Archive for March 22nd, 2010
Pioneer Of The Passing Game
Because of this reason the game’s first true media superstar and the first quarterback to throw for 4000 yards in a 14 game season in 1967 that Joe Namath was inducted in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. His 4000 yard record held up until Dan Fouts defeated the record in a 16 game season in 1979. Joe Namath’s unlimited mobility helped evolve the quarterback position from the standard run style of play in the NFL to today’s open passing style of football. Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh said it best when stating that Joe Namath was “the most beautiful, accurate, and stylish passer with the quickest release.
Despite suffering a serious knee injury in college, Namath was drafted by both the National Football League’s St. Louis Cardinals in a 12th round pick, and the upstart American Football League’s New York Jets in their first round overall pick. He signed with the Jets for a salary of $427,000 which was a pro football record at that time. It is for these reasons I wear my authentic throwback New York Jets jerseys in remembering one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
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