“IDK if he would be welcome in the soft game today.”
His game would be considered criminal today. Leading with the helmet, crack backs, blind side hits and blocks, head slapping and chop blocking were all normal parts of the game that are penalized today. It was a game of survival then and the pit, that area within three yards of the snap, was considered open season then which is where Butkus lived. He was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained.
However, his game and the targeting of him shortened his career. During his years the passing game wasn’t near what it is today and running through the Bear defense meant right through him. And since you couldn’t take him straight up, the blocking schemes were creating opportunities for cracks and chops so it was a way of life for him. It took his legs. But it never took his heart as he played for years with the bad legs until he couldn’t go any longer. And the medical care, and drugs, they have today to lengthen a players career didn’t exist then. So repair wasn’t available and it just got worse. But that is what the game really is, and used to be. And when it was a game played by men for peanuts. They loved the game. The money was never there even though they earned it far more than today’s players do.
wy69
“They loved the game. The money was never there even though they earned it far more than today’s players do.”
John Unitas played a year for the Bloomfield Rams, a semi-pro team after being cut by the Steelers. He was paid $6/game. When called by the Colts he almost didn’t go to camp, his wife basically made him take the chance.
I remember Art “Fatso” Donovan talking about what jobs different players had in the off season so they could support their families. He took a bonus he got and bought a package store, it put his kids through college.
If not for men like Sayers, Butkus, Donovan, Ditka, Unitas and a host of others Tom Brady and P Mahomes might be digging ditches somewhere.