When you take a good look at Jack Youngblood career.
Only one question comes to mind.
What in the hell were those 38 voters for the NFL Hall of Fame looking at.
Playing strong-side end in Ray Malavasi-coached defenses which meant stopping the run first, then rushing the passer.
Youngblood amassed over 150 career sacks.
Let me add he played in an era where the rules were for running the ball, not passing. And got over 150 sacks.
And then in his twilight of his great career,
John Robinson becomes head coach of the Rams and hires Fritz Shurmer as defensive Coordinator in 1983.
Fritz goes to the 3-4 defense.
Does Youngblood whine?
He accepts it and lead this new defense in 1983 and 84 with the lowest yards per rush in the NFL.
While leading the Rams in sacks for those two seasons.
When the name Jack Youngblood comes up, most fans think of him playing on a broken leg for 2 1/2 games.
Or the 1975 playoff game against the Cardinals.
Or sacking Jim Zorn for a nine yard loss late in the game in 1979 to secure his Los Angeles Rams having the NFL record of holding a team to -7 total yards for an entire game.
What is etched in my mind forever is the 1979 playoff game against Dallas.
With less than 2 1/2 minutes to go in the game, Dallas has a 19-14 lead.
It's third and 10 for Dallas.
Staubach goes into the shotgun formation, everybody is covered so he sprints right on his 2 good legs.
Youngblood on a broken leg stops him from getting a first down with a shoestring tackle.
Dallas has to punt and the saying "Ferragamo to Waddy" becomes part of our Ram past.
But, did you know Jack Youngblood is a better human being than he was a football player. What he did for my Father on his birthday some 6 years ago.
On my late Father's good name I will take the bullet for this man in a New York second.
This isn't just me saying this but the day he was elected to the Hall of Fame I got emails from his neighbors (next door to him and right across the street) because of my webpages for Jack.
Both saying they didn't want to jinx it by emailing before the vote.
What they had planned for Jack and Barbara (Jack's wife) was big banners going across the street congratulating Jack.
But,they ended both emails with "Jerry, did you know Jack is a better man than a football player". I replied back, I know.
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