FRAN TARKENTON
Quarterback
No. 10
Georgia
"Now Giant fans know how the other side feels as far as Fran Tarkenton in concerned. The scrambling man from Georgia is nearly as tantalizing as Lorelei. One minute you want to embrace him, the next minute you want to wring his neck. Tarkenton had that kind of year in 1968.
It was by no means as brilliant as his break-in year with the club, when he finished third overall among the league's quarterbacks. Last year, he was in and out, mostly in but occasionally out. Some of it was due to an injured shoulder which hampered his effectiveness in three games. He finished with 182 completions out of 337 attempts for 2,555 yards, a 54-percent completion average, and 21 touchdowns; and he only had 12 interceptions.
He was at his best directing a 27-21 upset over Dallas in the Cotton Bowl, with 16 of 24 completions. But he was probably at his worst in the 23-0 shutout administered by the Colts."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969
"This scrambling quarterback came through with another banner season last year as he finished No. 5 in passing in the N.F.L. and picked up 301 yards rushing. Fran was acquired from the Vikings for two No. 1 draft choices and one No. 2 pick."
-1969 Topps No. 150
GARY WOOD
Quarterback
No. 19
Cornell
"In the town where Dixieland was born, they are just going to love the footwork of Gary Wood. The scrambling tactics he has shown in his three years in the league bring the fans to their feet screaming with excitement.
As the Giants' backup quarterback last year, Gary took over when Earl Morrall was injured, and he appeared in all 14 games. He completed 81 passes out of 170 attempts for 1,142 yards and six touchdowns. And he injected a touch of danger into every game by darting and dancing his way for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
At 5-11 and 188 pounds, he looks much smaller, especially when he's surrounded by those beefy defensive rushers."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Gary was the Giants' number two quarterback but moved in as a starter last year when Earl Morrall was hurt. He hit on 81 of 170 passes for 1,142 yards and six touchdowns. He is a great scrambler, gaining 196 yards on only 28 carries, with three touchdowns."
-1967 Philadelphia No. 131
MILT PLUM
Quarterback
No. 16
Penn State
"A No. 2 choice in 1957 and a top quarterback, Plum is an excellent fast passer who can find the open spots in the enemy's defenses. He did just about everything as a Penn State quarterback when he and Jimmy Brown faced each other in crucial games.
Plum was born and lives in Westville, New Jersey."
-Pro Football Handbook 1959
"Plum tied for top honors as the most accurate passer in 1959, hitting for 58.6. He connected on 156 of 266 of his passes and gained 7.49 per attempt. Plum won the starting T-quarter post in '58.
He throws short and long with equal ability. He was an all-purpose back in college: passing, punting, rushing- and he was excellent on defense.
Plum was born in Westville, New Jersey and lives in Woodbury."
-1960 Pro Football Handbook
"Magnificent was the mark of Milt Plum in 1960, gaining the No. 1 honor as the passer with the best accuracy mark (60.4), least number of interceptions and most yards gained per pass attempt (9.19). He flipped for 21 tallies and ate up 2,297 yards with his aerials.
Born in Westville, New Jersey, Plum was a Penn State teammate of the Colts' Lenny Moore."
-Don Schiffer, 1961 Pro Football Handbook
"Milt, the Browns' No. 1 quarterback since 1958, is beginning to make his weight felt as a ball-handler who can produce championship effort. Last January he earned his way onto the Pro Bowl squad.
He's a strong runner, a fine passer and is picking up the trick of getting rid of the ball before being dumped for a loss. He also led the NFL in passing with a 60.4% completion average, with only two interceptions."
-1961 Fleer No. 10
BROWNS' PLUM WINS PASSING TITLE
"For four years Milt worked to make up the gap left when the great Otto Graham retired as Cleveland's quarterback. Last year, he did it in a big way.
Milt had the top completion percentage- a rousing 60.4%. He also led the other passers in average yards gained per pass with 9.19. Throughout the first 10 games of the 1960 season, no one intercepted a Plum pass. His 2% interception average is naturally [the best in] the NFL.
Milt can fire bullets for short gainers or wind up for long heaves. One of his long passes went to Frank Clarke who took it for an 86-yard touchdown. With the tremendous accuracy of Milt's passing plus the juggernaut power of Jimmy Brown and the speed of Bobby Mitchell, no wonder opposing coaches have nightmares."
-1961 Topps No. 132
"Milt Plum finally gains his opportunity to lead his own quarterbacking life. The ex-Brown, NFL leader in passing two straight years, can now prove he has the qualities to make his own decisions after spending five years in Cleveland. He completed 58.6 [percent] of his forwards in 1961, clicking for 2,416 yards and 18 touchdowns. Throughout his career he has yet to prove he can hit on the vital third-down toss.
Born in Westville, New Jersey, Plum did just about everything at Penn State."
-Don Schiffer, 1962 Pro Football Handbook
"Traded to Detroit, Milt led the N.F.L. with a 58.6 pass completion mark in 1961."
-1962 Topps No. 50
"Detroit was happy with Milt Plum in 1962 and the ex-Brown celebrated by setting the Lion record for most passes completed (179). He led the circuit in aerials in '60 and '61.
Some in the NFL feel he's still insecure and only a moderately fair operator at the T-throttle. He finished 11th in last year's passing tables for his lowest grade since coming to [the NFL with] Cleveland in '57. Plum has now connected on 56 per cent of all aerials but still falls shy of hitting on that big third-down forward.
He was a star at Penn State with the Colts' Lenny Moore."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"Hoping to regain his job at quarterback, Milt Plum begins his third season with the Lions. Last year he skidded to second-string, completing 27 of 77 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. The previous season he set a Lion record with 179 completions, hitting 55.1 percent for 2,378 yards and 15 touchdowns. He joined the Browns prior to the 1962 season for Jim Ninowski.
He was a college hero at Penn State before succeeding Otto Graham with the Browns. He's a plumbing firm representative."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"Milt Plum has spent most of his years as a pro quarterback in someone's shadow. First, it was Paul Brown, who used to send messengers in on every play when Milt was in Cleveland. Then it was Earl Morrall, with whom he has had to share the job in Detroit.
His record speaks better for him than do some of the boo-birds in Tiger Stadium. Twice he has led the NFL in passing, in 1960 and '61, and his career mark of 56.1 per cent completions is third-best in the league's history. After an off year in '63, he lost the job to Morrall, and only got it back last year when Morrall hurt a shoulder. Despite coming up with a sore elbow, he finished strong and ranked fifth in passing."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"It was an ironic season for Milt Plum, who won the quarterback job over Earl Morrall and then plummeted to his poorest season as a pro, while Morrall went on to have a successful campaign in New York.
They say Milt never quite got over having his thinking done for him by Paul Brown during his days in Cleveland, but he has fared pretty well- except for last year. He ranked 14th among the league's passers, completing 143 aerials out of 308 attempts for 1,710 yards and a 46.4 percentage; he threw only 12 touchdown passes and was intercepted 19 times. Yet, in the past, he twice led the NFL in passing.
Now 31, Milt is in his tenth pro year. He played college ball at Penn State."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Milt completed 143 passes out of 308 attempts in 1965. He gained 1,710 yards, averaging 5.55 yards per toss. He passed for 12 touchdowns. The longest was a 55-yarder.
His life total in touchdown passes is 113, his longest being a 92-yarder."
-1966 Philadelphia No. 72
"This passing veteran has played five seasons with the Browns and six with the Lions. He led the NFL in passing in 1960 and 1961.
Milt was the toughest NFL quarterback to intercept in 1967."
-1968 Philadelphia No. 104
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