Bill Belichick on Bert Jones (3 Viewers)

[JohnnyU]

Q: What doesn't come back in your experience?

BB: I think those injuries could affect anybody. I've seen plenty of guys not come back from them or combination of things. Bert Jones. When I was in Baltimore, Bert Jones he look like as good a quarterback as there was going to be in the National Football League, for two or three year player...whatever it was at that point...like his first four or five years in the league, I can't imagine a quarterback looking any better than him in those first five years. They might've been one or two, but I can't imagine there being very many. Once he hurt his shoulder in '78 or '79, whichever year it was, he was never the same. That was pretty much it. He never really came back. I was with him in...I guess it was his second year, but looking back on it I would say, one on one guy, based on where Bert was his second or third year in the league, I can't imagine you could take too many guys over him. He could do it all. He was great. Once he got hurt, it was never the same.

Q: Could he really throw the ball over 100 yards?

BB: Bert Jones, he could do just about anything he wanted to do. I bet he could throw it 100 yards. Yeah, I bet he could. It was like a slingshot. And he had so much flexibility in his shoulder. He did what I've never seen anybody do is when you were playing catch with him and he would be thrown the ball like this, Bert would release the ball back behind his head, like this, and you catch it and you kind of [say], 'Did he just throw that ball behind his head?' Because it happened so fast and you'd [say], 'Hey, can you do that again?'

Q: In a tight spiral?

BB: You couldn't tell the difference. You're standing there playing catch with him and you're saying to yourself, '[Man] he just threw that behind his head,' and you think you'd saw it wrong. But he would do that everyday just when he was warming up playing catch. Athletic. Good run. Tough. He was a great competitor. Whatever you want a quarterback to do, I would say that Bert could do it. Now he couldn't start at LSU, other than that, he could do it. They alternated him down there. He played, whatever, every other quarter his senior year, whatever it was. Similar to the [Tom] Brady situation really where he couldn't play in college but is one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

I'm starting to like him some.............................nah, I didn't really mean that.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Belichick isn't a lot of things, but he's certainly as knowledgeable an NFL historian as you'll find today. Thanks for the quote.

 

[Boston]

If it's general football talk BB is absolutely fascinating. He's not a good interview talking about an upcoming game because he'll never say what he really thinks but if it's general football he's amazing. As far as the history of the game he's a bigtime student of it which is why he did what he did with both Flutie and Testaverde. Another thing about BB that many people don't know is his father is seen as one of the first great scouts in football history. If anyone like's to read both Halberstam's book and Michael Holley's book will tell you all you need to know about BB.

A few years ago they did an x's and o's blackboard session with BB and the Boston media. Every guy came out of it in disbelief of the knowledge BB possessed. They said it was like watching Yoda.

 

[RTB1]

They said it was like watching Yoda.

Probably explains the hood.

 

[pinequick]

Q: What doesn't come back in your experience? BB: I think those injuries could affect anybody. I've seen plenty of guys not come back from them or combination of things. Bert Jones. When I was in Baltimore, Bert Jones he look like as good a quarterback as there was going to be in the National Football League, for two or three year player...whatever it was at that point...like his first four or five years in the league, I can't imagine a quarterback looking any better than him in those first five years. They might've been one or two, but I can't imagine there being very many. Once he hurt his shoulder in '78 or '79, whichever year it was, he was never the same. That was pretty much it. He never really came back. I was with him in...I guess it was his second year, but looking back on it I would say, one on one guy, based on where Bert was his second or third year in the league, I can't imagine you could take too many guys over him. He could do it all. He was great. Once he got hurt, it was never the same. Q: Could he really throw the ball over 100 yards? BB: Bert Jones, he could do just about anything he wanted to do. I bet he could throw it 100 yards. Yeah, I bet he could. It was like a slingshot. And he had so much flexibility in his shoulder. He did what I've never seen anybody do is when you were playing catch with him and he would be thrown the ball like this, Bert would release the ball back behind his head, like this, and you catch it and you kind of [say], 'Did he just throw that ball behind his head?' Because it happened so fast and you'd [say], 'Hey, can you do that again?' Q: In a tight spiral? BB: You couldn't tell the difference. You're standing there playing catch with him and you're saying to yourself, '[Man] he just threw that behind his head,' and you think you'd saw it wrong. But he would do that everyday just when he was warming up playing catch. Athletic. Good run. Tough. He was a great competitor. Whatever you want a quarterback to do, I would say that Bert could do it. Now he couldn't start at LSU, other than that, he could do it. They alternated him down there. He played, whatever, every other quarter his senior year, whatever it was. Similar to the [Tom] Brady situation really where he couldn't play in college but is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I'm starting to like him some.............................nah, I didn't really mean that.

Can you link the source, please? I've got a buddy who is an LSU alum, who is always going off about Bert Jones. I would like to send him the source. TIA.

 

[WhoDat]

Jones could really play. He would be one of the top guys I put on the proverbial What Could Have Been team with guys like Billy Sims and Bo Jackson.

 

[JohnnyU]

Can you link the source, please? I've got a buddy who is an LSU alum, who is always going off about Bert Jones. I would like to send him the source. TIA.

Here

 

[Chase Stuart]

Jones could really play. He would be one of the top guys I put on the proverbial What Could Have Been team with guys like Billy Sims and Bo Jackson.

Greg Cook too.

 

[WhoDat]

Jones could really play. He would be one of the top guys I put on the proverbial What Could Have Been team with guys like Billy Sims and Bo Jackson.

Greg Cook too.

Good call. There is an interesting NFL Films documentary on him that outlines his story. Well worth watching.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Jones could really play. He would be one of the top guys I put on the proverbial What Could Have Been team with guys like Billy Sims and Bo Jackson.

Greg Cook too.

Good call. There is an interesting NFL Films documentary on him that outlines his story. Well worth watching.

Sigh.Bill Walsh and Greg Cook coulda, woulda, shoulda. Not quite old enough to have seen him in person, but every original Bengal fan laments what happened with these two. Every franchise has its maybes and regrets, but the Cook and Walsh situations are easily top five for the Bengals, if not the top two.

 

[beto]

Bert Jones and Roger Staubach were the 1st 2 QBs I remember liking.

 

[mr. furley]

Q: What doesn't come back in your experience?

BB: I think those injuries could affect anybody. I've seen plenty of guys not come back from them or combination of things. Bert Jones. When I was in Baltimore, Bert Jones he look like as good a quarterback as there was going to be in the National Football League, for two or three year player...whatever it was at that point...like his first four or five years in the league, I can't imagine a quarterback looking any better than him in those first five years. They might've been one or two, but I can't imagine there being very many. Once he hurt his shoulder in '78 or '79, whichever year it was, he was never the same. That was pretty much it. He never really came back. I was with him in...I guess it was his second year, but looking back on it I would say, one on one guy, based on where Bert was his second or third year in the league, I can't imagine you could take too many guys over him. He could do it all. He was great. Once he got hurt, it was never the same.

he's kinda all over the map there.

 

[On The Rocks]

Bert Jones and Roger Staubach were the 1st 2 QBs I remember liking.

thats funny, as a Bills fan, Bert Jones was the first QB I hated.later on when i found out him and Ferguson were hunting and fishing buds off the field, i started to like him just a little bit.

 

[Rovers]

I was always wowed by Jones. Aside from his rocket launching arm, he had an on field presence that is rare. No lead was ever safe. I happen to believe if he didn't get hurt, he'd be in Canton.

 

[TD Ryan]

Bert Jones and Roger Staubach were the 1st 2 QBs I remember liking.

it's interesting that Staubach comes up in this topic.when Staubach was at Navy, he would throw passes to the young Belichick who's father was a coach.Belichick was quoted in one of the books (I can't remember which one, Holley's or Halberstam's) that the reason Staubach won the Heisman and went on to be great wasn't the because he was more gifted than the other players, it was how hard he worked at it. It's just another one of the anecdotes that will grow with the Belichick legend (and help the Staubach one too), but it was said the the young Bellichick was asked to run the same routes over and over for Staubach AFTER practices had ended... Staubach wanted the practice and the kid was just happy to be playing catch.

 

[redman]

People forget because they were cursed to play in the same conference as the Steelers and Raiders, but the mid-70's Colts were some damn fine teams.

As for Belichick, I agree he's fascinating to listen to even if you dont' like the man personally. I'd liken him to Newt Gingrich in that regard. You can admire the depth of knowledge as you listen to him, and you inevitably get a fresh take on a subject you thought you knew well before you listened.

 

[BigRed]

People forget because they were cursed to play in the same conference as the Steelers and Raiders, but the mid-70's Colts were some damn fine teams.

Thanks my depression remembering what coulda been back then is now complete. Re. the 70s Colts: incredible offense led by great QB, iffy defense (tho pass D was the big weak link then). Sound familiar? fn Colts. So close and yet. Sometimes I think it'd be better being a Cardinal fan.ha, just kidding, not really

 

[Marvelous]

People forget because they were cursed to play in the same conference as the Steelers and Raiders, but the mid-70's Colts were some damn fine teams. As for Belichick, I agree he's fascinating to listen to even if you dont' like the man personally. I'd liken him to Newt Gingrich in that regard. You can admire the depth of knowledge as you listen to him, and you inevitably get a fresh take on a subject you thought you knew well before you listened.

The Colts were the first team I followed and became a fan of. In 1975, they had a Cinderella season and everything looked promising. They were good for 3 years until Jones got hurt. Then everything fell apart. I had no idea the Bill Belichick was with the Colts then.

 

[Buckle]

They said it was like watching Yoda.

Probably explains the hood.

Yeah, that was some Jedi move BB did after the wildcard game in hooking up with Mangini. I'm not sure what I saw there.

 

[DeCleater]

I was always wowed by Jones. Aside from his rocket launching arm, he had an on field presence that is rare. No lead was ever safe. I happen to believe if he didn't get hurt, he'd be in Canton.

Saw him in Denver before he got hurt. Very close to Elway in ability. And I consider Elway the best EVER.

 

[Bob_Magaw]

has anybody ever seen a QB actually throw the ball 100 yards? i've heard this said about steve bartkowski, too... but in the QB competitions, i doubt if i've ever seen a QB throw the ball even 80 yards...

jamarcus russell looks like he has a cannon, & i could see him throwing it 80 yards, but even that might be pushing it... anybody heard anything on this that sounded authoritative & not just two or three times removed from an eyewitness?

 

[Bri]

has anybody ever seen a QB actually throw the ball 100 yards? i've heard this said about steve bartkowski, too... but in the QB competitions, i doubt if i've ever seen a QB throw the ball even 80 yards...

jamarcus russell looks like he has a cannon, & i could see him throwing it 80 yards, but even that might be pushing it... anybody heard anything on this that sounded authoritative & not just two or three times removed from an eyewitness?

I never have live but....Michael Bishop could launch it like no one I've ever seen. During camp there were often notes at the end of articles with him "showing off" in practice. He wasn't built, his arm was weak looking if anything but man could he launch it. He'd come in to throw some Hail Mary's for the Patriots and his beautiful tight spiral would clearly take very little effort and go 50-60 yards. I remember one 40 yards or so across the field and he just flicked his wrist, no big windup...just a flick.

Bledsoe, BB, whoever they interviewed would brush it off like they see that everyday from him.

Very funny link re-this thread

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/08-99...99/d01sp130.htm

That author mentions him and reminisces about Jones. Also mentions the flick of the wrist thing.

There was a link at youtube that I can't find. He threw a 65 yard bomb in a CFL game. He scrambles back some and to the sideline to buy some time. (65+that) The WR is mid to back of endzone(65+that). If someone can find that, that will be just a few yards shy of an 80 yard pass in the air.

(Can you tell I'm a fan of his?)

Amazing athlete. He could run and throw very well. A bit of a "string bean" and apparently not the best at picking up/reading NFL defenses. A guy I'd compare him to athletically would be Eric Crouch in that he might not fit the NFL game but when you see him you think "wow is that guy talented".

I believe he still plays in AFL+ backup in CFL.

Only youtube I could find was his running

that was posted August 06.

 

[Bri]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

 

[Funkley]

Not familiar with Greg Cook. What's his story? From the dates listed I'd guess Vietnam.

 

[Toolboxx]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

 

[JohnnyU]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

Probably standing on a frozen lake going downhill.

 

[Bri]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

:X

old guiness book in bookcase, sorry can't link. It was 1934, can't recall guy's name but I could look it up again if you'd like.I figure it's out there though

 

[Bri]

That wasn't hard to find.

A blog or board here

http://www.spudart.org/blogs/randomthought...s/2275_0_3_0_C/

list a bunch of info with some links.

Guinness website doesn't have anything football related but the chances of me and that guy saying the same thing......

feel free to google yourself

 

[Bri]

BTW from that page

The longest pass attempt in NFL history was on December 10, 1972. It was thrown by Jim Hart and traveled a distance of 98.3 yards. He threw it to Moore. The pass ended up getting intercepted by a player of the Los Angeles Raiders who ended up winning the game but the people of St. Louis were still proud of Hart for his accomplishment for the longest thrown American football in NFL history.

from "404" link on that page

1972 - The longest non-scoring pass in NFL history was made as Jim Hart of the St. Louis Cardinals passed from his own one-yard-line to Bobby Moore, known now as Ahmad Rashad, who was tackled on the Los Angeles Rams’ one-yard-line. The pass officially went for 98 yards.

not in agreement on who caught it but apparently "the chuck" was unforgettable

Wiki has it too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_10

 

[CalBear]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

Horse manure. The world record javelin throw is just over 100 meters, the discus is 76 meters, and the hammer throw is 86 meters. 213 feet, perhaps.

 

[Bri]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

Horse manure. The world record javelin throw is just over 100 meters, the discus is 76 meters, and the hammer throw is 86 meters. 213 feet, perhaps.

yeah me and that guy made up the very same thing. We're the only two in this world with that copy of "guiness".You want to say due to physics it's not possible and the test was "faked" somehow go ahead but the record is what it is

 

[Rovers]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

Horse manure. The world record javelin throw is just over 100 meters, the discus is 76 meters, and the hammer throw is 86 meters. 213 feet, perhaps.

yeah me and that guy made up the very same thing. We're the only two in this world with that copy of "guiness".You want to say due to physics it's not possible and the test was "faked" somehow go ahead but the record is what it is

Yes, listen to Cal Bear. He's the guy that says Vinatierri isn't a clutch kicker.

 

[CalBear]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

Horse manure. The world record javelin throw is just over 100 meters, the discus is 76 meters, and the hammer throw is 86 meters. 213 feet, perhaps.

yeah me and that guy made up the very same thing. We're the only two in this world with that copy of "guiness".You want to say due to physics it's not possible and the test was "faked" somehow go ahead but the record is what it is

That it was printed in Guiness does not make it true. I actually know something about how Guiness handles records, and a lot of it is bunk. It gets in the book if it sounds cool.And it is 100% certain that the idea that some wrestler could throw a football 213 yards through the air is bunk. That's not only twice as far as the world-record for the javelin (a much more aerodynamic object), it's also more than twice as far as we see the top professional football players throw the ball today. I don't need to do the physics to call BS on this one.

 

[redman]

BTW furthest pass ever thrown(not in game obviously) was 213 yards by a wrestler.

Horse manure. The world record javelin throw is just over 100 meters, the discus is 76 meters, and the hammer throw is 86 meters. 213 feet, perhaps.

yeah me and that guy made up the very same thing. We're the only two in this world with that copy of "guiness".You want to say due to physics it's not possible and the test was "faked" somehow go ahead but the record is what it is

That it was printed in Guiness does not make it true. I actually know something about how Guiness handles records, and a lot of it is bunk. It gets in the book if it sounds cool.And it is 100% certain that the idea that some wrestler could throw a football 213 yards through the air is bunk. That's not only twice as far as the world-record for the javelin (a much more aerodynamic object), it's also more than twice as far as we see the top professional football players throw the ball today. I don't need to do the physics to call BS on this one.

I'm losing count here, so help me out. How many hooks are in this fish's mouth again?

 

[Bri]

That it was printed in Guiness does not make it true.

I've felt that way about some records too. I know what ya mean. Guiness may very well be wrong. I didn't "make stuff up" or embellish or anything though.

 

[Horrorshow]

Can anyone tell me when Bert's final Monday Night Football game was?

TIA.

 

[JohnnyU]

Can anyone tell me when Bert's final Monday Night Football game was?TIA.

Bert only played in 3 games in 1978, so I would saySeptember 18 1978: Baltimore Colts 34, New England Patriots 27. They lost 38 -0 to Dallas in week 1, but I would say Bert played in week 3 against the Pats.The Colts played again on Monday night in November against Washington in 1978, but I would say Bert was hurt since he only played in 3 games in 1978. The Baltimore Colts never played again on Monday night until they were the Indy Colts. If it wasn't 1978, then it had to be Miami 17 Balt 6 in Dec 1977.

 

[Horrorshow]

Thank you kindly for your reply and composing the thread as a whole, much appreciated.

The reason I asked is that a friend of a friend apparently has a DVD of Bert's final MNF game that I'm hoping to get a viewing of in the near future. I didn't have a clue though who the Colts opponents were and when the game took place so again many thanks for the information, very helpful.

I would love to see some complete game footage of Jones' vintage year in '76. That would be something.

 

[Wilbur Wood]

Jack Kemp, Harold Carmichael and Wilt Chamberlain all supposedly could toss a football 100 yards in their day.

The old AFL ball was smaller and could be thrown further.

Also, a strong tail wind can add ~ 10% or so to the distance.

Michael Bishop could throw 90+ yards

Jamarcus Russell can throw 85 yards

 

[JohnnyU]

Thank you kindly for your reply and composing the thread as a whole, much appreciated.

The reason I asked is that a friend of a friend apparently has a DVD of Bert's final MNF game that I'm hoping to get a viewing of in the near future. I didn't have a clue though who the Colts opponents were and when the game took place so again many thanks for the information, very helpful.

I would love to see some complete game footage of Jones' vintage year in '76. That would be something.

+---------------------------------------+-----------------+| Passing | Rushing |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| Year TM | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT | Att Yards TD |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| 1973 bal | 8 | 43 108 39.8 539 5.0 4 12 | 18 58 0 |

| 1974 bal | 11 | 143 270 53.0 1610 6.0 8 12 | 39 279 4 |

| 1975 bal | 14 | 203 344 59.0 2483 7.2 18 8 | 47 321 3 |

| 1976 bal | 14 | 207 343 60.3 3104 9.0 24 9 | 38 214 2 |

| 1977 bal | 14 | 224 393 57.0 2686 6.8 17 11 | 28 146 2 |

| 1978 bal | 3 | 27 42 64.3 370 8.8 4 1 | 9 38 0 |

| 1979 bal | 4 | 43 92 46.7 643 7.0 3 3 | 10 40 1 |

| 1980 bal | 15 | 248 446 55.6 3134 7.0 23 21 | 27 175 2 |

| 1981 bal | 15 | 244 426 57.3 3094 7.3 21 20 | 20 85 0 |

| 1982 ram | 4 | 48 87 55.2 527 6.1 2 4 | 11 73 0 |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| TOTAL | 102 | 1430 2551 56.1 18190 7.1 124 101 | 247 1429 14 |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

Pro Football Reference

 

[JohnnyU]

Can anyone tell me when Bert's final Monday Night Football game was?

TIA.

Monday Night Football History 1970 - 1989 Monday Night Football History[edit] 1970 NFL Season

September 21: Cleveland Browns 31, New York Jets 21

September 28: Kansas City Chiefs 44, Baltimore Colts 24

October 5: Detroit Lions 28, Chicago Bears 14

October 12: Green Bay Packers 22, San Diego Chargers 20

October 19: Oakland Raiders 34, Washington Redskins 20

October 26: Minnesota Vikings 13, Los Angeles Rams 3

November 2: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Cincinnati Bengals 10

November 9: Baltimore Colts 13, Green Bay Packers 10

November 16: St. Louis Cardinals 38, Dallas Cowboys 0

November 23: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20

November 30: Miami Dolphins 20, Atlanta Falcons 7

December 7: Cleveland Browns 21, Houston Oilers 10

December 14: Detroit Lions 28, Los Angeles Rams 23

[edit] 1971 NFL Season

September 20: Minnesota Vikings 16, Detroit Lions 13

September 27: St. Louis Cardinals 17, New York Jets 10

October 4: Oakland Raiders 34, Cleveland Browns 20

October 11: Dallas Cowboys 20, New York Giants 13

October 18: Kansas City Chiefs 38, Pittsburgh Steelers 16

October 25: Minnesota Vikings 10, Baltimore Colts 3

November 1: Detroit Lions 14, Green Bay Packers 14

November 8: Baltimore Colts 24, Los Angeles Rams 17

November 15: San Diego Chargers 20, St. Louis Cardinals 17

November 22: Atlanta Falcons 28, Green Bay Packers 21

November 29: Miami Dolphins 34, Chicago Bears 3

December 6: Kansas City Chiefs 26, San Francisco 49ers 17

December 13: Washington Redskins 38, Los Angeles Rams 24

[edit] 1972 NFL Season

September 18: Washington Redskins 24, Minnesota Vikings 21

September 25: Kansas City Chiefs 20, New Orleans Saints 17

October 2: New York Giants 27, Philadelphia Eagles 12

October 9: Oakland Raiders 34, Houston Oilers 0

This was the game where an ABC camera caught a guy sticking his "middle" finger and Don Meredith said, "he's number one!"

October 16: Green Bay Packers 24, Detroit Lions 23

October 23: Chicago Bears 13, Minnesota Vikings 10

October 30: Dallas Cowboys 28, Detroit Lions 24

November 6: Baltimore Colts 24, New England Patriots 17

November 13: Cleveland Browns 21, San Diego Chargers 17

November 20: Washington Redskins 24, Atlanta Falcons 13

November 27: Miami Dolphins 31, St. Louis Cardinals 10

December 4: Los Angeles Rams 26, San Francisco 49ers 16

December 11: Oakland Raiders 24, New York Jets 16

[edit] 1973 NFL Season

September 17: Green Bay Packers 23, New York Jets 7

September 24: Dallas Cowboys 40, New Orleans Saints 3

October 1: Detroit Lions 31, Atlanta Falcons 6

October 8: Washington Redskins 14, Dallas Cowboys 7

October 15: Miami Dolphins 17, Cleveland Browns 9

October 22: Oakland Raiders 23, Denver Broncos

October 29: Buffalo Bills 23, Kansas City Chiefs 14

November 5: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Washington Redskins 16

November 12: Kansas City Chiefs 19, Chicago Bears 57

November 19: Atlanta Falcons 20, Minnesota Vikings 14

November 26: San Francisco 49ers 20, Green Bay Packers 6

December 3: Miami Dolphins 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 26

December 10: Los Angeles Rams 40, New York Giants 6

[edit] 1974 NFL Season

September 16: Buffalo Bills 21, Oakland Raiders 20

September 23: Philadelphia Eagles 13, Dallas Cowboys 10

September 30: Washington Redskins 30, Denver Broncos 3

October 7: Miami Dolphins 21, New York Jets 17

October 14: Detroit Lions 17, San Francisco 49ers 13

October 21: Chicago Bears 10, Green Bay Packers 9

October 28: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Atlanta Falcons 17

November 4: Los Angeles Rams 15, San Francisco 49ers 13

November 11: Minnesota Vikings 28, St. Louis Cardinals 24

November 18: Kansas City Chiefs 42, Denver Broncos 34

November 25: Pittsburgh Steelers 28, New Orleans Saints 7

December 2: Miami Dolphins 24, Cincinnati Bengals 3

December 9: Washington Redskins 23, Los Angeles Rams 17

[edit] 1975 NFL Season

September 22: Oakland Raiders 31, Miami Dolphins 21

September 29: Denver Broncos 23, Green Bay Packers 13

October 6: Dallas Cowboys 36, Detroit Lions 10

October 13: Washington Redskins 27, St. Louis Cardinals 17

October 20: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 17

October 27: Minnesota Vikings 13, Chicago Bears 9

November 3: Los Angeles Rams 42, Philadelphia Eagles 3

November 10: Kansas City Chiefs 34, Dallas Cowboys 31

November 17: Cincinnati Bengals 33, Buffalo Bills 24

November 24: Pittsburgh Steelers 32, Houston Oilers 9

December 1: Miami Dolphins 20, New England Patriots 17

December 8: Oakland Raiders 17, Denver Broncos 10

December 15: San Diego Chargers 24, New York Jets 16

[edit] 1976 NFL Season

September 13: Miami Dolphins 30, Buffalo Bills 21

September 20: Oakland Raiders 24, Kansas City Chiefs 21

September 27: Washington Redskins 20, Philadelphia Eagles 17

October 4: Minnesota Vikings 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 6

October 11: San Francisco 49ers 16, Los Angeles Rams 0

October 18: New England Patriots 41, New York Jets 7

October 25: Washington Redskins 20, St. Louis Cardinals 10

November 1: Baltimore Colts 38, Houston Oilers 14

November 8: Cincinnati Bengals 20, Los Angeles Rams 12

November 15: Dallas Cowboys 17, Buffalo Bills 10

November 22: Baltimore Colts 17, Miami Dolphins 16

November 29: San Francisco 49ers 20, Minnesota Vikings 16

December 6: Oakland Raiders 35, New York Jets 20

[edit] 1977 NFL Season

September 19: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, San Francisco 49ers 0

September 26: Cleveland Browns 30, New England Patriots 27

October 3: Oakland Raiders 37, Kansas City Chiefs 28

October 10: Chicago Bears 24, Los Angeles Rams 23

October 17: Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 14

October 24: Los Angeles Rams 35, Minnesota Vikings 3

October 31: St. Louis Cardinals 28, New York Giants 0

November 7: Baltimore Colts 10, Washington Redskins 3

November 14: St. Louis Cardinals 24, Dallas Cowboys 17

November 21: Washington Redskins 10, Green Bay Packers 9

November 28: Oakland Raiders 34, Buffalo Bills 13

December 5: Miami Dolphins 17, Baltimore Colts 6

December 12: Dallas Cowboys 42, San Francisco 49ers 35

[edit] 1978 NFL Season

September 4: Dallas Cowboys 38, Baltimore Colts 0

September 11: Minnesota Vikings 12, Denver Broncos 9

September 18: Baltimore Colts 34, New England Patriots 27

September 25: Minnesota Vikings 24, Chicago Bears 20

October 2: Washington Redskins 9, Dallas Cowboys 5

October 9: Miami Dolphins 21, Cincinnati Bengals 0

October 16: Denver Broncos 16, Chicago Bears 7

October 23: Houston Oilers 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

October 30: Atlanta Falcons 15, Los Angeles Rams 7

November 6: Baltimore Colts 21, Washington Redskins 17

November 13: Oakland Raiders 34, Cincinnati Bengals 21

November 20: Houston Oilers 35, Miami Dolphins 30

November 27: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, San Francisco 49ers 7

December 4: San Diego Chargers 40, Chicago Bears 7

December 11: Cincinnati Bengals 20, Los Angeles Rams 19

December 18: Miami Dolphins 23, New England Patriots 3

Note: This was the first of 25 seasons that a Monday Night Football game was played during the final week of the NFL regular-season.

[edit] 1979 NFL Season

September 3: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New England Patriots 13

September 10: Atlanta Falcons 14, Philadelphia Eagles 10

September 17: Washington Redskins 27, New York Giants 0

September 24: Cleveland Browns 26, Dallas Cowboys 7

October 1: Green Bay Packers 27, New England Patriots 14

October 8: Oakland Raiders 13, Miami Dolphins 3

October 15: New York Jets 14, Minnesota Vikings 7

October 22: Pittsburgh Steelers 42, Denver Broncos 7

October 29: Seattle Seahawks 31, Atlanta Falcons 28

Note: It was the Seahawks' first appearance on Monday Night Football and the highlight of the game was a fake FG by Seattle's QB Jim Zorn who threw the ball to kicker Efren Herrera resulting a Seattle first down! Howard Cosell was impressed with that play!

November 5: Houston Oilers 9, Miami Dolphins 6

November 12: Philadelphia Eagles 31, Dallas Cowboys 21

November 19: Los Angeles Rams 20, Atlanta Falcons 14

November 26: Seattle Seahawks 30, New York Jets 7

December 3: Oakland Raiders 42, New Orleans Saints 35

December 10: Houston Oilers 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

December 17: San Diego Chargers 17, Denver Broncos 7

[edit] 1980 NFL Season

September 8: Dallas Cowboys 17, Washington Redskins 3

September 15: Houston Oilers 16, Cleveland Browns 7

September 22: Philadelphia Eagles 35, New York Giants 3

September 29: New England Patriots 23, Denver Broncos 14

October 6: Chicago Bears 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0

October 13: Denver Broncos 20, Washington Redskins 17

October 20: Oakland Raiders 45, Pittsburgh Steelers 34

October 27: New York Jets 17, Miami Dolphins 14

November 3: Cleveland Browns 27, Chicago Bears 21

November 10: Houston Oilers 38, New England Patriots 34

November 17: Oakland Raiders 19, Seattle Seahawks 17

November 24: Los Angeles Rams 27, New Orleans Saints 7

December 1: Oakland Raiders 9, Denver Broncos 3

December 8: Miami Dolphins 16, New England Patriots 13

Note: This was the game where Howard Cosell broke the news of John Lennon's murder live on the air.

December 15: Los Angeles Rams 38, Dallas Cowboys 14

December 22: San Diego Chargers 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

[edit] 1981 NFL Season

September 7: San Diego Chargers 44, Cleveland Browns 14

September 14: Oakland Raiders 36, Minnesota Vikings 10

September 21: Dallas Cowboys 35, New England Patriots 21

September 28: Los Angeles Rams 24, Chicago Bears 7

October 5: Philadelphia Eagles 16, Atlanta Falcons 13

October 12: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 21

October 19: Detroit Lions 48, Chicago Bears 17

October 26: Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Houston Oilers 13

November 2: Denver Broncos 19, Minnesota Vikings 17

November 9: Dallas Cowboys 27, Buffalo Bills 14

November 16: Seattle Seahawks 44, San Diego Chargers 23

November 23: Atlanta Falcons 31, Minnesota Vikings 30

November 30: Miami Dolphins 13, Philadelphia Eagles 10

December 7: Oakland Raiders 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 27

December 14: Los Angeles Rams 21, Atlanta Falcons 16

December 21: San Diego Chargers 23, Oakland Raiders 10

[edit] 1982 NFL Season

September 13: Pittsburgh Steelers 36, Dallas Cowboys 28

September 20: Green Bay Packers 27, New York Giants 19

Note: The Packers' James Lofton takes a reverse 83 yards for a touchdown as GB scores two TDs and a pair of field goals in second half for comeback win.

NINE-WEEK NFL STRIKE

November 22: Los Angeles Raiders 28, San Diego Chargers 24

November 29: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, Miami Dolphins 17

December 6: New York Jets 28, Detroit Lions 13

December 13: Dallas Cowboys 37, Houston Oilers 7

December 20: San Diego Chargers 50, Cincinnati Bengals 34

December 27: Miami Dolphins 27, Buffalo Bills 10

January 3, 1983: Minnesota Vikings 31, Dallas Cowboys 27

In this game, the Cowboys' Tony Dorsett ran for 99 yards and a touchdown - still the longest running play from scrimmage in the NFL.

[edit] 1983 NFL Season

September 5: Dallas Cowboys 31, Washington Redskins 30

This was the game where Howard Cosell infamously referred to Redskins wide receiver, Alvin Garrett as a "little monkey."

September 12: San Diego Chargers 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

September 19: Los Angeles Raiders 27, Miami Dolphins 14

September 26: New York Giants 27, Green Bay Packers 3

October 3: New York Jets 34, Buffalo Bills 10

October 10: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Cincinnati Bengals 14

October 17: Green Bay Packers 48, Washington Redskins 47

Note: The Redskins' Mark Moseley misses a field goal in closing seconds to preserve GB's win over the defending Super Bowl champions.

October 24: St. Louis Cardinals 20, New York Giants 20

October 31: Washington Redskins 27, San Diego Chargers 24

November 7: Detroit Lions 15, New York Giants 9

November 14: Los Angeles Rams 36, Atlanta Falcons 13

November 21: New York Jets 31, New Orleans Saints 28

November 28: Miami Dolphins 38, Cincinnati Bengals 14

December 5: Detroit Lions 13, Minnesota Vikings 2

December 12: Green Bay Packers 12, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9

December 19: San Francisco 49ers 42, Dallas Cowboys 17

[edit] 1984 NFL Season

September 3: Dallas Cowboys 20, Los Angeles Rams 13

September 10: San Francisco 49ers 37, Washington Redskins 31

September 17: Washington Redskins 30, Denver Broncos 3

September 24: Miami Dolphins 21, Buffalo Bills 17

October 1: Pittsburgh Steelers 38, Cincinnati Bengals 17

October 8: San Francisco 49ers 31, New York Giants 10

October 15: Denver Broncos 17, Green Bay Packers 14

October 22: Los Angeles Rams 24, Atlanta Falcons 10

October 29: Seattle Seahawks 24, San Diego Chargers 0

November 5: Washington Redskins 27, Atlanta Falcons 14

November 12: Seattle Seahawks 17, Los Angeles Raiders 14

November 19: New Orleans Saints 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24

November 26: Miami Dolphins 28, New York Jets 17

December 3: San Diego Chargers 20, Chicago Bears 7

December 10: Los Angeles Raiders 24, Detroit Lions 3

December 17: Miami Dolphins 28, Dallas Cowboys 21

[edit] 1985 NFL Season

September 9: Dallas Cowboys 44, Washington Redskins 14

September 16: Cleveland Browns 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 7

September 23: Los Angeles Rams 35, Seattle Seahawks 24

September 30: Cincinnati Bengals 37, Pittsburgh Steelers 24

October 7: Washington Redskins 27, St. Louis Cardinals 10

October 14: New York Jets 23, Miami Dolphins 7

October 21: Chicago Bears 23, Green Bay Packers 7

Note: William "Refrigerator" Perry plunges into the end zone for a touchdown in his national coming-out party.

October 28: Los Angeles Raiders 34, San Diego Chargers 21

November 4: St. Louis Cardinals 21, Dallas Cowboys 10

November 11: Denver Broncos 17, San Francisco 49ers 16

November 18: Washington Redskins 23, New York Giants 21

This game is infamous for Lawrence Taylor's tackle that ended Joe Theismann's career.

November 25: San Francisco 49ers 19, Seattle Seahawks 6

December 2: Miami Dolphins 38, Chicago Bears 24

This was and still is, the highest rated game in Monday Night Football history.

December 9: Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 20

December 16: Miami Dolphins 30, New England Patriots 27

December 23: Los Angeles Raiders 16, Los Angeles Rams 6

[edit] 1986 NFL Season

September 8: Dallas Cowboys 31, New York Giants 28

September 15: Denver Broncos 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 10

September 22: Chicago Bears 25, Green Bay Packers 12

September 29: Dallas Cowboys 31, St. Louis Cardinals 7

October 6: Seattle Seahawks 33, San Diego Chargers 7

October 13: Cincinnati Bengals 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 22

October 20: New York Jets 22, Denver Broncos 10

October 27: New York Giants 27, Washington Redskins 20

November 3: Los Angeles Rams 20, Chicago Bears 17

November 10: Cleveland Browns 26, Miami Dolphins 16

November 17: Washington Redskins 14, San Francisco 49ers 6

November 24: Miami Dolphins 45, New York Jets 3

December 1: New York Giants 21, San Francisco 49ers 17

December 8: Seattle Seahawks 37, Los Angeles Raiders 0

December 15: Chicago Bears 16, Detroit Lions 13

December 22: New England Patriots 34, Miami Dolphins 27

[edit] 1987 NFL Season

September 14: Chicago Bears 34, New York Giants 19

September 21: New York Jets 43, New England Patriots 24

NFL STRIKE CANCELS ONE GAME.**

October 5: San Francisco 49ers 41, at New York Giants 21

October 12: Denver Broncos 30, Los Angeles Raiders 14

October 19: Washington Redskins 13, at Dallas Cowboys 7

NFL STRIKE ENDS AND PLAYERS RETURN**

October 26: Cleveland Browns 30, Los Angeles Rams 17

October 26: Minnesota Vikings 34, Denver Broncos 27 (rescheduled game)

Note: This game was rescheduled because Game 7 of the 1987 World Series (which was also broadcasted by ABC), which featured the Minnesota Twins, had to play at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Sunday night, when the Vikings were originally slated to host the Broncos. Therefore, the game was moved to Monday night, and was played simultaneously with the Browns-Rams game.

November 2: Dallas Cowboys 33, New York Giants 24

November 9: New York Jets 30, Seattle Seahawks 14

November 16: Denver Broncos 31, Chicago Bears 29

November 23: Los Angeles Rams 30, at Washington Redskins 26

November 30: Los Angeles Raiders 37, at Seattle Seahawks 14

Note: Bo Jackson's career high of 221 yards.

December 7: Miami Dolphins 37, New York Jets 28

December 14: San Francisco 49ers 41, Chicago Bears 0

December 21: Dallas Cowboys 29, at Los Angeles Rams 21

December 28: New England Patriots 24, Miami Dolphins 10

[edit] 1988 NFL Season

September 5: New York Giants 27, Washington Redskins 20

September 12: Dallas Cowboys 17, at Phoenix Cardinals 14

September 19: Cleveland Browns 23, Indianapolis Colts 17

September 26: Los Angeles Raiders 30, at Denver Broncos 27

October 3: New Orleans Saints 20, Dallas Cowboys 17

October 10: Philadelphia Eagles 24, New York Giants 13

October 17: Buffalo Bills 37, at New York Jets 14

October 24: Chicago Bears 10, San Francisco 49ers 9

October 31: Indianapolis Colts 55, Denver Broncos 23

November 7: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 17

November 14: Buffalo Bills 31, at Miami Dolphins 6

November 21: San Francisco 49ers 37, Washington Redskins 21

November 28: Seattle Seahawks 35, Los Angeles Raiders 27

December 5: Los Angeles Rams 23, Chicago Bears 3

December 12: Miami Dolphins 38, Cleveland Browns 31

December 19: Minnesota Vikings 28, Chicago Bears 27

[edit] 1989 NFL Season

September 11: New York Giants 27, at Washington Redskins 24

September 18: Denver Broncos 28, at Buffalo Bills 14

September 25: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Cleveland Browns 14

October 2: Chicago Bears 27, Philadelphia Eagles 13

October 9: Los Angeles Raiders 14, at New York Jets 7

October 16: Buffalo Bills 23, Los Angeles Rams 20

October 23: Cleveland Browns 27, Chicago Bears 7

October 30: New York Giants 24, Minnesota Vikings 14

November 6: San Francisco 49ers 31, New Orleans Saints 13

November 13: Houston Oilers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 24

November 20: Denver Broncos 14, at Washington Redskins 10

November 27: San Francisco 49ers 34, New York Giants 24

December 4: Seattle Seahawks 17, Buffalo Bills 16

December 11: San Francisco 49ers 30, at Los Angeles Rams 27

December 18: New Orleans Saints 30, Philadelphia Eagles 20

December 25: Minnesota Vikings 29, Cincinnati Bengals 21

 

[Horrorshow]

Thank you for the stats and the link. I'm very familiar with them. DD's pro football reference site is one of the best reasons to get out of bed each morning.

Are you familiar with the Football Outsider piece on Jones and his incredible 1976 campiagn in their 2005 Pro Football Prospectus?

Incidently, JohnnyU - I've just checked my emails. My friend tells me that the MNF game I mentioned earlier features Jones' Colts against Washington in '78. Does that sound accurate? I know that Baltimore did play against the Redskins that year but I have no idea whether or not it was a MNF game...

EDIT - Just seen your post above that answers my question! Again, many thanks for your time and trouble!

 

[JohnnyU]

Thank you for the stats and the link. I'm very familiar with them. DD's pro football reference site is one of the best reasons to get out of bed each morning. Are you familiar with the Football Outsider piece on Jones and his incredible 1976 campiagn in their 2005 Pro Football Prospectus?Incidently, JohnnyU - I've just checked my emails. My friend tells me that the MNF game I mentioned earlier features Jones' Colts against Washington in '78. Does that sound accurate? I know that Baltimore did play against the Redskins that year but I have no idea whether or not it was a MNF game...

Yes, the Colts played 3 times on MNF in 1978 and Washington was November 6: Baltimore Colts 21, Washington Redskins 17. Since Jones only played in 3 games in 1978, he must have got hurt early in the year and came back for that game, then got hurt again.

 

[JohnnyU]

EDIT - Just seen your post above that answers my question! Again, many thanks for your time and trouble!

No trouble at all. I was a HUGE Bert Jones fan, even more so than JohnnyU. I was born in 1959, so Bert Jones was in his prime when I was in my late teens. Now I loved Unitas also, but I was very young when he was ending his career. Having said that, I started being a Baltimore Colts fan in 1965 (age 6) believe it or not. My uncle was a huge Colts fan and I worshiped the ground my uncle walked on, so I became a Colts fan also, even at a young age. Also, since I'm from Ky and loved Wildcat basketball, I took to the Colts quickly because they had the same colors as the Wildcats.

 

[JohnnyU]

Thank you for the stats and the link. I'm very familiar with them. DD's pro football reference site is one of the best reasons to get out of bed each morning. Are you familiar with the Football Outsider piece on Jones and his incredible 1976 campiagn in their 2005 Pro Football Prospectus?Incidently, JohnnyU - I've just checked my emails. My friend tells me that the MNF game I mentioned earlier features Jones' Colts against Washington in '78. Does that sound accurate? I know that Baltimore did play against the Redskins that year but I have no idea whether or not it was a MNF game... EDIT - Just seen your post above that answers my question! Again, many thanks for your time and trouble!

I know Bert was hurt in game 3 of 1979 against Cleveland, because that was the first Baltimore Colts game I ever went to. It was old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. What I remember most about that game was Toni Linhart missed about 5 FGs under 40 yds and the Colts lost 13-10, and someone threw a liquor bottle at me and hit me in the back of the head . After the game Irsay gave Linhart a $10,000 raise and then cut him. I believe Greg Landry was the starting QB for the Colts that day, and I don't believe Jones had played at all in the first 2 games of 1979. He did end up playing 4 games that year, but that's it. He did play a full year in 1980 and 1981, but was never the same player as he was in the mid-70s.

 

[roadkill1292]

People forget because they were cursed to play in the same conference as the Steelers and Raiders, but the mid-70's Colts were some damn fine teams.

This was my first thought as well. Bert Jones was one of the NFL's most feared weapons during his all too brief tenure, though I thought he was at times underutilized by then coach Ted Marchibroda. Oddly enough, at least here in the Baltimore area, he was also a lightening rod for criticism from the fans; he was held overly responsible for the team's shortcomings in the playoffs just like a certain current Colts QB.But he could zip it in there like few others.

 

[goldfinger]

What happened with Bert Jones and the LA Rams. I remember him on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Did he ever play with them?

 

[On The Rocks]

Jack Kemp, Harold Carmichael and Wilt Chamberlain all supposedly could toss a football 100 yards in their day.

Kemp? Really?I never would have thought that.

Useless information, but interesting all the same.

No Darryl Lamonica?

 

[JohnnyU]

What happened with Bert Jones and the LA Rams. I remember him on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Did he ever play with them?

He played in 4 games in 1982 with the Rams and retired.

 

[JohnnyU]

A little "What Might Have Been?" Action:

Back in February 2008, before his Patriots met the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, New England head coach Bill Belichick suggested that the best quarterback he ever saw might just have been Bert Jones.

This is the guy who coaches Tom Brady. Who constructed defenses to stop Montana and Marino. Who grew up in Baltimore watching Unitas.

He isn't crazy, though. Bert Jones was, indeed, crazy good. He was essentially Elway—mobile, bazooka armed, and very smart. He was completing 60 percent of his passes when that wasn't common and was very, very, efficient.

While Jones was healthy from 1975-77 the Baltimore Colts were Super Bowl contenders. Jones was an MVP in 1976.

Shoulder injuries derailed and shortened Jones' career, but his is arguably the most intriguing "What Might Have Been?" story for any quarterback in history.

He had every tool you could ask for. In his prime he could chuck it almost 90 yards and some said he could throw it from endzone to endzone. Ernie Accorsi, the venerable GM, said that under different circumstances he might have been the greatest player (or at least quarterback) ever.

To this day Jones is seldom recalled with great contemporaries like Stabler or Bradshaw—both Super Bowl winners, one a Hall-of-Famer. But it says something that a lot of ex players, scouts, and fans who remember the era still hail Jones as the prodigal quarterback talent.

He was built to be the best ever but his health failed him.