It's Steeler week on NFL Network.

[pfelix73]

When they instituted the Mel Blount rule, TB flourished. Examples being his 2 MVP SB wins in XIII and XIV. As Terry mentioned in one of the interviews- he and Joe Montana are the only ones who can sit down at the same table and talk about their SB rings, because all of the other 'great' QB's lost a SB along the way..... Elway, Brady, Manning, etc. He came through in the clutch and helped the team win each of those 4 SB's. 4-0 baby.

[Djfan]

Don't forget that Noll thought TB was not all that at times. Remember that TB and Hanraty (sp?) were traded in and out in the early 70s.

[papillon]

I wouldn't go quite that far...the Ngata broken nose thing is still legendary....

Google "Joe 'Turkey' Jones hit on Terry Bradshaw" and watch that play and then tell me how bad the love tap on Ben's nose was.

Pappy

[papillon]

Do me a favor and actually watch a full game of TB's, not just the highlights. If Ben played that poorly, we'd be screaming for him to be shipped out of town. I know it was a different era, etc. But if you actually watch an entire game with TB, you will be surprised how awful he looks for most of his passing attempts. He often tried to force balls into coverage, threw the ball too hard, giving the receiver little hope in making the catch, etc.

I went to almost every game from 1972 through 1979, so I got to see first hand how "bad" Bradshaw was and there were games that were bad, but there were more games where he was great and more than anything, when the team needed him, he played his best. I may wish to remember the good and not the bad, but at least I'm talking from experience.

Pappy

[papillon]

Don't forget that Noll thought TB was not all that at times. Remember that TB and Hanratty (sp?) were traded in and out in the early 70s.

Joe Gilliam as well, Bradshaw's early career was a train wreck, but at the end of the day, I was glad he was the Steeler quarterback. I had faith that he would be able to win games and he did.

Pappy

[skyhawk]

When they instituted the Mel Blount rule, TB flourished. Examples being his 2 MVP SB wins in XIII and XIV. As Terry mentioned in one of the interviews- he and Joe Montana are the only ones who can sit down at the same table and talk about their SB rings, because all of the other 'great' QB's lost a SB along the way..... Elway, Brady, Manning, etc. He came through in the clutch and helped the team win each of those 4 SB's. 4-0 baby.

Thank you FELIX!!

It was night and day when the rules were changed. It was a different era then. It was a run first pass second league. But, There was NO ONE in Brad's league in 1978 and 1979. Not even close. He had like 28 TD passes in 1979 (unheard of in those days). Granted, he did throw around 26 picks that year. The team simply did not care, they were THAT good in all phases of the game.

But man, the guy was a Prime time player pure and simple. And what made him great was his ability to call his own plays and hand off to a pissed off Franco Harris for a TD in SB XIII. That's a true field general and WINNER.

And let's not forget Terry could run when needed.

I just don't get how this turned into a bash #12 thread. Said OP is getting kinda old around here. Damn, now I AM pissed.

[skyhawk]

I went to almost every game from 1972 through 1979, so I got to see first hand how "bad" Bradshaw was and there were games that were bad, but there were more games where he was great and more than anything, when the team needed him, he played his best. I may wish to remember the good and not the bad, but at least I'm talking from experience.

Pappy

Thanks Pappy. A voice of reason from someone who was lucky enough to be there. I was too young and could only watch on TV and later thru the invention of the DVD player.

[Slapstick]

Google "Joe 'Turkey' Jones hit on Terry Bradshaw" and watch that play and then tell me how bad the love tap on Ben's nose was.

Pappy

I've seen that play...many times, unfortunately...it could have killed TB...

But, IIRC, TB didn't come back in the game and win it...

That's all I'm saying...

[feltdizz]

I've seen that play...many times, unfortunately...it could have killed TB...

But, IIRC, TB didn't come back in the game and win it...

That's all I'm saying...

LOL.... ok, I guess that makes a little sense. My Dad told me stories about TB looking dead on the field a few times and coming back in the second half to win the game.

[papillon]

LOL.... ok, I guess that makes a little sense. My Dad told me stories about TB looking dead on the field a few times and coming back in the second half to win the game.

If I recall correctly, he missed the rest of that game and possibly the next with a concussion and sprained neck.

Pappy