jim otto injuries
My wife is starting to try to convince me to do it. 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. Jim Otto starred for the Oakland Raiders, but his roots were in Wausau, Wisconsin. WebThe official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. Or Boston, one of those, or North Carolina. Emmitt Smith, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys & Arizona Cardinals (1990-2004), Emmitt Smith transformed the epitome of toughness on national television in the last game of the season in 1993. Tell me about that. They blame these problems for failed relationships, unemployment and drug or alcohol addictions. And yet I'd be playing, you know? The impact and velocity of some collisions, normal Americans cant appreciate because they are not on the field, said John Lopez, head of Towson Sports Medicine and former trainer with the Baltimore Colts. That crackling thud can mean a broken bone or a torn cartilage--and a redefined life. Yeah, I think it was in -- I'm not exactly sure what year; it was '72 or something. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory And that happened to me in college, too, so it -- each time [I] had a very sickly feeling after it had happened, you know? I mean, he'd figure out a way to beat you, and so would Jim Otto. Losing my leg didn't bother me one bit other than I wanted to make sure that my wife still loved the guy with one leg. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. He's probably one of the best known retired NFL players to do that. It would become so embarrassing that I stopped going out in public, said Otto, who had his knees drained and injected with painkillers four times a week during his last three playing years. We dont keep records, but were seeing greater numbers of psychological problems when theyre finished playing.. In 1951 alone, he knocked out 21 players. It's not for weak-hearted guys. Hines Ward, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-present). A Jim Otto is doing this every play. Jim Otto Otto paid the price, as he has had 74 surgeries, including 28 knee operations, and in 2007 his lower right leg had to be amputated but has said that he He wasn't drafted by any NFL team, so he joined the Oakland Raiders of the new AFL, went on a strength program to increase his weight by 50 pounds, and became Oakland's starting center for the next 15 seasons. He finally returned after a three-year absence. He takes his thumb in his hand and wrenches it down into his fist. I think some of these below-the-waist blocks as well, sure, you stand to hurt a knee or stand to hurt something. Over the course of his career, Jim FOOTBALL'S PAIN A REMINDER TO JIM OTTO - The New York Times There were so many times that I would walk off the field and my eyes would be crossed. The Baltimore Ravens placed a bounty on Ward, to which the former Super Bowl MVP responded, Bring it on. He was voted the smartest offensive player in the NFL (non-quarterbacks) and is considered the best blocking receiver in the NFL. For 19 straight seasons. And boy, the rest of the day was hell for me. The ironic part? Well, a huge hole opened, and I saw him coming. I think a lot of it is related to the pain and the lack of ability that I have for doing certain things. Plasman refused to wear a helmet. Two years ago, Detroit Lions guard Mike Utley took a hit and suffered severe spinal damage, leaving him nearly a quadriplegic. I know he was a great football player. What is the result exactly? Doesn't say anything. You say that I come up with words. Rocky Bleier, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers (1968, 1971-1980). Butkus has bitten officials, bitten opponents in the groin, scratched, punched, everything. And with your head traumas, with the head injuries, tell me about one in particular. Runyan has started 180 consecutive games at right tackle, and has played in the postseason on seven occasions. All that action in the trenches nearly every offensive and special teams snap for a decade and a half came with a high price, however. And I'm sure there's a lot of studies going on with regard to what was going on with him prior to this. I mean, in the line it's war. Walter Payton, Running Back, Chicago Bears (1975-1987). Bob Lilly, Defensive Tackle, Dallas Cowboys (1961-1974). In most cases I would like to be able to be out there doing something for somebody else, helping somebody else, and I can't. Football is a contact sport, and injuries are a part of the game. We met at the line of scrimmage, and you could hear the thud all over the Polo Grounds. Ray Lewis, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens (1996-present). 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. 7. They want my brain at I think it's Michigan or --. We havent seen the worst yet.. But that didn't bother me that much. He was double-teamed, every play, for his entire career. And it bothers me. Never misses a down. Immediately everybody rushes to blame football or blame some other thing happened in their life either socially, emotionally or psychologically. What were your first thoughts when you started hearing those stories after his retirement? But in the final five years he began to suffer He was one of the best 4th-and-1 runners in NFL history. I don't make want to make excuses. If you want to get into something else, play with the girls., 2. He wasted little time eliminating one other problem his size. He ended the career of MVP quarterback Joe Theismann with a compound leg fracture in a Monday Night game in 1985. They are similar to those experienced by rape victims and soldiers returning from combat. He ran 32 times for 168 yards and caught 10 balls for 61 yards. Krueger endured as many as 50 procedures in which bloody fluid was removed from his swollen knee and replaced with steroid compounds. He was drafted into the U.S. Army after his rookie season and endured shrapnel wounds to his right leg. We were at the Polo Grounds when I first ran up against him. I think I'm just kind of touchy about thinking that my body is going to be separated from something and probably not in the same grave, maybe that's what I'm thinking of. 11. There were two times. 1 seed for Division 1 baseball playoffs, High school tennis: Southern Section playoff pairings, High school baseball: Southern Section playoff pairings, Dig this: Long Beach States Mason Briggs could be next big thing at libero. There's so many things psychologically that can affect each and every person in this world, not just football players. (AP Photo) Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Herb So when you retire from football and you've been involved in football, some kids -- it never happened to me. It is filled with sights and sounds of collisions that are sometimes startling and other times frightening. Jim Otto played before my time as a fan but I know his name and looked forward to reading his story. Jim Otto Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges Dick Plasman, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears & Chicago Cardinals (1937-1947). Jim Otto It's more retirement I think than anything else. He was a football and ice hockey star at Wausau High and had no knee trouble, although he says he did play a season on a severely injured ankle. As the size increases, so does the force of the collisions. If they don't enjoy it, then they should play soccer or they should play something else. But I don't think it's that important, you know, to remember someone's name. But you're saying there are issues? WebHe considered the 20-some broken noses as more nuisance than hindrance, along with a hip pointer, broken fingers, broken ribs, a broken jaw, neck stingers, numerous I guess I hit someone pretty hard, and we didn't have any masks, and I got hit in the face. No. Well, in being taught to lead with your head and shoulders to make a tackle, and basically place your head to where it's going to hit the ball, because you get some good fumbles that way when you tackle and place your head and shoulders to where you're going to hit the side where he's carrying the ball. FRONTLINE Watch FRONTLINE According to the latest NFLPA survey, conducted in 1990, more than one-third of 645 players whose careers began as early as 1940 and ended no later than 1986 retired because of disabling injuries. Twenty-three, 22, you lose count after a while, said Otto, the former Oakland Raiders center. Like they'd say, "Hey, Jim, what's this? His last game, up in Cleveland, he came out of the hospital to play with a broken rib, a punctured lung, and pneumonia. He spent the week prior to a game building up his hatred over the opponent. He went down, then got up and trotted off the field. and ankle injuries during his three years with the Hurricanes. His joints became riddled with arthritis, and he developed debilitating back and neck problems. 28. WebAs a result of injuries sustained during his playing career, he has endured more than 70 surgeries, including nearly 30 knee operations. I was hitting him with such force, and he was coming at me with such force that this is what happened. You got hit in the head, and you had amnesia. Jim Otto Larry Csonka, Fullback, Miami Dolphins & New York Giants (1968-1974, 1976-1979). He underwent surgery to have 30 inches of his intestines removed, and returned for the second game of the season. Is Jim Otto in the Hall of Fame? They told me if I took the shots and played, it would get better, said Marsh. Ive heard guys like Jim Otto and Dan Hampton say they would do it again. When other coaches started seeing what a guy that size could do, they all wanted monster players with speed. But a number of former players, including receiver Al Toon of the New York Jets and running back Vic Washington of the 49ers, developed post-traumatic stress disorder. Mike Curtis, Linebacker, Baltimore Colts & Seattle Seahawks & Washington Redskins (1965-1978). 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. Ex-Cowboys wide receiver Bob Hayes and former Miami Dolphins running back Mercury Morris have served time on drug convictions. I'm hurting like a son of a gun. He considered the 20-some broken noses as more nuisance than hindrance, along with a hip pointer, broken fingers, broken ribs, a broken jaw, neck stingers, numerous concussions, kicked-in teeth and a bout of double pneumonia. We reserve the right to not post comments that are more than 400 words. The NFL Hall of Famer recounts his legendary career with the Oakland Raiders, his many injuries, and the terrible cost of playing through the pain.From 1960 to 1974, Jim Otto played center for the Oakland Raiders, leading the team to historic AFL and NFL victories. 32. And then the next game you did that snap that you're --. 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. Players are bigger now. Former Colts quarterback Art Schlichter, whose gambling addiction led to two NFL suspensions in the early 1980s, was charged with bouncing or stealing more than $400,000 in checks this year. And that is something that I'm dealing with. Bucko Kilroy, Guard, Philadelphia Eagles (1943-1955). In the 1968 regular season, Oakland scored 453 points (32.4 points/game), once again leading the AFL, beating the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round before losing to the Jets. 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. Do you feel like there's an increased notoriety of players when something very bad happens like a suicide? But still, you led with your head, and that was part of football; that was what we learned. It is, because there's some people who think there's a connection between all those hits that you take and suicide, like there's a physiological connection there, you know? You seem completely with it and pulling up words and memories and having no problems at all. But in my heart, I'm leaning to very possibly doing it, donating my brain, because if there is something there that can help others, that's what I should be doing. ISIS' growing foothold in Afghanistan is captured on film. 18. A Living Raider Legend, "Mr. Raider," Jim Otto - Sports He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, the first year he was eligible. I'm over here, I had a couple dozen concussions or more, and I hurt. George Trafton, Center, Chicago Bears (1920-1921, 1923-1932). Could someone please explain to me why Jim Marshall is not in the Hall of Fame? Brett Favre, Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons & Green Bay Packers & New York Jets (1991-present). The average weight for a lineman on the Colts championship teams in 1958 and 1959 was 240 pounds. 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. They've asked for my brain. Jim Otto weighed 255 lbs (115 kg) when playing. Minutes later, he set up the winning touchdown with a fake handoff. 13. I'm against all that. In the 1970 regular season (1st year of the NFL-AFL merger), Oakland scored 300 points (21.4 points/game), 9th of 26 teams in the NFL, beating the Miami Dolphins in the 1970-71 NFL playoffs before losing to the Colts. Otto I wanted people to respect me.. 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. Jim Otto. In 14 seasons of play for the Oakland Raiders, Jim Otto played had a punishing history of injuries. He needed 74 surgeries for his football injuries, including the amputation of one of his legs. This interview was conducted by FRONTLINEs Tom Jennings on Dec. 22, 2012. They're suing everybody for a lot of money, which I don't like because that's going to hurt football in high school, Little League and in pros. It actually has to do with Junior Seau this past year and other recent events. I'm just astounded, and he's using this hand that is broken as a club. 190-pound linebacker Hardy Brown was the hardest-hitting player who ever lived. 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. Some players have catheterized themselves and replaced their own urine with clean samples before testing.. Former Chicago Bears tight end and head coach Mike Ditka waddles like a wooden toy soldier because of an artificial hip. 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. 22. My nose was broken pretty, pretty good. Curtis was nicknamed The Animal and was one of the angriest men to ever play in the NFL. 4. 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. Yes, Id do it all again. Almost no one leaves this game unscarred either physically or mentally.. Let's play football. Retirement affects athletes in different ways, said Fishelman, the Baltimore doctor. Dobler punched Pittsburghs Mean Joe Greene in the solar plexus and kicked the Rams Merlin Olsen in the head. The gladiator goes until he can't go anymore. With a broken jaw wired shut, McDonald could only drink milkshakes and watched his weight plummet from 175 to 143. He has played through numerous injuries such as a separated right clavicle, an infected right shoulder, a dislocated ring finger on his right hand, torn cartilage in his right knee, a strained calf, a hip pointer, a ruptured disk, back spasms, strained rib cartilage, severely bruised ribs, a left knee sprain, an MCL sprain, a left ankle sprain, severe turf toe, a cracked bone spur in his left ankle, a bone spur in his toe, and a severely bruised sternum. I saw the bone. We're not the only guys. He turned Former Colts linebacker Mike Curtis said those cases are few and too highly publicized. In 14 seasons of play for the Oakland Raiders, Jim Otto played had a punishing history of injuries. In 1958, with three broken ribs and a punctured lung, he led the Colts to the NFL title while wearing a protective harness. 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. Both the pain and the glory are relived this week as Jim, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fames Class of 1980, steps into the Gold Jacket Spotlight. It all swelled up, and I couldn't see, but I kept playing. Utleys injury received a lot of media attention because it happened during a game. Well, football today is still very tough, but I think in the day that I played and several other players that are my vintage will concur that it was a battle out there; it was a war. 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? The highly educated are hiring counselors to advise them on masking agents and certain other breakdown products. 27. Otto is also the subject of works by artist Matthew Barney.[3]. They dont want to believe that someone put them in a position to make them look like idiots., Former Colts quarterback Bert Jones, 45, said: Everybody goes into the game realizing that two things are going to happen: Either one day youre going to be cut because youre no longer good enough, or an injury is going to cut short your career.
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jim otto injuries