.jpg)
The season is upon us, and sure am looking forward to the contests and battles that make the NFL so captivating. Before going any further, want to explain the above picture and how it fits with today's saga. Play Senior Softball here in Louisville, and am having a season for the ages. With a month to go raised my batting average from .731 to .738 by going 18 for 23 last week (including eight extra base hits). The only sad aspect is that my glove finally tore in the webbing after many restringing efforts.
Lynn Dickey started just 10 games for Oilers and battled injuries. The trade by the Packers was masterful as Hadl had regressed, and Dickey though still dealing with injuries at times began to show his talents. The success of the '82 Packers convinced many that they were viable contenders in the NFC Central. 
Opening day for Green Bay takes them to Houston to play his former team. Could this veteran sharpshooter, with his live arm and soft touch, continue to torch secondaries and have the Packers return to the playoffs? The Packers drive 71 yards on eight plays to score first. Paul Coffman's quick inside release from tight end right gets him open down the middle on a 25-yard strike from Dickey. A Kempf field goal puts Houston on the scoreboard, but on the next series Coffman fumbles as safety Mike Reinfeldt recovers.
After three running plays Archie Manning drills Tim Smith over the middle and he dashes 47 yards to score and now an Oilers team that won only 1 game in '82 has the lead. The ensuing Packer dirve is halted by an Oilers sack and a clipping penalty on Dickey as he tried to block for Lofton on a reverse. It is 2nd down and seven on the Oilers nineteen-yard line when Manning misfires and strong safety and defensive captain Johnnie Gray intercepts. He had long been one of my favorite players (yes will be buried in navy blue & burnt orange, but even Bear fans can cheer for a man that plays the game the way Gray does).
When I transferred to CSU, Fullerton in the spring of '74 took one semester of physical education classes, and one of the classes was a track & field class. Johnnie Gray and myself would both give maximum effort and compete each day. We talked about playing defensive back and all the nuances of the position. He shared that he "just wanted a chance" to show what he could do in an NFL training camp. 
Though the Titans again struggled with a 4-7 record in '74, Gray was signed by the Packers as a free agent, and won the starting free safety job over Jim Hill. He has been a starter now for eight years, and has given the ball to Dickey and the offense on the Oilers twenty-eight-yard line.
The Packer media guide stated that offensive co-ordinator Bob Schnelker was "daring and imaginative", and on first down Lofton after gaining 13 yards on a reception laterals to Gerry Ellis for 8 more! Ivery gains two, and using a creative formation with John Jefferson in motion Dickey connects with him for 5 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Houston punts, but so does Green Bay. We are inside of two minutes left in the half when James punts.
Dickey continues his masterful accuracy with completions to Jefferson and Lofton and now has completed 18 in a row! Two straight incompletions, but on 3rd down, Ivery bolts for 21 yards to the thirteen-yard line. Again, Dickey finds Jefferson open for the score and with 51 seconds remaining in the half, Green Bay leads 21-10. Manning's first down pass is intercepted by John Anderson!
Could the Packers score again? Only 30 seconds remain, yet Dickey finds Ellis open and rifles the completion for another score and a commanding 28-10 halftime lead. Dickey has sure demonstrated the trade should never been made by pitching four touchdown passes! Houston drives 84 yards in thirteen plays to start the 2nd half as Manning mixed his plays well. Earl Campbell scores on a 7-yard run.
Will Dickey and the Packers respond? Is there a Fox River in Wisconsin? You betcha....and on first down Dickey completes to Lofton for 23, but when the drive stalls Jan Stenerud delivers a 46-yard field goal. Both teams punt, and early in the 4th quarter, Houston advances 53 yards in just 5 plays, and again Campbell scores! When a Dickey pass is tipped and intercepted by Abraham, the Oilers have the ball and score again on a five-minute drive again mixing run and pass.
Who carries for the Oilers at the Packer one-yard line? No doubt you give the ball to the Tyler Rose, and Campbell scores again. We are tied at 31. Since this game was a showcase for NFL Films as their Game of the Week, fans all across America are seeing one helluva dandy barn burner of a game. Dickey is faced with 3rd and 10, and when Brown slips, Lofton is wide open (isn't he always?)and the 74-yard touchdown has Green Bay back in front. Can they hold off the Oilers? NO! Manning pitches strikes to Smith for 34 and Dressel for 17, and from the one, Larry Moriarty bangs over. We are headed to overtime! 
Lynn Dickey struggled with back spasms earlier in the week, and he stated after the game that he did not remember "half the game" after he hit his head on the Astrodome turf. Enter David Whitehurst and he completes three straight passes, but Schnelker, anticipating nickel coverages, has the Packers run the ball seven straight plays!
Jan Stenerud kicks a 42-yard field goal and the Packers prevail 41-38. The last time Green Bay scored at least 41 points on opening day was in 1965 when the beat Pittsburgh. The Packers, led by Dickey, scored a team record 429 points during '83, but inconsistent defense kept Green Bay from winning the division in an 8-8 campaign.
Dickey led the league with 32 touchdown passes and 4,458 yards, but he also still would force throws into coverage and was intercepted 29 times! He would play two more years and in his last game in December of 1985 he completed 22 of 36 for 299 yards in a 21-0 whitewash of Tampa Bay.
All us "veterans" still want seasons in the sun playing ball, and having success.
