter Jones
Michael Strahan
Aeneas Williams
Andre Reed
Claude Humphrey
Ray Guy
This is an excellent group. Ray Guy's presence on it probably has the most critics simply for the position that he played. With Guy, or any deserving specialist, it isn't so much the position that he played but how he played the position that should decide whether he's deserving. Guy was a football player. He was one of the eleven football players that stepped on the football field for his team. I don't expect a run on punters now that Guy has broken through just like I didn't expect a run on kickers when Jan Stenerud was inducted in 1991. It's more of a surprise that Stenerud made it in his second year of eligibility than Guy making it in his twenty-second.
Here are some Flea Flicker thoughts on the seven new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Derrick Brooks
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in the same division as the Minnesota Vikings during the first seven years of Brooks' career. It was a nightmare and a treat to watch him play against the Vikings offense twice each season. It often seemed like there were about ten #55s running around the field. The weak-side linebacker in Tony Dungy's Cover-2 (Tampa-2?) was made for Derrick Brooks. It was evident early that he would one day be honored in Canton. That defense came from Dungy's days in Bud Carson's Pittsburgh Steelers defenses of the 1970s. Dungy urged Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks to become his Joe Greene and Jack Ham. They succeeded.
Walter Jones
In his 13-year career, Jones was called for nine(!) holding penalties. I think that I've seen Bryant McKinnie called for nine holding penalties in one game. You know that you have a great left tackle when you just put him out there and not worry about that side of the field for a decade. Mike Holmgren called him the best offensive football player that he'd ever coached. Jones is with Art Shell, Anthony Munoz, and Jonathan Ogden as the best tackles that I've seen in my lifetime.
Michael Strahan
For about a half dozen years Strahan was the most complete defensive end in the game. He was equally great at rushing the passer and stopping the run. Ends usually excel at one or the other. There are very few that excel at both. Too many people are critical of Strahan because Favre took a dive. That was hardly Strahan's fault. Every defensive player with a bunch of sacks will have more than a few that weren't too difficult to get. There was just a huge spotlight on this one.
Aeneas Williams
Williams was one of the best corners in the game for more than a decade. He would probably have strolled into the Hall as a first-ballot inductee if he played on a better team. In ten years with the Cardinals he played in one playoff game and that game was about eight years into his career. He saw some team success after being traded to the St. Louis Rams. Walter Jones could protect one side of the field on offense. Aeneas Williams could shut down one side of the field on defense.
Andre Reed
The Buffalo Bills offenses of the early 1990s were some of the best in league history. Reed was a big reason for that. So smooth. So consistent. So reliable. In an era with Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Michael Irvin, and Sterling Sharpe, Andre Reed was one of the best receivers in the game. It was simply awesome to see Reed catch one more pass from Jim Kelly.
Claude Humphrey
I remember Humphrey best as a Philadelphia Eagles defensive end. That was the last three years of his 14-year career and he was still a nightmare for offensive linemen. As with Aeneas Williams, Humphrey experienced little team success until the end of his career. He had 14.5 sacks in 1980 as the Eagles made their Super Bowl run. He was one of the best pass rushers in the league throughout the 1970s. The "Grits Blitz" Falcons defenses of the 1970s were terrific despite seeing few team wins.
Ray Guy
Even as a little kid, it was evident to me that Guy was a special punter. The term "hang-time" became a staple for NFL broadcasts because of him. Football has always been a battle for field position. Guy shifted that battle in favor of the Raiders. His unique ability to do so changed the game. He showed that punters could be weapons. 19 punters were on hand in Canton to support Ray Guy. Jeff Feagles, Sean Landetta, Bryan Barker, Mitch Berger, and Darren Bennett among them.
Congratulations to all seven of the very deserving new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We've got a game tonight. Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. Starting with the game this weekend there will be NFL games every weekend into February. Football is back. That's a very good thing.
Derrick Brooks
Walter Jones
Michael Strahan
Aeneas Williams
Andre Reed
Claude Humphrey
Ray Guy
This is an excellent group. Ray Guy's presence on it probably has the most critics simply for the position that he played. With Guy, or any deserving specialist, it isn't so much the position that he played but how he played the position that should decide whether he's deserving. Guy was a football player. He was one of the eleven football players that stepped on the football field for his team. I don't expect a run on punters now that Guy has broken through just like I didn't expect a run on kickers when Jan Stenerud was inducted in 1991. It's more of a surprise that Stenerud made it in his second year of eligibility than Guy making it in his twenty-second.
Here are some Flea Flicker thoughts on the seven new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Derrick Brooks
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in the same division as the Minnesota Vikings during the first seven years of Brooks' career. It was a nightmare and a treat to watch him play against the Vikings offense twice each season. It often seemed like there were about ten #55s running around the field. The weak-side linebacker in Tony Dungy's Cover-2 (Tampa-2?) was made for Derrick Brooks. It was evident early that he would one day be honored in Canton. That defense came from Dungy's days in Bud Carson's Pittsburgh Steelers defenses of the 1970s. Dungy urged Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks to become his Joe Greene and Jack Ham. They succeeded.
Walter Jones
In his 13-year career, Jones was called for nine(!) holding penalties. I think that I've seen Bryant McKinnie called for nine holding penalties in one game. You know that you have a great left tackle when you just put him out there and not worry about that side of the field for a decade. Mike Holmgren called him the best offensive football player that he'd ever coached. Jones is with Art Shell, Anthony Munoz, and Jonathan Ogden as the best tackles that I've seen in my lifetime.
Michael Strahan
For about a half dozen years Strahan was the most complete defensive end in the game. He was equally great at rushing the passer and stopping the run. Ends usually excel at one or the other. There are very few that excel at both. Too many people are critical of Strahan because Favre took a dive. That was hardly Strahan's fault. Every defensive player with a bunch of sacks will have more than a few that weren't too difficult to get. There was just a huge spotlight on this one.
Aeneas Williams
Williams was one of the best corners in the game for more than a decade. He would probably have strolled into the Hall as a first-ballot inductee if he played on a better team. In ten years with the Cardinals he played in one playoff game and that game was about eight years into his career. He saw some team success after being traded to the St. Louis Rams. Walter Jones could protect one side of the field on offense. Aeneas Williams could shut down one side of the field on defense.
Andre Reed
The Buffalo Bills offenses of the early 1990s were some of the best in league history. Reed was a big reason for that. So smooth. So consistent. So reliable. In an era with Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Michael Irvin, and Sterling Sharpe, Andre Reed was one of the best receivers in the game. It was simply awesome to see Reed catch one more pass from Jim Kelly.
Claude Humphrey
I remember Humphrey best as a Philadelphia Eagles defensive end. That was the last three years of his 14-year career and he was still a nightmare for offensive linemen. As with Aeneas Williams, Humphrey experienced little team success until the end of his career. He had 14.5 sacks in 1980 as the Eagles made their Super Bowl run. He was one of the best pass rushers in the league throughout the 1970s. The "Grits Blitz" Falcons defenses of the 1970s were terrific despite seeing few team wins.
Ray Guy
Even as a little kid, it was evident to me that Guy was a special punter. The term "hang-time" became a staple for NFL broadcasts because of him. Football has always been a battle for field position. Guy shifted that battle in favor of the Raiders. His unique ability to do so changed the game. He showed that punters could be weapons. 19 punters were on hand in Canton to support Ray Guy. Jeff Feagles, Sean Landetta, Bryan Barker, Mitch Berger, and Darren Bennett among them.
Congratulations to all seven of the very deserving new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We've got a game tonight. Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. Starting with the game this weekend there will be NFL games every weekend into February. Football is back. That's a very good thing.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Hall of Fame Saturday
Hall of Fame inductions are today! Here's to the new guys:
Derrick Brooks
Walter Jones
Michael Strahan
Andre Reed
Aeneas Williams
Claude Humphrey
Ray Guy
A very nice class. Derrick Brooks and Walter Jones made it in their first year of eligibility. That's not all that the great football players have in common. They were teammates at Florida St. They are the second set of college teammates to be inducted in the same year. University of San Francisco teammates Ollie Matson and Gino Marchetti entered the Hall of Fame together in 1972.
There are now 287 Hall of Famers.
There's likely four Hall of Fame "moments" for each Hall of Fame inductee. The most gut-wrenching moment is the one that is broken with that call in February telling them that they have been elected to the Hall of Fame. The next moment is the presentation of their Gold Jackets. The best known and most watched moment is their induction into the Hall of Fame. The last, and perhaps least known, is the presentation of their Hall of Fame rings. That's often done at a home game during the season. The Gold Jacket presentation might be the most special moment for the inductees. This is when they are welcomed by the Hall of Famers. The NFL Network provided a terrific treat with the broadcast of the event. It had never been seen before by anyone but those in attendance. It was a grand event. Walking around on a stage, modeling their snappy new jackets can be an awkward moment but no one really cares. It's a very a special moment. They are now part of a very exclusive club. Aeneas Williams showed that he will probably be the most likely to shed some tears today. They flowed easily and often last night.
The best moment of the broadcast was seeing Jim Kelly on his feet and in Canton. Andre Reed has been by his quarterback's side throughout his fight with cancer. It was heartwarming to see Kelly there for Reed's big day. I hope to see him tonight.
When Adrian Peterson is inducted into the Hall of Fame, five years after a very long playing career, I will attend the Gold Jacket event and every other event that is held in Canton. Gold Jacket presentation. Parade. Induction ceremony. Day after luncheon. Hall of Fame Game. All of it. Canton and the Hall of Fame is a very special place. Especially this time of year.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has decided to create a separate category for contributors to the game of football. They will be nominated through a separate process much like that for the senior nominees. Contributors are the owners, commissioners, and others (such as the Sabols) that make the game go. The Hall of Fame believes that there is a backlog of contributors, so in 2015, 2017, and 2019 it will allow up to two contributors to be enshrined. In other years only one contributor can be enshrined per year. I like this idea. It's tough for the contributors to go up against players and coaches. But, I really don't see a backlog. I don't see any reason to add two for a few years. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. are frequently mentioned as deserving. I can see that. Former Cleveland Browns owner is often mentioned as well. I can't see that. He fired Paul Brown and Bill Belichick and he moved the beloved Browns out of Cleveland. Those blemishes are tough to hide. I'd like to see Carl Storck inducted. He was a founding owner. He was secretary-treasurer under league president Joe Carr from 1921-39. He was league president from 1939-41 following the sudden death of Carr. He really did as much for the league as anyone outside of George Halas and Carr in the early decades. Steve Sabol has to join his father in the Hall of Fame. I wish that it had happened while he was alive. At least he had the chance to present his father.
Derrick Brooks
Walter Jones
Michael Strahan
Andre Reed
Aeneas Williams
Claude Humphrey
Ray Guy
A very nice class. Derrick Brooks and Walter Jones made it in their first year of eligibility. That's not all that the great football players have in common. They were teammates at Florida St. They are the second set of college teammates to be inducted in the same year. University of San Francisco teammates Ollie Matson and Gino Marchetti entered the Hall of Fame together in 1972.
There are now 287 Hall of Famers.
There's likely four Hall of Fame "moments" for each Hall of Fame inductee. The most gut-wrenching moment is the one that is broken with that call in February telling them that they have been elected to the Hall of Fame. The next moment is the presentation of their Gold Jackets. The best known and most watched moment is their induction into the Hall of Fame. The last, and perhaps least known, is the presentation of their Hall of Fame rings. That's often done at a home game during the season. The Gold Jacket presentation might be the most special moment for the inductees. This is when they are welcomed by the Hall of Famers. The NFL Network provided a terrific treat with the broadcast of the event. It had never been seen before by anyone but those in attendance. It was a grand event. Walking around on a stage, modeling their snappy new jackets can be an awkward moment but no one really cares. It's a very a special moment. They are now part of a very exclusive club. Aeneas Williams showed that he will probably be the most likely to shed some tears today. They flowed easily and often last night.
The best moment of the broadcast was seeing Jim Kelly on his feet and in Canton. Andre Reed has been by his quarterback's side throughout his fight with cancer. It was heartwarming to see Kelly there for Reed's big day. I hope to see him tonight.
When Adrian Peterson is inducted into the Hall of Fame, five years after a very long playing career, I will attend the Gold Jacket event and every other event that is held in Canton. Gold Jacket presentation. Parade. Induction ceremony. Day after luncheon. Hall of Fame Game. All of it. Canton and the Hall of Fame is a very special place. Especially this time of year.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has decided to create a separate category for contributors to the game of football. They will be nominated through a separate process much like that for the senior nominees. Contributors are the owners, commissioners, and others (such as the Sabols) that make the game go. The Hall of Fame believes that there is a backlog of contributors, so in 2015, 2017, and 2019 it will allow up to two contributors to be enshrined. In other years only one contributor can be enshrined per year. I like this idea. It's tough for the contributors to go up against players and coaches. But, I really don't see a backlog. I don't see any reason to add two for a few years. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. are frequently mentioned as deserving. I can see that. Former Cleveland Browns owner is often mentioned as well. I can't see that. He fired Paul Brown and Bill Belichick and he moved the beloved Browns out of Cleveland. Those blemishes are tough to hide. I'd like to see Carl Storck inducted. He was a founding owner. He was secretary-treasurer under league president Joe Carr from 1921-39. He was league president from 1939-41 following the sudden death of Carr. He really did as much for the league as anyone outside of George Halas and Carr in the early decades. Steve Sabol has to join his father in the Hall of Fame. I wish that it had happened while he was alive. At least he had the chance to present his father.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Clown
Several months ago, University of Texas super-booster Red McCombs told a San Antonio radio station that newly hired Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong would make a "great position coach, maybe coordinator." Red, aka Billy Joe, is a rich guy. Red sells cars. A lot of cars. Red owns radio stations. He may even own the San Antonio radio station that was interviewing him. That would be the only sort of radio station that would be the slightest bit interested in what Red has to say about football. The only reason that we even get Red's opinion is because he bought a building for his school. He has a lot of money so we are forced to hear what he has to say. When he has a chance to say something significant about the hiring of the first black head coach in University of Texas history he says something stupid. Stupid on so many levels. Who would expect anything else? At least the decision-makers at Texas didn't listen to Red this time. Charlie Strong is an excellent football coach. In four years as the head coach of Louisville, he was terrific. The year before he was hired, the Cardinals were 4-8. Tied for last in the Big East. 7-6, 7-6, 11-2, 12-1 over the next four years. 2 Big East titles. The University of Louisville was no longer just a basketball school. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was a big reason for the dramatic change in the football fortunes of Louisville but Strong recruited and coached the kid. That's all part of the job of a college football head coach. Now Strong is the head coach of Red's football team. Strong deserves and earned this shot at leading a top college football team. He should soar past the accomplishments of previous coach Mack Brown. Likely a Red favorite due to the color his skin.
Billy Joe "Red" McCombs bought the Minnesota Vikings in 1998. The change in ownership sent a surge of excitement through Minnesota and all Vikings fans. The team had always been owned by a roomful of people. It was refreshing to finally have one person to blame for any possible woes. It was a good time for the squirrelly Texan to step into Minnesota. There would be only one woe that first year. Red bought a football team that was about to take apart NFL defenses. Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Robert Smith, Jake Reed, and the incredible rookie Randy Moss. The Vikings could score at will. Everyone bought into the "Purple Pride" rallying cry. Especially Red. The thrill didn't last long. He owned the team from 1998-2005 and it was clear early that Red didn't know much about football. The players didn't like having him around them. He was a clown. Let's see what he did as the owner of an NFL team. Red bitched regularly about needing a new stadium but he didn't really do much about it. His lack of action became even more apparent when current owners Zygi Wilf and family did all that they could to get that stadium. The Wilf's succeeded. They got what Red never could because they did everything that Red didn't. Getting that stadium took a lot of time and work. Red seemed to think that it all should be handed to him. That great 1998 Vikings football team was handed to him. It was pretty much down hill after that. Red fired Dennis Green when Green lost the team. Red hired offensive line coach Mike Tice to replace Green because Tice was cheap. Red didn't spend money to improve the team. The Vikings forays into the free agent market was modest, at best. The Red years brought one top free agent, corner Antoine Winfield. The talent on the team was declining. So were the facilities. Prospective free agents probably looked at the Eden Prairie offices, turned around, and left. Even the Viking ship out front was falling apart. The Red days were sad days. Embarrassing days. Clown days.
Red should stick to selling automobiles. It's clear that football and decency is out of his wheelhouse.
Billy Joe "Red" McCombs bought the Minnesota Vikings in 1998. The change in ownership sent a surge of excitement through Minnesota and all Vikings fans. The team had always been owned by a roomful of people. It was refreshing to finally have one person to blame for any possible woes. It was a good time for the squirrelly Texan to step into Minnesota. There would be only one woe that first year. Red bought a football team that was about to take apart NFL defenses. Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Robert Smith, Jake Reed, and the incredible rookie Randy Moss. The Vikings could score at will. Everyone bought into the "Purple Pride" rallying cry. Especially Red. The thrill didn't last long. He owned the team from 1998-2005 and it was clear early that Red didn't know much about football. The players didn't like having him around them. He was a clown. Let's see what he did as the owner of an NFL team. Red bitched regularly about needing a new stadium but he didn't really do much about it. His lack of action became even more apparent when current owners Zygi Wilf and family did all that they could to get that stadium. The Wilf's succeeded. They got what Red never could because they did everything that Red didn't. Getting that stadium took a lot of time and work. Red seemed to think that it all should be handed to him. That great 1998 Vikings football team was handed to him. It was pretty much down hill after that. Red fired Dennis Green when Green lost the team. Red hired offensive line coach Mike Tice to replace Green because Tice was cheap. Red didn't spend money to improve the team. The Vikings forays into the free agent market was modest, at best. The Red years brought one top free agent, corner Antoine Winfield. The talent on the team was declining. So were the facilities. Prospective free agents probably looked at the Eden Prairie offices, turned around, and left. Even the Viking ship out front was falling apart. The Red days were sad days. Embarrassing days. Clown days.
Red should stick to selling automobiles. It's clear that football and decency is out of his wheelhouse.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Throwback Thursday: Bruno Banducci
If not for an
injury, a bust of Bruno Banducci could very well be found in Canton . Despite missing nearly two years in
the prime of his career, some may argue that his bust belongs there still.
A 5-11, 215 lb
guard, Banducci was a vital part of Clark Shaugnessy’s “Wow Boys” at Stanford.
Along with Frankie Albert and Norm Standlee, these were some of the best teams
ever seen at the school, winning the 1941 Rose Bowl.
Selected by the
Philadelphia Eagles in the 6th round of the 1943 NFL Draft, Banducci
quickly moved into the starting lineup. He earned 2nd team All-NFL
in 1945. With the formation of the All-America Football Conference in 1946,
Banducci jumped at the chance to return to northern California . Signing with the San Francisco 49ers, he
joined his college teammates Frankie Albert and Norm Standlee. With his NFL seasoning,
Banducci quickly established himself as a top lineman in the new league, earning 1st
team All-AAFC in 1946. 49er head coach Buck Shaw stated “Banducci is one of the
best blocking guards, both in close line and down field, that I have ever seen”.
Banducci repeated as 1st team All-AAFC in 1947. However, his fortune
faded the following year. He was injured at the beginning of the season, played
sparingly the rest of the season, and had off-season surgery. He was only able
to start in two games in 1949, the final year of the AAFC.
The Cleveland
Browns were clearly the class of the AAFC, winning all four championships. The
49ers finished second to the Browns in the Western Division each season. The
team was gaining on the Browns at the end. A healthy Banducci might have
narrowed the gap even more that final season. The 49ers were a very explosive
offensive team. With the passing of Frankie Albert, catching of Alyn Beals, running
of Joe Perry, Norm Standlee, John
Strzykalski and Len Eshmont, and a strong line led by Bruno Banducci, the team
was a force in the AAFC and were ready for the NFL. It took a while, but
Banducci returned to his all-star form in 1951. He made several 1st
and 2nd All-NFL teams his remaining four years. In his final season,
1954, he made everyone’s All-NFL team and was selected to his only Pro Bowl.
The 49ers stumbled in their first season in the NFL, finishing at 3-9. This was
the 49ers only losing season during Banducci’s career. In 1955, Banducci jumped
to the Canadian Football League, playing one season with the Toronto Argonauts.
He returned to the NFL and the Eagles as a line coach in 1958.
The 49ers of
Banducci’s days had the misfortune of playing behind some of the greatest teams
of any era. The Browns simply dominated football for the better part of ten
years. The champion Detroit Lions of 1952 and 1953, like the Browns in the
AAFC, just happened to be in the same division as the 49ers. As a result, the
49ers quality of play and the skill of the players are often overlooked. Bruno
Banducci is certainly one of those players. If not for an injury, the fortunes
of the player and perhaps a team might have been different.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Close To Home
As the Minnesota Vikings approached training camp, a new coaching staff and a quarterback competition involving a first-round draft pick got nearly all of the attention. After five days of camp that hasn't really changed too much. The coaches and the quarterbacks are still getting the bulk of the attention. A fairly unknown player has been pulling some attention his way. Second-year receiver Adam Thielen played his college football on the very same field that he now practices on as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. The former Minnesota State-Mankato receiver has been hard to miss. He was shining in the OTAs and Mini-camps and he's continued shining through the early days of training camp. Rarely does a practice go by that Thielen doesn't have a splashy play or two, or more. The team is loving it and so are the Mankato locals that saw this kid star in college. This is Thielen's second training camp with the Vikings and he's making the most of it.
As a senior in 2012, Adam Thielen helped lead the Division II Mankato St. Mavericks to a 13-1 record and a national semifinal berth. He finished his college career as the school's second-ranked receiver and third-ranked punt returner. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. Unsigned too. All that he earned was a rookie tryout with the local NFL team. The Vikings liked what they saw and invited him to training camp at a familiar place. He made it to the last round of cuts. He was released and then signed to the Vikings practice squad for the 2013 season. He made the most of his time with the team and this offseason. He's worked hard to improve his game and it's definitely shown. General Manager Rick Spielman and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have identified Thielen as the most improved player since the end of 2013. He's also received praise from new head coach Mike Zimmer.
"Adam has been doing a great job; he really has," Zimmer said. "He has improved a lot in his pass cathcing; he's improved a lot in his route running. Adam is a great kid too. I was teasing him about being here at home, I said, 'You're like the superstar around here.'"
Thielen has nice size at 6'3" and just over 200 lbs. He ran a 4.46 at his college prod day, so he has decent speed. Entering training camp, after a nice showing at offseason workouts, Theilen was thought to be in competition with Rodney Smith and undrafted rookies Kain Colter and Erik Lora for the last receiver spot or two on the roster. Most of those following the team have generally assumed that the top four Vikings receivers looked like this:
Greg Jennings
Cordarrelle Patterson
Jarius Wright
Jerome Simpson
It's still real early in camp but Thielen has played his way into the discussion with those receivers. The other receivers are fighting for a roster spot. Adam Thielen may already have one.
As a senior in 2012, Adam Thielen helped lead the Division II Mankato St. Mavericks to a 13-1 record and a national semifinal berth. He finished his college career as the school's second-ranked receiver and third-ranked punt returner. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. Unsigned too. All that he earned was a rookie tryout with the local NFL team. The Vikings liked what they saw and invited him to training camp at a familiar place. He made it to the last round of cuts. He was released and then signed to the Vikings practice squad for the 2013 season. He made the most of his time with the team and this offseason. He's worked hard to improve his game and it's definitely shown. General Manager Rick Spielman and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have identified Thielen as the most improved player since the end of 2013. He's also received praise from new head coach Mike Zimmer.
"Adam has been doing a great job; he really has," Zimmer said. "He has improved a lot in his pass cathcing; he's improved a lot in his route running. Adam is a great kid too. I was teasing him about being here at home, I said, 'You're like the superstar around here.'"
Thielen has nice size at 6'3" and just over 200 lbs. He ran a 4.46 at his college prod day, so he has decent speed. Entering training camp, after a nice showing at offseason workouts, Theilen was thought to be in competition with Rodney Smith and undrafted rookies Kain Colter and Erik Lora for the last receiver spot or two on the roster. Most of those following the team have generally assumed that the top four Vikings receivers looked like this:
Greg Jennings
Cordarrelle Patterson
Jarius Wright
Jerome Simpson
It's still real early in camp but Thielen has played his way into the discussion with those receivers. The other receivers are fighting for a roster spot. Adam Thielen may already have one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)