Oldies But Goodies

We shift our focus to players who defied the odds and flourished after age 35, including the incomparable Darrell Green

DARRELL GREEN COULD BE THE poster boy for the NFLs over-40 set. Of course, he's just about the only member. The other 40-somethings in the NFL are Atlanta Falcons kicker Morten Andersen, Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Warren Moon, but kickers don't really count and Moon has spent the past couple seasons warming the bench.

Green defies all logic; he's a physical specimen we aren't likely to see again in pro football. For nearly two decades, the Washington Redskins cornerback has been among the speediest players in the league. Even at his advanced age--he turned 40 in February--he still can outrun almost anyone in football.

And even with the addition of Deion Sanders and the rapid development of second-year player Champ Bailey, the Skins had no thoughts of ridding themselves of Green. He's too strong a leader, too significant a presence in the locker room. In fact, during the offseason Washington signed him to a five-year, $10 million extension, which included a $2 million bonus.

"I told him I don't think we'll ever let him retire, because he's a big part of everything I've been through here," Redskins coach Norv Turner says. "I consider him a very close friend of mine. We've worked together for six years. Everything hasn't exactly been rosy that whole period of time, and he stood up every time we were challenged and has been a great leader for us."

Leadership can be a burden as well as an honor, but Green has handled his duties superbly. He knows he is aberration--and he is grateful for fortune. "There's a unique gift in this body. God has made a deposit in me, and these are the results of it," says Green. "I've been doing this for years,"

Indeed, Green is in a class of his own, which is why this story focuses on players who have continued to excel after the age of 35, a rare feat in itself. Years ago, in fact, such longevity was almost unheard at most positions. Here's why:

* Some players went two ways, which wore down their bodies more quickly.

* Players got jobs in the offseason, which means they didn't stay in shape the way they do today. As a result, they burned out sooner.

* Workout equipment and regimens weren't as elaborate or sophisticated.

Still, over the years there have been a number of players who have achieved something special beyond their 35th birthday, and we've turned the spotlight on several of the best of them. You'll notice that, for some of the reasons we've stated, most are of a recent vintage.

JOHN ELWAY, QUARTERBACK

The first pick overall in the 1983 draft and a tremendously successful player for most of his career, Elway put the finishing touches on his legacy in his final two seasons. At age 37, he guided the Denver Broncos to Super Bowl 32. After losing in the first three Super Bowl appearances of his career, Elway finally tasted victory, as the Broncos shocked the heavily favored Green Bay Packers.

Elway could have retired on that winning note, but instead he came back and made one more triumphant sweep through the league. The last game of his career was one of his best: an MVP performance in Denver's win over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 33.

"I can't think of any way to top off my career," he said following that legendary effort. "It's tempting to keep going, but I can look back on having such a great time and then capping it off like this."

REGGIE WHITE, DEFENSIVE END

The last place you'd expect to find longevity in football is on the defensive line. Forget the games--the practices alone take a brutal toll. And considering the need for speed and an explosive burst, the slightest dropoff can spell the end.

White, the NFL's all-time rock leader, has been a rare exception. The defensive end even came out of retirement this year at age 38 to play for the Carolina Panthers. Just two seasons ago, at 36, White was the NFL's defensive player of the year, leading the NFC with 16 sacks. He may not have left the game hoisting a Super Bowl trophy like Elway did, but he still was in top form.

Now White is intent on creating more late-career memories. "There's still a desire to play," he says. "My age doesn't matter if I can still play."

BRUCE MATTHEWS, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

How ancient is Matthews? His coach on the Tennessee Titans, Jeff Fisher, was his teammate at Southern Cal. And how brilliant has the 39-year-old Matthews been throughout his career? He's been to 12 Pro Bowls in 17 seasons, as a guard, tackle, and center.

As the years have gone by, Matthews has been able to maintain his place among the game's elite. "Ask the guys who play against him, and they know it's always a battle," says Titans offensive line coach Mike Munchak, a former teammate of Matthews'. "Sure, he's slowed a little bit, but there aren't many centers in the league who are better. Put him at guard, and it's the same thing."

Last season Matthews finally reached the pinnacle of his sport, playing in the Super Bowl for the first time in his career. We'd be hard-pressed to think of a guy who deserved it more.

CLAY MATTHEWS, LINEBACKER

The older brother of Bruce, Clay was a premier linebacker until he was 40, a starter for his entire career. Toward the end, he often came out on passing downs, but many of today's top linebackers do the same thing--and they're in their 20s.

"Until the day he stopped playing, Clay could hit harder than anyone and would work harder than anyone," says June Jones, who coached Matthews on the Falcons.

"A lot of people enjoy specific parts of the game," Clay says. "They maybe enjoy the Sundays, enjoy the paydays, enjoy the notoriety, or the six months off. I really enjoyed the whole thing, working at it, practicing. I enjoyed getting better, trying to work things out. Sunday was a bonus for me."

WARREN MOON, QUARTERBACK

After spending his formative years in the CFL Moon didn't need a period of adjustment to the NFL. He was so effective once he joined the Houston Oilers in 1984 that the team built an entire offense--the run-and-shoot--around his arm, athletic ability, and savvy.

Later in his career, when he reached that supposed wall known as age 35, Moon still was going strong. Despite all the mileage on his arm, he could be counted on to throw 500 or so times and to consistently hit the long ball.

At 40, in 1997 with the Seattle Seahawks, Moon had 25 TD passes and completed 313 of 528 throws. For the past two seasons, he has provided a comfort zone for the Chiefs as a backup. He claims this is his final season. We'll see.

MARCUS ALLEN, RUNNING BACK

The MVP of Super Bowl 18 for the Los Angeles Raiders, Allen eventually was buried on the bench by a vindictive Al Davis, the team's boss. But when Allen became a free agent in 1993, he signed with Kansas City and resurrected his career.

In 1995, at 35, he led the Chiefs in rushing with 890 yards, as K.C. posted the league's best record (13-3). The next year, he was the team leader again with 830 yards. And in his final season in 1997, when he was 37, he established the NFL career record for rushing touchdowns with 123.

"I don't know how you can measure how much Marcus meant for the NFL and to the fans around the country," says Donnell Bennett, who played with Allen in K.C.'s backfield. "He had a grace and a style that none of us will forget."

JACKIE SLATER, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

The Los Angeles Rams' third-round draft pick in 1976, this superb tackle blocked for seven 1,000-yard rushers and 23 quarterbacks and was the last active NFL player to have been in a huddle with Joe Namath. When Slater retired from the Rams at age 41, following the 1995 season, the only people ahead of him on the all-time list for games played were George Blanda (340), Jim Marshall (282), and Jan Stenerud (263).

EARL MORRALL, QUARTERBACK

In 1972, Earl Morrall was a typical NFL second-string quarterback: He was smart, experienced, and happy to have a job.

As a bonus, he played for the Miami Dolphins. Morrall knew there was something special brewing under Don Shula in the Orange Bowl, but it seemed like he'd observe it all form the sideline. However, when starter Bob Griese got hurt, the 38-year-old Morrall stepped in and kept Miami's unbeaten streak alive.

The Dolphins were 5-0 when Morrall became the starter. By the end of the regular season, they were 14-0. Morrall started in two playoff victories before Griese returned to finish off the only perfect season in NFL annals.

Morrall's contributions hardly were unprecedented, though. He had done nearly the same thing in 1968 with the Baltimore Colts, taking over for the injured John Unitas and winning league MVP honors.

HENRY ELLARD, WIDE RECEIVER

Ellard was never a superstar, but he was one of the most reliable receivers in football for 16 years. Although he didn't have great speed, he got the most out of it. And no one had more heart than he did. Possessing shifty hands and soft hands, he knew how to set up a defensive back.

Rarely was this more evident than in his 1996 season for the Redskins. At 35, he caught 52 passes for 1,014 yards and led the league with a yards-per-catch average of 19.5. Not bad for an old geezer. It was the seventh time Ellard had surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in a season, and his per-catch average was the second-highest of his career.

George Blanda: Pro Football's Ultimate Survivor

GEORGE BLANDA WAS TO FOOTBALL WHAT Gordie Howe was to hockey, Robert Parish was to basketball, and Hoyt Wilhelm was to baseball. Age just didn't matter.

A clutch performer as a quarterback in the AFL, Blanda eventually became a full-time kicker for Oakland because the Raiders had Ken Stabler under center. He never led the league in points in a season, but he made as many decisive field goals as anyone ever has.

He became the career scoring leader with 2,002 points, mainly because of his longevity. Blanda was the Raiders' kicker until 1975, ending a 26-year career (which spanned 340 games) at the age of 48. In 10 years with the Chicago Bears, seven with the Houston Oilers, nine with the Raiders, and part of one with the Baltimore Colts, he missed only 16 of 959 extra-point attempts. His numbers as a quarterback also were impressive: 26,920 yards and 236 touchdown passes.

"There's never been another player who shrugged off pressure the way Blanda did," John Madden once said. "Sure, he was a veteran Who had seen and done just about everything, but you still get nervous. George Blanda never got nervous."

COPYRIGHT 2000 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group