By Paul Casey Gotham
****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you try to decipher the answer.
How many quarterbacks from Santa Clara get taken in the first round of the NFL draft? I was. I was taken third overall. Actually, the two guys taken in front of me were also signal callers. One guy was a Heisman winner. He went on to win two Super Bowls. The other guy has two sons who have both won Super Bowls. Me? I’m probably best known for the flack jacket. That is how much of a beating I took. I needed a little extra protection. I put in my time. I threw over 3,000 passes. Not many people remember this, but I even did a little punting. Led the league in attempts one year. That’s probably the only positive category I ever led in the NFL. Nonetheless, I got to one Pro Bowl. I might have had more if I didn’t spend most of my career in the same division with the “Steel Curtain.” They stopped us twice in the conference championship. We weren’t a bunch of bums.
Who am I?
The major clue as to timeframe was that this QB was drafted behind a QB who has two sons who won Super Bowls. That of course is Archie Manning. The other major clues are the division … this QB’s team played against the Steelers (the “Curtain”), so that narrows it down to Cincy, Cleveland and Houston Oilers back then. Of course, when you let us know that this team wasn’t “a bunch of bums”, well it has to be the Oilers cuz they were coached back then by Bum Philips. Therefore, connecting all the dots, the QB in question must be Dan Pastorini. Seemed like he played for Houston for a solid decade or so … not quite sure on that.
Who’s the Heisman winning QB that was drafted before Pastorini? Was it Stanford’s Jim Plunkett? I wasn’t sure on that one, but didn’t need that clue.
OK, I legitimately skipped over the one comment above to see if I could sort this one out (gotta start remembering to check the computer at home on Wednesday mornings).
Of the two guys drafted before you, I’m pretty sure one was Archie Manning (that’s pretty much a gimme, I know). Don’t know who the other guy is, but it doesn’t really matter.
You played on a good team in the same division as the Steelers. You were a pretty average quarterback, I guess, who had at least one very good year. So, I’m thinking Oilers or Browns, since when the Bengals were good, they were good enough to get to two Super Bowls.
You’re either Dan Pastorini or Brian Sipe. I’m going with Sipe, because I remember one excellent year…’78 or ’79?
Oh…very good, Wally. I totally missed the “bums” clue, so you must be right. Brian Sipe had that one awesome year, though, so I’m glad this reminded me of that.
Top of head, Ken Anderson. But he was to early for Archie Manning (#2 that year). Some one else in the NFL Central. Cleveland Browns? Bernie Kosar? Those are my best thoughts. haven’t really jelled into a “final answer”, have they?
wait a minute. Dan Pastorini, Houston Oilers? He jogs my memory as a west coast alum.
Looks like I matched up with Wally. Sipe was a good thought Chas. The only Cleveland QB I could come up with was Milt Plum (long before Manning). But I think Pastorini is the answer.
Brings to mind the question … who was the best ever QB for the Browns, a proud franchise with a storied history, albeit unremarkable for several decades now. Okay, let’s concede that it’s Otto Graham, but that was back in the ’50s. But who’s #2? Bernie??? Sipe at #3?
I bet we’ll find that the Browns have had almost as little talent at that position as the Bears have had over the past 50 years.
Greatest Oiler QB? Would have to be Pastorini or Warren Moon. As good as Moon was, he’ll forever be associated with that playoff MELTDOWN in the second half vs Buffalo, which of course is Frank Reich’s greatest moment.
Interesting question, Wally.
Browns All-Time Leaders:
Yards Passing – Sipe, Graham, Kosar
TDs – Graham, Sipe, Frank Ryan, Kosar
Rating (min. 1000 attempts) – Plum, Graham, Kosar, Ryan, Testaverde, Tim Couch, Sipe
Testaverde had only 998 attempts, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. 🙂
Frank Ryan was another name I was feeling dancing on the fringes of my conscious (or unconscious) mind. Based on production, not numbers, it has to be Graham. Then it’s a drastic drop-off for sure. How about my Milt Plum having the top rating. Wow! Wasn’t George Blanda a QB for the Oilers. Maybe only part-time, but still probably one of their better producers. Still, seems like Warren Moon has to get the nod there. How about the NO Saints. Until Drew Brees they were equally barren at the QB spot to Cleveland. Only Archie Manning was respectable, and he was never truly great. Did they have other QBs there between Manning and Brees or were they the early forerunners of the wildcat?
Bobby Hebert was a very good QB for the Saints when they were good (playoffs) under Jim Mora. Of course, their defense with some great LBs (Sam Mills, et al) led those teams. This was pre-Ditka. Hebert was also a fan fave due to his Cajun heritage and local upbringing.
I bet Saints fans would rate as follows: 1) Brees, 2) Manning, 3) Hebert. Now if I’m not mistaken, either Billy Kilmer or Sonny Jurgenson, had a cup of coffee with the Saints very late in their careers.
Dan Pastorini it is. Great conversation as always and helmet stickers all around.
Blanda played for the Oilers during the AFL years.
Does anyone remember Pastorini punting?
I ordered a Danpastorini at Olive Garden once and they kinda looked at me funny.
I do not remember Pastorini punting, but TV coverage of his games was minimal where I lived so not surprised that I don’t have a memory of that. However, also not surprised that he did. He was at the end of an era where it was not unusual to see QBs punt either regularly or at least as part of a 3rd down quick kick play. wally, should have tried the DanPASTArini or maybe the Dantipasto. Olive Garden must have had ONE of those!
What do you expect from a franchise restaurant.
Well, I’d expect to see Pastorini at the bar, not on the menu. https://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7406171
Best franchise restaurant in existence. Pastorini looks real good in that DWI shot. Must have been sleeping alongside the road when they caught him.
I believe Dan the man has led quite an “amusing and action-packed” life … he might be on the short list for “Most Interesting Man in the World”.
He doesn’t drink often … but when he does … he drinks A LOT!