Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

JohnTurney wrote:http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... ll-of-fame

Most would say the good seasons outweigh the not-so-good seasons but I wonder if he will jump to top of line for the senior list this year.

It happened with Les Richter. It wouldn't surprise me with Stabler.

My earliest memory of Stabler was of him playing a game with a "have a nice day" sticker on his helmet. So a 7yr old me, took a "Pez" sticker and put it on my helmet.

nicefellow31 wrote:My earliest memory of Stabler was of him playing a game with a "have a nice day" sticker on his helmet. So a 7yr old me, took a "Pez" sticker and put it on my helmet.

Yeah, for 3 years that was his little non-conformist trademark, the smiley face. How that got tacit league approval is a story in itself.

As I said before, just yesterday morning I was watching the 1983 Saints NFL Films segment, and I remember I felt bad that "the Snake" couldn't take New Orleans to the playoffs that year. As I remember that we discussed in the old forum, the games at Dallas in 1983 and 1984 marked the end of Stabler's career. In 1983, with the Saints leading by one point and with less tan two minutes, Stabler was sacked in the endzone for a safety, and the Cowboys won by one point (I beleive that's the only time in NFl history that happened). Then in a then-rare Sunday Night in 1984 (in those years there was only one game per year IIRC and always was at Texas Stadium), New Orleans led 27-6, then starter Richard Todd got injured and Stabler subbed for him. The Cowboys quickly scored two touchdowns, and with less that two minutes remaining, Stabler was tackled in the endzone, fumbled and Jim Jeffcoat recovered for the tying touchdown, then the Cowboys won the game in overtime. I believe Stabler didn't play again that season and retired afterwards.

The NFL Network is doing Ken Stabler programming today, the "Sea of Hands," and "Ghost to the Post."

Ken Stabler was a good ole boy. He enjoyed time with John Barleycorn and favored the look of a well-turned ankle. He knew how to win and he liked doing it.

Sitting in the Orange Bowl, two Yankee couples were surrounded by a horde of Alabama fans as the Tide tried everything they could to let the Irish hold on to a slim lead. Richard Todd was under center for 'Bama and his interception sealed their fate and Notre Dame squeaked home with a 13-11 victory in what was Ara Parseghian's
last game.
From about the middle of the second quarter, we were hearing cries of "Where's the Snake" and "Wish we still had the Snake" from the Alabama fans. We all knew the Snake was Ken Stabler but didn't understand the significance
of the cries. Chatting with one of the "Roll Tide"-ers, he told of Stabler's senior year and his touchown run
on a sloppy field that carried the Crimson to a win over their arch-rival Auburn.
That run, by the way, was 53 yards and not too many people can envision Ken Stabler on a 53-yard dash -
but that's what it was.

In a big way, that also spoke to the measure of the man.

His remembrance of Bum Phillips did much the same.

Stabler had been booted from the team in his senior year by the legendary Bear Bryant. (You can count on one hand the coaches that have had the gumption to do that.)
The Bear did not approve of Stabler's night life and cutting classes.
Stabler pleaded and promised and in the face of such unabashed humility, Bryant displayed his Christian charity (and a desire to keep winning) and gave the Snake a second chance.
(There are Auburn friends here in Florida that have never forgiven the Bear for that.)
In later years, Stabler always spoke with reverence of his college coach and even mentioned his need
for discipline.

During his years at New Orleans, he was nearing the end as every great player has his skills fade.
The coaches knew it. The team knew it. The opposition knew it. And, the fans knew it.
The only person that didn't know it was Ken Stabler.
Bum Phillips called him in and told him he was all done.
In an interview, Stabler spoke of that moment and how initial bitterness and anger instantly returned to deep respect and appreciation.
Eyeball-to-eyeball and belly-to-belly Phillips told him he was through. Period.

Ken Stabler was a man.
He accepted his criticism and failings and went on to other successful ventures.
He did some broadcast work and chaired a charitable foundation.
He was active with The Ronald McDonald House locally aiding the families of stricken children.

Ken Stabler had his critics but he went Home a winner - just as he played the game.

Requiescat in pace

"That run by the way, was 53 yards, and not too many people can envision Ken Stabler on a 53-yard dash."

Well, if you saw Ken Stabler before his senior year of 1967, you can. Stabler had a phenomenal athleticism during his sophomore and junior seasons at Alabama. His nickname "Snake" came from his running/scrambling ability. He hurt his knee in 1967 and played with it and was never again the runner he was. The long run against Auburn came on a bad knee.

This is another parallel with Namath.

The first time I ever heard of Ken Stabler was listening on the radio to the 1965 Tennessee-Alabama game. A sophomore QB named Ken Stabler came in for Alabama and did damage with his running. With the score 7-7 late in the game, Stabler drove Alabama inside the Tennessee 10 with seconds remaining. On third and goal, Stabler ran out of bounds inside the five. He lost count of the downs and threw the ball out of bounds. Tennessee took possession and ran out the clock, getting a moral victory tie as Alabama was heavily favored.

Strange things had a way of happening with Ken Stabler.

SixtiesFan wrote:Well, if you saw Ken Stabler before his senior year of 1967, you can. Stabler had a phenomenal athleticism during his sophomore and junior seasons at Alabama. His nickname "Snake" came from his running/scrambling ability.

Stabler was a good enough athlete to be a second round pick of the Houston Astros in 1968.

Stabler got the nickname in high school.

Those fans who knew of Ken Stabler as a pro Quarterback, as stated, would have difficulty envisioning him on a scamper of half the field. He suffered, as you said, numerous injuries between high school and the no fun game. Hmmm... more like "The Snake" and it WOULD be fun.
In 1967, national broadcasts of SEC games were not something that smothered the air waves - even if Broadway Joe was becoming the toast of the town. Keep in mind television contracts were entered in "blocks" of years and many northern areas with large black populations did not want to watch events involving schools that played in a league founded with a clause in its By-laws that specifically excluded blacks - or negroes as the clause so specified.
College tv coverage tended to be of regional teams. Hey; if a school can sell out a season with 80,000 to 100,000 seats then they darn sure didn't care if another 800,000 or 1-million got to see the game on TV because they were also getting a piece of that pie.
So... the vast majority of fans outside the SEC did not get to see many snakes slithering down the field on a very regular basis.

Is Stabler the first QB to make the Pro Bowl in the 1970s to pass away? I think the others that come to mind (Namath, Griese, Bradshaw, Pastorini, Hart, Tarkenton, Staubach, Kilmer, Brodie, Gabriel, Manning, Morton, Jones, Fouts, etc.) are still here, thank goodness.