Haven't been following American football* lately? Totally understand. I was away from it too, for years. Sports are the thing I miss most about not owning a TV.
For some reason I got back into it this year. Well, the reason is probably that the NFL on YouTube has been publishing 15-minute "highlight" videos from recent games, which make it possible to fast-forward through a complete game.
It was fun to see the Cincinnati Bengals win their first playoff game in 31 years. They have an absolutely standout young wide receiver in Ja'Marr Chase. Rookie of the Week in five different weeks. Watch his exceptional performance in Week 17 against the Chiefs (who lost last year's Super Bowl). Eleven receptions, 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Yowzuh. That's just fun.
Ja'Marr Chase, born in 2000(!) in Harvey, Louisiana
Several young quarterbacks have had an excellent year: Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, Josh Allen of the Bills, and Joe Burrow of the Bengals among others. And of course young Tom Brady—he's 44—of the Buccaneers.
Oldsters
In my time the quarterback who was famous for being "old" was Kenny "The Snake" Stabler, who retired mid-year when he was 37. It was considered pretty ancient for a QB in an era when "roughing the passer" was still something to strive for rather than a penalty. Fans accepted at the time that Stabler gritted out his last three years, hanging on past his sell-by date out of pure toughness and cussedness.
The oldest quarterback ever, though, was George Blanda, who played until he was 48. He spent 26 years in the League, the most ever. Brady has played 20 seasons. Quite a few more than the NFL average career length of 3.3 years for quarterbacks, but Brady would have to play till age 50 to catch up to Blanda. He might try.
"The hotter the game, the cooler he became," John Madden said
of his QB and friend Kenny Stabler. Photo by George Brich.
I've finally fallen into the gravity field of the nearby Buffalo Bills, who have become great fun to watch. The butt-whumping they laid on perennial powerhouse New England was, as the kids say, epic: the Bills scored on their first seven possessions. Buffalo didn't do a lot of things: they didn't punt; they didn't turn the ball over; and they didn't attempt a field goal (two missed extra points accounts for their unusual point total). The final score of Rebel Alliance 47, Galactic Empire 17 makes the game look closer than it was. The deficit at halftime was the worst in Patriot playoff history.
Insane
If Josh Allen, Brady, Mahomes and Burrow are having outstanding years, there's one QB who's having an insane year: Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. He's a baaaad man. He's 37 too, the age at which Stabler hung up his spurs, but he's showing not one iota of decline. After posting their third 13–3 season in three years, Rodgers is arguably even better this year than in the previous two: for example, over his last six games he has 18 touchdowns to zero interceptions, which in the NFL is just shy of a unicorn getting out of a flying saucer. He has just one interception over his last 384 pass attempts. These numbers make Old COVID-Toe probably the best quarterback with the fewest Super Bowls in history. Right there with Jim Kelly, Fran Tarkenton, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, and Warren Moon. He does have one Super Bowl, but he ought to have about five. He's that good.
Readers with long memories might remember my "futbol" dilemma when I moved here (if you lived where I do, what's the logical team to root for? The answer was the Packers, of course). True to long allegiance, I'll root for the Packers first. But after that, it's the Bills.
I think this means I'm starting to be a real New Yorker.
Mike
*This website's style sheet—the list of ways in which we handle various spelling, punctuation, and usage matters in order to stay consistent—has settled the "football/football" standoff by referring to the two games as "American football" and "World football."
Book o' the Week
American Geography by Matt Black, a great name for a photographer but a terrible internet name, impossible to search. Stan Banos calls American Geography a "handsome, well thought out and put together book." Matt's work is outstanding.
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Tippler: "I’ve lost interest in American (gridiron) football to association football. You know that sport where they don’t touch the ball, but rather apply foot to ball to maneuver it across the field into the opposing net.
"It all started with my brother-in-law and his friends. Argentines and Uruguyans. When watching the Argentine national team in big matches with them, one name popped up: Messi. When at home, my cable channel lineup included La Liga (i.e. the top Spanish league), where this guy Messi would be on every week. I was hooked in short order. Association football fans have the best deal in the world, with classicos, derbys, world cup qualifying tournaments, World Cup tournaments, long standing rivalries (USA vs. Mexico, Argentina vs. Brazil…). My favorite team, though, is the U.S. National Women's Team on account of their heart and spirit, and oh, they’re the best team out there. One big reason why I enjoy futbol so much may be inconceivable to gridiron football fans: no commercials during play!"
Greg Heins: "I was living in the Bay Area in 1970 and that fall Blanda, at 43, having been released by multiple teams during his career, came in late during each of the last five Oakland games of the season and engineered fantastic comeback wins with both passing touchdowns and field goals. (Early in his career he also played linebacker.) I lived next to a guy with a TV and happened to be visiting him for the amazing ending of the first of those games and after that he would bang on the wall for me to come over each time Blanda came into the game. Blanda became the AP's Male Athlete of the Year, the first pro football winner of that award. Those were giants that walked the earth...."
Clay Olmstead: "In Australia, they play Australian Rules Football, American Football, rugby and World Football: which they call footy, gridiron, rugby and soccer, respectively. No confusion there."
Mike wrote by referring to the two games as "American football" and "World football” .
That leaves plain “football” to refer to Aussie rules football I guess?
Posted by: Richard Parkin | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 02:29 PM
Regarding the distinction between the two similarly-named games, I stand with Jeremy Clarkson (of Top Gear), who - in my mind rightfully - proposed that the North American version should henceforth be referred to as "hand-egg" and not "foot-ball" :-)
Posted by: Soeren Engelbrecht | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 03:00 PM
George Blanda was signed by the Houston Oilers in 1960, and led them to their first 2 league titles. Yet he was released by the Oilers in March of 1967, because they concluded he was getting too old. The Oakland Raiders still thought he had potential, though, and signed him in July of 1967. I was lucky enough to be present (and on the field!) on December 10, 1967, when Oakland came to Houston to play the Oilers. Oakland beat Houston 19 to 7. Of Oakland's 19 points, 13 were scored by--you guessed it--George Blanda (4 field goals and 1 extra-point kick)!
Posted by: GKFroehlich | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 04:07 PM
Mike -
Enjoyed the OT discussion on 'Merican Futbol! Not to quibble over details but the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2020, not 2021. They played the ageless Tom Brady's in 2021 and got beat - pretty decisively - 31-9. Both teams have survived the first round of the playoffs this year so a rematch is still possible.
Best regards,
Cary
Posted by: Cary Talbot | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 06:14 PM
I can think of other reasons Aaron Rogers shall always be considered a “bad” man.
Posted by: Jim R | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 07:20 PM
Don't know if Unicorns are really in flying suacers but they are in the Bible.
Cats aren't.
Posted by: Daniel | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 08:04 PM
You better root for the Packers!
Posted by: Jack Mac | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 08:18 PM
So what about rugby?
Posted by: Ian Goss | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 08:39 PM
Mike,
While Blanda technically was able to play quarterback up to age 48, he mostly did kicking duty after age 44. Still, quite impressive when the gloves were off as far as tackling the quarterback was concerned.
One quarterback who doesn't get mentioned much is Archie Manning. He played for a terrible team and took a beating week after week. I don't know how he endured 11 seasons with the Saints. One tough hombre.
"I think this means I'm starting to be a real New Yorker."
Well, "New York State" New Yorker, rather than "New York City" New Yorker. :>)
Posted by: Dave | Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 11:50 AM
Rodgers spells his name like Richard, another all-time champ. He is a product of UC Berkeley, not exactly a powerhouse in college football. He went 24th in the NFL draft, so he was overlooked by many teams. But talent will out.
Posted by: Doug | Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 03:54 PM