Sunday, October 26, 2014

1970 Profile: Joe Namath

Quarterback
No. 12
Alabama
"Broadway Joe has gone on being the most talked-about player in pro football today even without the benefit of Super Bowl glory. He and Mickey Mantle combined to set up Namath-Mantle employment agencies and Mickey's crack seemed a fitting one: 'I'll take care of getting jobs for the guys and Joe will get them for the girls.' Apart from making money, Joe was busy during the off-season making television appearances and a movie with Ann-Margret, and speaking to high school kids.
'Right now the primary thing is to stay in school and study,' he told them. 'That's no jive.' Namath passed the ball less often last season, but his 51.2 completion percentage was the second best of his career. He ranked second in the AFL behind Greg Cook in passing. He threw 361 passes and completed 185, the lowest since his rookie year, but he threw 19 for touchdowns, second-best of his career.
For the second year in a row he was named to the coaches' NFL and AFL All-Pro team."

-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970

"Joe gained almost every honor possible in 1968 en route to leading the Jets to the World Championship. He was named winner or the Hickok Belt awarded to the Athlete of the Year, named to the combined AFL-NFL All-Pro team, named All-AFL in every poll, selected MVP of the Jets by his teammates, chosen MVP of the AFL, Super Bowl MVP and winner of the first George Halas Award as Most Courageous Pro Player.
Joe has appeared on television and in the movies."

-1970 Topps No. 150

No comments:

Post a Comment