Tuesday was another day of April fish, and he recalls the memories of an old Washington Redskins great.
It was April 1, 1964 and the Philadelphia Eagles“The starting quarter, which had been drafted seven years earlier (43rd in total) of Duke, had had a formidable season of 1961. He led the NFL in the passing sites, the completions and the touchdown, leading the Eagles to a file of 10-4.
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However, the Eagles were losers in 1962 (3-10-1) and 1963 (2-10-2). The HC des Eagles, Nick Skorich, had led the successful season in 1961 and the two seasons of the following defeats, it was therefore dismissed. The new HC Joe Kuharich had a meeting with his quarter.
“I had just met the new Eagles coach, who had come with the new owner”, the The quarterrier said. “I met him, I sat in his office for a few hours, I talked about what we were going to do, the offensive we were going to have and the way we were going to win.
“I left, I went to lunch, I met my friends. Then someone entered and said that you were exchanged at the Redskins. I said:” No, it’s April Fool’s Day, you are kidding. “He said,” No, I’m not kidding. So I was shocked. “
This quarter of the Eagles exchanged Washington was none other than Sonny Jurgensen. In Washington, Jurgensen shone. Quite brilliant in 1966, Jurgensen directed the NFL in races and passing sites. The following season (1967), Jurgensen led the NFL via the courses, the yards by passers -by, the affected and the returns in the fourth quarter. In fact, his 31 touching passers -by during this 14 game season remains the franchise record some 57 regular seasons later!
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In 1969, under Vince Lombardi, Jurgensen again led the NFL in the races and yards by passers -by, and the following season, he led the NFL as a percentage of completion.
The Kuharich of the Eagles wanted the QB standard of Washington Snead, which had been drafted second in the general classification in 1961. But Snead had struggled in Washington, so the trade was carried out. SNEAD would have the Eagles quarter from 1964 to 1970 before being exchanged at the Vikings, Giants, 49ers and Giants again.
Jurgensen, meanwhile, stayed with Washington in the 1964-1974 seasons, became the Gunslinger of that time and was elected to the reproductive temple of professional football in the 1983 class. Two of Jurgensen receptors in Washington would also be at the temple of fame when Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor were elected. By the way Taylor, when he retired after the 1977 season, was the leader of all time in the NFL. Jurgensen concluded his career with a QB career rating of 82.6; Its statistics include 2,433 completion for 32,224 yards and 255 affected.
It all started in what Jurgensen thought was an April Fool’s joke played on himself in 1964.
This article originally appeared on Wire commanders: The Eagles got rid of their QB and Washington obtained Hof Sonny Jurgensen
