If you’re even a moderate fan of NFL history, you probably have heard of The Mel Blount Rule. Mel Blount was a big, ferocious and hard-hitting cornerback for the dynasty Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s.
Joe is about as thorough researcher as you'll find out there. Are you saying that no one ever can write about things that happened before their time? That's such an odd take. You should probably skip this series as it will cover many players that came before Blount.
Re: the "Isaac Curtis Rule," the genesis of it stems from Paul Brown's complaints against the Miami Dolphins' smothering of Curtis and fellow Cincinnati Bengals receivers, during their 1973 AFC Divisional Playoff Game (won by Miami, 34-16). In Bill Chastain's book, "Steel Dynasty. The Team That Changed The NFL," the late Dolphins MLB Nick Buoniconti claimed he and his cohorts were the real inspiration behind the rule.
Joe, I think you may have confused a couple of incidents involving George Atkinson vs Lynn Swann, and Mel Blount vs Cliff Branch, in the 1976 season opener between the Steelers and Raiders. Atkinson hit Swann in the back of his head during a running play -- clear across the other side of the field. In the same game, Blount lifted Branch off his feet and drove him head first into the turf. (Highlights featuring this infamous play have been oft-repeated, to illustrate the brutality of pro football, for decades since.) I once came across an obscure reference to Blount allegedly taking a cheap shot at Branch in the 1974 AFC Championship Game, but it was rather vague, and unconvincing. The only such egregious instance of Blount manhandling Branch would be the one I previously described. (Incidentally, it looks a lot worse in the highlight than it actually was. In televised real time action, Branch got right back to his feet and remained in the game, unscathed. Atkinson's unwarranted clubbing of Swann caused a concussion and knocked Swann out of the game.)
I too have really been enjoying the deep-dive stories. I do miss the analysis and debate from the brilliant readers that the Baseball 100 had. It's so hard to compare across positions, era, styles of play, etc.
Also, the position breakdown will be really tough. Anyone care to postulate on how many players in each position category (QB, RB, WR/TE, O-line, D-line, LB, D-backs, special teams) might be included (I'm sure Nik has already started tracking it)? Even breaking it into categories like this is probably unfair since each category captures unequal numbers of positions. For example, I'm not even sure there will be as many top 101 players in the O-line category as there will be QBs.
I haven’t followed football in 20 years and pretty actively dislike it. So I wasn’t very excited to hear about the Football 101. But of course I’ve been totally hooked since the first article. It truly doesn’t seem to matter what or who Joe writes about as it always ends up fascinating.
I have been thinking about a comment on the Football 101 for a few days. Generally, I was planning to say that while I love Joe's writing, the Football 101 isn't really doing it for me. Maybe it's because, as Joe pointed out in the kickoff of this series, football is such a team game it is hard to figure out who the best players are. Besides, how do you compare Mel Blount to Joe Montana? Heck, how do you compare Mel Blount to Darelle Revis?
This article, though, totally genius. It has sucked me back in to the series, after at most skimming the articles between Pat Mahomes and today. I love the way Joe weaves the Mel Blount story in with a rule that fundamentally changed the game.
I wouldn't compare Mel Blount to Darrelle Revis (and certainly not to Joe Montana. What would be the point?), but Blount was the epitome of a "shutdown cornerback" long before the term was invented. He was undoubtedly the first I ever heard of whom quarterbacks consciously avoided challenging, as well as the first to whom I ever saw referred to as "the prototypical cornerback" -- he's the primary reason I know the word "prototypical"!
With all due respect to Jack Ham, if it is still possible that anyone on the 70's Steelers is underrated by the fans and media, then it would be Mel Blount.
Quick personal story... somewhere around 2005 I'm parked in a dark deserted area of a parking garage near downtown Pittsburgh. I'm leaning on the hood of my car waiting for the other member of my carpool to arrive. From the other corner of the garage, I hear the clop-slap of cowboy boots approaching. Out of the shadows appears a 6'4" man in a huge Stetson, announcing his presence with a baritone "Having any car trouble today?"
Takes me a nanosecond to realize Mel Blount is asking me a question. I think I stammered something like "um, no. I don't think so." Mr. Blount responded with a "Have a nice day", turned and walked away.
Terrific as usual. What separates Pos is instead of just writing about Blount and the "Mel Blount rule", he researches the change and finds out - "you know what, no one really called it the Mel Blount Rule when the change was made in 1978" and gives us all the great history and back story.
I beg to differ that no one used that reference at the time. Cowboys executive Tex Schramm was said to have pointedly mentioned Blount while lobbying for the rule change, and I can promise you, "the Mel Blount Rule" was widely referred to as such, well before the late 2000s. I would guess I'm roughly the same age as Joe Posnanski, and the term has been around for decades; at least within years of Blount"s retirement from the NFL.
Joe Posnanski was 10 years old when the Mel Blount rule went into effect. ANY JoeBlogs analysis of CB play before 1977 is complete fiction.
Joe is about as thorough researcher as you'll find out there. Are you saying that no one ever can write about things that happened before their time? That's such an odd take. You should probably skip this series as it will cover many players that came before Blount.
Re: the "Isaac Curtis Rule," the genesis of it stems from Paul Brown's complaints against the Miami Dolphins' smothering of Curtis and fellow Cincinnati Bengals receivers, during their 1973 AFC Divisional Playoff Game (won by Miami, 34-16). In Bill Chastain's book, "Steel Dynasty. The Team That Changed The NFL," the late Dolphins MLB Nick Buoniconti claimed he and his cohorts were the real inspiration behind the rule.
Joe, I think you may have confused a couple of incidents involving George Atkinson vs Lynn Swann, and Mel Blount vs Cliff Branch, in the 1976 season opener between the Steelers and Raiders. Atkinson hit Swann in the back of his head during a running play -- clear across the other side of the field. In the same game, Blount lifted Branch off his feet and drove him head first into the turf. (Highlights featuring this infamous play have been oft-repeated, to illustrate the brutality of pro football, for decades since.) I once came across an obscure reference to Blount allegedly taking a cheap shot at Branch in the 1974 AFC Championship Game, but it was rather vague, and unconvincing. The only such egregious instance of Blount manhandling Branch would be the one I previously described. (Incidentally, it looks a lot worse in the highlight than it actually was. In televised real time action, Branch got right back to his feet and remained in the game, unscathed. Atkinson's unwarranted clubbing of Swann caused a concussion and knocked Swann out of the game.)
I too have really been enjoying the deep-dive stories. I do miss the analysis and debate from the brilliant readers that the Baseball 100 had. It's so hard to compare across positions, era, styles of play, etc.
Also, the position breakdown will be really tough. Anyone care to postulate on how many players in each position category (QB, RB, WR/TE, O-line, D-line, LB, D-backs, special teams) might be included (I'm sure Nik has already started tracking it)? Even breaking it into categories like this is probably unfair since each category captures unequal numbers of positions. For example, I'm not even sure there will be as many top 101 players in the O-line category as there will be QBs.
I haven’t followed football in 20 years and pretty actively dislike it. So I wasn’t very excited to hear about the Football 101. But of course I’ve been totally hooked since the first article. It truly doesn’t seem to matter what or who Joe writes about as it always ends up fascinating.
A gem.
I have been thinking about a comment on the Football 101 for a few days. Generally, I was planning to say that while I love Joe's writing, the Football 101 isn't really doing it for me. Maybe it's because, as Joe pointed out in the kickoff of this series, football is such a team game it is hard to figure out who the best players are. Besides, how do you compare Mel Blount to Joe Montana? Heck, how do you compare Mel Blount to Darelle Revis?
This article, though, totally genius. It has sucked me back in to the series, after at most skimming the articles between Pat Mahomes and today. I love the way Joe weaves the Mel Blount story in with a rule that fundamentally changed the game.
I wouldn't compare Mel Blount to Darrelle Revis (and certainly not to Joe Montana. What would be the point?), but Blount was the epitome of a "shutdown cornerback" long before the term was invented. He was undoubtedly the first I ever heard of whom quarterbacks consciously avoided challenging, as well as the first to whom I ever saw referred to as "the prototypical cornerback" -- he's the primary reason I know the word "prototypical"!
Is it George Atkinson (first mention?) or George Atkins (second mention)?
It is Atkinson.
"It turns out that The Mel Blount Rule rabbit hole goes pretty deep."
Nobody does sports rabbit holes like Joe P. And this was a pretty interesting one.
Very entertaining, and in true Posnanski form, meticulously researched.
I'm actually now interested in the Mel Blount - Roy Blount interview.
Try this instead: https://www.amazon.com/About-Three-Bricks-Shy-Load/dp/0345341066
Thank you, Brian.
With all due respect to Jack Ham, if it is still possible that anyone on the 70's Steelers is underrated by the fans and media, then it would be Mel Blount.
Quick personal story... somewhere around 2005 I'm parked in a dark deserted area of a parking garage near downtown Pittsburgh. I'm leaning on the hood of my car waiting for the other member of my carpool to arrive. From the other corner of the garage, I hear the clop-slap of cowboy boots approaching. Out of the shadows appears a 6'4" man in a huge Stetson, announcing his presence with a baritone "Having any car trouble today?"
Takes me a nanosecond to realize Mel Blount is asking me a question. I think I stammered something like "um, no. I don't think so." Mr. Blount responded with a "Have a nice day", turned and walked away.
Forgot to mention, he was also wearing a 3 piece suit in July. :) Only man you'll ever see in Pittsburgh wearing that combo!
Terrific as usual. What separates Pos is instead of just writing about Blount and the "Mel Blount rule", he researches the change and finds out - "you know what, no one really called it the Mel Blount Rule when the change was made in 1978" and gives us all the great history and back story.
I beg to differ that no one used that reference at the time. Cowboys executive Tex Schramm was said to have pointedly mentioned Blount while lobbying for the rule change, and I can promise you, "the Mel Blount Rule" was widely referred to as such, well before the late 2000s. I would guess I'm roughly the same age as Joe Posnanski, and the term has been around for decades; at least within years of Blount"s retirement from the NFL.