Fran Tarkenton--1970
Is it any wonder that Fran Tarkenton
had to scramble for 18 seasons? ---
he's pointing to his intended receiver,
as demonstrated in his 1970 TOPPS
card.
While Tarkenton rushed for 3,674
yards in his career, the scrambler did
also pass for 47,003 yards despite
telegraphing his passes. He also
offered us a case of de' ja' vu, by
bouncing from the Vikings to the
Giants and back to Minnesota during
his career. Quite frankly, we couldn't
really tell the difference, as all we
remember was that Tarkenton was a
blur running from sideline-to-sideline
during the 1960s and 1970s
frantically pointing at his receivers.
Tarkenton began his career with the
Minnesota Vikings in 1961 after
being a third round pick out of the
University of Georgia. Was shuttled
off to the New York Giants in a
mega-deal after registering only one
winning season in his first five years
with the Vikings. With just one
winning season in five campaigns for
the Giants, he was returned to
Minnesota (thanks to the Giants GM
keeping the receipt all those years)
to close out his career.
During his second stint in the Land of
10,000 Lakes Tarkenton hit his stride
to lead the Vikings to three Super
Bowls appearances, yet he never
lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy into
the air. He did garner league MVP
honors in 1975, so he can proudly
point to that hardware--- well, that
and his Hall of Fame souvenirs from
his 1986 induction.
Amazingly, Tarkenton set career
highs for completions, attempts and
passing yards during 1978, his final
season under center. As a side result
of all his attempts, Tarkenton also
threw a career-high 32
interceptions--- which leads us to
believe that he went back to pointing
to his intended receivers.
(10/25/08)
had to scramble for 18 seasons? ---
he's pointing to his intended receiver,
as demonstrated in his 1970 TOPPS
card.
While Tarkenton rushed for 3,674
yards in his career, the scrambler did
also pass for 47,003 yards despite
telegraphing his passes. He also
offered us a case of de' ja' vu, by
bouncing from the Vikings to the
Giants and back to Minnesota during
his career. Quite frankly, we couldn't
really tell the difference, as all we
remember was that Tarkenton was a
blur running from sideline-to-sideline
during the 1960s and 1970s
frantically pointing at his receivers.
Tarkenton began his career with the
Minnesota Vikings in 1961 after
being a third round pick out of the
University of Georgia. Was shuttled
off to the New York Giants in a
mega-deal after registering only one
winning season in his first five years
with the Vikings. With just one
winning season in five campaigns for
the Giants, he was returned to
Minnesota (thanks to the Giants GM
keeping the receipt all those years)
to close out his career.
During his second stint in the Land of
10,000 Lakes Tarkenton hit his stride
to lead the Vikings to three Super
Bowls appearances, yet he never
lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy into
the air. He did garner league MVP
honors in 1975, so he can proudly
point to that hardware--- well, that
and his Hall of Fame souvenirs from
his 1986 induction.
Amazingly, Tarkenton set career
highs for completions, attempts and
passing yards during 1978, his final
season under center. As a side result
of all his attempts, Tarkenton also
threw a career-high 32
interceptions--- which leads us to
believe that he went back to pointing
to his intended receivers.
(10/25/08)
