I get a 404 on that.... When I was a kid, I thought the fact that he played more than one position was bad as F*** Probably the first non-Jet I liked as a kid.
Why thank you Miss Kettle. I see your Aunt Flo is visiting... Maybe a nice Vinegar and Water will cheer you up...
He was great with the Bears but George Halas never liked him. He led the Oilers to the first two AFL Championships and then led them to the first double OT game in Pro Football in the 1962 AFL Championship against the Dallas Texans. He threw a ton of Touchdowns but also threw a ton of INTs including a record 42 in 1962. His run in 1970 of 5 straight come from behind / clutch games was amazing plus he nearly had another one in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts.
One of many many players the NFL stupidly let go through their own arrogance that made the AFL what it became (and by extension made pro football what it became). He was a Raider so of course I had to hate him, but he always came off as a good guy. RIP.
The length of Blanda's NFL career makes him one of the most interesting men in league history. In his rookie year he was a teammate of Sid Luckman. In his final year he was a teammate of Neal Colzie. Luckman was born in 1916. Colzie was born in 1953. George Blanda played with old school Hall of Famers Luckman, George Connor, George McAfee, Bill George, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, Art Donovan, and Y.A. Tittle. He also had at least one NFL teammate who would later play Arena Football.
George Blanda was one of those players who define what is great about the sport. I hope he's in football Heaven.
here is an article about his great run in 1970 http://www.profootballhof.com/story/2010/9/27/Blanda-s-memorable-run-in-1970.aspx/ Blanda's memorable run in 1970 George Blanda was one of the greatest players in pro football history. He started his career with the Chicago Bears in 1949 but did not become the regular starter at quarterback until 1953. Injuries, however, plagued him during his time with the Bears and he later became frustrated by his lack of playing time. As a result, he left the game after the 1958 seasons. When the American Football League formed in 1960, Blanda jumped at the opportunity to play again and joined the Houston Oilers. After seven seasons of leading the Oilers including two AFL titles, he moved on to the Oakland Raiders in 1967. He served as the Raiders full-time kicker while also serving as the team's backup quarterback. One of the most notable moments on Blanda's career resume is how he helped guide Oakland to four wins and one tie in a five-game span in 1970 - all at the age of 43. Here's the rundown on the spectacular five-game span. Week 6 (Oct. 25) – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Heading into the Raiders' Week 6 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 25, Oakland sported a somewhat disappointing 2-2-1 record (the team was coming off a 12-1-1 record the prior season). Oakland's starting quarterback against the Steelers was Daryle Lamonica, but he was benched in the first quarter due to a back injury. Blanda, the oldest player in the game, came in and paced his team to an easy 31-14 victory while throwing three touchdown passes. Blanda stat line: Passing: 7 of 12, 148 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; Rushing: 1 attempt 0 yards; Field Goals: 27 yarder; PATs: 4 Week 7 (Nov. 1) – at Kansas City Chiefs Although Lamonica was healthy enough to return to the field, it was Blanda who provided the late-game heroics to help the Raiders. His 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the game enabled Oakland to tie Kansas City 17-17 and take the lead in the AFC Western Division on percentage points Blanda stat line: Field Goal: 48 yarder; PATs: 2 Week 8 (Nov. 8) – vs. Cleveland Browns A healthy Lamonica started this game but things began to look bleak when he was again sent to the sideline in the fourth quarter, this time with an injured shoulder. In came Blanda who didn't blink at the team's seven-point deficit. With 96 ticks on the clock, he tied the game up with a 14-yard TD pass to Warren Wells. Then with three seconds remaining in the game, Blanda kicked a 52-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 23-20 victory. Blanda stat line: Passing: 7 of 12, 102 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; Rushing: 1 attempt 4 yards; Field Goals: 43, 9, 52 (Game Winner) yards; PATs: 2 Week 9 (Nov. 15) – at Denver Broncos Nagging injuries can seem to ruin a season for some players and that must have been what Lamonica was thinking after he again had to leave the game. Luckily for Oakland, Blanda was there to move in and make another late-game save. Trailing with less than four minutes remaining, Blanda directed an offensive attack that culminated with his TD pass to Fred Biletnikoff with 2:28 left in the game. Oakland held onto a 24-19 victory. Blanda stat line: Passing: 4 of 6, 80 yards, 1 TD; Field Goals: 32 yards; PATs: 3 Week 10 (Nov. 22) – vs. San Diego Chargers Although Lamonica remained healthy and played the whole game at quarterback, Blanda's services were still needed to pull out another victory. The talented kicker converted on a 16-yard field goal in the final four seconds of the game to give the Raiders a 20-17 triumph. Blanda stat line: Field Goals: 18, 16 (Game Winner) yards; PATs: 2 Blanda's five-game string of heroics was only part of his magnificent 1970 season. He also kicked the game-winning extra point against the New York Jets in Week 12. The Raiders went on to finish the season with an 8-4-2 record and advanced to the AFC championship game. Although the Raiders lost to the Baltimore Colts in that game, Blanda accounted for all 17 of the Raiders points. The Associated Press named him 1970 Male Athlete of the Year for his services.
The Bears cut Blanda in 1959. In 1961 Blanda threw 36 TD passes for the Houston Oilers. In 1970 Blanda at age 43, threw 2 TD passes and kicked a FG in the AFC Championship game. RIP George Blanda.
Actually I don't think they did cut him. I just read a book about George Halas two months ago, but my memory of the actual story is a little fuzzy. But I think the story goes that Halas offered Blanda a contract to be his kicker because he didn't want Blanda to go any where else. Blanda refused to sign the contract and didn't play in 1959 allowing him to go to the AFL in 1960.
That's true. Halas offered to keep Blanda as a kicker, but not as a QB, with a cut in pay. Halas and Blanda never got along. Blanda said that Halas was so cheap that he refused to buy Blanda a kicking shoe. hmy:
Okay, I just re-read the book. The story goes that Halas wanted to force him into retirement. Blanda said no, that he wanted his contract. Halas wouldn't give Blanda his release and kept him off the active roster in effect forcing him into retirement. Blanda went to NFL Commissioner Bert Bell who forced Halas to pay him for the year. Meanwhile Blanda wasn't worried about finding a place to play because he knew the AFL was being formed. After Halas' meeting with Lamar Hunt and Bud Adams (he was trying to convince them not to create their new league and that they would eventually get an NFL franchise - which wasn't really true) Hunt and Adams announced they were forming their new league. Halas had no choice but to finally grant Blanda his release because he did not want the NFL to be involved in a "restraint of trade" law suit.
