TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Notes on a Scorecard"

By TJ Troup 

Lance Alworth

Years ago frequently read a column by Alan Malamud in the Los Angeles Times called "Notes on a Scorecard". Since today am going to cover more than one topic, sounds like a title that works. There are eight teams with seven or more wins at this point in the season. 

How many of those eight teams will make the playoffs? 

Probably all of them, which begs the question for all of you, and as always sure enjoy your answers—which team catches fire and earns a playoff berth? 

Matt Eberflus 

When I go online and read the so-called power rankings, there are teams ranked 25-32. Will the cuddly little leaderless Chicago Bears continue their spiral to the bottom? Abe Gibron was an absolute joke as a head coach. Never thought he would be joined by someone as lost and clueless as Matt Eberflus yet here we are. 

Please share the Bears' final record? Is it possible they could go from 4-2 to 5-12? 

The Detroit Lions have proven they can win even when their very accurate quarterback throws five interceptions in a game, and they are behind. During the '70 season Johnny Hightops threw five interceptions and his contending team was down 17-0, and the Colts—THE BALTIMORE Colts rallied and won 21-20. 

Johnny Unitas

Who were the victims in this classic confrontation you ask? 

Why the Chicago Bears of course. No, youngsters am not trying to imply that Mr. Goff is Unitas, but would be interesting if this year's Lions team wins the Silver Trophy just like the Colts did. 

 Turnovers are a part of the game, and eventually Pro Football Reference will have a listing of every player that intercepted a pass and recovered an opponent's fumble in the same game; which I call the double take-away. 

When a player achieves the double take-away what are the chances his team wins? Which team historically has achieved the double takeaway the most? Down the road will attempt to entertain, and enlighten all of you on the impact of the double take-away. In August of 1971 went to the Coliseum for the Los Angeles Times Charity game between the Rams and Cowboys in hopes of seeing Lance Alworth play. He remains one of the best/greatest receivers of all time and since this past Sunday was the anniversary of one of his best games.....will end my column today by discussing him, and his performance on November 10th, 1963. 

Quoting Don Schiffer in his book Pro Football 1963 he states "An injured thigh held back the development of Lance Alworth in his freshmen year of '62. The 23-year-old terror has such enormous talent that it's difficult how he'll miss carving out a career of near brilliance."

Quoting Sam Blair in Street and Smiths, "fFeet flanker Lance Alworth appeared destined for rookie of the year in '62 unit short-circulated by injuries". His first game one catch for 17 yards, then his next three 9 catches for 209 yards. Then injury. He began the '63 campaign with 33 receptions for 757 yards and had caught a touchdown pass in five straight games when the Chargers took on the red-dogging Boston Patriots. 

Alworth scores the only touchdown in the game and San Diego holds on to win 7-6. This is the game that established him as a premier receiver as he latched onto 13 passes for 210 yards. He exploded out of his cuts, his ability to time his leap to snatch the ball away from defenders is still a highlight reel to watch. 

Could he play in today's game? Will the sun come up tomorrow?

Lance Alworth

Book Review: Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (but True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

 By John Turney 

Joe Zagorski's newest book Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (but True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley is a wild story.

When you think of Bill Bradley, you probably think of the former New York Knicks' star ... and rightly so. He not only was a Hall-of-Fame player; he was an accomplished U.S. Senator. But there was another Bill Bradley ... also accomplished ... who deserves to be recognized.

Fortunately, he has been.

Joe Zagorski's newest book. "Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (but True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley," chronicles the wild story of a football legend best remembered for his accomplishments on the field, his larger-than-life personality and a unique path in the sport.

A wishbone quarterback at the University of Texas, Bradley became an All-Pro free safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, leading the league in interceptions for two straight seasons while also serving as the team's punter and holder for placekicks -- basically, a do-it-all kind of player.

But he was much more than that.

His career unfolded in 1969 in an era when the NFL still resisted players who dared to break the mold. But it couldn't resist Bill Bradley. He was among the first players to grow long hair and a bushy mustache and who, as a Texas high-school player, stood up for civil rights and fair treatment of his black teammates.

Later, after joining the Eagles, he was one of the first NFL players to hold out for more money. Plus, in an age where drug usage was more and more commonplace, he refused to give in -- vowing that he was "never taking any kind of drug."

And so he didn't.

The book is a character study into the makeup of a truly iconoclastic athlete. Beyond statistics, it delves into the emotional rollercoaster of Bradley's career ... the ups and downs of injuries ... and his path from a winning collegiate team to a second-division NFL club.

Drawing from extensive interviews, Zagorski brings his story to life with enthusiasm, capturing Bradley's quirks and rebellious spirit -- both of which are evident in some of the book's most entertaining moments. The narrative also covers the evolving dynamics of professional sports, highlighting the team politics and personal sacrifices that come with such a high-stakes career.

Mostly, however, the book sheds light on the harsh realities players faced in Bradley's era (1969-77), from the lack of guaranteed contracts to the uncertainty of injuries that often left them without support.

With an engaging writing style, Zagorski presents a human story, one that is both a product of its time and a timeless tale of a man who refused to fit the mold, choosing instead to forge his own path. At 304 pages, including 34 pages of notes, bibliography, and an index, "Free Spirit at Free Safety" is a compelling tribute to a true football maverick.

About the author:

Joe Zagorski is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Pro Football Researchers Association. His biography of former Philadelphia Eagles free safety Bill Bradley is his fifth book. It is published by Highlander Press out of Baltimore, Maryland. His sixth book, a biography of former Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame offensive guard Larry Little, will be released later in 2025.

 Zagorski is also the coordinator of the Facebook page The NFL in the 1970s.

All of Zagorski’s pro football books are available on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (but True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run for a Record

The Year the Packers Came Back: Green Bay's 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

Midseason All-Pro Team

By John Turney

Lamar Jackson (L) and Fred Warner (R)

Originally posted on Talk of Fame Two

The NFL's 17-game schedule makes it difficult to decide where to divide the first and second halves of the season. Is it after Week 8? Week 9? Last year, I picked my midseason All-Pro after eight weeks. This year, it's after Week 9. Either way, here's my 2024 iteration of the top players for the first two months of the season.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

C—Tyler Biadasz, Commanders.

LG—Joe Thuney, Chiefs.

RG—Ben Powers, Broncos.

LT—Christian Darrisaw, Vikings.

RT—Lane Johnson, Eagles.

TE—Brock Bowers, Raiders.

QB—Lamar Jackson, Ravens.

FB—Patrick Ricard, Ravens.

RB—Derrick Henry, Ravens.

WR—Justin Jefferson, Vikings.

WR—Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals.

Defense

4-3 Edge—Aidan Hutchinson, Lions.

3-4 Edge—T.J. Watt, Steelers.

DI—Dexter Lawrence, Giants.

DI—Chris Jones, Chiefs.

LB—Fred Warner, 49ers.

LB—Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Browns.

CB—Pat Surtain II, Broncos.

CB—Marlon Humphrey, Ravens.

Slot—Deommodore Lenoir, 49ers.

S—Brian Branch, Lions.

S—Xavier McKinney, Packers.

Special Teams

K—Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys.

P—Jack Fox, Lions.

PR—Kalif Raymond, Lions.

KR—Kavontae Turpin, Cowboys.

ST—J.T. Gray, Saints

SECOND TEAM

Offense

C—Creed Humphrey, Chiefs.

G—Chris Lindstrom, Falcons.

G—Zach Martin, Cowboys.

LT—Tristan Wifts, Buccaneers.

RT—Penei Sewell, Lions.

TE—George Kittle, 49ers.

QB—Jared Goff, Lions.

FB—Alec Ingold, Dolphins.

RB—Saquon Barkley, Eagles.

WR—Nico Collins, Texans.

WR—Garrett Wilson, Jets.

Defense

4-3 Edge—Trey Hendrickson, Bengals

3-4 Edge—Jared Verse, Rams.

DI—Cameron Heyward, Steelers.

DI—Grover Stewart, Colts.

LB—Bobby Wagner, Commanders.

LB—Zack Baun, Eagles.

CB—Jalen Ramsey, Dolphins.

CB—D.J. Reed, Jets.

Slot—Mike Hilton, Bengals.

S—Kirby Joseph, Lions.

S—Elijah Molden, Chargers.

Special Teams

K—Chris Boswell, Steelers.

P—Logan Cooke, Jaguars.

PR—Calvin Austin, Steelers.

KR—Laviska Shenault, Seahawks.

ST—Brenden Schooler, Patriots.

Offense Notes

OL -- Center Tyler Biadasz has been good for a while, but he's stepped it up this year as the leader of a resurgent Commanders' line. He's a big part of why their offensive is rolling. The Chiefs' Joe Thuney is a master technician, and Ben Powers is what is name suggests -- powerful.

Yes, I know Christian Darrishaw went down with a knee injury a couple of weeks ago. but he was the league's best left tackle up to then. Plus, the 49ers' Trent Williams got off to a slow start after a holdout. Darrishaw won't make the Pro Bowl, and he won't be All-Pro, but he deserves attention for the start he's had. Tristan Wifts of the Buccaneers is my second-team pick over Williams. On the right side, Lane Johnson is probably the best tackle in football, regardless of which side he plays on. The next-best option is the Lions' Penei Sewell.

TE -- Maybe it's a bit premature, but I chose rookie Brock Bowers at tight end. He's not the complete player that George Kittle is, but he's off to a terrific start to his career.

QB/RB -- All three players in my All-Pro backfield are from Baltimore: Quarterback Lamar Jackson, fullback Patrick Ricard and running back Derrick Henry. Now, before you ask ... no, I am not a Ravens' fan. But those three show up every game, and. at this point, comprise the best trio in the NFL, with Jackson my first-half MVP. Jared Goff, Alec Ingold and Saquon Barkley are the runners-up. 

WR -- This was pretty easy. Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase stand out, while backups Nico Collins and Garrett Wilson have been held back by their own offenses. Texans' quarterback C.J. Stroud hasn't had the time to pass that he had last year, and the Jets' offense ... as well as quarterback Aaron Rodgers ... has been sputtering.  

Defense Notes

EDGE -- Like Darrisaw,  Lions' defensive end Aiden Hutchinson is lost for the season. He won't be on my season-ending All-Pro team, but he makes this one for all the right reasons. When he was healthy, he not only was dominant; he was the best of the 40 ends. Hutchinson edges (no pun intended) Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby and Will Anderson Jr. -- all of whom are outstanding. It's a golden age for edge rushers

For my 3-4 edge, it's yet another terrific season for T.J. Watt. He was an easy choice, with Jared Verse, the Rams' stud rookie, next-best. Verse was known to be strong, but that was against college players. In the NFL, he's playing as powerfully as any edge in recent memory -- pushing around NFL players as he did with SEC players.

DT -- Dexter Lawrence is remarkable He led the NFL in sacks after eight weeks -- unheard of for a 340-plus man. The Chiefs' Chris Jones is always a problem. Though his numbers are down a little, he seems to take over games when it matters. On the second team, I put Cam Hayward, along with run-stuffing shade tackle Grover Stewart.

LB -- Fred Warner is my first-half defensive MVP. Even though the 49ers aren't as good defensively as they've been in the past, Warner is playing as well as ever. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is playing as he did last year -- stuffing runs behind the line of scrimmage and being a general menace -- and, so, he joins Warner on the first team.

DB -- Denver's Pat Surtain II and Marlon Humphrey of the Ravens are the corners. with the 49ers' Deommodore Lenoir in the slot.  The Lions have a fine pair of safeties, and either could have been chosen first. As it was, I chose Brian Branch to the first-team and Kerby Joseph as the backup. Joining Branch on the first-team is the ball-hawking Xavier McKinney, who came to Green Bay as a free agent and is already worth the money.

SPECIAL TEAMS -- The Cowboys aren't much good, but their long-range kicker, Brandon Aubrey, is.

That does it for the mid-terms. I'll be back with my season-ending team in January ... or after I grade the final exams.

State Your Case: Does Lester Hayes Have What 'It' Takes to Reach Canton?

By John Turney 

"Lester doesn’t have it."

That’s what a Hall-of-Fame voter told me around 20 years ago when former Raiders' cornerback Lester Hayes was a finalist for Canton, and the rest of the committee must have agreed. In four years as one of 15 candidates under consideration (2001-04), Hayes was never elected.

But that was then, and this is now.  Then he was a modern-era aspirant. Now he's one of 31 seniors eligible for the Hall's Class of 2025, which begs the question ...

Does Lester Hayes, a.k.a., "the Judge " and self-proclaimed only true "Jedi Knight" in the NFL, have "it?" In other words, is he worthy of Canton?

Let's talk about it.

Over his career with the Raiders (1977-86), he had 39 interceptions, 572 return yards, and four touchdowns -- numbers the anonymous voter cited as deficient. Yet, he led the league with 13 interceptions in 1980, just one shy of Dick "Night Train" Lane’s all-time single-season record. 

After that year, opponents avoided him, cementing his reputation as a "shutdown corner" -- even though that term was not yet part of the NFL's lexicon. Only after Mike Haynes joined the Raiders in 1983 did they start challenging Hayes again, simply because they had no other option. But Hayes was still a top-tier bump-and-run corner, and he remained such for the rest of his career.

Then, there’s the "Stickum" issue. Hayes coated his hands and arms with the yellow goop. When Stickum was banned in 1981, some claimed it hindered his interceptions. Hayes countered, saying it helped him "stick" to receivers slightly longer during bump-and-run coverage. He admitted it looked excessive, but he had his reasons.

You can find material that suggests Stickum may be a reason that Hall voters never came around to him; that he was somehow tainted because of it. But if that's true, it's silly. It was Hall-of-Famer and teammate Fred Biletnikoff who introduced Lester to it. 

Hopefully, that's not a reason voters voted him down.

Beyond personal stats, Hayes played a key role in the Raiders' Super Bowl XV and XVIII victories. His 1980 playoff performance, with five interceptions in four games, was instrumental in Oakland's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. In 13 playoff games, Hayes had eight interceptions, five of them in 1980 when teams dared to test him.

In total, Hayes played 10 seasons before a foot injury ended his career. His 1980 season earned him AP Defensive Player of the Year, making him one of only six cornerbacks to win that award. Four are in the Hall of Fame; one is still active, and then there’s Lester, on the outside of the Hall, looking in.

But 1980 wasn’t his only standout season. In 1979, with two pick-sixes, he earned second-team All-AFC honors from UPI. In 1981, The Sporting News named him All-NFL, and in 1982, he was second-team All-Pro by the NEA. 

Continuing in 1983, Pro Football Weekly named him All-Pro, and he was second-team All-Pro on the AP and NEA squads. Finally, in 1984 the PFWA voted him All-Pro. Hayes was also part of the NFL’s 1980s all-decade team, a recognition awarded by the Hall-of-Fame selection committee.

But there's more. 

Proscout, Inc., an independent scouting company that began grading NFL players in the mid-1970s, had Lester pegged as elite from the outset. In the 6-foot, 200-pound Hayes' first season as a starter (1978), he was ranked 13th-best in the NFL. The following season he wasn't chosen for the Pro Bowl, but he didn't go unnoticed by Proscout. It ranked him fourth. He was in the top six in 1983 and 10th in 1984. 

When he recorded those 13 interceptions in 1980, Proscout ranked him as one of the game's top cornerbacks. And when he had seasons with two or three interceptions, it put him among the best. That wasn't a grade based on stats; it was based on how well a player does his job.

"The Judge" did his job.

It was quite a journey to the pros for Hayes, a defensive end in high school who moved to linebacker in college, later switched to safety and then became a cornerback in the NFL. And while he initially questioned Al Davis’ decision to put him there, the move was a wise one. Hayes excelled as a cornerback.

"Lester was one of the best at intimidation," said fellow Raiders' cornerback Mike Haynes. “As a cover man and tackler, he was phenomenal.” 

Hayes rarely played zone coverage, staying in man-to-man coverage most of the time. If he read a play and knew the ball wasn’t coming his way, he would go "hunting" --  the forerunner to the modern “match” coverage where defenders help nearby teammates if their receiver isn’t targeted.

Hayes was a throwback to the Raiders' bump-and-run glory days, but he was more physical. He'd butt his helmet into the chests of opposing receivers so hard that, according to Hall-of-Fame receiver James Lofton, "It would knock the wind out of you."

But his ability extended far beyond physical play -- so much so that Burgess Owens, another Raiders' safety, extolled Hayes when asked about him.

"Lester," he said, "plays the position better than anyone in the game. He may become the best of all time."

While he may not be the "best of all time," a closer look could reveal that our voter was wrong ... and that Lester Hayes does indeed have "it."

Packers Gain Yards, Not Victory, Against Lions

 By Eric Goska

Jordan Love was in attendance at Lambeau Field Sunday.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Come away with 400 yards and the Packers had always been golden against the Lions at Lambeau Field.

Alas, like any streak, this one was bound to end.

Detroit – a team that plays its home games in a dome – had little trouble adjusting to the elements Sunday. The Lions shrugged off the wind and rain to dispatch Green Bay 24-14 in a much anticipated battle for supremacy in the NFC North Division.

Had the outcome been determined by the stat sheet, Green Bay would have won. The Packers produced more first downs (20 to 17) and manufactured more yards (411 to 261) en route to engineering a more robust average gain per offensive play (6.6 to 4.7).

Josh Jacobs led all runners with 95 yards rushing, 22 better than Detroit’s David Montgomery. Jayden Reed paced all receivers with 113 yards, more than double the output of the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown.

But, like empty calories, the Green and Gold’s abundance provided little nutritional value. Besting the Lions in a host of statistical categories did little to effect the scoreboard.

Coach Matt LaFleur’s outfit can’t even brag about having outgained Detroit by 150 yards. The Titans (+191) did so by a wider margin (on Oct. 27) and lost 52-14.

Where it mattered most, Green Bay floundered. It had twice as many penalties (10 to 5), far more dropped passes (6 to zero by one count) and three botched snaps.

And while Jordan Love passed for more yards (273) than his counterpart Jared Goff (145), he also threw an inexcusable pick-six just before the half to put the Lions up 17-3 at the break.

Yards gained can get a team only so far.

Years ago, gaining 400 or more yards was usually followed by a win. Green Bay went 16-0-1 in such games from 1923 to 1945.

Even this century, getting to 400 often pays dividends. Since 2000, the Packers are 88-28-1 when doing so.

Green Bay has attained 400 yards a total of 233 times during the regular season since 1923, going 175-55-3 in those games. It struck for the first time against the Racine Tornadoes in 1926. It struck most often against – you guessed it – the Detroit Lions.

The Motor City Eleven have often served as a punching bag for the Packers. Sunday was the 40th time Green Bay nicked the Lions for 400 or more yards in the regular season. The team is 32-8 when doing so.

And while the Packers could get there and still lose when playing in Detroit, hitting the benchmark at Lambeau Field had always come coupled with victory. From 407 yards in a game in November 1964 to 488 yards in an early-season matchup in 2020, Green Bay had gone 12-0 against the Lions in the stadium named for its first head coach.

(L-R): Marques Eversoll, Bill Rabeor and Chris Havel.

Green Bay hadn’t been perfect against the Bears (9-2).  It hadn’t been without blemish against the Vikings (5-3-1).

But against the Lions, it had been spot on.

Over a 32-year span from 1992 – the season Green Bay again began to win with regularity – through last season, the Packers gained more yards and scored more points against the Lions than they did against any other team. While the differences between what they inflicted on the Bears and Vikings were small, one fact remained: Detroit was on the bottom.

Not anymore. As the division-leading Lions (7-1) have shown, they can win when outgained. LeFleur and his Packers (6-3) had better marry points to yards when the two teams tangle on the first Thursday in December.

Stepping Off 400 at Lambeau
Green Bay’s regular-season record (73-15-1) when it gains 400-plus yards at Lambeau Field.

     Record           Team                    Streak
        12-1                 Lions                        Lost 1
         9-2                 Bears                        Won 6
         6-0                 Cowboys                Won 6
         5-1                  Eagles                     Won 1
       5-3-1                Vikings                    Lost 1
         4-0                 Buccaneers            Won 4
         4-0                 49ers                       Won 4

Rest of the league: Falcons (3-1); Raiders (3-0), Cardinals (3-0); Titans (2-1); Giants (2-0), Rams (2-0), Patriots (2-0), Redskins (2-0), Saints (2-0); Chargers (1-1), Chiefs (1-1), Colts (1-1); Bengals (1-0), Bills (1-0), Broncos (1-0), Seahawks (1-0); Browns (0-1), Jaguars (0-1) and Panthers (0-1).

What Giants' Lawrence Is Doing Is More Than Unusual. It's Unprecedented

By John Turney 

Nine sacks.

That's how many the NFL leader has at this point, and we're not even halfway through the season. So who is it? Not edge rushers Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby or J.J. Watt and not a quick, elusive defensive tackle like Aaron Donald, either. In fact, it's someone you may not have expected.

It's defensive interior Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants ... or, "Sexy" Dexy, as he calls himself.

Granted, there have been defensive tackles with a lot of sacks before, but not like this. Lawrence is ... well, different ... and let me explain. It's not that he's a big defensive tackle; it's that he's a huge defensive tackle. Not 300 or 325 pounds. But 342 ... maybe more.

And that's significant.

According to Pro Football Reference, the leading statistical internet website, his nine sacks are the most for any player in NFL history listed at 340 pounds or more. The previous big, big man single-season sack mark (I don't call it a record) was set by 6-foot-2, 345-pound defensive tackle Grady Jackson. who had eight sacks for the Raiders in 2000.

But that was in 16 games. This is through eight. So, what Lawrence has done in a season not yet halfway complete is more than unusual. It's unprecedented.

Pro Football Reference also lists former defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson with two seasons of eight sacks each. But it has him at 340 pounds, where his teams' media guides put him at 313 in those years. It's possible that he weighed more -- he certainly did in later seasons -- but probably not 340. Nevertheless, in his top years he still had one fewer sack than "Sexy Dexy" has through eight games.

Now, there's one detail that should be clarified, and it has to do with former Detroit nose tackle Jerry Ball. In 1989, he had nine sacks. Though Pro Football Reference put his final weight at 330 pounds, he was listed at 298 in 1989, or well below Lawrence. Of course, anyone who saw Ball play in the mid-1990s knows that 330-or-so pounds is low. By a lot. Ball was probably 350 or 360 when he left Detroit and never close to Lawrence's mark when he was beyond 340 pounds.

That leaves Dexter Lawrence standing alone.

Nine sacks. At 342 pounds.

If he were to continue at this pace, he'd wind up with 19 sacks for the season, or 1-1/2 short of the bar for a defensive tackle, set by -- who else? -- Aaron Donald. Nevertheless, every sack Lawrence produces over the next nine games pushes him farther ahead of the game's mammoth defensive linemen and separates him from those 340-pound nose tackles who had to be removed from the field on passing downs.

Dexter Lawrence plays all three downs, and that's what makes him remarkable.

Yes, there is more to pass rushing than just sacks, and, yes, there is more to Lawrence than just sacks. Over the last several years, he was among the NFL leaders in pressures among interior defensive linemen. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked 14th in pressures in 2021, second in 2022, tied for fourth in 2023 and third so far this year. That means he creates as many sacks for linemates as they do for him.

Somewhere John Madden must be smiling. He loved big linemen, but he loved HUGE linemen even more. Can you imagine what he'd say about one of his so-called B.U.B.B.A.s (Brotherhood United of Bad Bodies of America) topping the league in sacks this far into a season?

He'd be going bonkers. 

Were Madden still with us, "Sexy Dexy" would be an All-Madden regular every year. Plus, every time Madden was involved with the broadcast of a Giants' game, he'd marvel at what Lawrence is doing this season.

As we all should.