Video of "The NFL Today" opening from 1977 (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

There are highlights of six plays in the opening. The last four are exceedingly dirty.

LINK

1) Cliff Branch gets upended.

2) Sweetness goes over the top for a TD.

3) Joe "Turkey" Jones of the Browns slams Terry Bradshaw to the ground.

4) Butch Johnson of Dallas gets intentionally stepped on. (If you remember Butch, he probably had it coming).

5) Dave Hampton of the Eagles gets viciously clotheslined on a kick return.

6) Mike Livingston of the Chiefs gets facemasked.

Could you imagine the NFL's reaction today if one of their network partners showed this stuff in their opening?



They even told ESPN to stop doing the "You got JACKED ... UP!" segment.

 

[Fensalk]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.

The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

 

[Raider Nation]

The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history"

They did this before. I had a VHS tape of it in the early 90s.

 

[az_prof]

Brent Musburger looks like a dumb kid and someone should slap him aside the head! Phyillis looks hotter than I realized when I was a kid! Funny to hear how Dallas might send their punter to Tampa for the rights to draft Earl Campbell!!! They were cheaters even back then, although that trade never happened. I loved watching the hits and listening to the music on the highlight intro--half the hits back then would be illegal today.

 

[Raider Nation]

half the hits back then would be illegal today.

Don't get me wrong... the hits they showed were illegal then. It was just a commentary on how they could never open a show these days with those clips. That Turkey Jones hit was infamous. It was an unnecessary roughness penalty that day, and it would be an unnecessary roughness penalty today PLUS an ejection, I suspect.

 

[mr roboto]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

I thought the purists were the ones who want to keep fighting/enforcers in the game.

 

[Jake22]

half the hits back then would be illegal today.

Don't get me wrong... the hits they showed were illegal then. It was just a commentary on how they could never open a show these days with those clips. That Turkey Jones hit was infamous. It was an unnecessary roughness penalty that day, and it would be an unnecessary roughness penalty today PLUS an ejection, I suspect.

I saw the Turkey Jones hit live on TV that day and I thought Bradshaw would never play again as they carried him off on a stretcher, thought Jones broke his neck when he spiked his head into the ground...today I think that hit could also bring a fine and one game suspension, just for the fact that you could tell that Jones' intent was to hurt Bradshaw by flipping him over like that, and it was WAY after the whistle had blown.One day I was talking to some younger guys at work who are Browns fans and I mentioned the "Turkey Jones hit" on Bradshaw, they had no clue what I was talking about, I told them to check youtube and sure enough it's on there.

 

[cr8f]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.

The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

I don't think that's true, sure some people watch Nascar to see someone's head on fire after a crash but don't think the majority of NFL fans fit that.

NHL fans? Maybe but I think the fighting turns many fans off too.

 

[Raider Nation]

I saw the Turkey Jones hit live on TV that day and I thought Bradshaw would never play again as they carried him off on a stretcher, thought Jones broke his neck when he spiked his head into the ground...today I think that hit could also bring a fine and one game suspension, just for the fact that you could tell that Jones' intent was to hurt Bradshaw by flipping him over like that, and it was WAY after the whistle had blown.

I'm not disputing your account (bolded), but I noticed that Bradshaw is still holding the ball when he gets spiked. How was it way after the whistle? Was the play blown dead for a false start or something?

 

[DoubleG]

Brent Musburger looks like a dumb kid and someone should slap him aside the head! Phyillis looks hotter than I realized when I was a kid! Funny to hear how Dallas might send their punter to Tampa for the rights to draft Earl Campbell!!! They were cheaters even back then, although that trade never happened. I loved watching the hits and listening to the music on the highlight intro--half the hits back then would be illegal today.

 

[Jake22]

I saw the Turkey Jones hit live on TV that day and I thought Bradshaw would never play again as they carried him off on a stretcher, thought Jones broke his neck when he spiked his head into the ground...today I think that hit could also bring a fine and one game suspension, just for the fact that you could tell that Jones' intent was to hurt Bradshaw by flipping him over like that, and it was WAY after the whistle had blown.

I'm not disputing your account (bolded), but I noticed that Bradshaw is still holding the ball when he gets spiked. How was it way after the whistle? Was the play blown dead for a false start or something?

Yes, from what I remember it was something like a false start or something that stopped the play early, I just remember the whistle blowing a few times and Jones just spun Bradshaw around and just went for it like he didn't care, or didn't hear the whistle, which I doubt was the case there.

 

[Raider Nation]

I saw the Turkey Jones hit live on TV that day and I thought Bradshaw would never play again as they carried him off on a stretcher, thought Jones broke his neck when he spiked his head into the ground...today I think that hit could also bring a fine and one game suspension, just for the fact that you could tell that Jones' intent was to hurt Bradshaw by flipping him over like that, and it was WAY after the whistle had blown.

I'm not disputing your account (bolded), but I noticed that Bradshaw is still holding the ball when he gets spiked. How was it way after the whistle? Was the play blown dead for a false start or something?

Yes, from what I remember it was something like a false start or something that stopped the play early, I just remember the whistle blowing a few times and Jones just spun Bradshaw around and just went for it like he didn't care, or didn't hear the whistle, which I doubt was the case there.

is another look at it. Yep, it clearly looks like the right tackle stopped in his tracks and the ref is furiously blowing the play dead before Bradshaw is even touched.Here is Bradshaw talking about the play.

But that play, and most others, take a back seat to Charles Martin's dirty play.

 

[Fensalk]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.

The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

I don't think that's true, sure some people watch Nascar to see someone's head on fire after a crash but don't think the majority of NFL fans fit that.

NHL fans? Maybe but I think the fighting turns many fans off too.

I don't even think that's remotely close to being true. You know how in high school, when there is a fight after school, how there is a HUGE crowd that gathers to see it? THAT instinctual response is what is being tapped into. People WANT to see that stuff.

 

[zamboni]

Love that theme song.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Jimmy The Greek & the hard hits would both be no-nos today.

 

[Sweet Love]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

Problem is, the NHLs best players are getting killed...it is likely a function of the sport, in that Sid Crosby does not have a bunch of 300lb. men skating down the ice in a line in front of him...now in hockey, anyone can get jacked up, but losing your best player since a guy drafted in in 1985 (mario) is not a way to promote the sport. I have thought for hours on how to change the sport so the stars do not get killed out there, but unless you axe checking, there is no way to do it...maybe kill mid-ice checking (i.e. only against the boards, but (1) I am not sure whether it solves anything and (2) you are taking a major risk on changing a fringe sport for the worse.BTW, I was one of those kids playing Sega '91...great game. I played in college too, so while I love that aspect in a "game", I am not sure the reality brings the same level of fervor.

 

[Sweet Love]

Love that theme song.

Seriously...what was with the 70s and the horned instrument???

 

[Shane Falco]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

Problem is, the NHLs best players are getting killed...it is likely a function of the sport, in that Sid Crosby does not have a bunch of 300lb. men skating down the ice in a line in front of him...now in hockey, anyone can get jacked up, but losing your best player since a guy drafted in in 1985 (mario) is not a way to promote the sport. I have thought for hours on how to change the sport so the stars do not get killed out there, but unless you axe checking, there is no way to do it...maybe kill mid-ice checking (i.e. only against the boards, but (1) I am not sure whether it solves anything and (2) you are taking a major risk on changing a fringe sport for the worse.BTW, I was one of those kids playing Sega '91...great game. I played in college too, so while I love that aspect in a "game", I am not sure the reality brings the same level of fervor.

they weren't getting killed like that until1- the NHL eliminated fighting which was the repercussion when runs were taken at stars2- They started wearing helmets and football shoulder pads.

 

[DoubleG]

Love that theme song.

Seriously...what was with the 70s and the horned instrument???

It's called a trumpet. Except for the lower parts - that's likely a trombone and possibly some French Horn. But seriously - trumpets have been THE "lead" horn for millenia. Don't be dissing God's favorite instrument. Angels play that biotch.

 

[sspunisher]

Hello Phyllis

 

[HellToupee]

I've said it many times about the NHL. The NHL needs to advertise the violent aspect of the sport to become relevant again. The NFL did this for years for build its product. People want gladiator blood sports. The NHL should promote itself with a video of "biggest hits in NHL history" or "greatest fights in NHL history". I remember how kids went crazy playing NHL 91 on their Sega Genesis with in-game fighting. They loved it. But in today's world, its wrong.The NHL is a gold mine. But the purists are killing hockey.

Problem is, the NHLs best players are getting killed...it is likely a function of the sport, in that Sid Crosby does not have a bunch of 300lb. men skating down the ice in a line in front of him...now in hockey, anyone can get jacked up, but losing your best player since a guy drafted in in 1985 (mario) is not a way to promote the sport. I have thought for hours on how to change the sport so the stars do not get killed out there, but unless you axe checking, there is no way to do it...maybe kill mid-ice checking (i.e. only against the boards, but (1) I am not sure whether it solves anything and (2) you are taking a major risk on changing a fringe sport for the worse.BTW, I was one of those kids playing Sega '91...great game. I played in college too, so while I love that aspect in a "game", I am not sure the reality brings the same level of fervor.

they weren't getting killed like that until1- the NHL eliminated fighting which was the repercussion when runs were taken at stars

Eliminating the instigator rule would help a lot.Love that clothesline