Let’s take another step back today to look at another fantastic moment that could only have happened back in the day.
We are once again going to revisit one of the most story-laden franchises and times in pro football history, the remarkable Los Angeles Rams of the late 1940′s and early 1950′s.
The source of this little known episode in pro football is from the horse’s mouth-in this case, the general manager of the horses. I was hired by General Manager Fred Gehrke of the Broncos in 1978 and we became very close over the years.
As many of you know, he is a remarkable figure in pro football history, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one its Pioneer Award winners.
For the uninformed, it was Fred Gehrke who get much of the credit for the invention of the facemask (current players who later go into acting and broadcasting should be forever grateful), and he was the 100%, sole creator of two other things the game can’t live without-the net into which placekickers practice on the sidelines-Fred invented that, and finally, it was he who created the first helmet logo.
I have recounted this before, but Fred was an art major at the University of Utah, and while playing for the Rams he came up with the idea of Ram horns on the leather helmets, took a sample to owner Dan Reeves (no, not the coach), who loved it and told Fred to proceed. Fred packed all the helmets into his pickup truck, took then to his garage, and proceeded to paint the horns onto the helmets.
The fans had no idea of this, so just imaging the “oohs” and “aahs” when the Rams next took the field before their usual 92,000 in the Coliseum.
To call Fred’s brainstorm overwhelming would be an understatement.
But of course the helmets were made of leather and got banged up every week. So guess who touched them up every week? The equipment manager? No, he was no artist. The starting halfback, Fred Gehrke.
After every game they loaded the helmets into the pickup truck of the starting halfback, the eventual Bronco GM, the man who hired me (I am very proud of that), and he personally touched up every helmet every week.
But, that’s not all …
As mentioned, Fred was the starting halfback for the Rams. But he backup, his backup, mind you, was eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch.
In his career Gehrke amassed 3,654 total yards, scoring by rush, reception, punt return, and kickoff return, while also finding time enough to play defense and intercept 13 passes as a pro.
One of the great debates in LA at that time was who was the faster player, Fred Gehrke or Crazylegs Hirsch.
After much debate-and this is very hard to imagine happening today-it was determined that at the next game the two fleet halfbacks would have a race, an end zone to end zone 100-yard dash, at halftime.
The scene was said to be amazing.
A complete sellout, and remember those Rams had alternating Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin, and they averaged 38 points per game.
Halftime came and the great race took place. I asked Fred who won, and he said, “Crazylegs did. But, he cheated out of the starting blocks, and we could not run it again because we had to get ready to play the second half!”
We have a great game today, but let’s never forget that there was a foundation laid for modern pro football, and some of its greatest players and most unusual moments came back in the day.
Tags: Bob Waterfield, Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, Fred Gehrke, Norm Van Brocklin, Pro Football Hall of Fame
As much as I hate the idea, I’m pretty sure the chance of Marshall being a Bronco next year is toast. I think McD should have put a 1st and 3rd round tender though. If you’re going to foolishly let our best offensive player (besides maybe Clady) go, at least demand a king’s ransom. Like he did with Cutler.
OC- smoke and mirrors!
Though, I really hope he stays. Where you think he will end up?
Bronco`s should go after Dansby.
I think maybe we’ll trade him to KC for Matt Cassel. KC has the what 4th or 5th pick to go after Clausen? Just guessing though…
NO CASSEL. Please McD, don’t be a retard…
Holycrapio! the Chargers just cut Jamaal Williams….I’d like to see him in a Broncos uni…a true NT…old and could be less expensive than Wilfork…IMO
I know people on here dont like the idea of trading 2 firsts for Wilfork but I would rather pay for a NT that has proven himself then gamble on 2 prospects. Yes we could end up paying for 2 proven studs like Clady or we might end up with 2 Jarvis Moss or worse, 2 Jamarcus Russells!
Holy Crapio its Florio!
Jamaal Williams would be great. maybe McD goes after him. or maybe he trades up and Gets bradford or maybe he cuts Clady. You never know, but i guarantee it will be exciting.
ahah florio..
sorry,,didnt mean to make crapio sound like florio..lol…
I’m all stoked if we pursue Jamaal Williams..
Since were all dreaming how about this DONT TRADE MARSHALL!!!
I hear ya, BFE, would be great to get Boldin if we lose Marshall but i would rather not lose Marshall all together like you stated. Plus we wouldnt get Bolden, McD prolly thinks he has Character issues….ALL WRs DO!! Even Marvin Harrison that many people thought was a quiet guy.
Still rather take My shot with a talented DL like is in this years draft. So much depth. I just dont see how trading 2 first roudners ever ends well…even for will fork. Especially since NE wasn’t exactly run proof because of will fork. Id rather draft our own and build him up and have him for years to come.
As far as Shanny going after Marshall or Even Clausen….NOPE! They lost Chris Samuel their Tackle…so they will probably daft a tackle…no need Drafting a QB if u are gonna let him get killed. Plus the put a first round tender on J. Campbell.
I still believe that it was speculation that Shanahan was gonna cut Marshall…but we will never know….never heard it form the horses mouth. But no, I dont see shanahan coming after Marshall.
i would also like Chargers DT Jamaal Williams…its a good start….
This is all opinion based of course
lol
lol I thought is was funny.
I’d love if we got Williams. I also think we should give up a 3rd rounder to re-unite Martindale with Morrison.
broncofritz,
is it morrison from the raiders??…if so,that could be good…proven talent
I am total agreeance to get Morrison. Then there would be no need to draft McClain
Yep
TRB is right Wilfork isn’t run proof no way we give up 2 #1s for him,i’d rather draft a NT,and a ILB, with the 2 picks.(i’d rather keep Marshall).
Okay fine keep Marshall, sign Dansby and Peppers and then get Boldin for our 3rd. Can you imagine Boldin and Marshall on same team? I think would be way tougher than Fitzgerald and Boldin.
Broncofritz the Morrison idea is a great one
Does anyone think Dan Williams is worth the 11th pick?
true BFE92
Dan Williams is worth the 11th pick,he’s the best true NT in the draft.
But McD will probably pick the best player available,whether it’s a player we need or not.
It seems like every year a Tennesse player shoots up the boards right before the draft. Last year it was Ayers and we took him.
hence we got Moreno BFE92,
i hope he drafts needs this time…
i’m still glad we got Moreno,,rushed nearly a 1000yrds, just needs an improved o-line..IMO
broncos20,I agree Moreno will be a great back,no doubt,but we sure could use an Orakpo or a Cushings right now(the 2 LBs we passed on).Ayers will be better no doubt in my mind,I think he should start.
well with no salary cap this year we will see fa go quite a bit different then in years past, I think with what they did by tagging marshal is a good idea, if nothing else we get a #1 pick which for some reason everything I see is that it will probally be Dez Bryant, which makes sense to me if we do lose marshal. Im wondering on Bradstater though, I notice somebody said something about cassel, why would KC want to give up a QB that they spent a ton on to get, there would be no point in trying to draft high up to get another huge qb contract for them. I think we draft a qb no matter what in the first round, because that would buy a least another year for McD
amen to that BFE92
I think McD is hell bent on proving he can win with Orton, plus I don’t think Clausen and Bradford will be gone and any other QB is a stretch.
I meant I DO think Clasuen and Bradford will be gone
Colt McCoy is projected as a high 2nd round pick,if we do lose Marshall(hope we don’t)for a late 1st round pick,it wouldn’t be that far fetched to draft him in the late 1st round.Depends what happens.
I think the Ravens are the only team desperate enough to give us a first round pick for Marshall with his off the field issues.
I don’t see us trading Marshalla to KC,a team in the same division,that would be stupid,not to mention having to play against him 2 times a year.
Marshall
If we lose Marshall we could always sign Owens LOL!!!
I don’t know if I’d use a late first rounder on McCoy. I think I’d use it for defense and take LeFevour in the second.
IF we do lose him,maybe Mckinley will step up,I don’t want to draft another WR,Mckinley was a great WR in college.Boldin is a great pickup.
Boldin#1
Royal #2
Gaffney#3
Mckinley#4
Mr.B said he wanted a QB so we don’t know what the Hell is gonna happen.
McKinley is fast but we would need a big # 1 I like LSU’s Brandon LaFell.
Theres a lot of teams that have signed players with issues,the Ravens signed Donte Stallworth 2 weeks ago,after he was convicted of DUI manslaughter.
Marshall is like 6’4 or 6’5 Dez Bryant is 6’2,I don’t know,we need a big WR,I agree.
Yeah, but you’re not riskinking much with Stallworth. Marshall would be asking for alot more Money.
But he’s a lot better player though.
Seems like Marshall’s issues are not that bad,next to other players that have done a lot worse.
I’d stay away from WR’s in the first round because of what we went through with Lelie. WR’s is one of the hardest positions to evaluate becase of coverage rules in college.
Amen to that
We need NT and OG,should be 1st priority.IMO
Danario Alexander is a guy that I think we should look at in the forth. He’s 6’5″ 215 and has good hands.
I think C is a bigger need than G plus you can find G/C’s any where in the draft Look at Tom Nalen who was a 7th round pick. Plus I like Kuper and Hochstien.
There’s a lot of good WR that will be in later rounds.