Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

To me he's quite simply the best writer on football there is.

His columns in SI were NEVER passed over without serious consideration. It's a shame we lost 10 years and he couldn't write 'till the end.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/01/paul- ... riter-dies

So long Dr. Z.

The article mentions his memoirs were published last year, as I was happy to see. I was unaware of the NFL Films segment on him; I need to look that up, or perhaps NFL Network or NFL.com will put it up.

I hate to use wikipedia as a source, but checking it upon his death solves a question I always had about him. When researching stories on the LA Dons and Rams in the 40's and 50's in the LA Times, I always saw the Paul Zimmerman byline and thought that was him, that back in those days young guys (especially if they were talented) sometimes were able to break into the newspaper business at a young age and perhaps he got a job covering pro football for the Times in his late teens and early 20's, but that was a different Paul Zimmerman.

The (New) Thinking Man's Guide to Professional Football was my introduction to football history and taught me so very much about our beloved sport... I can never thank him enough for the enrichment he provided in my life.

There's a touching (and often humorous) tribute on NFL.com by Michael Silver:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... tic-legend

Best line therein:
As an example, I'll offer you a line he shared with me that didn't make it into print: While covering the Dallas Cowboys' lopsided Super Bowl XXVII triumph at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in early 1993, Dr. Z wrote that the Buffalo Bills, who'd committed nine turnovers in defeat, "could have used some ballhandling lessons from halftime singer Michael Jackson."

The editors shot it down, but nearly a quarter-century later, I'm proud to bring it to life. If there has been a better line in sportswriting history, I have not read it.

Thank you Paul Zimmerman. Rest in Peace.

Have watched and rewatched this since it was released ...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-pre ... truly-Dr-Z

His chapter on Marion Motley stuck with me my whole life. I remember as a kid in the 80s, in the neighbors' driveway, explaining to some friends that players used to play both ways and they didn't believe me. I had just finished reading Dr. Z's book - eventually their Dad jumped in to help me out. RIP.