Kicking Father Time
Former NFL kicker Morten Anderson, who retired as the game's all-time leading scorer, wants to go out again, this time as the oldest player ever to appear in the NFL. He wants to do that by kicking one extra point in the Dec. 7 game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, two teams he played with for a total of 21 seasons.
Anderson would be 48 years and 110 days old, one day older than George Blanda was when he played in his final game on Jan. 4. That would require a roster exemption from the league and the Saints would have to be willing to go along for the short ride.
Personally, I hope they aren't. Blanda deserves the distinction of being the oldest player ever for one important reason. He wasn't just a kicker. He was also a quarterback of some note who threw 236 touchdown passes in his career -- the last when he was 47 years old.
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Comments
I'd love to see Anderson break the record. Then, the following week the Raiders could bring the 81-year-old Blanda off the bench in the fourth quarter to throw a TD against the Pats, then kick the winning PAT to boot. {Bad pun intended).
The way the Raiders operate these days, I wouldn't be surprised if Al Davis is in serious negotiations with ol' George right now. Can Fred Biletnikoff be far behind?
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Pete's reply: I don't know what kind of shape Blanda's in at 81. He played with the single bar facemask. But it wouldn't surprise me if Al brought him back for a PAT. Wouldn't that be something.
Posted by: Chris Joseph | October 10, 2008 12:12 PM
You and Blanda go to high school together? Let him do it Pete. Both of those franchises need something to cheer about.
Posted by: Chris | October 10, 2008 2:27 PM
Jim O'Brien is 61... I'm just saying...
Posted by: ScottyRVA | October 11, 2008 3:05 AM