Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Pro Football Focus podcast did an interesting activity where they added one current player for each franchise's history to use for the 2023 season. This was the AFC edition. I'll post the NFC one when it's broadcast the next day.

Overall, I thought they did a decent job for the parameters they set.

https://www.youtube.com/live/K6H2jei52v4?feature=share

got to Denver . . . the "Albeno Rhino"? Albino? Sure.

and the "Tim Tyrer" in the next segment . .. then Willie "Lane" the middle linebacker

off to a fun start.

Also, the mishmash of Upshaw and Boomer Brown's thumb cast. Upshaw wore
heavy pads...as did a lot of Raiders but Boomer, on the other hand,
was known for breaking a couple of guys' rubs with a hard cast under padding...used it as a weapon.

Villaipiano said he had a "broken thumb for like 7 years". Well, not 7 he was a Raider for only 3
but he was the guy known for it, not Upshaw...I think history is getting conflated
a little bit. I dod remember Upshaw's left thumb having a cast on it, and maybe he tried to do
the same things that Boomer did, but I don't remember - at the time- it being as much
of a legend as Brown. Brown's left thumb looked like it was in a cast from Philly to LA to Oakland.

going on---it's a fun discussion . . . but you can tell these guys are more focused on today
than the 80s or 90s . . . forget about the 60s or 70s

But they are doing best they can . . . at least they are trying.

JohnTurney wrote:got to Denver . . . the "Albeno Rhino"? Albino? Sure.

and the "Tim Tyrer" in the next segment . .. then Willie "Lane" the middle linebacker

off to a fun start.

Also, the mishmash of Upshaw and Boomer Brown's thumb cast. Upshaw wore
heavy pads...as did a lot of Raiders but Boomer, on the other hand,
was known for breaking a couple of guys' rubs with a hard cast under padding...used it as a weapon.

Villaipiano said he had a "broken thumb for like 7 years". Well, not 7 he was a Raider for only 3
but he was the guy known for it, not Upshaw...I think history is getting conflated
a little bit. I dod remember Upshaw's left thumb having a cast on it, and maybe he tried to do
the same things that Boomer did, but I don't remember - at the time- it being as much
of a legend as Brown. Brown's left thumb looked like it was in a cast from Philly to LA to Oakland.

going on---it's a fun discussion . . . but you can tell these guys are more focused on today
than the 80s or 90s . . . forget about the 60s or 70s

But they are doing best they can . . . at least they are trying.

Yes they're certainly trying, but their knowledge is limited to largely the last 30 years I'd say as they freely admit. But it's a fun exercise for them to get outside their comfort zone I'd say.

I'm wondering who they'll pick for the 49ers in the NFC next broadcast. Given the nutty QB situation, but with a SB-ready roster I don't see how you don't pick Joe or Steve if it's for a year.

Ness wrote:
Yes they're certainly trying, but their knowledge is limited to largely the last 30 years I'd say as they freely admit. But it's a fun exercise for them to get outside their comfort zone I'd say.

I'm wondering who they'll pick for the 49ers in the NFC next broadcast. Given the nutty QB situation, but with a SB-ready roster I don't see how you don't pick Joe or Steve if it's for a year.

Yeah, last 30 years is about right. Back even further they just don't have a grasp of details. But when you are successful like those guys you do your thing that makes your money, so they are not going to spend a lot of time watching old stuff or learning things which are knowable but they don't know...like if there is one player who was not on the juice it was
John Hannah. And Bruce Smith got smaller as he got older, not bigger...little things like that.

But I will catch the NFC version. It was worth a listen. Not going to expect too much of them . . . also, the big guy said the same thing about AV that I said. He also said there more he watches football that QB wins are a thing...he's one of those guys that have always been "QB wins are not a stat" . . . but that is a different discussion.

Appreciate you posting the link...never would have found it.

Here is the NFC link, They went with Montana for the 49ers, which seems pretty spot on to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6_yI-C747U

Ness wrote:Here is the NFC link, They went with Montana for the 49ers, which seems pretty spot on to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6_yI-C747U

Monson just not good on basic facts. The big guy is better but still. Just a little work
and they'd be fine . . . he suggested Jackie Slater to be left tackle. Little (big?) errors like that
Steve McMichael called a nose tackle . . .

Interesting discussion on Holt/Bruce, who was better. Holt better stats, etc.

Tommy NOBis. Rhyming with knob.

FInished watching the rest. Some of their picks kind of odd, but
still, that's just opinion. People can disagree.

Though they were off on some facts and pronunciations I was
kind of encouraged to see younger guys looking back into
history, to the extent that the 80s-00s are history.

Maybe it could lead to more discussions in their circles
of influence. Making a few mistakes is a good way
to start people talking, in a way

JohnTurney wrote:FInished watching the rest. Some of their picks kind of odd, but
still, that's just opinion. People can disagree.

Though they were off on some facts and pronunciations I was
kind of encouraged to see younger guys looking back into
history, to the extent that the 80s-00s are history.

Maybe it could lead to more discussions in their circles
of influence. Making a few mistakes is a good way
to start people talking, in a way

Pretty much.