ISIS is in Afghanistan, But Who Are They Really? 25. Bednarik was nicknamed Concrete Charlie and to me, will always be known for the phrase I heard him say at training camp one year: Today's football players are underplayed and overpaid., 9. There's the toughness of getting the snot knocked out of you, and the can't-be-intimidated, never-quit kind of tough. He ran 32 times for 168 yards and caught 10 balls for 61 yards. In 1951 alone, he knocked out 21 players. In 1999, he was ranked number 78 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. And that is something that I'm dealing with. Jerry Kramer, Guard & Kicker, Green Bay Packers (1958-1968), Kramer endured 23 operations and required over 500 stitches in his NFL career, including a colostomy, which he described as a horror movie that hasn't been made yet., 26. Immediately everybody rushes to blame football or blame some other thing happened in their life either socially, emotionally or psychologically. I was depressed because I wasn't running out on the field anymore, when they announced "At center, Jim Otto." It's a tough sport. He has a compound fracture of the thumb. Jim Otto And --. During the 1980s, Otto was involved in numerous business ventures. He owned numerous Burger King Restaurants near Sacramento, California until the early 1990s. In 1997, Otto's daughter, Jennifer, a 39-year-old mother of four, died from a blood clot. Jim Otto I know that all of us guys I know in some way, shape or form have down times, when there's a certain amount of depression in our minds and our thoughts, in our heart, and it's not a very comfortable situation. But I'll tell you whathe had more knockouts than any of us. Brown fractured the face of an Eagles running back, broke another players vertebrae, and knocked a Steelers running backs eye out of its socket. 1. He endured torn-up knees, broken hands, broken ribs, and an acutely-painful hamstring tear but never missed a game. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This is FRONTLINE's old website. Injuries; Super Bowl LVII; Coaches; Football Power Well, during my career, I had a lot of hits to the head. It becomes quite a shock.. Ten years of lawsuits against the 49ers left him with a $1 million settlement in 1989 and plenty of bitterness. For the next 15 years, he was a fixture at center for the Oakland Raiders, never missing a single game due to injury. I think what they're doing, they're going to cost so much money that the owners and high schools won't be able to afford the insurance for the game and stuff like that. And I went, "Yay." Otto now suffers from arthritis, and severe neck problems. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. How tall is Jim Otto? They want my brain at I think it's Michigan or --. Almost no one leaves this game unscarred either physically or mentally.. He paralyzed wide receiver Darryl Stingley in a preseason game in 1978 on a clean hit. Did you ever have that happen to you? But let them play. Bronko Nagurski, Running Back, Chicago Bears (1930-1937, 1943), As Giants linebacker Johnny Dell Isola said during their playing days years ago, I had heard a lot about him, but I thought most of it was exaggerated. Raider played and played and played constantly proving wrong several coaches who in high school, college and the pros considered him undersized to hold up against defensive linemen and linebackers. WebGet the latest career stats for Jim Otto of the on CBS Sports FRONTLINE Watch FRONTLINE You did though, that was during practices they would do that? He was one of the best 4th-and-1 runners in NFL history. Otto Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. As a 248-pound defensive end, he played in 282 consecutive games. Well, the rules and regulations today have really changed football to a certain degree because of the contact rules. . Jack Tatum, Safety, Oakland Raiders & Houston Oilers (1971-1980), He was nicknamed The Assassin. He knocked out future Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey in the first game of his career. Earl Campbell, Running Back, Houston Oilers & New Orleans Saints (1978-1985), I can't think of anyone who even comes in a close second, when you say, Running backswho really hurts? He maintained his streak despite pneumonia, an ulcer, and a shotgun wound to the side. Steve Sabol had the following to say about Butkus: His career stands as the most sustained work of devastation ever committed on any field of sport, anywhere, any time., Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. , 39. He takes his thumb in his hand and wrenches it down into his fist. Garrison has also played through a separated shoulder, a severely broken nose and a broken collarbone. He went down, then got up and trotted off the field. And boy, the rest of the day was hell for me. The ironic part? And from what I understand and read -- never met him -- it does sound like he played that game exactly like you described. His last game, up in Cleveland, he came out of the hospital to play with a broken rib, a punctured lung, and pneumonia. The artificial surfaces are much harder than grass. In one game, he knocked out the entire Washington Redskins backfield one by one. WebJim Otto This article was written by Rich Shmelter For 15 seasons, the 00 on Jim Ottos uniform stood out like a beacon. Right. Emmitt Smith, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys & Arizona Cardinals (1990-2004), Emmitt Smith transformed the epitome of toughness on national television in the last game of the season in 1993. I wanted people to respect me.. He comes in like he's going to hit the man midsection, which there's no penalty for, and just as he hits coming in on the midsection, you'll see that ballplayer, the guy with the ball, drop his head. He soon was established as the Raiders center. The scouts also found out that Otto had suffered some shoulder injuries, and that Otto loved the contact that football provided and destroyed anyone on the opposing team looking to get past him. I got upset. In a playoff game in 1970, Garrison broke three ribs in the first quarter and continued playing after he was carried off the field. In most cases I would like to be able to be out there doing something for somebody else, helping somebody else, and I can't. It just -- you know, maybe I choked a little bit and thought, oh, boy, I used to do that. There have been problems with steroids. Namaths famously fragile knees are so painful that he cant carry his children down steps. He played five more games before the loose bone mass was removed. It's Earl Campbell. --Gary Fencik, safety, 10. Do you feel like the suicide thoughts are related to the pain or related to retirement? No. Don Meredith, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys (1960-1968), Meredith was really tough. There were two times. But that didn't bother me that much. When Lotts finger didnt heal properly, he told the doctors to cut it off, and they amputated his pinkie at the third knuckle. Before his death in 1992, Raiders defensive lineman Lyle Alzado said long-term steroid use was the cause of the brain tumor that eventually killed him. Dick Butkus, Linebacker, Chicago Bears (1965-1973), Dick Butkus was the angriest, most ferocious, menacing, and yes, toughest player to ever play the game of football. Chuck Bednarik, Center & Linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles (1949-1962), The greatest collision of all time was Bednarik hitting Gifford. 8. Jim Otto is 6-2 (188 cm) tall. He had a game-winning tackle of future Hall of Fame running back Jim Taylor in the closing seconds of the Eagles 17-13 win in 1960. Lewis's toughness peaked when he dislocated his elbow so seriously that a teammate was forced to help him put on his jewelry. Runyan has started 180 consecutive games at right tackle, and has played in the postseason on seven occasions. One great performance, such as Joe Namaths for the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, can bring endless endorsements. Five years later, in 2002, Otto was stricken with prostate cancer, though the cancer is currently in remission. 32. and ankle injuries during his three years with the Hurricanes. He retired from the Arena Football League in 1992. To this day, Otto embodies the toughness and determination the Raiders began to ferment in the mid-1960s, after Al Davis took control of the team and later hired John Madden as head coach. Krueger now cant kneel and has problems walking on uneven surfaces. Double-zero recalls stories about all of his famous Raider teammates, his most memorable opponents, and the behind-the-scenes life of an NFL Hall of Famer. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. We dont keep records, but were seeing greater numbers of psychological problems when theyre finished playing.. A Jim Otto is doing this every play. After a few days, Otto gave out a press conference telling the nation that he had retired from the game of football. Including pre-season, regular season and post-season games, Otto competed in 308 consecutive games. His famed right shoulder was responsible for dozens of broken noses and jaws. In 1974, he used a cast on his broken left hand as a weapon. Perhaps the most painful of Jim Ottos 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. As a rookie in 1920, he angered the Rock Island Independents so bad that they sent four players into the game on a mission to destroy Trafton. It has been 20 years since Otto retired after a Hall of Fame career. I'm hurting like a son of a gun. Ronnie Lott, Cornerback & Safety, San Francisco 49ers & Los Angeles Raiders & New York Jets & Kansas City Chiefs (1981-1995). Jim Otto Let them play it the way it's supposed to be played, the way the rules are, and don't keep changing the rules. They've asked for my brain. Mel Hein, Center, New York Giants (1931-1945). And then the next game you did that snap that you're --. Could someone please explain to me why Jim Marshall is not in the Hall of Fame? Heart of a Champion: The 40 Toughest Players in NFL History And I think if you were to evaluate Mike Webster, it was a matter of pride. 34. That's number one. One contract can provide financial security for a lifetime. And that's what I'm doing. What do you mean by that? When you have a blow like that, it's a concussion; there's no doubt about it. FactSnippet No. I mean, he'd figure out a way to beat you, and so would Jim Otto. Numerous accolades for Jim support Maddens widely shared opinion of the 15-year pro as the best to play his position: 10 first-team All-Pro selections, 12 Pro Bowl appearances and spots on the AFL Hall of Fame All-1960s Team and the NFL 100 All-Time Team. We need people in the National Football League now, and I think we have various different projects going within the NFL -- the NFL Players Association, the NFL Alumni -- to help these guys now, because I did go to the Alumni, I did go to the Players Association and get monies from them for other rehabs for other players. What about these memory issues or anything like that involving your thinking? I think some of these below-the-waist blocks as well, sure, you stand to hurt a knee or stand to hurt something. Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis made the announcement Wednesday as part of a wide-ranging news conference touching on the state of the team, the recent death of Bill Walsh and pensions for former NFL players. Unitas could intimidate without being one of the physical players. I think so. Well, as you know, it didnt get better. Raider," Jim Otto - Sports Jack Youngblood, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams (1971-1984). I was hitting him with such force, and he was coming at me with such force that this is what happened. And a lot of times these guys fall into that category or one of those categories, and it happens that they commit suicide. 16. Once you leave the game, people forget about you quite quickly, said Drew Pearson, the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. Deacon Jones, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams & San Diego Chargers & Washington Redskins (1961-1974), The NFL's unofficial record-holder with 26 sacks in the 1967 season, Deacon coined the term sack. Jones said that toughness is defined not by playing through pain, but by avoiding pain in the first place. With the Cowboys and Giants fighting for the NFC East and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, Emmitt played the entire game with a sprained and separated right shoulder. Ernie Stautner, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1950-1963). Privacy Policy NAPA, Calif. -- Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. Since then, only three players have been suspended for the minimum four weeks for a first offense. There was recently a Washington Redskins player who got cut and shot his bed full of bullet holes, said Yaras-Davis, who declined to name the player. But I'm not out there crying about it. And it was about two days after the football game in high school my senior year. Otto worked diligently to build his body up to his playing weight of 250 pounds. James Edwin Otto (born January 5, 1938 in Wausau, Wisconsin) is a former center for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League. Yeah, I think it was in -- I'm not exactly sure what year; it was '72 or something. And Nitschke, it was right toward the end of his career, and he was I guess letting Carter get some time in there. But Jim suffered greatly for that glory. Injuries and operations During one six-month stretch, he was without a right knee joint because he had to wait for an infection to heal before another artificial knee could be implanted. When the Minneapolis contigent decided to move forward with an NFL franchise, Jim Ottos rights defauted to the AFLs Oakland Raiders. 1952. Favre has started 287 consecutive games, including the postseason, an all-time record for a quarterback. Former Raiders internist Dr. Former offensive lineman Steve Courson, who played eight seasons for the Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has blamed alcohol and steroids for his dilated cardiomyopathy, a weakened heart muscle. Hein remains the only offensive linemen to ever win the MVP award (1938). Ray Lewis has won a Super Bowl MVP, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and has earned nine Pro Bowl invitations. He knocked the helmet off Minnesota receiver Sammy White in the Super Bowlprobably the hardest hit I have ever seen. It's the way we were taught to hit. If we were fighting a war, the linebackers would be the first guys to get killed. Among Doblers principal offenses were biting, gouging, punching, kicking, and grabbing the face mask. He played in an era when quarterbacks did not receive much protection, specifically on late hits. I mean, we battled in there, and this is the result of it right here, sitting here, looking at you. How many games did Jim Otto play? Doesn't say anything. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory WebHow did Jim Otto loose his leg? Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. You ever go to a retired players association convention? said Yaras-Davis. If you get hit in the head and a little dizziness comes out of it, you've suffered a concussion. Then there's the toughness a person has, an aura, that he can intimidate other people by his play or his toughness.. And with your head traumas, with the head injuries, tell me about one in particular. In a playoff game in 1972, Greene recorded five sacks, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and blocked a field goal in a 9-3 win vs. Houston. Some play with injuries because they fear they might lose their job or position and their self-concept and identity. You're the tackler, and you get fined. McDonald was the last NFL player to not wear a facemask. There have been times when Ive said, Whyd I do this?, But I wasnt going to lay there and whine. Web Site Copyright 1995-2016 WGBH Educational Foundation My first thoughts were, I got sick. He has arthritis in his shoulders and neck. Otto's body was punished greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 74 operations, including 28 on his knee (nine of them during his playing career) and multiple joint replacements. And that's the way we played. And so yes, he broke my helmet; he broke my face mask in here, which broke my nose and set it over here. His joints are riddled with arthritis, and he has debilitating back and neck problems. Most current players feel they have more leverage since Butkus filed a $1.6 million suit against the Bears in 1974 and came away with a $600,000 settlement. The symptoms are nightmares and cold sweats. According to several experts, the emphasis on size in the mid-1980s led to a peak use of steroids, which increase strength, muscle definition and aggressiveness. And that's why we played. Stillwell, who played only three seasons with the Bears, walks with a cane. He makes this big fist. I don't have knees anymore. Over the course of his career, Jim I know that in my mind, in Jim Otto's mind -- and I'll be honest with you right now -- that thoughts of suicide have gone through my head at different times. You sit there. Otto punished his body greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 40 surgeries, including 28 knee operations (nine of them during his playing career alone) and multiple joint replacements. You seem completely with it and pulling up words and memories and having no problems at all. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory is the story about a man who fought through numerous injuries, frequent surgeries, and a myriad of other maladies. WebJim Otto (born January 10, 1992) is a retired American football Offensive Tackle. Nagurski became a professional wrestler after his NFL career and was a two-time world heavyweight champion. He considered the 20-some broken noses as more nuisance than hindrance, along with a hip pointer, broken fingers, broken ribs, a broken jaw, neck stingers, numerous concussions, kicked-in teeth and a bout of double pneumonia. He then went on to play collegiate football at Miami. About FRONTLINE Of those who did not leave because of injury, 56.2% reported similar emotional problems. Bavaro's play inspired the Giants, who went on to win the game, and the Super Bowl. He won eight rushing titles before abruptly retiring at the age of 30. Ive heard guys like Jim Otto and Dan Hampton say they would do it again. And then being in that position to hit the ball, the runner drops his head, the quarterback drops his head or whatever it might be, and you have head-to-head contact. When you have nobody helping you in a situation like that, I would imagine it's a pretty empty feeling to be going through life with that problem and nobody is coming to help you. It was a matter of pride in the way we did things. Jim Otto was a Raiders ironman. Today, Otto is handicapped, but he says he wouldn't change a thing if given the opportunity to do it over again. Editors note: Sadly, Class of 52 correspondent Joan Boffa Gaul passed away on April 11, 2023.This column, her final one, was written in February. Utleys injury received a lot of media attention because it happened during a game. The Baltimore Ravens placed a bounty on Ward, to which the former Super Bowl MVP responded, Bring it on. He was voted the smartest offensive player in the NFL (non-quarterbacks) and is considered the best blocking receiver in the NFL. Now, the tackler is fined $20,000, $30,000, $50,000, whatever it is for a blow to the head. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, the first year he was eligible. Giants lineman Al DeRogatis once accused Kilroy of biting him on the nose. So he stayed there for the rest of the series, and then we came off, and I'm watching him because I'm the only guy who saw that he had a compound fracture. And anything that we would do, it was part of our lineage, part of our genes, part of what our family had given us, the will to be the best. He got beat up so bad in his early years. And I wanted to be a help to David. I had my arms around his legs, and my shoulder dug into him. WebBut Jim, remembering that his college injuries had all come when he was on defense, chose to let down a little during defensive tryouts and then really go all out when it came time for offensive team trials.
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