Post by TheShadow on Jul 4, 2008 9:30:44 GMT -5
mvn.com
By Patrick Patterson
Tonight’s edition of Thoughts from a Reader’s Side is unique in that it is not the just the work of one of our readers. It is a collaboration of several members of one of our partner sites, The Raider Spot. Over on The Spot, they are spending the offseason compiling lists of the all time Raiders at different positions. They started with the quarterbacks, and one of their top quarterbacks is none other than Jim Plunkett. By the request of our friends over at The Spot, we are reprinting a biography they compiled on Plunk. I have to say that I was quite impressed by it, and proud to give it further exposure, not just to help a partner site, but also to honor a Raider great with this well done bio.
Jim Plunkett-A Great Oakland Raider
reprinted from The Raider Spot with permission.
RaiderSpot.com top 5 QB’s of all time by code707
Every week we will be featuring Raiderspot.com’s top 5 Raider players of all time in every position (Raiderspot posters edition). This weeks edition are the Quarterbacks.
So here we go, the posters of Raiderspot.com have spoken and here is our top 5 raider QB’s of all time in no particular order.
Rich Gannon
Jim Plunkett
Kenny Stabler
Daryl Lamonica
Jeff Hostetler
There was a debate on who is the greatest but it is just too close to call between the 2 finalists Kenny Stabler and Jim Plunkett. We have to feature one so I picked Jim Plunkett.
I asked a fellow Raider fan and Raiderspot poster to write something about Jim Plunkett and as you read the article bellow, you will see that Raidersrocker is one passionate and knowledgeable Raider fan. I would like to give him props for the write up. Here at Raiderspot.com fans can be fans.
JIM PLUNKETT
Thirty years ago, at age 12, I began to take an interest in the NFL. As the season progressed, I was becoming a fan of the Oakland Raiders.
That same year in 1978, 31 year old Jim Plunkett was signed by the Silver and Black as a backup quarterback. Being that I was a kid, my focus was on the players who actually played on the field. Therefore, I doubt back then I even knew Plunkett existed.
Born in San Jose, California in 1947, Jim was the youngest of three. His parents, William and Carmen, not only struggled to make ends meet, but they were also blind. William was legally blind, and Carmen had lost her eyesight at the age of nineteen because of an illness.
Jim’s father worked as a newspaper vendor, while Jim helped out by delivering newspapers and working other odd jobs. The family also relied on the aid of the California welfare program.
Jim began playing football in middle school as a quarterback. During his senior year, Jim led his San Jose high school team to an undefeated season. He was named to the All Star team, but because the squad had too many quarterbacks, Jim played in the game as a defensive end, which was his other position on his HS team.
After being heavily recruited by numerous colleges, Jim had narrowed his choices down to Cal and Stanford, in order to remain close to home. He eventually committed to Stanford. In 1966, Jim was diagnosed with a tumor which required surgery. After the operation, Jim
struggled on the field and in the classroom. Because of his poor performance his freshman year, his head coach asked him to consider making a position change. Having done so well during that high school all star game, Jim was asked once again to play defensive end. Plunkett wanted to continue playing as a QB and refused the offer. He was then red shirted his sophomore year. Jim used that time to regain his form.
In 1968, Jim proved he was back by passing for 277 yards and going 10/13 with 4 touchdown strikes. By the end of the ‘69 season, he had set a few Pac 8 passing records. Now he had a difficult decision to make; Turn pro and be able to help out his family (his father had passed away during Jim’s junior year), or return as a fifth year senior. Jim had reasons to play for Stanford one more year. He had not only made a promise, along with other teammates, that he would do so. He also wanted to be a positive role model to the Latino community ( Jim’s heritage is Mexican-Irish ), and to all kids in general ( by backing up his “stay in school” advice). Plus he believed that Stanford was good enough to finally beat USC and maybe even reach the Rose Bowl.
In 1970, Stanford did beat USC, and did advance to a Rose Bowl victory as underdogs against Ohio State. Plunkett had also been awarded the Heisman earlier that season. It was now time to head to the NFL.
In the 1971 NFL Draft, Jim was selected number one overall by the New England Patriots. His first regular season game would be against the Raiders. Going into the third quarter, Oakland led 6-0 (Oakland had missed the extra point following their td). Plunkett threw two td passes that quarter as the Pats went on to win 20-6.
Jim would start all 14 games (6-8) and be named Rookie of the Year after tossing 19 td’s and 16 picks. The sophomore jinx would curse Jim the next season. The Pats finished 3-11 behind Jim’s 8 td’s and 25 picks. The Pats would finish 5-9 in ‘73 and 7-7 in ‘74. During the ‘75 season Plunkett’s body, having been battered via numerous sacks, had had enough and injuries had caused him to miss most of the season. The team finished 3-11 and Plunkett was traded to the 49ers. After Plunkett had returned to his native state, the Pats had turned it around in ‘76, finishing 11-3. They would follow that up with records of 9-5 or better up until 1981.
Meanwhile Jim had started his first game as a Niner in week 1, throwing for two td’s while defeating the Packers. Plunkett started 12 games as the 9ers finished 8-6. The next season Plunkett and the 9ers finished 5-9 and Plunkett was put on waivers at the end of that ‘77 season.
His body beaten, and his mind in doubt, Jim considered calling an end to his NFL career.
Al Davis and the Raiders picked Plunkett up off the waiver wire and convinced him to remain in the NFL and use the ‘78 season to rest, heal, and to get his mind right. The Raiders, after all, had QB Kenny Stabler as their proven winner. In 1979 Jim saw very limited action.Brief appearances in four games, Jim was 7/15, 89 yards, a 1 yard td
to D. Jensen (vs. the Chiefs), a pick and was sacked twice.
In 1980, the Raiders traded Stabler for the Oilers QB, Dan Pastorini.They also drafted BYU QB Marc Wilson in the 1st round. Frustrated, andat age 33, Jim asked to be traded and was ignored. In week two,Plunkett did get a chance to play and threw an 18 yard td to RaymondChester in the fourth quarter to tie the game 24 all. The Chargerseventually won 30-24.
By week 5 the Raiders had a 2-2 record and were facing their hated rival, the K.C. Chiefs. Pastorini suffered a broken leg during the game. Plunkett, having spent the last two years learning the system was given the nod to go in. The Chiefs led 31-3 at halftime. Plunkett
ended the game with 5 int’s and 2 td’s, as the Raiders lost 31-17 and were now 2-3.
Prior to the season, the experts had picked the Raiders to finish last in their division with a 6-10 record. Now the Raiders had a washed up, NFL bust leading the team. His teammates had nicknamed him Chunky, because he was in a constant battle with his weight. But they usually just referred to him as Plunk The Raiders couldn’t put the rookie
Wilson in, because back then the QB called his own plays. Wilson was not ready for that kind of responsibility.
In week six, Jim took the field as the starting QB for the Oakland Raiders. The Chargers were the visiting opponent. By the end of the game Jim had gone 12/16- 174 yards, 1 td pass (43 yds to Branch), but this time did not throw an interception, as the Raiders won 38-24.
On a Monday night stage in Pittsburgh, Plunk threw 3 td passes (45,56,34) as the Raiders prevailed with a 45 - 34 victory. The next week, Plunk added 3 more td’s (all to B. Chandler) and again walked away with the win. 2 more td passes in a win over the Dolphins and the Raiders now had a 6-3 record.
The Raiders added two more to the win column before arriving in Philadelphia. In that defensive game, the Raiders lost 9-7. Plunkett had tossed an 86 yard td to Branch, but found himself on the ground a lot, having been sacked 8 times.
After another low scoring game (9-6) and a win against Denver, the Raiders lost to the Cowboys, but finished the regular season with two straight victories on the road. This gave the Raiders an 11-5 record and a wild card berth in the post season.
Their first opponent was the Houston Oilers, which included former Raiders Stabler, Casper, and Jack Tatum. The Raiders welcomed them back to Oakland with a 27-7 butt kicking. Then it was off to bitter cold Cleveland to face the Browns. The Raiders held on to a 14-12 win. They then traveled to warmer san Diego, to play the Chargers in the AFC Championship. After taking a 28-7 lead in the second quarter, the Raiders held on for another win, 34 – 27.
The Raiders had proved the experts wrong, and rallied around their “Cinderella” QB. Now all they had to do was finish the amazing and unexpected season by beating the Eagles in Super Bowl XV.
Not having forgotten how the Eagles defense had man handled theirquarterback the previous meeting, the Raiders offensive lineman had vowed not to let it happen again. Upshaw, Shell, Dalby, Marvin, and Lawrence kept their word, allowing only one sack, which was a 1yard loss after Plunkett had tried to run with the ball. Plunkett rewarded
the linemans efforts with 3 td passes, including an 80 yarder to King. Plunkett finished the game 13/21-261-3, and no picks. His efforts gave him SBXV’s MVP honors. The Raiders beat the eagles 27-10 and had become the first Wildcard team to win it all. After nine seasons of frustration, Plunkett had made a comeback ( was also named Comeback
Player of the Year), and was finally a winner on the professional level.
In 1981 Plunkett had thrown 4 td’s, with the last one coming in week 3. Plagued by injuries, Plunkett had been splitting time with Wilson, until eventually being replaced, for good, the rest of the season. Plunkett became the starter again in ‘82. In the strike shortened season Plunkett started all 9 games as the Raiders finished the season 8-1. After beating the Browns in the WC game, the Raiders post season ended with a loss to the Jets.
In 1983 Plunkett had led the raiders to a 5-1 start. In week 7 he was replaced mid game by Wilson.Marc Wilson hung on as the starter until an injury, in week 10 against the Chiefs, put Plunkett back on the field.
The Raiders beat the Chiefs and were now 7-3. The Raiders finished the regular season 12-4. Winning the division title, the Raiders destroyed the Steelers 38-10 and the Seahawks 30-14 in the AFC Championship game. Once again, Plunk and the Raiders were going to the Super Bowl.
This time they were facing the high scoring Redskins. In week 4, Washington had beaten the Raiders 38-36. It had been an exciting back and forth game. In the los, Plunkett had thrown 4 td’s including a 99 yard pass to Branch.
But the SBXVIII contest was a one sided affair, as the Raiders annihilated ” and “abused” the Redskins 38-9. Plunkett did well, but it was also the Raiders defense, running game and special teams, that proved to be too much for the former SB champion Redskins.
1984; Plunkett and the Raiders had a 4-1 start. Wilson then became the starter and the Raiders added three more wins. Wilson had thrown 5 td passes in week 8, but then injuries had helped the Raiders lose three straight. By the end of week 14, Wilson and the Raiders were now 10-4. Plunkett would return the following week and The Raiders finished 11-5. Despite their record, it was only good enough for third in the division, but the Raiders still qualified for a WC berth, in which they lost 13-7 vs Seattle.
In 1985, Jim Plunkett had only started 3 games. The Raiders qualified for the post season again, only to lose to the Patriots in round one.
In 1986 Plunkett split playing time with Wilson, both starting 8 games each. Plunketts last td pass was a 3 yard toss to Todd Christensen in week 16. It was the 20th and final time the two had hooked up for a score. It was Jim’s 80th (and last) as a Raider. The Raiders finished the season 8-8.
Plunkett sat out 1987 due to injuries. At age 41, Plunkett was released during the 1988 preseason. In 1991, Stanford retired Plunkett’s jersey number, 16. Only the second time they had retired a former player’s jersey.
Plunkett revealed in an interview, that his favorite teammate was his center, Dave Dalby. The two remained friends and kept in touch often until Dalby’s death in 2002.
Plunkett remains a part of the Raiders through radio and tv broadcasts.
Al Davis has said that had Plunkett played for a contender in his early years, Plunkett would be mentioned as one of the greats.
Glenn Dickey said in a 2000 article:
I doubt any other quarterback could have taken the physical abuse Plunkett took in New England and the mental abuse in San Francisco and still gone on to the success he had, but Jim Plunkett is an amazing individual, with great mental toughness.
Far more quarterbacks fail because they lack confidence than because they lack physical ability. That’s why only a very special person like Jim Plunkett can fight back from early-career adversity and make himself a star.
Would also like to thank the posters who contributed to on that
thread: Blackend, Southshield, MWRaider, FLORIDAHRAYDAH, ~OG~, and
RayderPhan