[oregontim]

I think it's another nod to how much the game has changed in favor of quarterbacks. They used to take beatings almost routinely. They didn't last past mid 30s.

You have to be old enough to remember the iconic picture below of Y.A Tittle in 1964, concussed, with a broken sternum. Tittle was a hero of 49er fans in the 50s and was with the NY Giants when this picture was taken. Back then, roughing the passer was about late hits, not brutal hits. There was no special protection for the head or the knees and ankles. Horrific hits were routine and not penalized unless they were two or more steps after the pass. The older ones among us might also remember Joe Theismann's broken leg, Fran Tarkenton's leg, Reggie White turning a quarterback upside down, and Joe Montana's back injury. Quarterbacks were targets. The defense intended to take them out of the game on every play.

I'm not nostalgic for those days. I think football is much better now for the increased penalties to minimize injuries. But I also think the increased protection of the quarterback lengthens careers and leads to some of the greats being surpassed by near-greats that lasted longer. Tom Brady and Drew Breeze playing into their 40s could never have happened before this decade, with the changed rules on quarterback hits.

[oregontim]

I think it's another nod to how much the game has changed in favor of quarterbacks. They used to take beatings almost routinely. They didn't last past mid 30s.

You have to be old enough to remember the iconic picture below of Y.A Tittle in 1964, concussed, with a broken sternum. Tittle was a hero of 49er fans in the 50s and was with the NY Giants when this picture was taken. Back then, roughing the passer was about late hits, not brutal hits. There was no special protection for the head or the knees and ankles. Horrific hits were routine and not penalized unless they were two or more steps after the pass. The older ones among us might also remember Joe Theismann's broken leg, Fran Tarkenton's leg, Reggie White turning a quarterback upside down, and Joe Montana's back injury. Quarterbacks were targets. The defense intended to take them out of the game on every play.

I'm not nostalgic for those days. I think football is much better now for the increased penalties to minimize injuries. But I also think the increased protection of the quarterback lengthens careers and leads to some of the greats being surpassed by near-greats that lasted longer. Tom Brady and Drew Breeze playing into their 40s could never have happened before this decade, with the changed rules on quarterback hits.