HOF Golden Era Results

[Peter_Spaeth]

Passer rating can be misleading, but Joe is not even in the top 150 in that department (and it doesn't depend on longevity).

[bxb]

Fortunately, HOFs do not, nor should they, depend solely on statistics. I was a Buffalo Bills fan as a kid and saw many games against Joe Namath. I can tell you first hand he was one of the greatest QBs of all time.

[packs]

Broadway Joe seems like the Reggie Jackson of the football HOF.

[nolemmings]

If Namath played in St. Louis at the time he would be a complete after thought. I would rate Plunkett and Brodie and possibly Gabriel as better contemporary passers.

Jim Plunkett was barely a contemporary of Namath's, and threw a shotput--one of the ugliest balls I have ever seen (with apologies to Bobby Douglass). John Hadl would be a more apt comparison to Namath, given their attachment to the old AFL and its love for the long pass and flair for the big play.

I doubt Namath would ever have been an "afterhought" regardless of where he played,and I would suggest that had he quarterbacked the Chiefs or Raiders, he would have led those teams to even more success than they enjoyed as the dominant teams of that time. Note that Namath was voted/named the quarterback on the all-time AFL team, ahead of Dawson, Kemp, et al.

I was no fan of Joe Willie, especially as I lived and died with Johnny U's Colts. Still, I recall him being an incredible player to watch, and stats aside, the following tributes (per Wikipedia) are pretty high praise from those who would know:
"Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh stated that Namath was "the most beautiful, accurate, stylish passer with the quickest release [he'd] ever seen." Hall of Fame coach Don Shula stated that Namath was "one of the three smartest quarterbacks of all time."

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I was no fan of Joe Willie, especially as I lived and died with Johnny U's Colts. Still, I recall him being an incredible player to watch, and stats aside, the following tributes (per Wikipedia) are pretty high praise from those who would know:
"Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh stated that Namath was "the most beautiful, accurate, stylish passer with the quickest release [he'd] ever seen." Hall of Fame coach Don Shula stated that Namath was "one of the three smartest quarterbacks of all time."

I was a fan of Joe Willie, an avid Jets fan from 1969 - 1975......but, I have never forgiven them when they let John Riggins go (after he was their MVP in 1975).

Anyhow, having watched Joe Namath those years, and having gone to quite a few games....Todd's quote of Coach Bill Walsh describes Namath's play to the tee.
Joe was indeed quick on the release, precisely because The Jets had some great Receivers during Joe's tenure.....especially Don Maynard. These guys were real
professionals that could quickly get in the clear and had sure hands, which made Joe's task easier.





P.S. .... I never got Joe to sign my ticket stub. But, after reminiscing with Johnny Unitas regarding this great game (9/24/72), Johnny signed it on the back.


TED Z
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[Peter_Spaeth]

The argument that Namath is overrated.

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com...terbacks/6538/

[tedzan]

Did you personally ever see (on TV, films, or actually being at a Jets game) Joe Namath play ?

If not, then citing some pub's questionable opinion of Namath doesn't cut it in my book.


TED Z
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[Peter_Spaeth]

Ted I am a little younger than you but yes as a teenager I saw Namath on TV including the Super Bowl. I doubt I knew the game well enough at that point to form a solid opinion at the time. An awful lot of "football people," though, support the claim that he was overrated. It makes for an interesting debate. To be clear I am not suggesting he wasn't a HOF quarterback, I am just questioning his status in some people's minds as one of the very few all time greats, most expensive post war rookie card, etc. etc.

[wolf441]

Going back to the Cooperstown voting. Dick Allen had pretty decent HOF stats, but was known as a cancer in every clubhouse that he was in.

He was his generation's Joey Belle (that's right, Albert - it's JOE-ey, JOE-ey, JOE-ey. God, I miss chanting that at Fenway ).

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Ted I am a little younger than you but yes as a teenager I saw Namath on TV including the Super Bowl. I doubt I knew the game well enough at that point to form a solid opinion at the time. An awful lot of "football people," though, support the claim that he was overrated. It makes for an interesting debate. To be clear I am not suggesting he wasn't a HOF quarterback, I am just questioning his status in some people's minds as one of the very few all time greats, most expensive post war rookie card, etc. etc.

I'll tell you from where I'm coming from. As a kid in the 1950's, I saw Sammy Baugh play (near the end of his career). Then I started following Johnny Unitas and Sonny Jurgensen.
Loved these guys.

When I returned to civilian life (Air Force 1960-64) I started following FB again and I took a liking to Len Dawson and KC....and, then the Jets when Namath arrived. I was regularly
kidded by my FB buddies for being a fan of the AFL.

But, I certainly had the last laugh in 1969 and 1970.

The 4 seasons from 1966 to 1969 (when Broadway Joe was healthy), the Jets had a 35 - 18 - 3 record. Namath was at his best; but, after those years his injuries preventing him
from continuing to have a really great career. Those big bruisers on the opposing teams were out to get him.....and, they did.


TED Z
.