Fran Tarkenton- I was Patrick Mahomes before there was a Patrick Mahomes

[Draconator]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5766363/2024/09/18/fran-tarkenton-vikings-scrambling/?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwY2xjawFcGTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXKP1N0rGldrqko9CYvZHOet5gncf2wQHo77C3lgbSA3HdJla47Znm07yQ_aem_j2fGY7m39KeJMO38Es2kng

 

“Because the field is spread out more,” Tarkenton said. “I watch Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes doesn’t do anything I didn’t do. Nothing.”

Edited September 21 by Draconator

[Saxum]

I do not remember Fran Tarkenton whining like a baby about a valid penalty call because they got away with it multiple times and this one was even more in violation.

[hondo in seattle]

Fran was a talented scrambling QB.  I used to enjoy watching him play.  And I remember hearing him once say he loved football so much that he would have played it for free.  I like it when guys love their sport.  

 

But, yikes, whining for credit isn't a good look.

[Scott7975]

I was born in 73 so I never seen this QB play.

[Don Otreply]

Fran was fun to watch, his style was odd looking compared to all the pocket passers back then, most QBs back then were not athletic in that way, Minnesota, like us lost four championships, but not as wonderfully as we did, we did it best, 😁👍

[MJS]

One of the all time greats. He reminds me more of Russell Wilson than Pat Mahomes, though.

 

Jack Kemp scored a lot of rushing TD's, too...

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

25 minutes ago, Draconator said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5766363/2024/09/18/fran-tarkenton-vikings-scrambling/?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwY2xjawFcGTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXKP1N0rGldrqko9CYvZHOet5gncf2wQHo77C3lgbSA3HdJla47Znm07yQ_aem_j2fGY7m39KeJMO38Es2kng

 

“Because the field is spread out more,” Tarkenton said. “I watch Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes doesn’t do anything I didn’t do. Nothing.”

Him and Mahomes actually do have a very similar style. 

[Success]

One of the most fun QB's to watch ever.

 

I wish he had the titles that Mahomes had - and that Mahomes had none.

 

[PonyBoy]

15 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

I was born in 73 so I never seen this QB play.

 

You tube him, he was pretty crazy. Flutie, before Flutie & then some. 

 

He ran for his life many times, because back in his day, lineman,LB's could try to take the lives of QB's with no penalties. 

Edited September 21 by PonyBoy
Typo

[Big Turk]

Tarkenton didn't even have close to the arm strength Mahomes did...or Allen whose arm is even stronger.

 

Also, he hasn't done anything you haven't Fran? How about win Superbowls?

Edited September 21 by Big Turk

[Bad Things]

He was fun to watch that's for sure, but this just comes across as a sad attempt for attention and validation.

 

If he wants to compare himself to Mahomes, then why isn't he also comparing their Super Bowl rings?

[Big Turk]

2 minutes ago, Bad Things said:

He was fun to watch that's for sure, but this just comes across as a sad attempt for attention and validation.

 

If he wants to compare himself to Mahomes, then why isn't he also comparing their Super Bowl rings?

 

It's the male version of Paulina Porizkova being so desperate for male attention now in her older years that she poses naked and has to tell everyone to go look at it because she needs the attention that she no longer gets like the did in her younger years.

Edited September 21 by Big Turk

[juno999]

1 hour ago, Draconator said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5766363/2024/09/18/fran-tarkenton-vikings-scrambling/?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwY2xjawFcGTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXKP1N0rGldrqko9CYvZHOet5gncf2wQHo77C3lgbSA3HdJla47Znm07yQ_aem_j2fGY7m39KeJMO38Es2kng

 

“Because the field is spread out more,” Tarkenton said. “I watch Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes doesn’t do anything I didn’t do. Nothing.”

I don't know.  I mean Mahomes has 3 Super Bowls.  Tarkenton is still working on his first.

[benderbender]

Never heard him referred to as "the man." And my babysitter was a library of NFL films VHS tapes. The only highlight that sticks out to me is his taunting penalty where he slung the ball at a defensive player after scoring and got ejected for it.

[Neo]

Patrick Mahomes is a superb pocket passer who, on top of that, can scramble with outstanding results.

 

Fran Tarkenton was an average pocket passer who scrambled to create effectiveness.

 

In short, Mahomes scrambles, but he doesn’t have to in order to be great.

 

Tarkenton was average without scrambling.

[ProcessImproverMan]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

Tarkenton didn't even have close to the arm strength Mahomes did...or Allen whose arm is even stronger.

 

Also, he hasn't done anything you haven't Fran? How about win Superbowls?

Mahomes wouldn't be able to get away with what he does now if the rules of the 1970s applied. Mahomes gets away with so much because defenders can't physically take his head off, or deliberately try to hurt him like they did QBs back then. Same with receivers. Guys like Kelce would have been taken out with headshots doing what he does and wouldn't be able to easily run open over the middle. 

 

Every QB today needs to be graded more harshly and guys back then given more praise due to this. 

[gonzo1105]

Except Fran you lost every superbowl you played for.

[julian]

All I remember him from is “That’s incredible”

[Gugny]

Prick gets into Canton and he still says this crap?  Douche. 
 

[SinceThe70s]

2 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

Fran was fun to watch, his style was odd looking compared to all the pocket passers back then, most QBs back then were not athletic in that way, Minnesota, like us lost four championships, but not as wonderfully as we did, we did it best, 😁👍

 

Good synopsis, matches my memory. Someone else made a Flutie comparison whcih resonated with me. I don't remember Tarkenton scrambling for yards as much as I remember him scrambling for his life and trying to get the pass off.