Continuing on the theme of Hall of Fame members who have some lesser known tidbits involving them, let’s visit the Los Angeles Rams of the early 1950’s again. If it seems like we keep going back there, the reason is due to how much took place at that time and place in America.
They played before 100,000 a game in the Los Angeles Coliseum, with alternating quarterbacks who BOTH made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Just think about that. How could a team have alternating quarterbacks who both made the Hall of Fame, and it’s not a trick question or topic.
The players were Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield, but their performances were just part of the story.
This was the time in America just after World War II, and so much was happening all at once on the West Coast:
Consider: all the returning veterans from the war and for the first time in our history the GI Bill gave the possibility of college to tens of thousands who did not have it before. Simultaneously there was the development of the super highway system, the time payment plan for housing, corresponding with the creation of suburbia, the development of the shopping mall, and of course, the Rams.
They won division titles in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1955, winning the NFL championship in 1951 and losing the title game in 1949 and 1955.
They scored 466 points in a 12-game season in 1950, 38.8 points per game in a devastating offensive assault that featured options, flea flickers, downfield laterals and just about any other creative thing you could imagine.
Waterfield and Van Brocklin posted astounding passing numbers for the Rams, and Van Brocklin of course went on to quarterback the Philadelphia Eagles to the last world crown in 1960, then took over the expansion Minnesota Vikings as their head coach.
But both had personal stories that the world at large did not realize.
Van Brocklin’s nickname was “The Dutchman” and his reputation was tough as nails, but he had the proverbial heart of gold.
Something that I know that very few others do is that at one stage of Van Brocklin’s career—and I won’t identify the year or city, for privacy issues—a wonderful member of the team’s front office was trying to buy a house for his expanding family but was having trouble coming up with the down payment.
Norm Van Brocklin gave this individual the money and said he could pay it back when it was comfortable. That time came, and the individual repeatedly tried to pay his quarterback, but Van Brocklin would never take the money back.
As for Waterfield, in 1943 he scored one of the biggest Hollywood stories of the year in marrying Jane Russell, who starred in the legendary Howard Hughes film, “The Outlaw,” that same year. Perhaps I’ll do another blog about the significance of Jane Russell and that movie in motion picture history—huge, with no puns intended.
With hearts as big as they could be, The Russell-Waterfield marriage adopted three children and in 1955, with the support of her quarterback husband, Jane Russell founded the World Adoption International Fund.
Can you imagine the publicity today if, say a team had two quarterbacks who had that situation?
By the way, the Rams of the 1950’s also had a Hall of Fame owner (Dan Reeves) and a young public relations man who went on to become the team’s general manager, and then pro football’s commissioner—Pete Rozelle.
So as you can see, we’ll be visiting the 1950’s Rams again.
But for today, let’s just chew on the fact that once upon a time, in another era of the NFL, a team had alternating quarterbacks who performed the above charitable acts while combining for two Hall of Fame careers, with Waterfield inducted in 1965 and Van Brocklin joining him in 1971.
Tags: Bob Waterfield, HoF Memories, Jane Russell, Los Angeles Rams, Norm Van Brocklin
BFE92, I agree, I wasn’t overly impressed by McClain in the championship game, he got caught out of position or turned around on some runs and could not recover to make the tackles. I don’t think he should be our 1st pick either.
If we can’t get a NT in FA like Wilfork, Hampton or even Ryan Pickett, who I forgot to mention earlier in my NT list by the way, no doubt our 1st pick should be Williams to me.
What I did when I evaluated the list of the 235 UFA’s, I only looked at players who played at least 10 games last year, hence I missed Ryan Pickett because he only played nine games, must of had some health issue.
BFE and Baylin,
I agree about the trenches but i dont believe theres a worth 1st round OG. But i am not the foremost knowledge on college football. McClain or Dan Williams will both work. I just think theres a better chance of us feeling our DT/NT need in FA than an LB need. And McClain has great size, skill and potential. Young at 20 yrs old. So anyway i figure DL will be figured out before Draft which will result in us getting McClain. But then again, McD likes to go against analyst. but my wish list remain McClain and McCoy in that order IMO.
All i know is that it by no means better be a reciever. Minus the fact that i want marshall to stay. Dez is a diva as well. All WRs are…so to spend a first pick on an unproven diva by trading away your proven diva makes no sense to me. And we have like 11 pick. He might want top 10 money like Crabtree or something and then he will have us by the balls. pardon my french…
The mock has us taking McClain 1st rd 1 pick ahead of Williams,Pike QB 2nd rd,4 picks ahead of Pouncey,and 7 picks ahead of Odrick.I say change it up a bit,I’d love to have Williams DT 1st pick and Pouncey OL 2nd pick,and a QB 3rd pick,and get a LB in FA..IMO
Just got done reading some more mock drafts they changed everything,Hell they are just guessing like we are,you would think they would know what they’re doing??????????NOT…Pulling my f**king hair out trying to figure it out…I GIVE UP…LOL
Of course as far as odds McClain would be the pick since nearly 90% of mock drafts have us picking him up, I am just not that sold on him, but if we do get a NT in FA, I would be ok with it. Agreed with no Dez, the guy is only 6’2″, Gaffney is that also, definitely don’t want to spend a first on him regardless of whether Marshall stays or goes.
BFE92, ofcourse nobody knows, experts or not, and there are quite a few changes lately, like Clausen has moved up to #4 to Washington for many, but one thing seems to remain constant is us picking McClain, the vast majority are sticking to that scenario and when not they say Dez Bryant, that’s about it, they seem to have no other option for us…
In the back of my mind I keep remembering hearing Bowlen saying if there is a good QB available, we would pick one, not that he said with what pick we would do so, but I have somehow the nagging feeling that it could be our first, I just got shivers, LOL.
Baylin,I agree if we find a NT in FA,I would be ok with McClain I guess,I just think we need to be smart,it’s the future of our team that’s on the line.We’ve had a lot of bad drafts in the past,just wished we could get a good one this time.Hell we could’ve had a great one if we still had our #1 we traded off last year.We could be taking Williams and McClain both in the 1st round.
OH HELL NO!!!!!!!No QB in the 1st round.Like I posted before there’s only 2 QB’s that would be worthy of a top 10 or 11 pick,Bradford and Clausen,and they both will be long gone unless they are thinking of trading up,let’s hope the Hell not.
Lefevour,Pike,Snead,and McCoy will still be around in later rounds.All great prospects…IMO
The following is an article in today’s Boston Globe talking about Moss thinking he won’t be a Patriot after this year. The only reason I am posting it is for the ones here who think we should be eager to pay our players their worth (i.e. Marshall and Doom), but what Moss says, and I just made an argument of that a couple weeks ago, is obviously one of the reason why we aren’t, we now have Patriots genes in us, like it or not, for better for worse. Here it is:
Moss, who will make $6.4 million in base salary this season, was asked why he felt that the Patriots wouldn’t want to retain his services beyond 2010.
“It’s the business of it, man. You’ve got to understand the business of football,’’ said Moss, who turned 33 Feb. 13. “There is not bad blood. There is no animosity on my side or their side. I think it’s just the nature of the business of the NFL. You know the Patriots don’t really pay, so when I got my second contract from them that was a blessing in disguise. I understand the business. I don’t think they’re going to re-sign me back. I’m not mad. I’m not bitter. It’s just the way things are in this NFL, so like I said after this year I’ll be looking for a new team.’’
Moss’s remark that “the Patriots don’t really pay’’ is not likely to go over well in Foxborough.
“That’s not a knock on them. That’s just how they run their organization,’’ said Moss. “That’s how it is. Put it like this: I guess that before I came there the philosophy was believing in their system. I think that’s where they really don’t pay guys because they have so much faith in their system. I didn’t mean it as a knock against the organization. They just don’t pay.”
FYI, Thursday is the deadline to put franchise tags on players.
This is for the guys here, I think it was TRB, who wanted to know when Marshall ever said anything bad about Denver. This is part of an article by Klis today about the reason why Marshall may want to leave Denver, he says it might have more to do with the Williams murder than Bowlen or McD. To be clear I am definitely not saying I agree with Klis about that, this is just to show how angry Marshall had become towards Denver:
It wasn’t until Marshall was allegedly fortified with 0.116 of truth serum while driving impaired on Oct. 22, 2007, that he revealed what may have been his deepest sentiments.
“I hate Denver,” Marshall said, as written by the arresting officer in the police report.
“I hope I get traded. I hate this (bleeping) city.”
I just read that the Broncos will offer Orton a one year deal,but nothing long term,makes me think we definitely WILL draft a QB this year…
BFE92, that’s the right move, regardless whether Orton is the answer or not, with the possibility of a strike looming for 2011, one year contracts are going to be the norm this year, not the exception is my opinion.
In light of MrB and his wonderful predilection that we will not pass up on a good QB. I would like to change my list of needs in order of minority…(me and Pat) lol
#1 QB
#2 OG
#3 OG
It’s the GUN “QB” and the SHIELD “OG’s”.
If we are going to pay mucho denero to a 1st round pick, why not pay that BIG money to the most prominent position “QB”, and then pay for his protection?
The NFL is motivated to have big passing yardage and the tight restrictions on defenders has opened up the offenses to take advantage of their passing games. I know, I know, run the ball and stop the run…yada. What about Pass the ball and stop the pass? hmm?
OC, you might be the one getting all your wishes come through, I can sense you are already feeling giddy about it, LOL.
But seriously, pass the ball and stop the pass does nothing for the time of posession, odds of succeding with that formula are remote at best.
Manning, Brees and maybe Rivers can pull it off, but I don’t see any of those in this year’s draft, just an average QB class, I think it’s just wishful thinking on Bowlen’s part, I do agree that the league is becoming pass oriented and you make a real good point as far as why (tight restrictions on the DB’s), but unfortunately you can’t force a great passing game on a team when the main tool is not all there and also not available in the draft, I think it’s a mistake, a panic sort of move, we need a lot better QB prospect before we throw the kitchen sink at it like in your revised draft scenario. Just my opinion of course and I do respect yours.
Baylin.
I already know the convo with the cop you refer too. Never said he hasnt said anything bad about this city…that was when the whole “Marshall doesnt like Denver” thing starteed. I dunno why a drunken stupor is credible. And that wasn’t the whole conversation that you posted…somethign else like [pulling me over!?!? what about Darrent Williams murderer, have you found him yet?]
Which is why I think that Klis said the thing about Darrent Williams. That is not the exact quote i put above, but i believe it was somethign like that. If you search you should be able to find it. He said it, never denied it, maybe be truely felt cuz they cal liquor “truth serum” or “liquid courage” but i dunno. That was back when he was still getting in trouble. Basis for my arguements have been I believe he has truly changed since his stupidity at practice in the 2009 training camp or wateva. My stance on trading Bmarsh shall forever stay the same but Fortunately for us, this convo will come to an end by March 5th or maybe next thursday. If its a trade we shall live to regret it and like Baylin said, like it or not we got patriot genes in us now….
GO BRONCOS TWENTY-TEN
TRB, thanks for straightening me out. Since you are like the Marshall camp flag bearer, LOL, I kind of thought it logical that you didn’t know that, LOL. But seriously man, Marshall has to give you some consideration for being his marketing agent, more loyal and dedicated he will not find.
So you can lefevour to the list of QB’s not throwing in the combine. He said he wants to throw to his WR’s on Pro Day.
SO that leaves Tebow and McCoy as the only big names that are going to throw at the combine.
*add
Smart, LeFevour could only hurt his stock after his very good performance in the Senior Bowl has him climbing up the draft board. As far as Tebow, he has to do the combine considering his performance at the Senior Bowl was the exact oppopsite of LeFevour’s, and his stock has been dropping ever since. McCoy also probably has to show up too since his shoulder injury has prohibited him from showing anything and he needs to show that his shoulder will be ok, nerve damage is a weird thing, it’s not clear cut like a broken bone as far as healing.
It really shows the purely business nature of this whole process, kind of funny since all these guys are just kids out of college with no business experience at all, obviously the decisions must be made by their agents.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade with KC that involves Matt Cassel coming to the Broncos.
Could it be that Todd Haily is not that impressed with Cassel and since they are sitting at #5 in the draft with a chance to get one of the two best QB’s they might have there eye on a Marshall for Cassel trade?
Send Schelffler and a 2nd round pick to NE for Randy Moss. Trade our first and third for two 2nd rd picks and get the two best OG’s you can.
Then save all the big money for signing Vince Wilfork….
Lets see… that covers QB,OG,OG,NT,WR with 4th-7th round picks for taking chances on power backs and DT’s.
I know that Coach McD would approve of my plan because it involves bringing in three NE players…haha
they call me a Joshkateer….lol
I think that it would be good to get McClain if we don’t get a ILB during FA, and if we do, Williams would be good, unless we get a NT in FA. If we get a ILB and a NT in FA, then we should try and get the best defensive line player available.
Here is what should be an easy question, what is the single aspect of a game in all phases, O,D and ST, that if you are bad at you are bound to lose more games than if you are bad at any other phase?
STOPPING THE RUN. That is objective numero uno most every game, so DoomervilRocks92, I agree with your 1st round scenarios because they are all aimed at that, and it was what became our biggest weakness, we couldn’t stop anybody on the ground most of the last 10 games, except the Giants game and maybe KC that I can remember. If we don’t start with stopping the run, every other phases of the game are doomed, it’s the same for every NFL team, I don’t know why this concept would be hard to grab. Hopefully we address run defense first in FA and in the draft. Of course McD will probably go O to please OC, LOL, and all the other ones who think our D is ok….
Our D is not ok. I agree with you, bay. We couldn’t stop the run for our lives. It was really bad, especially in the last game vs. KC.
Of course you know I meant the first KC game.
our defense was good in the passing but not good in the running.
we just need to get good defensive lineman and we’re good, but dont say our defense wasnt good, it was them that we had times for chances to win, on the real. Our O was the problem!
I know. I was just trying to tell the people who think our defense is good that we gave up over 250 rushing yards (i think) to KC.
These are the numbers, and in this case they don’t lie. At home against our division opponents we allowed ON THE GROUND, 203 yds against the Chargers, 241 against Oakland and a mind boggling 317 against KC. Goes back to the question, why should we fix anything on our team before we address our inability to stop the run? Until we can stop the run, I don’t care if we have both Manning AND Brees at the helm, it won’t turn us into winners, just my opinion of course.
Of course our O let us down, but even with a great O, if you can’t stop the run, you never get the ball, so who cares how great your O is, you have to start with stopping the ball is what I am saying.
In my opinion, our problem was the run on both sides of the ball. We couldn’t run the ball, and we couldn’t stop the ball. If we address these problems, we can be a really good team, even if we have to trade Marshall, we can still have a good offense, if we get a good running attack.
And by the way, did you notice that the amount of yards our division teams ran on us went PROGRESSIVELY worse (I listed those games in order they were played), so try to imagine where we are heading next year if we are not serious about making a priority of improving our run defense, we are looking at teams running over 400 against us!!! They just had us figured out, we were exposed, good thing the season came to an end, just saying.
We definately couldn’t keep playing with our run defense the way it was. We need to get a better ILB and a whole new DL to improve the run D. We should definately consider trying to get some pieces to the run defense if we trade Marshall. Also, I agree with you, bay, teams figured out our offense AND defensive schemes. We needed to have a backup plan incase that happened, but we didn’t, and that’s why we went 2-8 down the stretch.
yeah i agree with everything you say… like on the real our main problem was our O come one our defense at the end gave up cause most of the time they were playing on the game. they played more than our offense. our defense is good, jus at the end of the season they lost hope, even dawkins said it! our main problem is our offense!! not good in our running nor passing!! offense should be our priorty off fixing first!!! then our defense. thats my opinion
Haha Baylinorcrush. I would love to be in the brandon Marshall camp. Went to school for public relations im sure i would enjoy working with Marshall and his “people” lol. Even better the broncos
But yea, these kids make decisions (or agents) like the ones u were refering to with the draft. Being a recent college grad back in 09, I wonder how i would feel and what i would do in their shoes. But i guess thats why they have a camp behind them lol
We need to stop the run and run better. Goes without saying…and while our pass D was good…it had its flaws when it came to TE’s. We have not cover LBs besides DJ…but thats cuz DJ does everything…Doom is a sacker and a tackler, not much when it comes to coverage. Haggan forces fumbles, DJ does everything and Davis is just there. Woodyard is fast but sux at coverage. And Ayers is a question mark. Dunno how good McClain is in coverage but we need that alot. TE’s and middle passes kill us.
Our offense has its problems. no doubt. Getting rid of Marshall doesnt make it better. Our vertical attack is good largely because of him. And this year he wasnt absent in the endzone. He played a solid year overall. Great YAC, Never fumbling, Red zone production, and a few deep balls against Redskins. I personally believe Eddie Royal is as good as Desean Jackson…Jackson isnt tall or big, just fast…eddie can run around and do wha the does as well….we really didnt use eddie right this year. JMACs offseason goals should be
1. Use personel better
2. Expand play book (make more versatile)
3. Stop being hard headed
Wow, this message turned out longer than i expected…ill stop now lol
PS: OC, i would rather have Marshall than Moss…he is younger and has Moss type potential and has never visibly been seen QUITING IN A GAME!!!
TRB,I agree most with your 1st goal,use personel better,that’s the ticket.There’s no way we trade Marshall for Moss,he’s not got a lot left,Marshall has another 10 years left in him,not even close there.But as far as using personel,we need to use Royal,Hillis,Larson,and Ayers(who I believe will have a breakout year) a lot more often,no sense letting good talent sit on the bench,or hindering them by not opening up the playbook.IMO
Our D was great against the pass last year(well the secondary anyway)if we can fix our run D we could be great….Me likey likey.LOL…….NT,DE,ILB
Well guys, time has come to cut some players on our roster to make room for free agent signings next week, who will it be?
baylin,
Chris Simms!!!!
Ty Law and Lamont Jordan
Good start, on board with Simms and Jordan, Law is kind of like a safety blanket until Phonzy is ready, I also have Vernon Fox and Mitch Berger.
Other possibles could be Brandon Gorin (big but seems like dead weight), Ben Hamilton (health) and Jarvis Moss (bust), unless anyone would want to trade for them, but I kind of doubt it.
That would be already 7 spots, even if we just opened 5 spots we should be fine for FA as we will also get more room with the couple trades that are bound to come up, Scheffler for sure and probably Marshall and maybe Hillis.
Mitch Berger also goes without saying also. I think Fox is a good one too, McBath will be ready to go again this season. We only brought Fox back because of McBath’s injury anyway.
have a look at what this guy is doing with black diamond titanium rings over on his website, theyis really making some incredible work…
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