Nagurski became a professional wrestler after his NFL career and was a two-time world heavyweight champion. Bronko Nagurski, Running Back, Chicago Bears (1930-1937, 1943), As Giants linebacker Johnny Dell Isola said during their playing days years ago, I had heard a lot about him, but I thought most of it was exaggerated. I don't know anything that much about Junior. It was the first injury that he had suffered and he would never participate in another snap. Ray Lewis has won a Super Bowl MVP, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and has earned nine Pro Bowl invitations. Unitas could intimidate without being one of the physical players. But has suicide and those kind of mental traumas, extreme points like a suicide, has that always been a feature that you've known about that's been kind of the chatter of the backroom [among] players? And so these thoughts that have come through your head are fairly recent then? If you want to get into something else, play with the girls., 2. When Lotts finger didnt heal properly, he told the doctors to cut it off, and they amputated his pinkie at the third knuckle. Runyan has started 180 consecutive games at right tackle, and has played in the postseason on seven occasions. Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. Jim Otto There is a new level of information, and they've done some good studies on it, which are very important. I mean, if you played marbles against Mike Webster, he still would beat you. When the Minneapolis contigent decided to move forward with an NFL franchise, Jim Ottos rights defauted to the AFLs Oakland Raiders. How much did Jim Otto weigh when playing? During his fifth training camp, he suffered the injury that ultimately led to amputation. Favre has started 287 consecutive games, including the postseason, an all-time record for a quarterback. We went to Green Bay to play the Packers, and in the book I wrote that I had a big fan base from my hometown in [Wausau, Wis]. The highly educated are hiring counselors to advise them on masking agents and certain other breakdown products. He had his right leg amputated in 2007. If anybody tells you anything different, then they are dumber than I think they are., Krueger replied: Oh yeah, wait till some of these guys turn 65, and they have a bad heart, crummy knees or a screwed-up personality. Flat-out refusedthat is, until the league made him. WebJim Otto This article was written by Rich Shmelter For 15 seasons, the 00 on Jim Ottos uniform stood out like a beacon. Jon Runyan, Tackle, Houston/Tennessee Oilers & Titans, Philadelphia Eagles (1996-present). But many former players are experiencing health problems after the spotlight dims, the celebrity fades and they cease to be larger than life. Also, once the NFL became a billion-dollar business about 1980, teams became less likely to risk injuries with million-dollar players, and urged them to participate in year-round conditioning, which includes weight training and aerobic exercise. He had a game-winning tackle of future Hall of Fame running back Jim Taylor in the closing seconds of the Eagles 17-13 win in 1960. For 19 straight seasons. Mel Hein, Center, New York Giants (1931-1945). And then tell me about a good solid head hit that you remember from the NFL as well. Nothing dirty about it. WebJim Otto was born in Wausau, WI. The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently received new artifacts from Super Bowl LV. For the next 15 years, he was a fixture at center for the Oakland Raiders, never missing a single game due to injury. Does that take a certain temperament? His right leg was eventually amputated in 2007. In 1997, he spit in the face of wide receiver JJ Stokes. It is, because there's some people who think there's a connection between all those hits that you take and suicide, like there's a physiological connection there, you know? We're going to get a broken leg, a broken shoulder or something, but I'm going to hit you like nobody else. Then we go back in. Now, when you're telling, I guess it was maybe in your book, that you talked about the hit that you took from Ray Nitschke, when you -- I guess it was your nose. His joints are riddled with arthritis, and he has debilitating back and neck problems. About FRONTLINE He won eight rushing titles before abruptly retiring at the age of 30. He soon was established as the Raiders center. The Cowboys won the game, earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and captured the Super Bowl title. Thats why I think Id come back and do it again.. Jim Otto starred for the Oakland Raiders, but his roots were in Wausau, Wisconsin. Otto used to collapse in the early years of his retirement, even though he walks without difficulty now. I have issues, yes, I have issues. He said, Football is tough. PBS Terms of Use Injuries and operations During one six-month stretch, he was without a right knee joint because he had to wait for an infection to heal before another artificial knee could be implanted. I mean, in the line it's war. I think, why am I thinking this? As the size increases, so does the force of the collisions. Players were not allowed to get medical second opinions until 1982, according to the NFLPA. During the 1980s, Otto was involved in numerous business ventures. He owned numerous Burger King Restaurants near Sacramento, California until the early 1990s. In 1997, Otto's daughter, Jennifer, a 39-year-old mother of four, died from a blood clot. Marsh played with the Raiders seven years, during which he was hospitalized 18 times and had 13 surgeries. 32. 12x He rushed for over 100 yards, caught several passes, and helped the Cowboys continue their path to the Super Bowl. Well, as you know, it didnt get better. Minutes later, he set up the winning touchdown with a fake handoff. I was happy for him. The doctors have led me to believe that yes indeed, due to using my head and the number of concussions I have had, taken me down this road to where I do have some problems with memory [and] that I will have more, but I'm not worried about it. In his book, "The Pain of Glory" Otto described near-death experiences from medical procedures, including fighting off three life-threatening infections due to complications from his artificial joints They told me if I took the shots and played, it would get better, said Marsh. My first thoughts were, I got sick. It's like cutting their leg off, let's say. James Edwin Otto (born January 5, 1938 in Wausau, Wisconsin) is a former center for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League. Website design & development by americaneagle.com copyright 2021 Pro Football hall of fame all rights reserved, Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. It is filled with sights and sounds of collisions that are sometimes startling and other times frightening. 8. He liked to think that his best hits border on felonious assault., 14. But pro football is a brutal game, a sport that long has glorified pain and punishment. One time, Otto nearly died on the operating table. Jim Otto Bleier eventually played on four Super Bowl championships and earned a reputation as both a fearsome blocker and a powerful runner. Sam Huff, Linebacker, New York Giants & Washington Redskins (1956-1969), A pro football linebacker is just naturally tough. He would come and help me put up hay for my horses and stuff like that. I was hitting him with such force, and he was coming at me with such force that this is what happened. FactSnippet No. Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett calls LT an old-school player. WebThe official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. I don't know what other players are thinking. 1 seed for Division 1 baseball playoffs, High school tennis: Southern Section playoff pairings, High school baseball: Southern Section playoff pairings, Dig this: Long Beach States Mason Briggs could be next big thing at libero. I wanted people to respect me.. Jim Otto I think I'm just kind of touchy about thinking that my body is going to be separated from something and probably not in the same grave, maybe that's what I'm thinking of. Stillwell, who played only three seasons with the Bears, walks with a cane. Im not out for revenge or anything, but I do think they took advantage of my loyalty.. There wasn't anybody. NAPA, Calif. -- Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. And then being in that position to hit the ball, the runner drops his head, the quarterback drops his head or whatever it might be, and you have head-to-head contact. And Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas once-golden right arm has a restructured right hand. Nicknamed Rambo for his tough play and physical resemblance to Sylvester Stallone, Bavaro broke seven tackles on one catch across the middle against the 49ers in a 1986 game. Within 12 plays, Trafton had knocked each player out of the game, sending one of them to the hospital with a broken hand and an 11-inch cut across the forehead. Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff said, Hardy Brown was a designated hitter. Dobler punched Pittsburghs Mean Joe Greene in the solar plexus and kicked the Rams Merlin Olsen in the head. Courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame , 39. He dragged Ronnie Lott twenty yards. WebJim Otto (born January 10, 1992) is a retired American football Offensive Tackle. Ernie Stautner, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1950-1963). Yeah, just on the line, hitting each other. He is famous for his crack-back blocks, and broke the jaw of Cincinnati rookie Keith Rivers in a 2008 contest. We reserve the right to not post comments that are more than 400 words. Hines Ward played wide receiver, tailback, quarterback, and punt returner in college. Jim Otto Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges Lavine, now the University of Marylands team doctor, agrees with Huizenga, but adds the pressure does not come solely from owners, but also from coaches, parents and especially players. During one game in 1970, a piece of Kruegers knee was broken off, but he was given codeine and put back in to play. It was a matter of pride in the way we did things. 17. During his first 10 years he suffered the usual injuries such as broken noses, fingers and ribs, and he played through it all. We need people in the National Football League now, and I think we have various different projects going within the NFL -- the NFL Players Association, the NFL Alumni -- to help these guys now, because I did go to the Alumni, I did go to the Players Association and get monies from them for other rehabs for other players. Too many times we hear about the negatives because were former athletes, but the media ignores the players who make positive contributions, said Curtis, a D.C. commercial real estate broker. Few occupations can provide the riches and fame, yet simultaneously the danger, of pro football. Twenty-three, 22, you lose count after a while, said Otto, the former Oakland Raiders center. Oh no. Perhaps the most painful of Jim Otto's 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. You say that I come up with words. 23. That crackling thud can mean a broken bone or a torn cartilage--and a redefined life. Otto went down with a torn ACL. And it was about two days after the football game in high school my senior year. Steve Sabol had the following to say about Butkus: His career stands as the most sustained work of devastation ever committed on any field of sport, anywhere, any time., Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. One great performance, such as Joe Namaths for the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, can bring endless endorsements. He was issued jersey number 50 for the AFL's inaugural season, 1960, but switched to his familiar 00 the next season. Is a Short NFL Career Worth One Lifetime of Disabilities? Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis made the announcement Wednesday as part of a wide-ranging news conference touching on the state of the team, the recent death of Bill Walsh and pensions for former NFL players. In the 1970 regular season (1st year of the NFL-AFL merger), Oakland scored 300 points (21.4 points/game), 9th of 26 teams in the NFL, beating the Miami Dolphins in the 1970-71 NFL playoffs before losing to the Colts. League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis, New: 87 Deceased NFL Players Test Positive for Brain Disease, Study of Former NFL Players Shows Risks for Brain from Youth Football, NFL Concussion Settlement Wins Final Approval from Judge, In Fight Against ISIS, a Lose-Lose Scenario Poses Challenge for West. In 1951 alone, he knocked out 21 players. I've had scans of my brain, and it's been explained to me what is really wrong with my brain. He played a game against the Saints with a dislocated shoulder. There's a battle, and that battle is going on. Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Charlie Krueger was a tough guy. There's a tear near the break, and his bone is sticking out. Steve McNair is the definition of playing through pain. Jim Otto weighed 255 lbs (115 kg) when playing. Double-zero recalls stories about all We were at the Polo Grounds when I first ran up against him. WebLatest on C Jim Otto including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on NFL.com Soon, attorneys were winning workers compensation cases throughout the league, which caused doctors to be more cautious with their diagnoses. Or Boston, one of those, or North Carolina. How Many Surgeries Has Jim Otto Had? - Sportsmanist Now, I don't think that's fair. I was proud that the NFL started the random drug testing, and Im sure use has decreased, said Huizenga, the former Raiders doctor, but its still there. We invariably would attack a bunker from where the enemy is shooting machine guns. He ran 32 times for 168 yards and caught 10 balls for 61 yards. Raider," Jim Otto - Sports I've been going to pain clinic now for about a month, two months, where they're working on various different things on my body to release the pain from my neck, from my back, from certain parts of my body that's really bothering me. He only called timeout one time and that was to reset his broken nose. I have sat there and thought about it. 190-pound linebacker Hardy Brown was the hardest-hitting player who ever lived. When other coaches started seeing what a guy that size could do, they all wanted monster players with speed. Jim Otto - Injuries and Surgeries | Injuries Surgeries The symptoms are nightmares and cold sweats. Giants lineman Al DeRogatis once accused Kilroy of biting him on the nose. Coaches had a way of making you feel less manly if you didnt play. They're suing everybody for a lot of money, which I don't like because that's going to hurt football in high school, Little League and in pros. Larry Csonka, Fullback, Miami Dolphins & New York Giants (1968-1974, 1976-1979). I mean, he'd figure out a way to beat you, and so would Jim Otto. But you're saying there are issues? There is also a tremendous fear perpetuated by management that younger guys are a threat if you cant perform.. I'm hurting like a son of a gun. You ever go to a retired players association convention? said Yaras-Davis. Mike Webster is doing this every play. But no, amnesia, it's a serious thing. He needed 74 surgeries for his football injuries, including the amputation of one of his legs. He played five more games before the loose bone mass was removed. Otto punished his body greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 40 surgeries, including 28 knee operations (nine of them during his playing career alone) and multiple joint replacements. He became homeless, those stories. No. I don't think it's hogwash. Told by doctors that he would never play football again, Bleier, recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, spent two full years attempting to return to the NFL. Then there's mental toughness, when you're tough under pressure and not losing your poise. I walked by Frank, and he was laid out. Lewis's toughness peaked when he dislocated his elbow so seriously that a teammate was forced to help him put on his jewelry. Joe Greene, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1981), Nicknamed Mean," Joe Greene was one of only a handful of defensive players in NFL history who could singlehandedly change the outcome of a game. Hines Ward, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-present). And everything is actually true to my heart, to my mind. Yeah, I think it was in -- I'm not exactly sure what year; it was '72 or something. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory by Jim Otto | Goodreads I used to watch you play when I was a kid --. Over the course of his career, Jim (AP Photo) Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Herb I was depressed because I wasn't running out on the field anymore, when they announced "At center, Jim Otto." And that's the way we played. But still, you led with your head, and that was part of football; that was what we learned. 38. When I retired I was down. What about when you heard about Mike Webster's decline afterward, you know? He was middle linebacker for the Packers. In other words, using NFL players as an example and their brains to help research with regards to the injuries that happen on the field, I don't think it's hogwash. Dick Plasman, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears & Chicago Cardinals (1937-1947). And then there's the injured tough, which is no-regard-for-your-body-and-play-with-broken-bones tough. Yeah. When you looked at your wife and you didn't know who she was, like, who's this chick? They didn't do that to me, but they would, they would always accuse me of that and they would razz me about it, you know? His head still down, Nagurski ran full speed into the brick outfield wall there at Wrigley Field. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Jim Otto played before my time as a fan but I know his name and looked forward to reading his story. Over his 14-year career, which These guys constantly live on the edge, and the same behavior they once used to achieve notoriety on the field they exhibit off the field.. Forty-year-old players are having the same problems as 80-year-old men., Wherever there is repeated trauma to certain areas, wherever joints and ligaments have been injured, arthritis and other degenerative diseases, well, its going to happen, said Dr. Stan Lavine, team physician of the Washington Redskins from 1975 through 1985. It's just a physical battle in there, that you have to do. Double-zero recalls stories about all of his famous Raider teammates, his most memorable opponents, and the behind-the-scenes life of an NFL Hall of Famer. Yeah, but you didn't know about -- I mean, the concussions. Is that what you're saying? He owned numerous Burger King Restaurants near Sacramento, California until the early 1990s. I'm telling you about it right now: I hurt. Perhaps the most painful of Jim Ottos 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. But I don't think it's that important, you know, to remember someone's name. McDonald suffered exactly zero broken noses and knocked out teeth in his career. Wausau High School and University of Miami, American Football League All-Star players, American Football League All-League players, http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UpshGe00.htm, Hall of Famer Jim Otto recovering after having right leg amputated, Jim Otto profile at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 10 All-AFL selection (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969).
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