WebInjuries and surgeries. 18. He recorded three sacks and forced two fumbles with a severely torn pectoral muscle. Players are bigger now. Jim Otto - Injuries and Surgeries | Injuries Surgeries Associated With Raiders All-Time Top Five: Centers - Sports Illustrated He hasnt jogged since January 1989. Garrison wrapped his thumb in tape and played the next day, rushing for over 100 yards. The young people that are coming out and playing football today, I want them to continue to play football; I want them to have fun playing football. He soon was established as the Raiders center. He maintained his streak despite pneumonia, an ulcer, and a shotgun wound to the side. Journalistic Guidelines It's like cutting their leg off, let's say. During his fifth training camp, he suffered the injury that ultimately led to amputation. Utleys injury received a lot of media attention because it happened during a game. Like they'd say, "Hey, Jim, what's this? We're not the only guys. Nobody took me off the field, said, "Jim, you've got to do this." 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. Why? Oftentimes you'll see the contact where a tackler will tackle a runner or the quarterback, and right away they flag him, and it's going to cost them $20,000, $50,000, whatever it is for that hit. Its not for whiners.. I would say that suicide has been in the past one of the least spoken about things among players, among owners, among the NFL of anything. But I'm not out there crying about it. And that's the way we played. 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. Never misses a down. I don't know, but I only know basically what's in my mind and in my heart, and what I told you about what I was thinking. 11. I got upset. But many former players are experiencing health problems after the spotlight dims, the celebrity fades and they cease to be larger than life. Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor revolutionized pro football in the 1980s. They told me if I took the shots and played, it would get better, said Marsh. Jim Otto Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges Bleier's story is one of the greatest in the history of sports. WebJim Otto This article was written by Rich Shmelter For 15 seasons, the 00 on Jim Ottos uniform stood out like a beacon. During one game in 1970, a piece of Kruegers knee was broken off, but he was given codeine and put back in to play. For 19 straight seasons. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. NAPA, Calif. -- Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. It was Dave Dalby. 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. I think a lot of it is related to the pain and the lack of ability that I have for doing certain things. Jim Otto - Wikipedia After no National Football League team showed interest in the undersized center, Otto signed with the Oakland Raiders of the new American Football League. And he hung with me. 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. And anything that we would do, it was part of our lineage, part of our genes, part of what our family had given us, the will to be the best. In 1999, he was ranked number 78 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He endured torn-up knees, broken hands, broken ribs, and an acutely-painful hamstring tear but never missed a game. Could someone please explain to me why Jim Marshall is not in the Hall of Fame? It has been 20 years since Otto retired after a Hall of Fame career. I was happy for him. I don't like to think about what these guys are talking about with regards to concussions and how it could affect our lives. And a lot of times these guys fall into that category or one of those categories, and it happens that they commit suicide. Marsh says his current doctors have concluded that the bone in his ankle may have been broken in the training-camp incident. "If you want Otto to respond, just ring a bell. In the 1969 regular season, Oakland scored 377 points (26.9 points/game), once again leading the AFL, beating the Houston Oilers in the divisional round before losing to the Chiefs. What do you mean by that? Giants lineman Al DeRogatis once accused Kilroy of biting him on the nose. His dedication and durability symbolized the teams Commitment to Excellence motto. WebLatest on C Jim Otto including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on NFL.com I mean, he'd figure out a way to beat you, and so would Jim Otto. Yeah, I think it was in -- I'm not exactly sure what year; it was '72 or something. About FRONTLINE What about when you heard about Mike Webster's decline afterward, you know? ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Kentucky Derby storylines: Training death puts early pall over Churchill Downs, Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies: How to watch, start times and betting odds, Elliott: Pissed off Kings must improve in key areas to break Oilers playoff stranglehold, Shohei Ohtanis seventh home run of the season helps Angels avoid sweep, Florida Panthers upset record-setting Boston Bruins in Game 7 OT thriller. Bill Romanowski, Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers & Philadelphia Eagles & Denver Broncos & Oakland Raiders (1988-2003). Well, as you know, it didnt get better. And with your head traumas, with the head injuries, tell me about one in particular. Jim Strub wrote from a mountainside in Colorado. 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. The scouts also found out that Otto had suffered some shoulder injuries, and that Otto loved the contact that football provided and destroyed anyone on the opposing team looking to get past him. In 1990, four players were suspended. Csonka was a bull in a china shop. He spit in the face of Eagles safety Bill Bradley as he lay injured on the ground. But Jim suffered greatly for that glory. In one game, he was knocked unconscious by a 49er defender. Ernie Stautner comes in the huddle, and his thumb is broken back against his wrist. Let's play football. Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis made the announcement Wednesday as part of a wide-ranging news conference touching on the state of the team, the recent death of Bill Walsh and pensions for former NFL players. He's beating people with it. You did though, that was during practices they would do that? I was proud that the NFL started the random drug testing, and Im sure use has decreased, said Huizenga, the former Raiders doctor, but its still there. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. He chewed through the bars of his face mask and reportedly ate the window panes of the team bus. Well, I'm very fortunate that I can do that, because there are times that I can't remember people's names. I wanted to help Dave Dalby and Sally did to because we loved him and I didn't see that happening in Pittsburgh with Mike Webster. These guys constantly live on the edge, and the same behavior they once used to achieve notoriety on the field they exhibit off the field.. He comes in like he's going to hit the man midsection, which there's no penalty for, and just as he hits coming in on the midsection, you'll see that ballplayer, the guy with the ball, drop his head. As a 248-pound defensive end, he played in 282 consecutive games. If we were fighting a war, the linebackers would be the first guys to get killed. Jim Otto starred for the Oakland Raiders, but his roots were in Wausau, Wisconsin. Runyan has started 180 consecutive games at right tackle, and has played in the postseason on seven occasions. Below is a look at some of Jim Ottos career accomplishments and highlights. WebInducted 1998. I'm hurting like a son of a gun. jim I don't like concussions. For the next fifteen years, Otto became a fixture at center for the Raiders, never missing a single game due to injury. Hines Ward, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-present). Otto went down with a torn ACL. Jim Otto Well, the results with myself, you know, has been very difficult. Thats when doctors operated on his back for 11 1/2 hours to remove scar tissue and His right leg was eventually amputated in 2007. When you have nobody helping you in a situation like that, I would imagine it's a pretty empty feeling to be going through life with that problem and nobody is coming to help you. I didn't bite his nose, he said. WebJim Otto (born January 10, 1992) is a retired American football Offensive Tackle. And playing with concussions, playing with other problems that we did play with, never coming off the field --. I look at Dave Dalby, because he used to tell me he wanted to follow me in my footsteps. I don't think it's hogwash. In a playoff game in 1972, Greene recorded five sacks, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and blocked a field goal in a 9-3 win vs. Houston. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? But you're saying there are issues? Then there's mental toughness, when you're tough under pressure and not losing your poise. So I'm figuring now he's going to ask for the doctor, and he may have to go to the hospital because this thing could get infected, and he says, Give me some tape. So they throw him some tape and he just starts taping this huge ball. In 1951 alone, he knocked out 21 players. The 2003 NFL MVP, McNair has never missed a playoff start and led the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999. WebJim Otto is generally recognized as one of the greatest and most durable centers the game of football has ever seen. I was depressed because I wasn't running out on the field anymore, when they announced "At center, Jim Otto." 190-pound linebacker Hardy Brown was the hardest-hitting player who ever lived. Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis made the announcement Wednesday as part of a wide-ranging news conference touching on the state of the team, the recent death of Bill Walsh and pensions for former NFL players. As a rookie in 1920, he angered the Rock Island Independents so bad that they sent four players into the game on a mission to destroy Trafton. As the size increases, so does the force of the collisions. Ive heard guys like Jim Otto and Dan Hampton say they would do it again. The guy coming down the field to cover the kickoff, the guy with the ball with the kickoff, hey, this is football. And --. How much did Jim Otto weigh when playing? Mike Curtis, Linebacker, Baltimore Colts & Seattle Seahawks & Washington Redskins (1965-1978). We were at the Polo Grounds when I first ran up against him. The NFLPA report found that of the players leaving the game because of injury, 70.6% had emotional problems some time during the sixth-month transition period after football. He was once the leagues iron man, but Ottos body is now a combination of plastic joints, flesh and screws. While an encore performance on the field isnt possible, Jims glorious playing career can be appreciated again this week in the Gold Jacket Spotlight. No. Ray Lewis, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens (1996-present). The symptoms are nightmares and cold sweats. He also received fines for three illegal hits in the 1999 season. But you're talking about a different kind, the much more common, everyday, every play? Krueger endured as many as 50 procedures in which bloody fluid was removed from his swollen knee and replaced with steroid compounds. Otto And that's why Sally and I came to the forefront Did anybody do anything for Mike Webster with Pittsburgh? and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. He retired from the Arena Football League in 1992. He turned But no, amnesia, it's a serious thing. Jim Otto Jim Otto Ernie Stautner, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1950-1963). Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory is the story about a man who fought through numerous injuries, frequent surgeries, and a myriad of other maladies. But a knee injury that was treated with repeated shots of cortisone and steroids forced him to end a 15-year playing career after 1973. Hein remains the only offensive linemen to ever win the MVP award (1938). 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. Davis.". 34. 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. And that's why we played. Jim Otto 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. He also fought off three life-threatening bouts of infections due to his artificial joints, and during one six-month stretch, was without a proper right knee joint because he had to wait for the infection to clear up before another artificial one could be implanted. The former Titans star quarterback has injured nearly every part of his body at one time or another. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory He 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. WebJim Otto was born in Wausau, WI. There's a battle, and that battle is going on. Forty-year-old players are having the same problems as 80-year-old men., Wherever there is repeated trauma to certain areas, wherever joints and ligaments have been injured, arthritis and other degenerative diseases, well, its going to happen, said Dr. Stan Lavine, team physician of the Washington Redskins from 1975 through 1985. And he told me that so many times: "Pops, I'm going to be just like you. According to Yaras-Davis, a knee injury forced former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Roger Stillwell to get special devices to pull himself out of bed. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He's going to make some trash out of me. Perhaps the most painful of Jim Otto's 23 surgeries occurred five years ago. With a broken jaw wired shut, McDonald could only drink milkshakes and watched his weight plummet from 175 to 143. He played three games with a fractured tibia. In the first sentence of his foreword for the book, Hall of Fame coach John Madden writes: If someone came from another planet and wanted to know what a football player looked like, youd show him a poster of Jim Otto. Madden goes on to call Jim the greatest center who ever played.. Jim Otto was elected into the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1980. Website design & development by americaneagle.com copyright 2021 Pro Football hall of fame all rights reserved, Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. Steve McNair is the definition of playing through pain. Lawrence was Dick Butkus, but with speed and range, said John Madden, analyst for Fox television. Mr. I'm going to be just like you, Pops." New Columns From Your Class Correspondents - Cornellians Lavine, now the University of Marylands team doctor, agrees with Huizenga, but adds the pressure does not come solely from owners, but also from coaches, parents and especially players. Nagurski once knocked unconscious four would-be tacklers on a kickoff return touchdown in his rookie season. These are young people who have achieved a lot of emotional and economic success at an early age, but they never think about their careers ending. Nobody is giving me any special help. Immediately everybody rushes to blame football or blame some other thing happened in their life either socially, emotionally or psychologically. Jim Otto played before my time as a fan but I know his name and looked forward to reading his story. I just -- I know and I've told that those are the battle scars of a gladiator. OK. Jim Otto WebAs a result of injuries sustained during his playing career, he has endured more than 70 surgeries, including nearly 30 knee operations. It's just a physical battle in there, that you have to do. And then in college, once again there was a period of time I didn't have a face mask, and I got hit in the head. And that happened to me in college, too, so it -- each time [I] had a very sickly feeling after it had happened, you know? We will take steps to block users who repeatedly violate our commenting rules, terms of use, or privacy policies. Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. History of the AFL 1960-69 | Jim Otto | SportsRaid - Medium They never told me part of my knee was missing, said Krueger. It has come upon people and hurt people for periods of time, you know? I can't really explain it to you here. I know that I went to war, and I came out of the battle with what I got, and that's the way it is. Is that what you're saying? We invariably would attack a bunker from where the enemy is shooting machine guns. 13. Yes, Id do it all again. Even as the surgeries mounted and routine elements of daily living became more and more challenging Waking up is the best part of my day, he wrote Jim has repeated in many interviews since his retirement that we wouldnt change history. But I don't think you can blame it -- I don't know. And it's not being selfish, not on my behalf being selfish because I can't do it, and I would want it. Bleier eventually played on four Super Bowl championships and earned a reputation as both a fearsome blocker and a powerful runner. Players rarely give much thought to life after football. I've had various different cognitive tests regarding my brain. Otto punished his body greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 40 surgeries, including 28 knee operations (nine of them during his playing career He was also named the starting center on the AFL All-Time Team. One great performance, such as Joe Namaths for the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, can bring endless endorsements. He defined toughness as, more of a mental aspect than a physical power, saying, Toughness doesn't necessarily mean physical prowess; it's more mental., 3. But in the final five years he began to suffer Some players have catheterized themselves and replaced their own urine with clean samples before testing.. 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. Thats why I think Id come back and do it again.. It's the way we were taught to hit. Anything loosea knee pad, a shoe, a chin strapwould be ripped off by a Butkus tackle. Mel Hein, Center, New York Giants (1931-1945). 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. Kilroy denied the charge. Is Jim Otto in the Hall of Fame? Jim Otto 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. It isn't long [before] there won't be a kickoff because oh, my goodness, that guy gets the ball in the end zone and he comes running out of there so fast, he could hurt somebody, you know?