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.
You’ll find me somewhere between Jack Kemp and Dan Fouts and the end of Dan Devine’s tenure in Wisconsin. Sound a little vague. Yeah, I guess so. I’ll give you a little more. Kansas football has been around a while. How many first round draft picks have been Jayhawks? Nine? Feel free to check me on that one. I’m sure you know a couple of them. One was a Super Bowl MVP. He ran behind a bunch of… what did they call that group? Hawgs? Another Kansas alum had his career cut too short. He was born too early. He needed today’s medicine to rehab him from injuries. Oh yeah, there were others that came from Kansas. I might be the only quarterback from Kansas taken in the first round. I went from the midwest to the west coast and spent the first 12 and a half seasons slinging it for two different teams. I went to six Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro once. I led the league in passing yards three times. In passes completed, twice. I led a few other categories. Truth be told. I piled up a bunch of gaudy numbers, but we lost as many, if not more, as we won with me under center. That is until I went up the coast. We won 12 games. Lost in playoffs. Next year, I was traded during the season. I went one way, and five draft picks went the other way. The denizens of Lambeau didn’t take too kindly to that move. Of course, Devine was probably already on his way out.
Who am I?
I’m assuming the “between Jack Kemp and Dan Fouts” hint means your first west coast team was the San Diego Chargers. You later moved up the coast…to Oakland, San Francisco or Seattle, I suppose, although Los Angeles is actually up from San Diego. Then, you were traded to Green Bay in what turned out to be a bad move for the Packers?
I have no idea.
Wait! I’m the only comment so far!?! Does this mean all this time to think about this one has paid off?
Nope…still no clue. I’m assuming it’s Dan Fouts’s predecessor, but I don’t know who that is.
Where’s Wally?!? Or Crossword Pete…I bet he knows this one.
This is how pathetic I am, I am not good at most sports trivia, so I looked it up (or tried to), and couldn’t even find all the number 1 draft pics (and I wouldn’t tell if I did get the right answer). I can’t even cheat right lately.
It’s going to be another long day here.
Since I’m on vacation, I’m off my game and completely forgot about the WAI …. until now. This is a good mind-bender. Kansas products aren’t too plentiful at the QB position. Bobby Douglass (Bears) played college ball there … but he’s certainly no passing leader as we discussed here on the Pine a few weeks ago. I think we’re looking for a Charger turned Ram/49er or a Ram turned 49er and of course eventually playing for the Packers. This era is likely pre-Seahawks … we’re talking ’60s to early ’70s. Roman Gabriel played for the Rams and was fairly accomplished, but I don’t think he ever played for Green Bay. Another guy who comes to mind is John Hadl, who was a terrific passer but not a big winner. I’m positive he played for the LA Rams, not sure if there was Charger time before that (pre-’70s NFL knowledge is lacking) and I’m pretty sure he had a short stint with the Packers in ’70s … near end of career. 49ers? Maybe. I have no idea where Gabriel or Hadl went to college. This time frame is too early to be Vince Ferragamo. Here’s a question … who was slinging it to the Chargers all time great WR Lance Alworth??? I’m gonna guess it was John Hadl … that he was a Charger-Ram-Packer during his career. I believe Hadl was also a great golfer … Smitty, can you verify?
That’s my final answer … John Hadl … and I’m probably missing something obvious since the head is a bit cloudy.
The only name coming to me so far is John Brodie, but I think his entire career was with SF. I do not remember him being traded to GB or EVER playing in LA. Kansas QB drafted in first round? Bobby Douglass went to Chicago. I’m drawing a big blank.
I think Wally nailed it. I totally forgot about AFL teams. And forgot that Kemp spent some time in SD when not with the Bills. Weird that the Fouts mention did not put me on to SD. I think my head is much cloudier than Wally’s!
Maybe it was Brodie who was the great golfer … I think Senior tour for awhile. Pretty sure Brodie was never south of Frisco in his career.
John Hadl is the answer. Wally – you just expanded your wheel house. Well done!
Chas and Bill – sincere pats on the back for getting in there and letting us know what matters.
Pete, as always, you are the venerable one.
Brodie was the golfer. And, in researching Hadl afterward I was reminded that he was a 2-time All American, once at HB and once at QB. That is astounding! Those SD teams were stacked offensively, with Hadl, Alworth, Keith Lincoln and Paul Lowe. They also had some outstanding players on defense. Wonder why they were not the dominant team of their times? I think that speaks to the quality of play in the AFL right from the beginning. They (AFL) were the Boise State/TCU of their time until they could get themselves into the right “conference”!