Most people don't appreciate how football-smart he was/is. He would be another great resource for Zach to utilize if Joe was willing.
Rarely is there a sports icon from your youth that you worshipped as a player but later appreciated even more as man once you yourself have matured and been knocked around a bit. As Mike touched on here, Joe has seen it all, and came through the car wash of life shinier and as polished as ever. Sure, he's had troubled times with alcohol and divorce - as we all know about and hear jokes about, but Namath the man is probably the proudest thing we have to look at as Jets fans. Long live Joe Willie Namath. The man is a fucking treasure. I still marvel seeing highlights of Joe when he was at his peak physically. Just fantastic.
Excellent post. I was born after his playing days, but have seen just about every documentary on the man. I could only imagine what it would have been like watching this guy as player, and how impactful he was in pop culture for his time.
Joe Namath is the reason that I'm a NY Jets fan... and a football fan. He changed the sport. I was lucky to spend three days with him... I was in awe the whole time.
I caught him as an injured player mostly, but thankfully his epic duel vs Unitas in '72 was a game i remember very well, and I can point to it as a game that addicted me to football. The other two epic games i remember seeing as a kid were the Colts/ Cowboys SB V and then the epic Chiefs Dolphins OT (a rarity then) on Christmas. But that Namath Unitas battle cemented me as a Jets fan. That game so much fun to watch. Remember - it was a revenge game for the Colts, and it was in Baltimore. The topic of Namath is a good one for many of us. I have a couple of other things to add: Namath pretty much was the first football player endorsement guy. We all are clobbered by it now, but it was a new age then. I suppose Mickey Mantle came before Joe, but that was baseball which was the top sport at that time. The fact that he did things like wear panty hose showed he didn't mind laughing at himself. Things like that only infuriated his detractors even more. The old school football fans HATED him. That made us love him more. And if anyone ever entertains the idea he was overrated, go back and see what his teammate or even AFL opponents think about that. I watch old YouTube games from the 70's and am stunned how Joe with his horribly deformed knees was asked to take 13 step drops. Watch them - he literally runs backwards 5 yards or more on every snap. Ridiculous! If i ever met him I would ask him about the West Coast offense, and also shotgun snaps. I am not football expert having never played organized football or coached, but with his legs, those later developments in offense sure would have helped him. He had a quick release. West Coast offense would be easy, and unlike guys like Montana, Joe could also torch you deep. If the NFL Hall of Fame was limited to ten guys, Joe would have a shot at being one of the ten regardless of his interception total.
Geez man--usually on the same page with you but not here. I'd much rather use this great resource on our actual starting QB Mike White who has shown promise.
I don't see it as "either/or". Just saying that Joe's style of play - big arm, quick release - would help Zach a lot. But of course Namath's knowledge would help any QB.
Well..well He is still my boyhood hero and maybe some of our younger gang green members can really appreciate a sample of such a classy NFL legend: Did you all hear a bad word from Joe about anyone? Even his criticism of Zach Wilson was fairly mild. Thanks for the Post!! What topped it off is that the loyal Fans Football watch list is his Alma Mater and the J E T S ..brilliant
Actually Joe called his own plays unlike QB'S today. I asked one of my family people who was on the huddle and he confirmed it. The game was different. Joe knows it but modern scribes have no idea.
I've always maintained that the game isn't as good as it was when the norm was for QBs to call their own plays. The "micromanaging" by coaches takes away a lot of the creativity and unpredictability. I know, I know, spoken like a true old fogie but calling your plays was the mark of a good QB. It was Tom Landry and Staubach who ushered in the new era of coaches calling all the plays. Another reason I hate the Cowboys.
Curse of the Bambino lasted for 86 years. Curse of Namath is at 53 and counting. Rangers curse lasted 54 years. Maybe this is the year?
Agreed, after I listened to the interview I was even more impressed with the man. Joe always comes off as a genuine guy who is just loving his life, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. I honestly could listen to him talk for hours. And yes he didn't criticize a soul, and has nothing but respect.
