FRAN TARKENTON
Quarterback
No. 10
Georgia
"Fran was probably the most exciting NFL rookie in 1961, passing with top accuracy."
-1962 Topps No. 90
"The most scrambling of all quarterbacks is Fran Tarkenton, the Richmond (Va.) rifler who must still learn to make better use of his protection pocket. He hit on 56 per cent of his aerials as a 1961 rookie but dropped to 49.5 in '62 when he gained 2,595 yards on 163 completions. He also fired the longest touchdown forward of the campaign, an 89-yarder. Tarkenton must work on correcting the 'hang' in his long pass. He also carried the ball 41 times in '62 and clicked for an 8.8 average per rush.
The son of a Methodist minister, he was a leading student in business administration and was an All-American academic selection."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"Slowly, Fran Tarkenton, the scramblin' Viking quarterback, has earned the respect of those forced to contain him. Last year he moved into the No. 6 spot among passers, hitting 170 times in 297 efforts for 2,331 yards, and also ran 28 times for 162 yards. So cleverly did he perform that opponents say his next move must be anticipated if he's to be caught in time. A coach said of Tarkenton: 'Containing him is like trying to swat a fly with an ironing board.'
Born in Richmond, Virginia, he's the son of a Methodist minister. Voted most valuable Viking of 1963, Tarkenton is certain to take his place among the finest quarterbacks once the elder passing statesmen leave the league."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Regarded among the NFL's best young quarterbacks, Fran Tarkenton has been the Vikings' quarterback since their inception. Last season he completed 170 passes, a one-season career high for him, but his yardage dropped to 2,311 (from 2,595) and his touchdown passes dropped to 15 (from 22). He has a great instinct for leadership and spotting defensive weaknesses.
The son of a Methodist minister, Tarkenton was an All-Southeastern Conference quarterback at Georgia before the Vikings selected him as their third draft-choice for their inaugural season."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"What's was Fran's passing as a passer in 1963? He was sixth?"
-1964 Philadelphia No. 109
"The glamor boy of the exciting young Vikings is Fran Tarkenton, whose scrambling tactics are setting a new vogue for quarterbacks. A man who becomes more dangerous once he steps out of the pocket, Fran finished second to Green Bay's Bart Starr in passing last year, with 171 completions in 306 attempts for 2,506 yards and 22 touchdowns. He threw 18 as a rookie in 1961, and his 56.1 completion average was second only to Charlie Conerly.
He's improved every year and is destined to become one of the NFL's great ones. Says [head coach] Van Brocklin of his quarterback's scramblin' ways: 'When it works, it's great. When it comes up third-and-40, I let Francis call the next play.' "
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Fran Tarkenton is a magnificent scrambler and a deadly passer, but Norm Van Brocklin says not all at the same time. 'Francis has to give us a little faster delivery,' he says. 'When he plants his foot and unloads in a hurry, we're fine. When he floats, we sometimes have problems.'
Last year, Francis passed and floated for 171 completions on 329 tosses for 2,609 yards and 19 touchdowns; it was good enough for a sixth ranking in the league. On the ground, he picked up an additional 356 yards on 56 carries. He was second in the league in passing in 1964, with roughly the same figures.
Only in his sixth NFL season, he is emerging as one of the game's super-quarterbacks."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Fran was sixth in the passing department in 1965. He passed 329 times, completing 171 (52%) for 2609 yards and 19 touchdowns. His passes averaged 7.93 yards a toss. His longest was an exciting big play, an 89-yard TDer."
-1966 Philadelphia No. 114
"Now comes Fran Tarkenton jay-walking into all that New York traffic - to say nothing of the kind he can expect to find in the Giant backfield. The Giants seemingly solved their quarterback problem for years to come when they traded high to get Francis from the Vikings, with whom he had become disenchanted.
Forget his scrambling tactics for a moment. As a field general, he takes command in the huddle and can analyze the defenses of opposing teams. As a passer, he has rated among the best in the league for six seasons, completing 1,024 tosses on 1,899 attempts for 14,759 yards, 113 touchdowns and a 53.9 percentage. Last year, he ranked sixth with 192 completions out of 358 attempts for 53.6, 2,561 yards and 17 touchdowns.
And as a scrambler, he has run the ball 293 times for 1,893 yards and 15 touchdowns to rank among the top 20 active rushers.
Welcome to Fun City, Francis."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Dissension for the Vikings and desperation for the Giants were the two factors in the deal that sent prime scrambling quarterback Fran Tarkenton to New York for the Giants' top draft picks of the next two years. Tarkenton had had it with Vikings' coach Norm Van Brocklin, and even after Van Brocklin's resignation, it was too late to change the flow of history.
The Giants, of course, have not had a reliable quarterback since Y.A. Tittle's retirement. Tarkenton is both reliable and spectacular and even if the Giants have another losing season, which can be expected in view of their thin personnel, Fran will bring excitement to Yankee Stadium, and keep the customers reasonably content."
-Pro Football Almanac 1967
"This is the man who popularized the scrambling quarterback. Fran is probably the most exciting quarterback to watch.
He was the NFL's sixth-leading passer completing 192 of 358 with 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 376 yards and four touchdowns, a 6.1 average."
-1967 Philadelphia Cards, No. 106
TOM KENNEDY
Quarterback
No. 18
Los Angeles State
"Tom was called up from the Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental League midway through the season and completed 55 of 100 tosses for 748 yards and seven touchdowns while alternating at quarterback with Gary Wood.
He is a very accurate passer."
-1967 Philadelphia Cards, No. 114
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