Ken Stabler, R.I.P.

[RedsBaron]

Ken Stabler has died at age 69.
The Snake lived a rowdy life but he was as great a clutch quarterback as any QB in the 70s. It has long been outrageous that he was blackballed from the NFL Hall of Fame. Should he finally be inducted some year he now will not be able to enjoy the honor. R.I.P.

[cumberlandreds]

I hate to hear that. I always liked him. He was a fine QB. It seemed like his Raiders would always come up a little short in the playoffs. He did finally win a Super Bowl against the Vikings. RIP to The Snake.

[Kingspoint]

Called to get a Colonoscopy after I heard this. Had been meaning to do it, but this got me to do it.

RIP, Kenny. RaiderNation will miss you.

[Joseph]

My beloved Raiders lost a legend. RIP Snake.

[RedsBaron]

I realize crediting teams wins to a quarterback is a suspect stat, but to me one of Stabler's most impressive statistics is how well the Raiders did with him as QB against the Steelers. I believe the Steel Curtain 1970s Steelers are still the greatest NFL team ever, greater than the Browns of the 50s, the Lombardi Packers, the undefeated Dolphins, the Walsh 49ers, and this century's Patriots. Those Steelers feared no one, but by all accounts there was no quarterback they respected more than the Snake.
Stabler first played meaningful minutes against the Steelers in the 1972 Immaculate Reception game, coming in late in the game to replace Daryle Lamonica. Stabler's late scramble for a TD seemed to win the game for Oakland prior to Franco Harris's miracle.
After that Stabler started 8 games as Raiders QB against the Steelers. Oakland won five of the eight. Oakland lost in the '73 regular season before defeating the Steelers in the playoffs 33-14. In 1974 Oakland beat Pittsburgh in the regular season before being upset by the Steelers 24-13 in the AFC title game, a week after the Sea of Hands game. In 1975 Pittsburgh again beat Oakland in the AFC title game in the cold and frozen sidelines of Three Rivers 16-10. In 1976 Stabler lead a Raiders rally in the season opener to beat the Steelers 31-28 and then QB'd an Oakland AFC title game win over Pittsburgh 24-7. In 1977 early in the season Oakland won again 16-7.
A 5-3 record against the Steelers of that era is impressive.

[Assembly Hall]

One of the greatest QB's I ever saw play. Him and Biletnikoff were pure majic together.

RIP Snake.

[Spitball]

One of the greatest QB's I ever saw play. Him and Biletnikoff were pure majic together.

RIP Snake.

I am just now seeing his post. I will always remember the Raiders of the 1970s. I hated them but admired Stabler and the team's swagger. I remember Stabler to Casper and Branch more than to Biletnikoff.

[Assembly Hall]

I am just now seeing his post. I will always remember the Raiders of the 1970s. I hated them but admired Stabler and the team's swagger. I remember Stabler to Casper and Branch more than to Biletnikoff.

Yeah, I hated them myself. But I loved to watch them. Casper and Branch were something else as well.

[RedsBaron]

It has now been reported that an examination of his brain has found Stabler had C.T.E. to a significant degree.
Stabler is also a finalist for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame, with voting results to be released Saturday. In the past Paul Zimmerman helped blackball Stabler, and I suspect Zimmerman's SI colleague Peter King will try to continue that shameful record.

[Assembly Hall]

The "Snake" deserves to be in.

[cumberlandreds]

The "Snake" deserves to be in.

He made it. Too bad he's not around to see it.

[RedsBaron]

He made it. Too bad he's not around to see it.

I'm glad too see that Stabler finally made it, but he should have years ago. At least his children and other loved ones can enjoy the ceremony.
In the final paragraph of his autobiography "Snake," published in 1986, Stabler noted that he would become eligible for the HOF in 1989 and speculated that he might drive to the ceremony in a station wagon with his then wife and two or three kids.
Stabler's election after his death reminds me of Ron Santo's HOF election.

[Assembly Hall]

He made it. Too bad he's not around to see it.

Yes sir. A travesty of "justice" has occurred here.

[Slyder]

I will never understand why it took this long for arguably one of the greatest Raider QBs to make it. He should have had the opportunity to enjoy this moment with his family. Either someone is or isn't "Hall of Fame" worthy and should be recognized for it.

[RedsBaron]

I will never understand why it took this long for arguably one of the greatest Raider QBs to make it. He should have had the opportunity to enjoy this moment with his family. Either someone is or isn't "Hall of Fame" worthy and should be recognized for it.

Long time SI writer Paul Zimmerman declared that Stabler would never be in the HOF as long as Zimmerman was alive. Zimmerman is alive but in bad health. His SI colleague Peter King presumably helped continue the effort to blackball Stabler.

[Slyder]

Long time SI writer Paul Zimmerman declared that Stabler would never be in the HOF as long as Zimmerman was alive. Zimmerman is alive but in bad health. His SI colleague Peter King presumably helped continue the effort to blackball Stabler.

Then those clowns need their rights to votes stripped. Either someone is or isnt, it isn't about whether they like someone because they gave them an interview or not.

[dabvu2498]

In fairness, there was some rationale behind Zimmerman's sentiment:


A.P. Steadham of Scout.com wrote in June 2015 that Stabler’s absence from the Hall of Fame stemmed from “a lingering grudge” over a prank Stabler played on Santa Rosa Press Democrat reporter Bob Padecky, planting cocaine in the reporter’s rental car during a visit to Gulf Shores, Ala., and then calling the cops to have Padecky arrested.

“I was thrown in jail, then taken from jail to my hotel room, where we waited for the bad guys who planted the cocaine,” Padecky recalled in a June 2009 story. “The bad guys never came. I was given a two-car police escort to the Pensacola airport, entering the Eastern Airlines passenger jet with armed officers on both my left and my right. The [other] passengers looked at me like I was John Dillinger.”

Stabler also found himself in July 1981 on the receiving end of both an FBI and NFL investigation into his association with what the New York Times then described as a “New Jersey gambling figure,” but nothing came of either inquiry, and the matter was dropped after then–NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle warned Stabler to avoid “undesirable elements” or face disciplinary action.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/time-for-the-late-ken-stabler-to-snake-into-the-nfl-hall-of-fame-2015-07-10

[RedsBaron]

In fairness, there was some rationale behind Zimmerman's sentiment:



http://www.marketwatch.com/story/time-for-the-late-ken-stabler-to-snake-into-the-nfl-hall-of-fame-2015-07-10
That reportedly was why Zimmerman had his vendetta, but the problem behind that was that Stabler was never proven to have been involved in either scandal.
Stabler by his own admission lived and partied hard, and given all we have learned in recent decades about the shortcomings about sports heroes it wouldn't shock me if Stabler's denials of involvement in either matter were proven to be untrue. However I also believe it is indecent, unfair and perhaps immoral to just assume someone is guilty and to deny that person honors otherwise earned. Zimmerman apparently appointed himself judge, jury and executioner of Stabler.

[dabvu2498]

The gambling stuff was why Al Davis traded him:

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/30/sports/pro-football-s-ken-stabler-is-linked-to-a-gambler.html?pagewanted=all

[RedsBaron]

The gambling stuff was why Al Davis traded him:

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/30/sports/pro-football-s-ken-stabler-is-linked-to-a-gambler.html?pagewanted=all
I can recall an NBC news piece on the Oilers loss to the Jets 28-31 in 1980 referenced in the NY Times story. Both NBC and the Times left a lot out. Stabler did throw 4 interceptions in that game, and news outlets tried to imply this showed he was throwing the game. Well, Stabler always threw interceptions, which was a valid argument against him. However, after the Jets took a 21-0 lead, Stabler threw three TDs to tie the game, and later threw a fourth TD to again tie the game 28-28, before the Jets won in OT. For the game Stabler had 4 TDs, 4 picks, and threw for 388 yards, twice bringing the Oilers back. That doesn't appear to me to be a QB trying to lose.
The Raiders of that era (And Stabler didn't change when he left Oakland) had a lot of questionable fans, including being favorites of the Hell's Angels.
I read a good piece online recently about Stabler and Al Davis reconciling back in 2009, shortly before Davis died. By then Davis was on a walker, but he took Stabler on a tour of his office, as the two shared memories.

[RedsBaron]

In fairness to Peter King, I should note that in his SI online column today he stated that he voted to induct Stabler into the HOF in this year's vote, and further noted that he regarded Roger Staubach as a very accurate QB, before comparing Staubach's in-his-prime 1976 season, when Staubach completed 56.4% of his passes, to Stabler's in-his-prime 1976 season, when in a downfield passing offense Stabler completed 66.7% of his passes.

[Sea Ray]

In fairness to Peter King, I should note that in his SI online column today he stated that he voted to induct Stabler into the HOF in this year's vote, and further noted that he regarded Roger Staubach as a very accurate QB, before comparing Staubach's in-his-prime 1976 season, when Staubach completed 56.4% of his passes, to Stabler's in-his-prime 1976 season, when in a downfield passing offense Stabler completed 66.7% of his passes.

I'd say that what you've mentioned above makes Peter King comes across as all the more shallow and petty. It sounds like he had so many personal issues with Stabler that he refused to vote for the QB until he was dead so as to deprive him of the glory of the honor.

[RedsBaron]

I'd say that what you've mentioned above makes Peter King comes across as all the more shallow and petty. It sounds like he had so many personal issues with Stabler that he refused to vote for the QB until he was dead so as to deprive him of the glory of the honor.

King isn't my favorite, and it irritated me a few months ago when he didn't even get Stabler's record as a starting QB against the Steel Curtain Steelers correct in a column, but, again to be fair, it was King's colleague Paul Zimmerman who said he would never vote for Stabler. King has always seemed to admire Zimmerman and had never before indicated he supported Stabler for the HOF, so I assume in years earlier he opposed Stabler, but it was Zimmerman who lead the vendetta, not King.
I also want to again state that it is possible Stabler tried to frame a reporter, especially if Kenny was stoned, but there was never any evidence that he did so, and Stabler claimed some friends of his did so without his knowledge. It is also possible the gambling allegations were true, but again the evidence was lacking. Look, 30 years ago I would never have thought Pete Rose bet on baseball, nor would I have expected the PEDs epidemic that hit MLB, so anything is possible. My position is that absent compelling proof it is unfair to assume guilt.

[Sea Ray]

King isn't my favorite, and it irritated me a few months ago when he didn't even get Stabler's record as a starting QB against the Steel Curtain Steelers correct in a column, but, again to be fair, it was King's colleague Paul Zimmerman who said he would never vote for Stabler. King has always seemed to admire Zimmerman and had never before indicated he supported Stabler for the HOF, so I assume in years earlier he opposed Stabler, but it was Zimmerman who lead the vendetta, not King.
I also want to again state that it is possible Stabler tried to frame a reporter, especially if Kenny was stoned, but there was never any evidence that he did so, and Stabler claimed some friends of his did so without his knowledge. It is also possible the gambling allegations were true, but again the evidence was lacking. Look, 30 years ago I would never have thought Pete Rose bet on baseball, nor would I have expected the PEDs epidemic that hit MLB, so anything is possible. My position is that absent compelling proof it is unfair to assume guilt.

I'd like to hear King's rationale for why Stabler suddenly is Hall of Fame worthy now.

[cumberlandreds]

I'd say that what you've mentioned above makes Peter King comes across as all the more shallow and petty. It sounds like he had so many personal issues with Stabler that he refused to vote for the QB until he was dead so as to deprive him of the glory of the honor.

Back when Spurrier came to coach Washington he brought in Danny Weurfell to be the QB. King instantly proclaimed he would throw for 4,000 yards in Spurrier's offense for the Redskins. I knew then King was a boob. I have no respect for his opinion on anything since.

[RichRed]

Back when Spurrier came to coach Washington he brought in Danny Weurfell to be the QB. King instantly proclaimed he would throw for 4,000 yards in Spurrier's offense for the Redskins. I knew then King was a boob. I have no respect for his opinion on anything since.

For me, it was when King predicted Jake Plummer would win NFL MVP with Denver. He's obviously got an enormous blind spot when it comes to judging QBs, Stabler included.

[Kingspoint]

Decades ago I would look at Peter King whenever I wanted to know what wouldn't happen.

[RedsBaron]

A few years ago the NFL network had a program rating the top ten clutch quarterbacks of all time. The ten were Dan Marino, Steve Young, Bart Starr, Otto Graham, Roger Staubach, Johnny Unitas, Tom Brady, John Elway, Joe Montana and Ken Stabler. I forget the exact order, although Montana was 1st and Elway 2nd. Stabler was 6th.
Obviously reasonable people can disagree with the list, although I think it was pretty good. Until last week, Stabler was the only one on the list not in the HOF.
If a reasonable case can be made that a quarterback is one of the top ten greatest clutch QBs of all time, that QB is a Hall of Famer, no questions asked. Stabler should have been inducted years ago, while he was alive.

[Kingspoint]

Congratulations, Snake, for finally being enshrined.

[Assembly Hall]

Congratulations, Snake, for finally being enshrined.

Amen.......you can take Staubach and Bradshaw. I will take the "Snake".

[BluegrassRedleg]

Stabler is as good a competitor at the position who ever played. Man found ways to win.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RedsBaron]

I just saw online that Raiders coach Jack Del Rio has ripped the Pro Football Hall of Fame for refusing to give Ken Stabler's family the golden jacket and Hall of Fame ring that living inductees receive. The HOF has asserted that it is its policy not to give the jacket or ring for players inducted after their death.
When one considers the amount of money the NFL brings in, that is just incredibly cheap and lacking class.

[Chip R]

I just saw online that Raiders coach Jack Del Rio has ripped the Pro Football Hall of Fame for refusing to give Ken Stabler's family the golden jacket and Hall of Fame ring that living inductees receive. The HOF has asserted that it is its policy not to give the jacket or ring for players inducted after their death.
When one considers the amount of money the NFL brings in, that is just incredibly cheap and lacking class.

True. But that seems like more of a HOF thing than an NFL thing.

[Assembly Hall]

Shame on the HoF period. And the grief continues for the Snake after he is in the grave. JSMH.