Joe Greene Says 70s Defense Would Be Ejected By Halftime Under Today’s Rules

[polamalubeast]

[EzraTank]

He's correct.

[st33lersguy]

It would be a sharp adjustment period for sure. Other greats would have to face a diffiuclt transition period, Deacon Jones, Night Train Lane among others

[tube517]

Ejected and suspended for the rest of the season.

Only starter available would have been Mike Wagner who said the front 7 was so good, he would be sitting back watching and not having to tackle anyone.

[86WARD]

Cheaters. Steroid Users. Cheap shot artists. Did I forget anything?

[86WARD]

It would be a sharp adjustment period for sure. Other greats would have to face a diffiuclt transition period, Deacon Jones, Night Train Lane among others

Chuck Bednarik, Andre “Dirty” Waters, Dick Butkus...the list would go on and on and on and on.

[st33lersguy]

Chuck Bednarik, Andre “Dirty” Waters, Dick Butkus...the list would go on and on and on and on.

Not to mention the 70s raiders would be depleted as well.

[86WARD]

Not to mention the 70s raiders would be depleted as well.

Doomsday Defense, Purple People Eaters...all gone...lol

[AtlantaDan]

Ejected and suspended for the rest of the season.

Only starter available would have been Mike Wagner who said the front 7 was so good, he would be sitting back watching and not having to tackle anyone.

And Jack Ham, who ran a clinic on how to play OLB in a 4-3 defense

Hard to say a 6 time All Pro gets overlooked but sometimes the legend of Lambert diminishes how great Ham was

[Mojouw]

I guess I don't get the point of this statement. Legendary players from great teams in the eras of football that are several decades prior to the 1970's would've been ejected or fined in the 1970's. The 1976 season was 42 years ago. That's a lifetime. Not surprisingly the game has changed. And changed dramatically. I'm sure dudes that played back when the forward pass was an unimaginable concept and went out and played both offense and defense scoffed at the state of the NFL in the 1970s.

[pczach]

And Jack Ham, who ran a clinic on how to play OLB in a 4-3 defense

Hard to say a 6 time All Pro gets overlooked but sometimes the legend of Lambert diminishes how great Ham was

Jack Ham was the most technically sound LB I have ever seen play. He was also very gifted athletically.

I always thought he was better than Lambert....who was phenomenal. What an embarrassment of riches.

What a great player.

[tube517]

And Jack Ham, who ran a clinic on how to play OLB in a 4-3 defense

Hard to say a 6 time All Pro gets overlooked but sometimes the legend of Lambert diminishes how great Ham was

I agree. Ham was a technician. Could cover, sack, and play against the run. Lambert said Ham was the greatest LB he ever saw play.

[AtlantaDan]

I agree. Ham was a technician. Could cover, sack, and play against the run. Lambert said Ham was the greatest LB he ever saw play.

Have linked to this this before but to illustrate what pczach, you and I have posted

[FrancoLambert]

I agree. Ham was a technician. Could cover, sack, and play against the run. Lambert said Ham was the greatest LB he ever saw play.

And if you asked Ham who was the greatest LB he ever saw play, he’d probably say Lambert.
I doubt that there ever was a stronger 1-2 LB combo. They complemented each other so perfectly.

[GoSlash27]

It goes without saying. The rules have changed year to year to make football less violent. There were things that were legal just last year that can't be done now. So *clearly* you can't play football like it was played back in the '70s in today's NFL.

[LambertsLunatic58]

That was an awesome video. I was fortunate enough to grow up watching Ham and Lambert. It's too bad it's not allowed in the NFL nowadays.

[Craic]

That was an awesome video. I was fortunate enough to grow up watching Ham and Lambert. It's too bad it's not allowed in the NFL nowadays.

Honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about. Every one of those tackles by Ham was text-book what the NFL wants today. Not once did he put a helmet or hand on another guy's helmet. In other words, this was back in the days when the players knew how to tackle properly. Wrap the player and bring them down rather than going for the big ESPN-style hits.

[86WARD]

Jack Ham was the most technically sound LB I have ever seen play. He was also very gifted athletically.

I always thought he was better than Lambert....who was phenomenal. What an embarrassment of riches.

What a great player.

I’ve said that as well about Ham. I’ve always been a fan. Bigger fan after I met him at a PSU Homecoming. He was in my fraternity...or I in his.

[pczach]

That's awesome.

Yeah, I'm a huge PSU fan. I was never fortunate enough to meet him, but I've been to many games and know a lot of people that have met him and know him. I have never heard a bad thing said about him from anyone. Everyone says he is a humble and gracious man. Just a great person. This is also from people that don't have ties to Penn State and are going to give me an answer that I completely trust.

It is rarely the case with famous people to be universally respected, admired, and liked.

[teegre]

And Jack Ham, who ran a clinic on how to play OLB in a 4-3 defense

Hard to say a 6 time All Pro gets overlooked but sometimes the legend of Lambert diminishes how great Ham was

My dad avers that Ham was the greatest Steelers linebacker ever.

Stats are stats, but towards the end of his career, Ray Lewis was closing the gap (on Jack Ham) for most INTs by a linebacker... but, fell one short... with five more seasons... in a passing era. In other words, the “greatest” modern era LB () wasn’t able to do what Ham did.

[Butch]

I guess I don't get the point of this statement. Legendary players from great teams in the eras of football that are several decades prior to the 1970's would've been ejected or fined in the 1970's. The 1976 season was 42 years ago. That's a lifetime. Not surprisingly the game has changed. And changed dramatically. I'm sure dudes that played back when the forward pass was an unimaginable concept and went out and played both offense and defense scoffed at the state of the NFL in the 1970s.

It's to bad there is not a link to the actual article. In the article he does state that the 70's defense would be ejected by halftime simply to illustrate that the games has changed, but he's not saying that the game in the 70's was better. He states that the games changes are safer and better than when he played.

I honestly believe he said they would be ejected by 1/2 time as a tongue in cheek type of joke.

[Fire Goodell]

the 90s blitzburgh defense would get ejected by halftime too lol

so would james harrison in his prime

[fansince'76]

How much would Lambert be fined for this statement today?

The 1976 season was 42 years ago. That's a lifetime.

Please don't remind me.

[silver & black]

I'm pretty sure there are a lot of us here that remember the 70's era NFL. Every defense would be ejected today...lol.

Can you imagine Jerry Kramer coming up under a D lineman's chin with his helmet today? I know he was an O lineman, ( and played in the 60's) but....................

Jack Tatum wouldn't last 3 plays...lol.

[GoSlash27]

This was perfectly okay.

This was a fine and suspension.

Times change.

[teegre]

Times change.

What is interesting about that play is that the DB was taunting Ward all game long, calling him a gook. When Ward lit him up (knocked him out), Ward stood over him with tears running down his face screaming, “Who’s the gook now!?!”

The ref walked over, wrapped his arms around Ward, and gently walked him to the sidelines.

SUMMATION:
The ref didn’t throw a flag, because the ref knew that it was karma.

[GoSlash27]

What is interesting about that play is that the DB was taunting Ward all game long, calling him a gook. When Ward lit him up (knocked him out), Ward stood over him with tears running down his face screaming, “Who’s the gook now!?!”

The ref walked over, wrapped his arms around Ward, and gently walked him to the sidelines.

SUMMATION:
The ref didn’t throw a flag, because the ref knew that it was karma.

I've been hunting all morning trying to figure out which game that was and who the victim was.
Best,
-Slashy

[43Hitman]

I've been hunting all morning trying to figure out which game that was and who the victim was.
Best,
-Slashy

I could be misremembering but I thought it was an LB named Rivers.

[teegre]

I've been hunting all morning trying to figure out which game that was and who the victim was.
Best,
-Slashy

It was a DB, for certain. (I know that that is not the Keith Rivers play.)

i want to say Chris Crocker... but, I’m not sure.

[tom444]

Jack Ham was the most technically sound LB I have ever seen play. He was also very gifted athletically.

I always thought he was better than Lambert....who was phenomenal. What an embarrassment of riches.

What a great player.

Ham was better than Lambert.