Johnny unitis or joe namath

Punu · Post by **Punu** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:08 am

Who do you guys think was better?
I saw a special on unitis yesterday and man he perfected the 3/5 step drop...
But a friend said Namath was better, after what I saw Unitis would blow him out the water, who would you guys rather have starting for you?

Unitis or Namath?

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:09 am

Unitas.

skinz74 · Post by **skinz74** » Fri May 27, 2005 12:26 pm

Unitas

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:39 pm

Before or after "the interview" to J Namath? :lol:

J Unitas, of course.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:53 pm

how can anybody knock namath over that? i'd kiss suzy too.

Punu · Post by **Punu** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:02 pm

it was hilarious... ppl critisize him for being drunk... but who doesnt drink at a game?

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:12 pm

i know, i know. but i'd kiss suzy drunk too. :lol:

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:34 pm

i never watched namath play, but i get the sense that he was overrated, and he became 'great' simply because of the guarantee. can some of the decrept-er, i mean older folks here confirm/refute this?

Alcatraz · Post by **Alcatraz** » Fri May 27, 2005 2:55 pm

Namath what I am Jets fan plues never seen Unitas play

welch · Post by **welch** » Sat May 28, 2005 12:05 am

Unitas. Far and away the better QB.

Of course, Sonny Jurgenson was better than Unitas...

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Sat May 28, 2005 3:48 am

Unitas

Warmother · Post by **Warmother** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:41 am

Unitas, it's not even close.

curveball · Post by **curveball** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:10 am

I'd have to say Namath. He was much more physically gifted. His arm strength, release and mobility put him at the top of almost any all-time draft board.

Namath's college choice hampered his overall development in other areas and he was never developed as he should have been, but I'd still take him.

Unitas bounced around semi-pro games after not making the Steelers out of college and was that era's Kurt Warner. He really developed his QBing skills avoiding 250 lb (huge for the time) steelworkers, farmers or loggers mandating that he had to get rid of the ball sooner because they'd get a beer after the game for a big play.

He then fell into the ideal situation and was surrounded by a powerhouse team when he made the NFL.

**Side note, I have a picture of Unitas sitting in my Grandparents' kitchen before he played their local team.

If Namath's ego would accept a little schooling from a competent QB mentor, it'd be a no-brainer.

Alcatraz · Post by **Alcatraz** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:35 pm

Yeah another vote for Namath

welch · Post by **welch** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:25 pm

I'd have to say Namath. He was much more physically gifted. His arm strength, release and mobility put him at the top of almost any all-time draft board.

As best I remember, Namath's knees were a mess. He was not that mobile as a pro. For arm-strength and release, he was no Sonny Jurgenson, who would go at the top of any all-time draft board.

And Sonny would go above Unitas, as well, but that wasn't the original question.

Unitas and Namath? Yes, I saw them both. I lived in NYC from 1969 onward, so I saw a lot of Namath. Unitas was better.

Did he bounce around before he clicked with the Colts? Yes, but a lot of QB's bounced. He was not, no way, the '50's Kurt Warner. Mighty few were highly regarded, drafted high, and lit up the stars.

In Namath's college era, he was about even with Dick Shiner, of Maryland, George Mira, of Miami, and Roger Staubach, from the Naval Academy. Mira failed completely in San Francisco. Shiner never remotely threatened to take Jurgenson's job, although he had at least one respectable season with the Steelers. A career backup. Staubach is well known.

Together, that's about a 50% hit rate.

ToxicSkin · Post by **ToxicSkin** » Tue May 31, 2005 11:33 pm

Of all the film i've seen of the two i'd have to go Unitas

curveball · Post by **curveball** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 7:58 am

welch wrote:
I'd have to say Namath. He was much more physically gifted. His arm strength, release and mobility put him at the top of almost any all-time draft board.

As best I remember, Namath's knees were a mess. He was not that mobile as a pro. For arm-strength and release, he was no Sonny Jurgenson, who would go at the top of any all-time draft board.

And Sonny would go above Unitas, as well, but that wasn't the original question.

Unitas and Namath? Yes, I saw them both. I lived in NYC from 1969 onward, so I saw a lot of Namath. Unitas was better.

Did he bounce around before he clicked with the Colts? Yes, but a lot of QB's bounced. He was not, no way, the '50's Kurt Warner. Mighty few were highly regarded, drafted high, and lit up the stars.

In Namath's college era, he was about even with Dick Shiner, of Maryland, George Mira, of Miami, and Roger Staubach, from the Naval Academy. Mira failed completely in San Francisco. Shiner never remotely threatened to take Jurgenson's job, although he had at least one respectable season with the Steelers. A career backup. Staubach is well known.

Together, that's about a 50% hit rate.

I don't really understand your fascination with Jurgenson. Nice QB, probably underrated by most fans, but to continually compare him to some of the all-time greats is something of a stretch.

And yes, Namath's knees were shot, but pre-injuries his mobility was only a step below Staubach.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:10 am

It's not only Welch. A little known coach named Vince Lombardi also thought that he was one of the best QB's of the time.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:08 am

I only saw Sonny towards the end but apart from his ability as a QB I just felt he would "make the plays" that would win the game.

Namath, while a decent or very good QB was never "great". Unitas was and IMO Sonny was just better than both.

BernieSki · Post by **BernieSki** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:46 pm

Unitas. When the coversation comes up about who is the best QB of all time Johnny U always comes up. Below are some career stats, decide for yourself. IMO Johnny Unitas blows Namath away.

Picked up as a free agent by the Colts in 1956, Unitas is a legend in NFL circles. An exceptional leader, Unitas lead the Colts to 1958 and 1959 NFL crowns and was named All-NFL for five seasons including three Player of the Year awards.

Unitas also picked up three MVP trophies as well as 10 Pro Bowl selections. Other accomplishments by the quarterback from Louisville include 26 games of over 300 yards passing and a 47-game streak of at least one touchdown pass per game, still stands. Overall, Unitas finished his career with 40,239 passing yards, 290 touchdown passes, and 2,830 competitions.

"Broadway" Joe, as many would call him, came from Alabama University and will always be known for his Super Bowl "guarantee" victory in Super Bowl III. It was a guarantee that Namath backed up as he led his Jets to a stunning 16-7 upset of the Colts. Namath is also known as the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season and, as an AFL player, threw three touchdown passes in the 1968 AFL Title Game and played in three AFL All-Star games.

Enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1985, Namath finished his career with 27,663 passing yards and 173 passing touchdowns.

welch · Post by **welch** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:47 pm

A little known coach named Vince Lombardi also thought that he was one of the best QB's of the time.

Lombardi said, approximately, "If we had had Sonny Jurgenson, my Packers would never have lost a game".

*

Between Namath and Unitas, Namath was not special except for the New York newspaper glory..."Broadway Joe" and all that foam. Unitas was all-pro forever, except when Bart Starr edged him out.

[Incidentally, I was raised to hate the Colts and anyone connected to them]

*

And Sonny? The consensus (ie, Street & Smith's, 1966 - 1969) was that Unitas was the best all-around QB, but that Sonny was a far better passer than anyone, and overlooked only because he had played on weak teams.

redskindave · Post by **redskindave** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:35 am

Unitas

Punu · Post by **Punu** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:05 pm

Lombardi said, approximately, "If we had had Sonny Jurgenson, my Packers would never have lost a game".

oh yeah...

oh yeah