With a percentage passing rating of 50.1 and 220 interceptions How would we view Joe Namath if he played in the internet era?
Pre-epic Super Bowl... like a drunken buffoon party boy who doesn't take his job seriously. Post-guarantee and post-epic Super Bowl... like a god. Who acts like a drunken buffoon party boy.
I read that critically acclaimed, serious biography of Namath that came out a few years ago. He was truly and enigmatic, and unique figure. I think he may have been one of the most talented to every play the position, and if he came along today (with today's rules and offenses), he would be thought of like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, etc. Not only the elite status, but he would be considered a surgeon back there. He didn't have the personality of that hard worker, film room rat. But the way he saw the game as a collection of angles, in three dimensions -- he was before his time in breaking down a football field.
His predictions of a Superbowl victory today would be as well-received by Jets fans as Rex Ryan's "We'll kick their ass and win the Superbowl" predictions of several years ago. The only difference being, Joe Willie Namath delivered his promise and Rex didn't. Which makes one a winner and the other a fucking laughable buffoon.
He would not have those "bad" stats if he played in this era. His stats were not bad at the time in which he played.
Namath would probably be criticized akin to Eli Manning calling himself elite or any other sports-related boast you can think of at first. He would then be praised for "being confident" and showing everyone up. Unlike Eli, however, Joe would completely dominate the media after proving them all wrong.
This just in: McElroy flips to Ganaway for TD. Rusty extra point squad follows, getting in some valuable work tacking on the PAT. :wink:
we would view him as the single season passing yardage record holder as he threw 4007 yards in 1967 in a 14 game season where you could mug the receiver down field...that season would probably project out to over 6000 yards in a modern 16 game season .
Johnny U: 54.7% at Baltimore, 287 TD (5.6%) /246 INT (4.9%), 7.8 YPA Fran Tarkenton: 57.0% 342 TD (5.3%) /266 INT (4.1%), 7.3 YPA Joe Namath: 50.1%, 173 TD (4.6%)/ 220 INT (5.8%), 7.4% All three are HoF QBs. (And all three will fare worse than Sanchez here in NY.)
Damn right. I hate people who just look at his career stats then call him overrated. He was a hell of a player and would have been better if his knees had held up longer. People also try to minimize his SB performance due to his stats when it was him calling the plays and his quick release that helped beat the tough Colts D. Also, if I remember correctly because they were ahead Namath called 0 passing plays in the 4th Q so his stats were not what they could have been and the rushing stats got inflated.
That was before the advent of the West Coast, and other passing offenses which employ a lot of high percentage, short yardage passes. In those days, all passing offenses were "chunk yardage" concepts. Bust them with the run, throw it over their heads. Longer passes equals lower percentages.
Was just wondering how people would react if Namath played during the internet era if that's okay I knew that by the way
If Namath played in today's NFL, his stats would look vastly different - especially if he is schooled in WCO type of offense. Since he wasn't mobile, majority of sprint option calls would not work, but he could be spreading the ball all over the field.
watching Joe sitting on the bench in his fur coat ,would be far more interesting than the piss poor shyte ive watched the past 4 weeks.. Joe knew he was good the fans knew he was good .........
