Was the NFL in 1971 that weak?

[Brian wolf]

The indemnity deal the AFL had to pay was ridiculous. Especially with the Giants, 49ers and Rams not even being relevant at the time they we worried about the Jets, Raiders and Broncos on their 'territories'. Al Davis and Sonny Werblin believed the NFL should have dropped it, knowing full well the league would take their best players away, including Gabriel and others. Lamar Hunt was shrewd and knew the NFL with Rozelle and Schramm would want peace, feeling that preseason games alone with the full merger would help bring back future money from the indemnity price.

I will always believe that had the merger not happened, the AFL would have easily bankrupted the proud NFL. The owners simply had deeper pockets, even though they were still learning the business of football and could have gotten both NBC and ABC behind them in case they needed more network support. During merger talks, I am sure CBS reminded the NFL of this. Also, another reason why Joe Namath is in the HOF. Once his lawyer, Mike Bite, demanded that Namath get huge money to play for either league, the AFL showed how serious they would be about competing for entertainment dollars. It helped make every player more money for the future. The NFL owners at that time simply couldnt understand how huge television would change everything.

[Apbaball]

On You Tube, I found a recording of what was called The Sports Huddle out of WEEI in Boston from 12/26/1971 (the day after the Mia-KC playoff classic). Eddie Andelman said that the NFL at that time was so weak and deluded that the Pats could be SB contenders in two years (listen starting at the 27:20 mark):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5TgND48bE&t=64s

I'm not sure I follow. Is the NFL weak in 2025 if the Patriots are in the SB two years after going 4-13? The '81 49ers,' 99 Rams and the '01 Pats went from last to SB champs in one year.

[SeahawkFever]

On You Tube, I found a recording of what was called The Sports Huddle out of WEEI in Boston from 12/26/1971 (the day after the Mia-KC playoff classic). Eddie Andelman said that the NFL at that time was so weak and deluded that the Pats could be SB contenders in two years (listen starting at the 27:20 mark):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5TgND48bE&t=64s

Could it be that everyone thinks the league they are watching is "weak" in the moment much like how people develop reverence and nostalgia for things over time, and don't always appreciate what they are seeing in the time it happens?

[Brian wolf]

On You Tube, I found a recording of what was called The Sports Huddle out of WEEI in Boston from 12/26/1971 (the day after the Mia-KC playoff classic). Eddie Andelman said that the NFL at that time was so weak and deluded that the Pats could be SB contenders in two years (listen starting at the 27:20 mark):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5TgND48bE&t=64s

I'm not sure I follow. Is the NFL weak in 2025 if the Patriots are in the SB two years after going 4-13? The '81 49ers,' 99 Rams and the '01 Pats went from last to SB champs in one year.

Back then, there simply werent fluke teams. Even the Jets from 1968 had a good team in 1967. Teams didnt go from worst to first like they do now. The Bengals did get lucky and win the division in 1970 but the Colts easily dispatched them 17-0 in the playoff game.

[Apbaball]

Yes and no. There certainly were dynasties back then and rosters were smaller. That said, he was talking contenders in two years. A good QB and new coaching can and did make the difference. Only a few years later, the Colts went from 2-12 to winner of the AFC East. The following year, the Pats went from last to first and almost knocked off the eventual SB champ the Raiders in the playoffs. Both teams turned around in a single season! Lombardi took the Packers from 1 win in 1959 to the NFL championship game 2 years later. Bud Grant took the Vikings to the SB in 1969 after a poor 1967 season. George Allen turned the Rams around in two seasons going 11-1-2. It happens in every decade. You have to remember, Plunkett was highly touted coming out of college and the Pats improved quite a bit in 1971.

[Brian wolf]

True, and you gave great examples, though none of those teams became champions. Contenders yes, and like I said early in the thread, that guy was jealous about the Dolphins turning it around so quickly. Even at that time, hardly any teams did it. The Rams you mentioned, had a winning season in Allen's first year and Grant went to the playoffs for the Vikes in 1968. It was just rare. Not only did Lombardi turn around the Packers but Buck Shaw had a winning record for the Eagles in 1959, before beating Lombardi in 1960. The Eagles were so bad in 1958, that Lombardi refused the job -- his only job offer, at the time --

[ShinobiMusashi]

The indemnity deal the AFL had to pay was ridiculous. Especially with the Giants, 49ers and Rams not even being relevant at the time they we worried about the Jets, Raiders and Broncos on their 'territories'. Al Davis and Sonny Werblin believed the NFL should have dropped it, knowing full well the league would take their best players away, including Gabriel and others. Lamar Hunt was shrewd and knew the NFL with Rozelle and Schramm would want peace, feeling that preseason games alone with the full merger would help bring back future money from the indemnity price.

I will always believe that had the merger not happened, the AFL would have easily bankrupted the proud NFL. The owners simply had deeper pockets, even though they were still learning the business of football and could have gotten both NBC and ABC behind them in case they needed more network support. During merger talks, I am sure CBS reminded the NFL of this. Also, another reason why Joe Namath is in the HOF. Once his lawyer, Mike Bite, demanded that Namath get huge money to play for either league, the AFL showed how serious they would be about competing for entertainment dollars. It helped make every player more money for the future. The NFL owners at that time simply couldnt understand how huge television would change everything.

I really kind of agree. The AFL was way before my time but looking at it all looking at the numbers I definitely feel like an avalanche of circumstances could have easily fallen in the AFL's favor and they could have put the NFL in serious trouble. I do believe that is not a far fetched possibility. The AFL just looked better suited for television, and had they competed head to head in the 70's I think the AFL would have come out looking a lot more entertaining. I think the NFL knew this for them to be willing to merge part of it was survival.

[Apbaball]

True, and you gave great examples, though none of those teams became champions. Contenders yes, and like I said early in the thread, that guy was jealous about the Dolphins turning it around so quickly. Even at that time, hardly any teams did it. The Rams you mentioned, had a winning season in Allen's first year and Grant went to the playoffs for the Vikes in 1968. It was just rare. Not only did Lombardi turn around the Packers but Buck Shaw had a winning record for the Eagles in 1959, before beating Lombardi in 1960. The Eagles were so bad in 1958, that Lombardi refused the job -- his only job offer, at the time --

Unusual but not unheard of. It was accomplished by Lombardi, Shula, Allen, Grant, Fairbanks and Marchibroda the latter two not as accomplished but still respected. I suspect the biggest obstacle to turning things around was a lack of good coaches and front office. Same with baseball. It was no accident that the Dodger, Cardinals, and Yankees dominated for decades while the Phils, A's, Cubs, Senators spent decades out of contention. Owning a sports team was somewhat of a hobby back then, not big business as it is today. Too many teams were just poorly run. If you had solid coaching and organization, it could be done.

[Sonny9]

True, and you gave great examples, though none of those teams became champions. Contenders yes, and like I said early in the thread, that guy was jealous about the Dolphins turning it around so quickly. Even at that time, hardly any teams did it. The Rams you mentioned, had a winning season in Allen's first year and Grant went to the playoffs for the Vikes in 1968. It was just rare. Not only did Lombardi turn around the Packers but Buck Shaw had a winning record for the Eagles in 1959, before beating Lombardi in 1960. The Eagles were so bad in 1958, that Lombardi refused the job -- his only job offer, at the time --

Yes. Wellington Mara contacted Lombardi and said he'd match the Eagles salary offer and for Lombardi to hold out for another team since the Eagles were a meddlesome mess and wouldn't give him the authority he wanted.