Ken Stabler

[Don Wassall]

Kenny Stabler was one of the most clutch quarterbacks in NFL history. He never put up gaudy stats, similar to Terry Bradshaw, but he was a winner, especially in big games, and a borderline Hall of Famer.

He lived large off the field and was an unforgettable personality who lived life on his terms and didn't care what others thought. RIP Ken Stabler.

 

[Don Wassall]

For you young'uns, Stabler was the southpaw QB and leader of the 1970s Raiders, who had a great rivalry in that era with the Steelers. They were both badass teams, who played unforgettable playoff games back when Whites were still allowed to play all positions rather than just QB and o-line like today.

[video=youtube;OtOOmr5b7QE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtOOmr5b7QE[/video]​

 

[The Hock]

After Stabler's first few years he seemed on his way to the Hall of Fame. He was so cool under pressure. His passes always looked so easy to catch, with just the right touch on them. And he was a natural leader. Something so many QB's aren't nowadays.

I remember being puzzled when he faded somewhat in the second half of his career. His night life (three DUI's post career are a clue, a good signal caller but a poor taxi caller) played a role. Knees injuries didn't help. And Stabler had a sort of orphaned career later on. Bad teams, coaching changes, organizational instability.

Had he a steady Belecheck-Brady or Walsh-Montana type situation I believe Stabler could well be in the Hall of Fame today. As it is he is arguably the best QB out there not to be voted in.

Yeah The Snake could play and was fun to watch, as were the Raiders back then. I would have liked to hear what he might have to say about this current sorry version of them after he'd had a few. I'll bet he was glad to play when he did and not now.

 

[sport historian]

Don,

Thanks for mentioning Ken Stabler. Most of the posters probably know little about him.

Regarding the HOF, Paul Zimmerman (Doctor Z) swore Stabler would go in the Hall over his dead body. Zimmerman had a stroke a few years ago and is out of it now.

I was looking over the internet and one writer said Russell Wilson is the closest current QB to Stabler, but then said Stabler wouldn't have had that interception on the one yard line.

Another said "Snake made Johnny Manziel look like a Buddhist monk."

 

[jaxvid]

Loved Kenny Stabler back in the day, sad to hear of his passing. He was one of those characters that are no longer allowed to exist in the new NFL.

He was a southpaw with the smoothest passing style I ever saw.

Why is it that Bear Bryant could recruit Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler to Alabama, two of the best natural passers ever, and the Crimson Tide under Bryant was a typical SEC run all of the time team? Look at their putrid college stats. Who would ever think they were great passing QB's?

Kenny Stabler

Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	AY/A	TD	Int	Rate
1965	Alabama	SEC		QB	10	3	11	27.3	26	2.4	2.4	0	0	47.1
1966	Alabama	SEC		QB	10	74	114	64.9	956	8.4	8.0	9	5	152.6
1967	Alabama	SEC		QB	10	103	178	57.9	1214	6.8	4.5	9	13	117.2
Career	Alabama					180	303	59.4	2196	7.2	5.8	18	18	128.0

Joe Namath

Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	AY/A	TD	Int	Rate
1962	Alabama	SEC		QB	10	76	146	52.1	1192	8.2	7.5	13	8	139.1
1963	Alabama	SEC		QB	10	63	128	49.2	765	6.0	4.6	7	7	106.5
1964	Alabama	SEC		QB	10	64	100	64.0	756	7.6	6.1	4	5	130.7
Career	Alabama					203	374	54.3	2713	7.3	6.1	24	20	125.7

 

[white is right]

After Stabler's first few years he seemed on his way to the Hall of Fame. He was so cool under pressure. His passes always looked so easy to catch, with just the right touch on them. And he was a natural leader. Something so many QB's aren't nowadays.

I remember being puzzled when he faded somewhat in the second half of his career. His night life (three DUI's post career are a clue, a good signal caller but a poor taxi caller) played a role. Knees injuries didn't help. And Stabler had a sort of orphaned career later on. Bad teams, coaching changes, organizational instability.

Had he a steady Belecheck-Brady or Walsh-Montana type situation I believe Stabler could well be in the Hall of Fame today. As it is he is arguably the best QB out there not to be voted in.

Yeah The Snake could play and was fun to watch, as were the Raiders back then. I would have liked to hear what he might have to say about this current sorry version of them after he'd had a few. I'll bet he was glad to play when he did and not now.

Yes the trajectory of his career was similar to Bledsoe or McDrunk but he was a higher level than either quarterback at his peak. His partying was legendary and wasn't uncommon for quarterbacks in that era, obviously Namath was as much of playboy as Stabler but there were other quarterbacks that enjoyed multiple females over the course of their careers too. I think the reason why the playboy drunk type quarterback is near extinct is because starting quarterbacks get paid so much more than they got paid during this era and the media doesn't protect philandering athletes like they did in the past.

Ps I heard writers talking about why Stabler has been denied entry to the hall of fame and they have stated that if he gets let in where do they draw the line on other borderline candidates ie Ken Anderson, John Brodie or even Jim Plunkett.

 

[Don Wassall]

Yes the trajectory of his career was similar to Bledsoe or McDrunk but he was a higher level than either quarterback at his peak. His partying was legendary and wasn't uncommon for quarterbacks in that era, obviously Namath was as much of playboy as Stabler but there were other quarterbacks that enjoyed multiple females over the course of their careers too. I think the reason why the playboy drunk type quarterback is near extinct is because starting quarterbacks get paid so much more than they got paid during this era and the media doesn't protect philandering athletes like they did in the past.

Ps I heard writers talking about why Stabler has been denied entry to the hall of fame and they have stated that if he gets let in where do they draw the line on other borderline candidates ie Ken Anderson, John Brodie or even Jim Plunkett.

White QBs pretty much have to be choir boys, no way they can live a Stabler/Namath lifestyle now. Johnny Manziel tried and it didn't work out too well. Rehab didn't exist back then, and is often a joke anyway. Too much like "sensitivity training" and other bs. If you want to quit, then quit.

 

[Quiet Speed]

I was a fan of the "Snake" also. I remember this game in '79 all too well, though. I would still pull for the Saints in those days. The agony.

The night The Snake bit the Saints to kick off the Baghead era

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/07/14...-snake-bit-the-saints.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

 

[white is right]

I was a fan of the "Snake" also. I remember this game in '79 all too well, though. I would still pull for the Saints in those days. The agony.

The night The Snake bit the Saints to kick off the Baghead era

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/07/14...-snake-bit-the-saints.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Stabler was nominated today for hall from the Seniors Committee, he and Dick Stanfel will be on the ballot in February when the writers vote. Stanfel has been denied entry twice from the voters so you would think the third time is the charm. I feel sad for the Stabler family as his potential enshrinement will be bitter sweet for his relatives....http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...tabler-stanfel-named-2016-hof-senior-nominees