Jan 2 in Jet History: Namath Signs Rookie Deal
Jan 2, 2016 8:57:12 GMT -5
jetfrantik and Bing© in Buffalo Chairman like this
Post by Lithfan on Jan 2, 2016 8:57:12 GMT -5
January 2, 1965
On this date, in 1965, Sonny Werblin and the Jets signed rookie first round draft pick Joe Namath to his first professional contract.
The day before, an injured Joe Namath led his national champion Alabama Crimson Tide in an Orange Bowl matchup with the Texas Longhorns. Although Texas would come away with a 21-17 win, the national title had already been awarded to Alabama at the conclusion of their undefeated regular season. Namath did not start that game, due to a knee injury sustained in the regular season, but he came off the bench to lead Bama’s comeback that fell inches short when Namath’s 4th down QB sneak was ruled short of the goal-line late in the 4th quarter.
Highlight video from that game is below. It opens up with a clip of a long pass completion for Texas -- I am pretty sure the player on the receiving end of that pass was George Sauer who would join Namath as a rookie with the 1965 Jets.
The Jets were reportedly in competition for Namath’s services with the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals who had drafted Joe with the 12th pick in the NFL draft. Both teams offered contracts in the $400K range -- the richest contract ever offered to a rookie at the time, but Joe chose Sonny Werblin’s offer and signed with the Jets.
“I took both teams into consideration,” said Namath explaining his decision. “I wanted more than money. I was interested in the Coach and the organization. New York City is a fine place, the sports fans are great and Weeb Ewbank is an outstanding coach.”
Ewbank was thrilled to have Joe to lead his team into the future. “In the Orange Bowl last night, even with his bad leg, Joe murdered Texas when they tried to rush him,” he said. “If he had been in normal condition, he would have busted that game open.”
Jets owner Sonny Werblin refused to release the details of his prize rookie’s contract, claiming that information was privileged. “I am sure it pays the largest amount ever given to a young athlete in any sport”, he said. “We feel that in getting Joe we got the number 1 college football player in America and with him we will give New York fans the finest football team in America.”
Although the details of the contract were not reported at the time, it was a 3-year $427,000 contract.
Source: The Victoria Advocate
On this date, in 1965, Sonny Werblin and the Jets signed rookie first round draft pick Joe Namath to his first professional contract.
The day before, an injured Joe Namath led his national champion Alabama Crimson Tide in an Orange Bowl matchup with the Texas Longhorns. Although Texas would come away with a 21-17 win, the national title had already been awarded to Alabama at the conclusion of their undefeated regular season. Namath did not start that game, due to a knee injury sustained in the regular season, but he came off the bench to lead Bama’s comeback that fell inches short when Namath’s 4th down QB sneak was ruled short of the goal-line late in the 4th quarter.
Highlight video from that game is below. It opens up with a clip of a long pass completion for Texas -- I am pretty sure the player on the receiving end of that pass was George Sauer who would join Namath as a rookie with the 1965 Jets.
The Jets were reportedly in competition for Namath’s services with the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals who had drafted Joe with the 12th pick in the NFL draft. Both teams offered contracts in the $400K range -- the richest contract ever offered to a rookie at the time, but Joe chose Sonny Werblin’s offer and signed with the Jets.
“I took both teams into consideration,” said Namath explaining his decision. “I wanted more than money. I was interested in the Coach and the organization. New York City is a fine place, the sports fans are great and Weeb Ewbank is an outstanding coach.”
Ewbank was thrilled to have Joe to lead his team into the future. “In the Orange Bowl last night, even with his bad leg, Joe murdered Texas when they tried to rush him,” he said. “If he had been in normal condition, he would have busted that game open.”
Jets owner Sonny Werblin refused to release the details of his prize rookie’s contract, claiming that information was privileged. “I am sure it pays the largest amount ever given to a young athlete in any sport”, he said. “We feel that in getting Joe we got the number 1 college football player in America and with him we will give New York fans the finest football team in America.”
Although the details of the contract were not reported at the time, it was a 3-year $427,000 contract.
Source: The Victoria Advocate
