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. There's the toughness of getting the snot knocked out of you, and the can't-be-intimidated, never-quit kind of tough. Website design & development by americaneagle.com copyright 2021 Pro Football hall of fame all rights reserved, Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. He was an All-Star in the first 13 of his 15 seasons (every year in the AFL from 1960 through 1969) and three of his five seasons in the NFL. 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. My nose was broken pretty, pretty good. I mean, like that disease CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] --. In 1975, he was replaced by Dave Dalby. Davis.". Csonka was a bull in a china shop. Butkus has bitten officials, bitten opponents in the groin, scratched, punched, everything. There is also a tremendous fear perpetuated by management that younger guys are a threat if you cant perform.. There were two times. With a broken jaw wired shut, McDonald could only drink milkshakes and watched his weight plummet from 175 to 143. It has come upon people and hurt people for periods of time, you know? It would become so embarrassing that I stopped going out in public, said Otto, who had his knees drained and injected with painkillers four times a week during his last three playing years. Steve McNair, Quarterback, Houston/Tennessee Oilers & Titans & Baltimore Ravens (1995-2007). "Double O" starred for Wausau East, but even after college was considered McDonald suffered exactly zero broken noses and knocked out teeth in his career. It was 1st and 10, and they gave the ball to Nagurski up the middle. Its not for whiners.. When the Minneapolis contigent decided to move forward with an NFL franchise, Jim Ottos rights defauted to the AFLs Oakland Raiders. His head still down, Nagurski ran full speed into the brick outfield wall there at Wrigley Field. It's a tough sport. Ernie Stautner, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1950-1963). He counts three near-death experiences directly related to infections or septic shock from football-related surgeries. Jim Marshall, Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings (1960-1979). He spit in the face of Eagles safety Bill Bradley as he lay injured on the ground. They didn't do that to me, but they would, they would always accuse me of that and they would razz me about it, you know? Otto paid the price, as he has had 74 surgeries, including 28 knee operations, and in 2007 his lower right leg had to be amputated but has said that he I mean, they used to tease me that instead of having the quarterback go "Hut one, hut two," they'd have a little bell, ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, you know, and Otto, you go on the third ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, like a punch-drunk fighter or something --. You couldn't be upset about the hit; it was clean and legal. --Sam Huff, Bednarik was the last NFL player to play offense and defense. I wanted to play. And then the next game you did that snap that you're --. He hasnt jogged since January 1989. 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. Otto is also the subject of works by artist Matthew Barney.[3]. This is FRONTLINE's old website. I can't really explain it to you here. 34. Deacon perfected the head slap, a move that would be eventually banned by the NFL because it was too effective., 29. Mike Curtis, Linebacker, Baltimore Colts & Seattle Seahawks & Washington Redskins (1965-1978). Lewis's toughness peaked when he dislocated his elbow so seriously that a teammate was forced to help him put on his jewelry. Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Bill Romanowski, Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers & Philadelphia Eagles & Denver Broncos & Oakland Raiders (1988-2003). No one ever has been suspended for a second or third time. I forget words. Too many times we hear about the negatives because were former athletes, but the media ignores the players who make positive contributions, said Curtis, a D.C. commercial real estate broker. Jon Runyan, Tackle, Houston/Tennessee Oilers & Titans, Philadelphia Eagles (1996-present). 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. And she says, "I didn't marry you for that leg anyway." I'm going to be just like you, Pops." It has been 20 years since Otto retired after a Hall of Fame 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? A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? 6. Jim Otto had his right leg amputated on August 1, 2007.[2]. I was depressed because I wasn't running out on the field anymore, when they announced "At center, Jim Otto." Both the pain and the glory are relived this week as Jim, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fames Class of 1980, steps into the Gold Jacket Spotlight. He also received fines for three illegal hits in the 1999 season. 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. McDonald was the last NFL player to not wear a facemask. Now, the amnesia one, that was before the NFL, is that right? And that's what I'm doing. The 2003 NFL MVP, McNair has never missed a playoff start and led the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999. The guy coming down the field to cover the kickoff, the guy with the ball with the kickoff, hey, this is football. Even as the surgeries mounted and routine elements of daily living became more and more challenging Waking up is the best part of my day, he wrote Jim has repeated in many interviews since his retirement that we wouldnt change history. So you were saying it was war out there. WebGet the latest career stats for Jim Otto of the on CBS Sports Graves experience spans over 37 years as a football administrator of the NFL. The only first-team All-AFL center in the leagues 10-year history, Jim helped the Raiders rise from a 9-33 start in their first three years of existence to a team that won seven division titles and an AFL title and made a Super Bowl appearance before he retired. Stillwell, who played only three seasons with the Bears, walks with a cane. Now, nobody in America knows that, like they know about the guy who had a concussion, like the guy who is in class-action suits, suing the National Football League because they had a concussion. One of pro footballs legendary ironmen, Jim played in 210 consecutive regular-season games from his rookie-season opener to the final game of his last season. The origin of the since-outlawed helmet-to-helmet hit is sometimes traced to Brown. Now, when you're telling, I guess it was maybe in your book, that you talked about the hit that you took from Ray Nitschke, when you -- I guess it was your nose. And then tell me about a good solid head hit that you remember from the NFL as well. It's the way we were taught to hit. For the next fifteen years, Otto became a fixture at center for the Raiders, never missing a single game due to injury. And playing with concussions, playing with other problems that we did play with, never coming off the field --. Why isn't there somebody that can help him? About FRONTLINE He bit one tackle so many times that the player requested a rabies shot. But those things would either stimulate them or it would put them under to the point where the pain was no longer there. Jim Otto was elected into the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1980. I was paid to play football, not hang out in the training room.. Because I don't want to believe that that's what's happened. Gary Fencik: I had the displeasure of tackling, by accident, Walter only once in my 12-year career. FRONTLINE reports from Iraq on the miscalculations and mistakes behind the brutal rise of ISIS. He endured torn-up knees, broken hands, broken ribs, and an acutely-painful hamstring tear but never missed a game. The former Titans star quarterback has injured nearly every part of his body at one time or another. I don't think it's hogwash. In 1958, with three broken ribs and a punctured lung, he led the Colts to the NFL title while wearing a protective harness. Unitas could intimidate without being one of the physical players. And then there's the players below who contain all of these qualities. No. And when he drops his head, he drops his head right to the spot where the tackler is coming in with his head and shoulders. I don't know that much about other players regarding suicide. The doctors have led me to believe that yes indeed, due to using my head and the number of concussions I have had, taken me down this road to where I do have some problems with memory [and] that I will have more, but I'm not worried about it. Maybe probably more so in my life is the pain that I'm going through. 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 sit there. Hitting harder than anyone else was very important to us. Enumerate the results. If we were fighting a war, the linebackers would be the first guys to get killed. If you get hit in the head and a little dizziness comes out of it, you've suffered a concussion. He was issued jersey number 50 for the AFL's inaugural season, 1960, but switched to his familiar 00 the next season. Former Chicago Bears tight end and head coach Mike Ditka waddles like a wooden toy soldier because of an artificial hip. We will take steps to block users who repeatedly violate our commenting rules, terms of use, or privacy policies. He has had two major back surgeries, 16 knee operations and five artificial knees. Like they'd say, "Hey, Jim, what's this? WebHow did Jim Otto loose his leg? And I'm sure there's a lot of studies going on with regard to what was going on with him prior to this. 30. The impact and velocity of some collisions, normal Americans cant appreciate because they are not on the field, said John Lopez, head of Towson Sports Medicine and former trainer with the Baltimore Colts. But in my heart, I'm leaning to very possibly doing it, donating my brain, because if there is something there that can help others, that's what I should be doing. What about when you heard about Mike Webster's decline afterward, you know? In 1995, Nagurski was honored when the Football Writers Association of America voted to have his name attached to college footballs Defensive Player of the Year trophy. WebHe 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 I think a lot of it is related to the pain and the lack of ability that I have for doing certain things. In one game, he knocked out the entire Washington Redskins backfield one by one. In other words, using NFL players as an example and their brains to help research with regards to the injuries that happen on the field, I don't think it's hogwash. Yeah, but you didn't know about -- I mean, the concussions. Injuries and operations. 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. His joints became riddled with arthritis, and he developed debilitating back and neck problems. He liked to think that his best hits border on felonious assault., 14. Immediately everybody rushes to blame football or blame some other thing happened in their life either socially, emotionally or psychologically. Nearly two out of three retirees live with a permanent injury. They would worry about the consequences later., Huizenga said: I would say most of the doctors are first-rate professionals, but they can fall into a trap from the huge pressures of owners and the millions of dollars involved, especially in big games. 1 seed for Division 1 baseball playoffs, High school tennis: Southern Section playoff pairings, High school baseball: Southern Section playoff pairings, Dig this: Long Beach States Mason Briggs could be next big thing at libero. I think so. In one game, he was knocked unconscious by a 49er defender. And Nitschke, it was right toward the end of his career, and he was I guess letting Carter get some time in there. Perhaps the most painful of Jim Otto's 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. Utleys injury received a lot of media attention because it happened during a game. And we were together a lot. And my amnesia that I had happened in high school and college. He retired from the Arena Football League in 1992. He is regarded as the second dirtiest player in the NFL and a 2008 poll revealed that one of the scariest things in the NFL is being blocked by Runyan on a screen pass. Thats one of the major reasons why so many of these guys walk with limps.. But a number of former players, including receiver Al Toon of the New York Jets and running back Vic Washington of the 49ers, developed post-traumatic stress disorder. The desire of Ray Lewis to be the greatest linebacker in NFL history is fueled by an inner toughness that manifests itself on the football field. Broke my cheekbone, and my zygomatic arch bone here, and detached the retina in my left eye, which I was blind for six months in my left eye. Mike Webster is doing this every play. In 1997, he spit in the face of wide receiver JJ Stokes. And I wanted to be a help to David. Do you feel like the suicide thoughts are related to the pain or related to retirement? I think the positive situations would certainly outweigh the negatives.. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, the first year he was eligible. Otto eventually had to have his right leg amputated on August 1, 2007. He is famous for his crack-back blocks, and broke the jaw of Cincinnati rookie Keith Rivers in a 2008 contest. 33. He played with pain and didn't come out. Was that right? Ernie Stautner comes in the huddle, and his thumb is broken back against his wrist. I saw the bone. He was not a great linebacker. I would say that suicide has been in the past one of the least spoken about things among players, among owners, among the NFL of anything. I mean, he'd figure out a way to beat you, and so would Jim Otto. But no, amnesia, it's a serious thing. Jack Youngblood, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams (1971-1984). Of those who did not leave because of injury, 56.2% reported similar emotional problems. WebJim Otto was an All-Star in the first 13 of his 15 seasons every year in the AFL from 1960 through 1969 and three of his five seasons in the NFL. It's like cutting their leg off, let's say. Doesn't say anything. And that's why we played. He suffered a cracked vertebra, a concussion, and crushed intestines during a car crash before his senior year of college. Going across the middle against Dick Butkus was considered attempted suicide. Big was in.. Doesn't show it to anybody. WebAs a result of injuries sustained during his playing career, he has endured more than 70 surgeries, including nearly 30 knee operations. What were your first thoughts when you started hearing those stories after his retirement? I was happy for him. Ever since the NFL began random drug testing in 1990, the consensus among players, coaches and team medical personnel is that steroid use has dropped significantly. Former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Charlie Krueger was a tough guy. I got upset. And even in soccer, you have problems with your head hitting the ball, two heads coming together or whatever. But in the final five years he began to suffer As a 248-pound defensive end, he played in 282 consecutive games. Jim Otto, center for the Oakland Raiders, poses on Aug. 15, 1970. I don't make want to make excuses. As a show of respect, he always calls Raiders' owner Al Davis "Mr. 190-pound linebacker Hardy Brown was the hardest-hitting player who ever lived. He then went on to play collegiate football at Miami. He has played through numerous injuries, including a broken bone in his back. I know that I went to war, and I came out of the battle with what I got, and that's the way it is. He was middle linebacker for the Packers. But you're saying there are issues? I think I'm going and continuing to do the best I can with what I had, and I'm going to do that till I can't. What's going on? I didn't bite his nose, he said. Did you ever have that happen to you? You got hit in the head, and you had amnesia. But still, you led with your head, and that was part of football; that was what we learned. No. But when you say you don't want to make that connection, it's because you just don't want to believe that there is that connection? Im not out for revenge or anything, but I do think they took advantage of my loyalty.. Kilroy denied the charge. 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. 11. Sam Huff, Linebacker, New York Giants & Washington Redskins (1956-1969), A pro football linebacker is just naturally tough. Few occupations can provide the riches and fame, yet simultaneously the danger, of pro football. He dragged Ronnie Lott twenty yards. Bleier eventually played on four Super Bowl championships and earned a reputation as both a fearsome blocker and a powerful runner. Otto used to collapse in the early years of his retirement, even though he walks without difficulty now. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We're going to get a broken leg, a broken shoulder or something, but I'm going to hit you like nobody else. But pro football is a brutal game, a sport that long has glorified pain and punishment. I just -- I know and I've told that those are the battle scars of a gladiator. I'm just astounded, and he's using this hand that is broken as a club. 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. I don't like to think about what these guys are talking about with regards to concussions and how it could affect our lives. For the next 15 years, he was a fixture at center for the Oakland Raiders, never missing a single game due to injury. They want my brain at I think it's Michigan or --. Well, when that tackler -- in so many cases, if you watch the television, you watch the film, you see that tackler coming in with his head and his shoulders, which he's been taught to use to tackle his whole life. Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! I have issues, yes, I have issues. Entries that are unsigned or are "signed" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. And Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas once-golden right arm has a restructured right hand. 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. Is Jim Otto in the Hall of Fame? Theyd shoot you up, and you could get painkillers anywhere. There's so many things psychologically that can affect each and every person in this world, not just football players. They told me if I took the shots and played, it would get better, said Marsh. As a rookie, he was notorious for threatening veterans and starting fights in training camp. Journalistic Guidelines And yet I'd be playing, you know? Raider, grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin, a medium-sized town in the central part of the state where he excelled as a hockey goaltender and as a football center at Wausau High. . And it bothers me. Injuries and Surgeries Otto punished his body greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 40 surgeries, including 28 knee operations (nine of them during his 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. That's the way football is, and if you don't want to play it that way, we can get you playing some girls' games. Teammate Hugh Gallarneau claims that, He had a piece of cement for a head. He once dove into a brick wall attempting to catch a pass, busted open his head, and was carried off semiconscious. You got your nose broken, right? Perhaps the most painful of Jim Ottos 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. When I retired I was down. 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. mecha gaikotsu face, altai capital management aum, phoenix rising fc players salaries,
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