Raiders legend George Blanda dies at 83

[Auggie]

San Francisco Chronicle / 9-27-10

Former Raider quarterback George Blanda, whose passing and kicking exploits during a 26-year NFL career led him to a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has died. He was 83.

Blanda was known as the Ageless Wonder because he didn't retire until he was just short of his 49th birthday.

And some of his best work came in his last decade in the NFL, with Oakland.

After playing college ball for Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky, the Pennsylvania-born Blanda spent 10 seasons with George Halas and the Chicago Bears, helping lead them to the NFL title game in 1956.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/27/SPSE1FKCKA.DTL#ixzz10lJV6akB

RIP George

[joeybee12]

1. Geesh...I didn't know he had retired at 49....amazing

RIP

[Auggie]

3. Al Davis acquired Blanda for the waiver price of $100 in 1967...

Blanda was 39 and had played 17 years of pro ball.

Imagine that!

[wilt the stilt]

4. That was when a $100 was worth something

[wilt the stilt]

2. He was an excellent placekicker

and still played some back up quarterback in his forties and he was nowhere as obnoxious as favre. He kicked straight on. No sidewinder here.

[Kingofalldems]

5. Another Western Pa. quarterback

RIP

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Thanks, George, for all those last-minute FGs

What fantastic finishes.

[trumad]

7. Loved the guy...

RIP

[era veteran]

8. Met him once, RIP

I remember him coming off the bench when he was old and winning games. A Kentucky legend.