Nov 28 in Jet History: Jets Pick Namath in AFL Draft
Nov 28, 2015 8:41:11 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Nov 28, 2015 8:41:11 GMT -5
November 28, 1964
With the first pick in the 1965 American Football League draft, the New York Jets selected Joe Namath, QB, University of Alabama.
It actually took two of the worst trades in the history of football to help Joe find his way to Broadway. His path to NY began several months earlier, prior to the start of the 1964 season.
The Houston Oilers had two solid quarterbacks, veteran George Blanda, who joined the Oilers in 1960 after a 10 year NFL career. That same year, they also drafted 21 year old Jacky Lee, a QB out of the University of Cincinnati. While Lee performed well in limited action, Blanda was the starter in the early years of the franchise, leading the Oilers to AFL Championships in both 1960 & 61 and a Championship Game appearance in 62.
Prior to the start of the 64 season, the Broncos were desperate for a QB. Veteran Frank Tripucka retired during the ‘63 season and Denver had been unable to find a replacement for him. After a 2-11-1 season, the Broncos were in need of a QB. Knowing that the Oilers had two, it was natural that the two teams would talk trade.
The Broncos wanted the younger man, Lee. The Oilers, however, were unwilling to give up Lee, knowing that Blanda would not be likely to play much longer. The two teams came to a creative solution, the Oilers agreed to “lease” Lee to the Broncos for two years, 1964 & 65. He would be returned to Houston for the 66 season where he would likely replace Blanda as the Oilers starter.
In exchange for the two year rental, the Broncos sent the Oilers their 1st round pick in the 65 draft, plus Bud McFaddin, a starting DT. One awful trade by itself was not enough for Joe to get to NY. It took another terrible deal, this one by the Oilers.
On 11/27, the day before the draft, the Oilers traded the #1 pick in the draft (acquired from the Broncos) to the Jets for the rights to Jerry Rhome. The Jets had acquired the rights to Rhome when they drafted him in the 25th round of the 64 AFL draft. The NFL’s Dallas Cowboys also had the right to Rhome, who chose to sign with Dallas instead of Houston, leaving Houston with nothing to show in a trade that sent the future HOFer to the Jets. On the 11/28/1964, the Jets selected Namath in the draft.
The Oilers eventually got their man. In 1970, in a 3-team deal, they traded a 3rd round draft pick to Dallas to finally acquire Rhome. That pick was used to select DB Charlie Waters, a 3-time pro bowler and 2-time all pro. Rhome would be winless in 4 career starts for the Oilers.
In summary, the Broncos rented two years of bad QB play from Jacky Lee (he won two games in his two years with Denver), and sent a first round pick and defensive starter to Houston. Houston flipped that first round pick (#1 overall) to the Jets for the rights to a player taken in the 25th round the year before, that they could not even sign. A player the Oilers eventually got back after trading a future all-pro.
And the Jets got Joe Namath.
With the first pick in the 1965 American Football League draft, the New York Jets selected Joe Namath, QB, University of Alabama.
It actually took two of the worst trades in the history of football to help Joe find his way to Broadway. His path to NY began several months earlier, prior to the start of the 1964 season.
The Houston Oilers had two solid quarterbacks, veteran George Blanda, who joined the Oilers in 1960 after a 10 year NFL career. That same year, they also drafted 21 year old Jacky Lee, a QB out of the University of Cincinnati. While Lee performed well in limited action, Blanda was the starter in the early years of the franchise, leading the Oilers to AFL Championships in both 1960 & 61 and a Championship Game appearance in 62.
Prior to the start of the 64 season, the Broncos were desperate for a QB. Veteran Frank Tripucka retired during the ‘63 season and Denver had been unable to find a replacement for him. After a 2-11-1 season, the Broncos were in need of a QB. Knowing that the Oilers had two, it was natural that the two teams would talk trade.
The Broncos wanted the younger man, Lee. The Oilers, however, were unwilling to give up Lee, knowing that Blanda would not be likely to play much longer. The two teams came to a creative solution, the Oilers agreed to “lease” Lee to the Broncos for two years, 1964 & 65. He would be returned to Houston for the 66 season where he would likely replace Blanda as the Oilers starter.
In exchange for the two year rental, the Broncos sent the Oilers their 1st round pick in the 65 draft, plus Bud McFaddin, a starting DT. One awful trade by itself was not enough for Joe to get to NY. It took another terrible deal, this one by the Oilers.
On 11/27, the day before the draft, the Oilers traded the #1 pick in the draft (acquired from the Broncos) to the Jets for the rights to Jerry Rhome. The Jets had acquired the rights to Rhome when they drafted him in the 25th round of the 64 AFL draft. The NFL’s Dallas Cowboys also had the right to Rhome, who chose to sign with Dallas instead of Houston, leaving Houston with nothing to show in a trade that sent the future HOFer to the Jets. On the 11/28/1964, the Jets selected Namath in the draft.
The Oilers eventually got their man. In 1970, in a 3-team deal, they traded a 3rd round draft pick to Dallas to finally acquire Rhome. That pick was used to select DB Charlie Waters, a 3-time pro bowler and 2-time all pro. Rhome would be winless in 4 career starts for the Oilers.
In summary, the Broncos rented two years of bad QB play from Jacky Lee (he won two games in his two years with Denver), and sent a first round pick and defensive starter to Houston. Houston flipped that first round pick (#1 overall) to the Jets for the rights to a player taken in the 25th round the year before, that they could not even sign. A player the Oilers eventually got back after trading a future all-pro.
And the Jets got Joe Namath.
