Bad Timing

Talk about a bit of news the NFL would like swept under the rug—reports are both Ken Stabler and Earl Morrall, were suffering from brain damage at the time of their deaths, Stabler at 69 last summer and Morrall at 79 two years ago.  Stabler—a left-handed escape artist in the fashion of Aaron Rodgers—quarterbacked three NFL teams from 1970-1984 while Morrall—with the perpetual crew cut—guided five teams over a quarterbacking career that spanned an incredible 21 seasons, 1956-1976.

As I recall, the ’60s and ’70s were the heyday of he-man football.  The game was presented as gladiatorial combat played on frozen fields in slow motion (thank you, NFL Films).  I’m sure the players felt that way, but in real time.

If I were a reporter covering the Super Bowl in San Francisco, all my questions would touch on Stabler-Morrall:  Cam, are you afraid of the effects of concussions once your playing days are over?  Peyton, what about you?  Hey, every guy on the Carolina and Denver rosters, what about you?

This is no time to be polite.