jim otto injuries

Jim Otto, center for the Oakland Raiders, poses on Aug. 15, 1970. It was a good, clean hit. In 1958, with three broken ribs and a punctured lung, he led the Colts to the NFL title while wearing a protective harness. Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. Deacon Jones, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams & San Diego Chargers & Washington Redskins (1961-1974), The NFL's unofficial record-holder with 26 sacks in the 1967 season, Deacon coined the term sack. Jones said that toughness is defined not by playing through pain, but by avoiding pain in the first place. He led the Eagles to championships in 1949 and 1960. For 19 straight seasons. Yeah, but you didn't know about -- I mean, the concussions. Otto set the standard for excellence at center, the article said. However, Otto paid the price, as he has had 74 surgeries, including 28 knee operations, and in 2007 his lower right leg had to be amputated. Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett calls LT an old-school player. There wasn't anybody. I thought he killed Frank. The only first-team All-AFL center in the leagues 10-year history, Jim helped the Raiders rise from a 9-33 start in their first three years of existence to a team that won seven division titles and an AFL title and made a Super Bowl appearance before he retired. 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. Because I don't want to believe that that's what's happened. We reserve the right to not post comments that are more than 400 words. And that's why we played. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. He's going to make some trash out of me. He suffered from chronic back pain due to I don't like to think about what these guys are talking about with regards to concussions and how it could affect our lives. Mike Webster is doing this every play. FactSnippet No. He takes his thumb in his hand and wrenches it down into his fist. It actually has to do with Junior Seau this past year and other recent events. Now, I don't think that's fair. The desire of Ray Lewis to be the greatest linebacker in NFL history is fueled by an inner toughness that manifests itself on the football field. There were so many times that I would walk off the field and my eyes would be crossed. Red Grange called George Trafton the toughest, meanest, most ornery critter alive. The 235-pound center had his college days cut short after he was expelled from Notre Dame and was considered the dirtiest player of his time. 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. Otto is also the subject of works by artist Matthew Barney.[3]. Otto And --. When you have a blow like that, it's a concussion; there's no doubt about it. Plasman refused to wear a helmet. Well, a huge hole opened, and I saw him coming. I've had amnesia like that. He helped the Steelers win four Super Bowl titles in a six-year span in the 1970's and is probably the most important player in team history. Lawrence was Dick Butkus, but with speed and range, said John Madden, analyst for Fox television. By submitting comments here, you are consenting to these rules:Readers' comments that include profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, harassment, or are defamatory, sexist, racist, violate a third party's right to privacy, or are otherwise inappropriate, will be removed. Thats one of the major reasons why so many of these guys walk with limps.. 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. Jim Otto, Center, Oakland Raiders (1960-1974), Otto played fifteen seasons and never missed a game, despite 10 broken noses and over 40 back, knee, and shoulder operations, including 28 to his knees alone. In addition to playing offensive center at UM, he also played linebacker on defense. Bleier's story is one of the greatest in the history of sports. He finally returned after a three-year absence. Going across the middle against Dick Butkus was considered attempted suicide. We'd go hunting together; we did a lot of different things together, Dave and I. I don't want anybody to be hurt from football. And Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas once-golden right arm has a restructured right hand. Jim cant walk through an airport without the metal detectors going off, said Miki Yaras-Davis, director of benefits for the NFL Players Association. Jim Otto - Autographed 1961 Topps Rookie Card I got upset. My first thoughts were, I got sick. In 1990, four players were suspended. 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. I've had over 20 concussions myself, and I don't like them. Team doctors injected his knees with cortisone and other high-powered drugs in 1972 and 1973, causing permanent damage, he said. Nagurski became a professional wrestler after his NFL career and was a two-time world heavyweight champion. 12. There was about 150 people come, and naturally I wanted to play well and everything. They would worry about the consequences later., Huizenga said: I would say most of the doctors are first-rate professionals, but they can fall into a trap from the huge pressures of owners and the millions of dollars involved, especially in big games. Are you saying that even if you had the information you would have played? Im not out for revenge or anything, but I do think they took advantage of my loyalty.. I don't know if it is directly connected to my brain, my issues, but I have problems with dizziness. But you're saying there are issues? And you couldn't remember. And he told me that so many times: "Pops, I'm going to be just like you. He played five more games before the loose bone mass was removed. Jim Otto | American Football Wiki | Fandom It was a matter of pride in the way we did things. He ended the career of MVP quarterback Joe Theismann with a compound leg fracture in a Monday Night game in 1985. Doesn't say anything. Like they'd say, "Hey, Jim, what's this? OK. And then the next game you did that snap that you're --. We hear about the concussions and talk about the big plays like cornerbacks hitting wide receivers after they've caught the ball up in the air. 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. It was the hardest tackle I ever made, but I made it, and I said to myself, Well, I guess that will show you, Nagurski! Then as I was getting up, I heard the referee shout, Second down and 2!, George Halas: Nagurski blasted through two would-be tacklers as though they were a pair of old saloon doors and kept on going right into the endzone. 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 In most cases I would like to be able to be out there doing something for somebody else, helping somebody else, and I can't. OK, you started by saying that suicide is not something that people talk about in the NFL, or have [not] until fairly recently anyhow. Jim Otto So it was probably a frontal type of concussion, I don't know. Every game. As a show of respect, he always calls Raiders' owner Al Davis "Mr. And yet I'd be playing, you know? Conrad Dobler, Guard, St. Louis Cardinals & New Orleans Saints & Buffalo Bills (1972-1981). He was issued jersey number 50 for the AFL's inaugural season, 1960, but switched to his familiar 00 the next season. Rocky Bleier, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers (1968, 1971-1980). They never told me part of my knee was missing, said Krueger. I think what they're doing, they're going to cost so much money that the owners and high schools won't be able to afford the insurance for the game and stuff like that. I saw Meredith's nose broken so bad that it spread all over his face. Jim Otto played before my time as a fan but I know his name and looked forward to reading his story. Among Doblers principal offenses were biting, gouging, punching, kicking, and grabbing the face mask. He has played through numerous injuries such as a separated right clavicle, an infected right shoulder, a dislocated ring finger on his right hand, torn cartilage in his right knee, a strained calf, a hip pointer, a ruptured disk, back spasms, strained rib cartilage, severely bruised ribs, a left knee sprain, an MCL sprain, a left ankle sprain, severe turf toe, a cracked bone spur in his left ankle, a bone spur in his toe, and a severely bruised sternum. I can't perform like I used to for a lot of different things physically, but I don't think it's directly connected to the brain. Why isn't there somebody that can help him? It was really bad. 40. I'm against all that. Contact FRONTLINE Broke my cheekbone, and my zygomatic arch bone here, and detached the retina in my left eye, which I was blind for six months in my left eye. The guy coming down the field to cover the kickoff, the guy with the ball with the kickoff, hey, this is football. Corporate Sponsorship Do you feel like those injuries that they suffered, those hits that they took on the line, like you took, contributed to their illnesses? With a broken jaw wired shut, McDonald could only drink milkshakes and watched his weight plummet from 175 to 143. 7. Nobody is helping me. Dick Butkus, Linebacker, Chicago Bears (1965-1973), Dick Butkus was the angriest, most ferocious, menacing, and yes, toughest player to ever play the game of football. I'm not complaining about it. There's a battle, and that battle is going on. 21. And everything is actually true to my heart, to my mind. Curtis was nicknamed The Animal and was one of the angriest men to ever play in the NFL. You got your nose broken, right? He proudly stated that he played football because it was the only way he could hit someone and get away with it. WebBut Jim, remembering that his college injuries had all come when he was on defense, chose to let down a little during defensive tryouts and then really go all out when it came time for offensive team trials. Otto used to collapse in the early years of his retirement, even though he walks without difficulty now. Ten years of lawsuits against the 49ers left him with a $1 million settlement in 1989 and plenty of bitterness. The psychological high and its addiction is parallel to people who become addicted to cocaine or a smoker who has a dependency on cigarettes. Wilson intercepted 52 passes in his career, but the one that stands out is the 91-yard interception touchdown from 1965a pass he intercepted despite casts on both of his broken hands. Editors note: Sadly, Class of 52 correspondent Joan Boffa Gaul passed away on April 11, 2023.This column, her final one, was written in February. He needed 74 surgeries for his football injuries, including the amputation of one of his legs. Throughout his Hall of Fame career, this three-time NFL MVP played with a number of injuries, including a badly broken nose, broken fingers, ripped arm tendons, and torn knee cartilage. For the next fifteen years, Otto became a fixture at center for the Raiders, never missing a single game due to injury. Well, when that tackler -- in so many cases, if you watch the television, you watch the film, you see that tackler coming in with his head and his shoulders, which he's been taught to use to tackle his whole life. Jim Otto Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges 35. Deacon perfected the head slap, a move that would be eventually banned by the NFL because it was too effective., 29. WebJim Otto was an All-Star in the first 13 of his 15 seasons every year in the AFL from 1960 through 1969 and three of his five seasons in the NFL. 1. 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. The first time in high school, I can't really remember anything other than coming out of amnesia and thinking, where have I been? Longtime Raiders team doctor Robert Rosenfield, who died last January of cancer, diagnosed it as strained ligaments. You want to spell football: T-U-F-F. 28. WebHow did Jim Otto loose his leg? His famed right shoulder was responsible for dozens of broken noses and jaws. The highly educated are hiring counselors to advise them on masking agents and certain other breakdown products. Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne has called Wilson pound for pound the toughest player in the NFL., 31. He's beating people with it. I look at Dave Dalby, because he used to tell me he wanted to follow me in my footsteps. Otto paid the price, as he has had 74 surgeries, including 28 knee operations, and in 2007 his lower right leg had to be amputated but has said that he WebInducted 1998. Does that take a certain temperament? It's incredibly debatable, but here is my attempt to rank them in order for toughness. He has played through numerous injuries, including a broken bone in his back. Favre has earned three MVP awards and led the Packers to a championship in 1996. Jim Otto In 1951 alone, he knocked out 21 players. 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. He spent the week prior to a game building up his hatred over the opponent. Otto now suffers from arthritis, and severe neck problems. 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. Bednarik was nicknamed Concrete Charlie and to me, will always be known for the phrase I heard him say at training camp one year: Today's football players are underplayed and overpaid., 9. McDonald was the last NFL player to not wear a facemask. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Charlie Krueger was a tough guy. Graves experience spans over 37 years as a football administrator of the NFL. They told me if I took the shots and played, it would get better, said Marsh. I know that all of us guys I know in some way, shape or form have down times, when there's a certain amount of depression in our minds and our thoughts, in our heart, and it's not a very comfortable situation. I can't really explain it to you here. He counts three near-death experiences directly related to infections or septic shock from football-related surgeries. Flat-out refusedthat is, until the league made him. Larry Csonka, Fullback, Miami Dolphins & New York Giants (1968-1974, 1976-1979). Did you ever have that happen to you? 27. Former Colts linebacker Mike Curtis said those cases are few and too highly publicized. His dedication and durability symbolized the teams Commitment to Excellence motto. He has arthritis in his shoulders and neck. Football is a contact sport, and injuries are a part of the game. I think the positive situations would certainly outweigh the negatives.. I mean, like that disease CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] --. He played in 11 Pro Bowls and is considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. Jim Otto But those things would either stimulate them or it would put them under to the point where the pain was no longer there. Hein remains the only offensive linemen to ever win the MVP award (1938). It all swelled up, and I couldn't see, but I kept playing. His last game, up in Cleveland, he came out of the hospital to play with a broken rib, a punctured lung, and pneumonia. WebInjuries and surgeries. 30. No matter how many passes youve caught or touchdowns youve thrown, thats nice, but it doesnt mean anything in the real world., The transition period isnt always smooth, said Yaras-Davis, noting that the average career of a player is less than four years. Thats when doctors operated on his back for 11 1/2 hours to remove scar tissue and 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. 801,422 12. And then a year ago there were four suicides among not necessarily the best noted players but some players, and the Players Association claimed that it's been because of concussions and stuff like that.
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