Post by TheShadow on Jul 17, 2008 15:19:01 GMT -5
www.latimes.com
NFL history is rife with big-name players who moved to new teams late in their careers. For many, the end wasn't pretty.
By Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
It might be unthinkable to Green Bay fans, but Brett Favre could be in a different uniform next season.
The star quarterback has asked for his release from the team -- something the Packers say they won't give him -- and in a Fox television interview that aired Monday night Favre said he was "never fully committed" to retiring.
If he does play for another franchise, Favre will become the latest in a long line of superstars who switched teams late in their careers. Joe Montana did it, going from San Francisco to Kansas City. So did teammate Jerry Rice, who followed his 49ers career by reaching a Super Bowl with Oakland and then playing briefly with Seattle.
Times staff writer Sam Farmer takes a look at a few of the NFL's best-known New Jersey Boys:
Earl Campbell, RB
* Earned fame with: Houston (1978-84).
* Finished with: New Orleans (1984-85).
* Postscript: Campbell was traded to the Saints at the end of his career, a move that reunited him with coach Bum Phillips. The former Oilers star was pretty broken down at that point, and the Saints already had Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, so Campbell quietly faded away.
Eric Dickerson, RB
* Earned fame with: Los Angeles Rams (1983-87), Indianapolis (1987-1991).
* Finished with: Atlanta (1993).
* Postscript: After five seasons with the Colts, Dickerson returned to L.A. and spent one season with the Raiders. They traded the six-time Pro Bowl star to the Falcons for a sixth-round draft pick, and Atlanta later tried to trade him to Green Bay but Dickerson failed his physical.
Tony Dorsett, RB
* Earned fame with: Dallas (1977-87).
* Finished with: Denver (1988).
* Postscript: As a rookie, Dorsett was the leading rusher in Dallas' Super Bowl XII victory over Denver. Who could have guessed he would finish his career with the Broncos? After his first season with them, he suffered torn knee ligaments in training camp and was forced to retire.
Franco Harris, RB
* Earned fame with: Pittsburgh (1972-83).
* Finished with: Seattle (1984).
* Postscript: A good tidbit of trivia: Harris was the first Seahawks player to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then again, he gained only 170 yards for Seattle -- on a career-low 2.5 yards per carry -- and never scored a touchdown.
Deacon Jones, DE
* Earned fame with: Los Angeles Rams (1961-71).
* Finished with: Washington (1974).
* Postscript: A fixture of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome, Jones turned in a couple of solid seasons with San Diego before closing his career with the Redskins. There, he was reunited with coach George Allen.
Ronnie Lott, S
* Earned fame with: San Francisco (1981-90).
* Finished with: New York Jets (1993-94).
* Postscript: Lott's stellar career with the 49ers ended in 1990, but that wasn't the last we heard of him. As a member of the L.A. Raiders, he led the league with eight interceptions in 1991. Officially, the Jets were his last team. He signed with Kansas City in 1995, but was injured before the season started.
Joe Namath, QB
* Earned fame with: New York Jets (1965-76).
* Finished with: Los Angeles Rams (1977).
* Postscript: "Hollywood Joe" might not have quite the same ring to it as "Broadway Joe," but Namath finished his career on the West Coast. He probably would have been more effective for the Rams if not for his bum knees and hamstrings. He was broken down at that point.
O.J. Simpson, RB
* Earned fame with: Buffalo (1969-77).
* Finished with: San Francisco (1978-79).
* Postscript: It's hard to believe, but the name O.J. Simpson used to conjure thoughts related to football. Despite accumulating all sorts of personal achievements, he grew frustrated by the Bills' inability to reach the Super Bowl. He asked to be traded to a West Coast team, and Buffalo sent him to the 49ers. His output there was more fumbles than touchdowns.
Emmitt Smith, RB
* Earned fame with: Dallas (1990-2002).
* Finished with: Arizona (2003-04).
* Postscript: Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, was released by the Cowboys after 13 seasons. He signed with the Cardinals at age 33, hoping to pump life into the moribund franchise. No such luck. After two seasons, the Cardinals released him. He retired after signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Cowboys.
Thurman Thomas, RB
* Earned fame with: Buffalo (1988-99).
* Finished with: Miami (2000).
* Postscript: Thomas, one of the greatest Bills in team history, wound up becoming a salary-cap casualty. When Buffalo couldn't afford him in 2000, he signed with rival Miami. That didn't last long. He suffered a knee injury midway through his only season there and retired.
Johnny Unitas, QB
* Earned fame with: Baltimore (1956-72).
* Finished with: San Diego (1973).
* Postscript: Unitas' legendary career was bracketed by a practice-squad stint with Pittsburgh in 1955 and a final season with the Chargers. On Sept. 30, 1973, he threw a 30-yard pass to Mike Garrett, becoming the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards.
Reggie White, DE
* Earned fame with: Philadelphia (1985-92), Green Bay (1993-98).
* Finished with: Carolina (2000).
* Postscript: The ageless "Minister of Defense" came out of a brief retirement and spent one season with the Panthers in 2000, starting all 16 games. He collected six sacks and forced a fumble before retiring again with what was then the all-time sacks record of 198.
NFL history is rife with big-name players who moved to new teams late in their careers. For many, the end wasn't pretty.
By Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
It might be unthinkable to Green Bay fans, but Brett Favre could be in a different uniform next season.
The star quarterback has asked for his release from the team -- something the Packers say they won't give him -- and in a Fox television interview that aired Monday night Favre said he was "never fully committed" to retiring.
If he does play for another franchise, Favre will become the latest in a long line of superstars who switched teams late in their careers. Joe Montana did it, going from San Francisco to Kansas City. So did teammate Jerry Rice, who followed his 49ers career by reaching a Super Bowl with Oakland and then playing briefly with Seattle.
Times staff writer Sam Farmer takes a look at a few of the NFL's best-known New Jersey Boys:
Earl Campbell, RB
* Earned fame with: Houston (1978-84).
* Finished with: New Orleans (1984-85).
* Postscript: Campbell was traded to the Saints at the end of his career, a move that reunited him with coach Bum Phillips. The former Oilers star was pretty broken down at that point, and the Saints already had Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, so Campbell quietly faded away.
Eric Dickerson, RB
* Earned fame with: Los Angeles Rams (1983-87), Indianapolis (1987-1991).
* Finished with: Atlanta (1993).
* Postscript: After five seasons with the Colts, Dickerson returned to L.A. and spent one season with the Raiders. They traded the six-time Pro Bowl star to the Falcons for a sixth-round draft pick, and Atlanta later tried to trade him to Green Bay but Dickerson failed his physical.
Tony Dorsett, RB
* Earned fame with: Dallas (1977-87).
* Finished with: Denver (1988).
* Postscript: As a rookie, Dorsett was the leading rusher in Dallas' Super Bowl XII victory over Denver. Who could have guessed he would finish his career with the Broncos? After his first season with them, he suffered torn knee ligaments in training camp and was forced to retire.
Franco Harris, RB
* Earned fame with: Pittsburgh (1972-83).
* Finished with: Seattle (1984).
* Postscript: A good tidbit of trivia: Harris was the first Seahawks player to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then again, he gained only 170 yards for Seattle -- on a career-low 2.5 yards per carry -- and never scored a touchdown.
Deacon Jones, DE
* Earned fame with: Los Angeles Rams (1961-71).
* Finished with: Washington (1974).
* Postscript: A fixture of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome, Jones turned in a couple of solid seasons with San Diego before closing his career with the Redskins. There, he was reunited with coach George Allen.
Ronnie Lott, S
* Earned fame with: San Francisco (1981-90).
* Finished with: New York Jets (1993-94).
* Postscript: Lott's stellar career with the 49ers ended in 1990, but that wasn't the last we heard of him. As a member of the L.A. Raiders, he led the league with eight interceptions in 1991. Officially, the Jets were his last team. He signed with Kansas City in 1995, but was injured before the season started.
Joe Namath, QB
* Earned fame with: New York Jets (1965-76).
* Finished with: Los Angeles Rams (1977).
* Postscript: "Hollywood Joe" might not have quite the same ring to it as "Broadway Joe," but Namath finished his career on the West Coast. He probably would have been more effective for the Rams if not for his bum knees and hamstrings. He was broken down at that point.
O.J. Simpson, RB
* Earned fame with: Buffalo (1969-77).
* Finished with: San Francisco (1978-79).
* Postscript: It's hard to believe, but the name O.J. Simpson used to conjure thoughts related to football. Despite accumulating all sorts of personal achievements, he grew frustrated by the Bills' inability to reach the Super Bowl. He asked to be traded to a West Coast team, and Buffalo sent him to the 49ers. His output there was more fumbles than touchdowns.
Emmitt Smith, RB
* Earned fame with: Dallas (1990-2002).
* Finished with: Arizona (2003-04).
* Postscript: Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, was released by the Cowboys after 13 seasons. He signed with the Cardinals at age 33, hoping to pump life into the moribund franchise. No such luck. After two seasons, the Cardinals released him. He retired after signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Cowboys.
Thurman Thomas, RB
* Earned fame with: Buffalo (1988-99).
* Finished with: Miami (2000).
* Postscript: Thomas, one of the greatest Bills in team history, wound up becoming a salary-cap casualty. When Buffalo couldn't afford him in 2000, he signed with rival Miami. That didn't last long. He suffered a knee injury midway through his only season there and retired.
Johnny Unitas, QB
* Earned fame with: Baltimore (1956-72).
* Finished with: San Diego (1973).
* Postscript: Unitas' legendary career was bracketed by a practice-squad stint with Pittsburgh in 1955 and a final season with the Chargers. On Sept. 30, 1973, he threw a 30-yard pass to Mike Garrett, becoming the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards.
Reggie White, DE
* Earned fame with: Philadelphia (1985-92), Green Bay (1993-98).
* Finished with: Carolina (2000).
* Postscript: The ageless "Minister of Defense" came out of a brief retirement and spent one season with the Panthers in 2000, starting all 16 games. He collected six sacks and forced a fumble before retiring again with what was then the all-time sacks record of 198.