Punt Returner Joe Theismann?!?

[SuperHornet]

So, in 1974...24 years before Taysom Hill was even born, the Washington Redskins sent rookie QB Joe Theismann out of Notre Dame in to return punts. That raised a ruckus at the time, but it didn't wasn't an issue when he did it regularly the previous three years with the Toronto Argonauts. What makes this even MORE intriguing is that Theismann, who allegedly changed the pronunciation of his name in a failed attempt to influence voters for a trophy he never won, refused to wear a "normal" facemask because it interfered with his vision; he wore a slanting single-bar facemask instead. The only footage anyone can find, though, involves a tackle Theismann made at the end of a Cowboys' fake punt (pre-Danny White, alas). This is one reason why Theismann is STILL one of the few NFC East QBs who STILL scares me. (The others are Phil Simms and Ron Jaworski.) Yes, there ARE quarterbacks who are tough enough to do odd things on a football field....

[89Hen]

You do know there are dozens of college QB's that played other positions in the NFL? Shoot, Theismann wasn't even close to the best punt returning QB to play Redskins.

[AZGrizFan]

And they all pale to this guy:

[Ibanez]

And they all pale to this guy:

Fun Fact - he's 22 yrs old in that photo.

[AZGrizFan]

And they all pale to this guy:

Fun Fact - he's 22 yrs old in that photo.

fun fact: AZGrizFan shares a birthday (well, not the year) with Mr. Blanda.

[Gil Dobie]

And they all pale to this guy:

Sammy Baugh says hold my beer. Baugh was a 2 time NFL player of the year as a QB, teams punter, and one year lead the league in interceptions with 11, as a defensive back. 31 total interceptions in the NFL.

[AZGrizFan]

And they all pale to this guy:

Sammy Baugh says hold my beer. Baugh was a 2 time NFL player of the year as a QB, teams punter, and one year lead the league in interceptions with 11, as a defensive back. 31 total interceptions in the NFL.

amazing stat, but a different era....their two careers only overlapped by 3 years. By Blanda's time, players had become much more specialized, and players like him were a rarity.

[Gil Dobie]

Sammy Baugh says hold my beer. Baugh was a 2 time NFL player of the year as a QB, teams punter, and one year lead the league in interceptions with 11, as a defensive back. 31 total interceptions in the NFL.

amazing stat, but a different era....their two careers only overlapped by 3 years. By Blanda's time, players had become much more specialized, and players like him were a rarity.

You have Paul Hornung who scored 176 points in a season, as a running back and kicker for the Packers.

And then there's Danny White, Dallas QB and punter.

Blanda's QB rating was well below Baugh or White.

[AZGrizFan]

amazing stat, but a different era....their two careers only overlapped by 3 years. By Blanda's time, players had become much more specialized, and players like him were a rarity.

You have Paul Hornung who scored 176 points in a season, as a running back and kicker for the Packers.

And then there's Danny White, Dallas QB and punter.

Blanda's QB rating was well below Baugh or White.

Oh, Blanca was a horrid QB. That’s why he didn’t play QB really until the AFL came along.

[89Hen]

And then there's Danny White, Dallas QB and punter.

Yes, he was a full time punter, but not close to the best punting QB in the NFC East.




Just another Eagles miracle at the Meadowlands. Too bad they can't play the Giants 16 games a year.