Oakland Raiders: 10 Reasons Healy’s Take On Carr Is Dead Wrong
By Kevin Saito
Jun 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet of defensive end Justin Tuck (not pictured) at minicamp at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Following a colorful career at Alabama, in which he compiled a 28-3-2 record as a starter, Stabler was taken in the second round of the 1968 draft by the Oakland Raiders – though he would not play for the team until 1970.
In his rookie season, he appeared in just three games, throwing for 52 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. It wasn’t until 1973 that the Snake got a chance to be a regular starter, going 8-2-1, completing 62.7 percent of his passes, throwing for a tick under 2,000 yards, and tossing 14 touchdown against 10 interceptions.
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From 1973 to his final season in Oakland in 1979, Stabler never posted a losing record, threw for almost 20,000 yards, 150 touchdowns, and completed a tick under 60 percent of his passes. He developed a well earned reputation for playing big in big games, for being cool and unflappable, and for having a knack for leading his team back from the brink of defeat to a victory.
Stabler finished his career with four trips to the Pro Bowl, was named first team All Pro twice, was the AP Offensive Player of the Year and the NFL MVP in 1974, twice led the league in TD passed (197, 1976), and was a Super Bowl Champion (1976).
Stabler recently passed away at the age of 69 and a vast majority of people believe his exclusion from the Hall of Fame is an absolute travesty – because it is.
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