Green Bay Packers (11-1) 41, Los Angeles Rams (1-10-1) 10
Sunday December 2nd 1962 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - The Packers left little doubt as to who's boss of the Western Division in County Stadium Sunday afternoon. Free from the pressure that led to their Lion loss in Detroit Thanksgiving Day, the Packers bounded back with a convincing 41 to 10 victory over the Rams before 46,883 fans - the largest crowd of the season here. The triumph was marked by the return of the fabled Paul Hornung to full-time action and the Golden Boy caught a 30-yard touchdown pass, set up another TD with a 38-yard pass catch and carried 9 times for 30 yards. It was the Packers' 11th victory and tied the all-time Packer season win record they established in winning the West with 11-3 last year. Green Bay now can clinch a tie for the 1962 crown by beating the 49ers in San Francisco next Sunday, assuming the Lions beat the Vikings. Detroit stayed one game out by beating the Colts. The Rams were rough, as usual, and sticky but Bart Starr guided the champions to a 34-10 edge and relief quarterback John Roach ground out the fifth TD in the final minutes. The defense, confronted by a good-looking QB in the rangy Roman Gabriel, gave up a TD in the fourth period on Gabriel's run and lateral to Dick Bass for 25 yards. The Rams got position on Starr's fumble. Starr wasn't in the best of condition Sunday, having been up most of Saturday night with the stomach flu, but completed an amazing 75 percent of his passes on 15 out of 20 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He produced TDs on drives of 85, 80, 61 and 51 yards. The offense, limited to 31 points and 360 yards in the last two games, snapped back to its former self and the flamboyant Hornung seemed to furnish the spark. He was cheered when he took the field and again when he carried for the first time - a seven-yard advance. He left the game limping in the third quarter but the injury wasn't serious. Jim Taylor scored two touchdowns, and Ron Kramer, Earl Gros and Hornung one each while Jerry Kramer kicked 35 and 37-yard field goals to complete the Packer scoring. Taylor rolled up 71 yards to run his total to 1,239 for the season - just 69 short of the all-time Packer record of 1,307 he set last year. Taylor's understudy, the hard-hitting Gros, thrilled the huge audience with his ramming on the final TD drive. He led off with a 16-yard crack and then added 9 and 5 before barging the last 15 for the TD. Ken Iman went the distance at left linebacker in place of the injured Dan Currie and showed marked improvement over his Detroit showing, making eight tackles. The Packers were never in trouble but Gabriel managed to move the Rams for 214 yards. The visitors were real fighters all the way and it was no coincidence that Max McGee was dropped cold on Kramer's TD catch in the second quarter. Except for punting, McGee was out for the day, with Lew Carpenter taking over at left end. The Packers moved 85 yards in seven plays for their first TD after the defense forced the Rams to punt after the opening kickoff. It was like old times. Taylor went 2 yards on the first play, Hornung 7 and then Taylor 11. Starr hurled a 27-yarder to McGee and then Taylor went 7 and 1 to the Ram 30. On a third and 2 situation, Starr passed to Hornung, who was all by his lonesome on the 20 and Paul ran it. J. Kramer kicked the first of five extra points and the Packers were off and running. Starr led off the Pack's second scoring push to McGee and two plays later Hornung caught a McGee pass for 34 yards to the Ram 25. Paul was chased by Dave Jones, a big defensive end who was assigned to Hornung when the Ram defense red-dogged. Hornung carried twice and Taylor five times driving the final 25 yards, with Taylor blasting over from the one. The Bays had great position when Henry Joran intercepted Gabriel's shaky pass on the Ram 12. Three plays later, Starr threw to McGee in the end zone but the Bays were holding were set back to the 30. On the next play Starr was chased back 20 yards to the 50. So McGee wound up punting instead of scoring on the "drive." The Rams put together three first downs but Dave Hanner ended that on the Packer 39 by recovering
Max McGee on ground as trainer uses smelling salts after sustaining injury during game vs Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Bass' fumble. The Bays went 61 yards in six plays and Starr uncovered a "new" receiver - Ron Kramer. Big Ron opened with 19 and 9-yard catches and then Starr hurled 15 to McGee to the 18. An interference penalty put the ball on the five. Tom Moore carried a yard and then Starr hurled a pass to R. Kramer for the TD with 28 seconds left in the half. The third quarter was a real dog-fight, with J. Kramer kicking a 37-yard field goal and the Rams attempting a pass off a faked field goal try. The maneuver backfired with Eddie Meador losing 25 yards to the Packer 49. From this point the Bays drove to TD No. 4 in six plays early in the fourth period. Taylor ripped up the middle for 18 yards to the Ram 33 and Boyd Dowler then took Starr's pass for 20 yards, with Forrest Gregg turning in the block of the day on Hall. From the 13, Taylor went four, Starr threw an eight-yarder to Dowler and Taylor slammed outside left end for the TD. After Gabriel and Bass put on their TD run, Roach moved the Bays 61 yards in 9 plays for the final TD. Elijah Pitts went 20 to get things going but the Bays were in motion. Gros made up the distance, plus one, to the 50 with Ed Blaine getting the key block. Roach pitched an 18-yarder to Carpenter after which Gros and Pitts alternated, with Gros going the last 15. The Rams kept trying and they put together four first downs but on the last play of the game Willie Davis recovered Gabriel's fumble on the Packer 4.
LOS ANGELES - 3 0 0 7 - 10
GREEN BAY - 10 14 3 14 - 41
LOS ANGELES GREEN BAY
First Downs 14 24
Rushing-Yards-TD 29-146-1 34-146-3
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 28-18-139-0-1 24-16-278-2-1
Sack Yards Lost 48 60
Total Yards 237 364
Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-1
Turnovers 3 2
Yards penalized 8-67 4-43
SCORING
1st - GB - Paul Hornung, 30-yard pass from Bart Starr (Jerry Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - LA - Danny Villanueva, 13-yard field goal GREEN BAY 7-3
1st - GB - J. Kramer, 35-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-3
2nd - GB - Jim Taylor, 1-yard run (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 17-3
2nd - GB - Ron Kramer, 4-yard pass from Starr (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 24-3
3rd - GB - J. Kramer, 37-yard field goal GREEN BAY 27-3
4th - GB - Taylor, 1-yard run (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 34-3
4th - LA - Dick Bass, 5-yard lateral from Roman Gabriel (Villanueva kick) GREEN BAY 34-10
4th - GB - Earl Gros, 15-yard run (J. Kramer kick) GREEN BAY 41-10
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 16-71 2 TD, Earl Gros 5-45 1 TD, Paul Hornung 9-27, Elijah Pitts 2-3, Tom Moore 1-1, Bart Starr 1-(-1)
LOS ANGELES - Dick Bass 14-90 1 TD, Roman Gabriel 4-36, Art Perkins 4-11, Glenn Shaw 7-9
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 20-15-260 2 TD, John Roach 2-1-18, Elijah Pitts 1-0-0
LOS ANGELES - Roman Gabriel 26-18-139 1 INT, Dick Bass 2-0-0
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Max McGee 4-67, Boyd Dowler 4-67, Ron Kramer 3-32 1 TD, Paul Hornung 2-65 1 TD, Lew Carpenter 2-40, Jim Taylor 1-7
LOS ANGELES - Red Phillips 5-50, Art Perkins 4-23, Dick Bass 4-13, Pervis Atkins 3-32, Glenn Shaw 2-21
Closeup of Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung (5) and Jim Taylor (31) on sidelines bench during game vs Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
PACK 'RESPONDED REAL WELL,' VINCE; GAMBLED, LOST: SVARE
DEC 3 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Though normally a conservative, Vince Lombardi evinced satisfaction with his Packers' "comeback" in County Stadium's midsummer setting here Sunday afternoon. "I thought they responded real well," he declared, thereby neatly capsuling the Pack's 41-10 bruising of the oppressed but respectably hard-nosed Los Angeles Rams, a project just completed. The world champions' "response" was linked, of course, to that Thanksgiving Day embarrassment in Detroit, a 26-14 jolt which exploded the Bays' dream of the NFL's first perfect season in two decades. Had it come as a surprise? "No," Vince replied with alacrity. "I expected them to come back." The size of the score had been a mild surprise. he admitted. "I never expect to get that many points, I just want to win." Recent invalid Paul Hornung had limped off the field in the third quarter, it was noted. Had he reinjured his vulnerable right knee? "Hornung is all right," Vince responded. "I just thought he was tired. He hasn't played since Oc. 5 or thereabouts. That's a long time to be out. Paul played pretty well today, by the way." Did he think the golden-thatched Notre Dame alumnus would be ready to play the route in California? "I doubt it," he said. The question was repeated by a Milwaukee newsman with respect to the championship playoff. "The playoff's a long way off," Vince observed pointedly. "I'm not even thinking about that yet."...IMAN 'COMING ALONG': Hustling Ken Iman, he subsequently conceded, "is coming along," as a replacement for Dan Currie, hobbled by a knee injury. "Currie," he added, "will be ready next week." Vince also had praise for rookie fullback Earl Gros, who burst 15 yards for the Packers' final touchdown. "Gros is a fine back," Vince said. "He runs hard." Lombardi likewise was impressed with the performance of the Rams' massive rookie quarterback, 6-5, 225-pound Roman Gabriel. "He looked very good - he's going to be a great passer," Lombardi said. "Too bad he lost the ball down there - he could have gone in. And that Bass (Dick) has more moves than a clock." Vince had appeared to be lecturing the offensive line along the sidelines on occasion. What had been the text? "That's between the offensive line and me," he grinned. "I'm not sure they were lectures. I suppose some people might call them that." Lombardi's good humor evaporated when Ram Jack Pardee's late second quarter "kayo" of Max McGee was mentioned. "After the play was over, he got whopped," said Lombardi, who made his feelings known to the officials upon leaving the field at halftime. "Max got it right in the back of the head," the Packer strategist declared, not without a modicum of indignation. "The play was all over and he was standing in the end zone." What about the rest of the season (remaining dates with the San Francisco 49ers and Rams on the West Coast)? "It's no longer a season," Vince laughed dryly. "It's an endurance contest." Did he think the length of the season (which started with the All-Star game) has been a drain on his team? "I think so," Lombardi said. "I think it affected us a little bit. But we're all right now. I certainly don't think we'll need any special incentive to play now."...The Rams, interim coach Harland (Swede) Svare confessed, had gambled and lost. "We didn't play to stay close," he said. "We took chances a few times that mounted the score up. You have to gamble against a team like this. I would have liked to have won the ball game, silly as it may sound. Any team in this league can be beaten. We played to win." The good looking ex-New York Giant linebacker pointed out, "We moved the ball well at times, then bogged down. I think fumbles hurt us as much as anything. You're going to have those things with a young team like ours." It appeared that the Rams had not lacked for desire, despite their lowly station in the NFL. "That's right," Svare agreed. "And that's a tribute to them to have the spirit in such a situation. It certainly looked to me from the sidelines as though they were giving it everything they had. I thought we fought 'em all the way. You can't ask for much more than that." Svare willingly conceded rookie Gabriel had had a "fine day." "Tom (Packer aide Tom Fears, standing nearby, who had come over to exchange amenities with Swede and his old Ram cronies) just told me he completed 68 percent of his passes, which is more than any other quarterback has done against the Packers." The former North Carolina star, who had just made his second star, "is our starting quarterback now," Swede announced. What about Wisconsin's Ron Miller? "I think Miller has potential, too, but it's a tough thing to put these rookies in there - it's a big job." Despite Gabriel's impressive performance, Svare pinpointed passing as the Rams' major problem in this one. "We just did not have time to throw the ball
properly. They gave us that big rush all the time and it just didn't give us enough time to pass." The Rams, on their part, had been rushing their halfbacks, it was noted. Had he been satisfied with the success? "I thought it was successful," Harland said. "On that one play, our boy actually had Hornung cornered but he couldn't find the ball. And on Hornung's first touchdown, they hit us right in it and they scored easily." Highly impressed with the Packers' artistry, Svare called them "the most powerful team I've ever seen. They run right at you," he said soberly, "and you try as hard as you can to stop them and they still pick you up." All of which reminded him of his own problems. "It takes a lot of patience and a lot of hard work," he sighed...HOMEY TOUCH: Since their return to NFL prosperity, the Packers are finding the County Stadium atmosphere once relatively cool, steadily more homelike. When they took the field yesterday, they were greeted by a huge "Go-Go Packers" sign, a smaller one which read "Go-Go Packers, Walworth, Wis.," and a third proclaiming "Green Bay All the Way." All were draped along the east bleacher wall. Speaking of signs, a headline from this week's "Pro Football Illustrated" was prominently displayed in the Packer dressing room. Obviously intended as food for thought, it read "Lions Need One Volunteer - to Beat Packers." The word "One" was circled in red and "Beat Packers" was underlined in the same color...WHO'S EXCITED?: Leo Zeutzius, with brother Hank compiled Packer statistics for the NFL at all home games, is customarily the calmest of men. As a result, press box tenants were highly amused when he intoned over the p.a. late in the first period, "Los Angeles penalized 14 downs."...IT WAS WORTH IT: One hero-worshipping Milwaukee teenager, was being threatened with incarceration by a park policeman after he leaped into the Packers' path as they filed from the field into the first base dugout. He saucily shot back, "Throw me in. I don't care - I shook Taylor's hand."
HORNUNG KNEE PASSES TEST; TAYLOR FINDS PRESSURE OFF
DEC 3 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - All of Packerland can now breathe easy - Paul Hornung's famous knee has passed the acid test. The golden one, who returned to starting status with a typical Hornungian flourish in the rousing 41-10 conquest of the Los Angeles Rams, admitted, "The first few times I was a little leery about cutting but after that it was all right. In fact, I extended it once and it felt good." There was concern when Hornung limped off the field late in the third quarter and did not return, but he quickly laid all fears to rest. His old jaunty self as he shaved with painstaking care in front of a dressing room mirror. The Horn informed, "I just jammed it a little bit. It'll be all right. It feels pretty good." Peerless Paul, who had staked the Pack to a permanent 7-0 lead on a 30-yard first quarter collaboration with Bart Starr, admitted, "I sure was lonesome on that one (he palmed Starr's pass on the Ram 10 and minced into the end zone unmolested). I was lonesome a couple of other times, too, but they had a rush on Bart." Burly Ron Kramer, another major contributor who had quashed LA's hopes with another TD snatch just before the half, attributed his gem to sheer deception. "It was a play pass," he explained. "The safety (Lindon Crow) came up because I blocked at the line - he thought we were going to run the ball. The rest was easy." New father Jim Taylor, who celebrate the arrival of his first son Saturday morning by ramming home touchdowns No. 16 and 17 of a banner season, said "it felt good to break in there (the secondary) again." The bayou bronc, shackled by the Colts and Lions in his two most recent outings, admitted the advent of James Charley Taylor (to be known as Chuck) "took some of the pressure off me. That pretty well ended the worry and strain. We handled 'em (the Rams) a little better than we ever have," Jim added with satisfaction (he gained 76 yards, his biggest day ever against the westerners, an old Taylor "jinx"). Genial Hank Jordan, struggling into a white shirt in front of his locker was celebrating "my first interception in 14 years of football (four in both high school and college and six in the pro ranks)." "Then," Hank appended with a sheepish smile, "I didn't know what to do with it after I got it. Once a lineman, always a lineman, I guess." "I could see the goal line," he concluded, a bit wistfully. "I got a glimpse of it as I was going down. Of course, I'm no Taylor, you know." Laconic Max McGee, his cobwebs now cleared, recalled his second quarter "beaning" vividly, "I was watching Kramer (Ron) catching the ball in the end zone. I was just standing there and, boom, I'm sure it wasn't intentional," he said with a wry grin, "but it (Jack Pardee's haymaker) was late." It was the second such misadventure of the day for the gifted flanker. "The first time (he suffered a bloody nose on that one, among other things) it was all right," Max drawled. "When you catch a pass, you expect to get it. But when somebody else is catching the ball, you're not looking for it. But from now on," he said with wintry grin, "I will be."
LOMBARDI RATES TOP PICK ROBINSON 'GREAT ATHLETE'
DEC 4 (Chicago-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - A great athlete, a picture player, a great future quarterback and a tough lineman from Tulsa tops the Packers' 1962 college player draft. They are:
FIRST CHOICE - Dave Robinson, a 240-pounder from Penn State who can play any line position, offensively or defensively - plus linebacker.
SECOND CHOICE - Tom Brown, a swift 195-pound offensive end from Maryland with baseball hands who tied Sonny Randle's college pass catching record.
THIRD CHOICE (trade with Steelers) - Dennis Claridge, a lanky 210-pound quarterback from Nebraska who probably would be a first round choice next year if the Bays hadn't selected him as a junior eligible.
THIRD CHOICE - Tony Liscio, a 250-pound defensive tackle or end with good skill as a passer.
Coach Vince Lombardi, who presided at the Packer draft table with personnel chief Dick Voris, Phil Bengtson and Verne Lewellen, called it "a good draft considering that we drafted last in each round." He added: "That first choice is a great athlete and he can play a lot of places. Brown is better than we had a right to get for the 28th player selected. He'll be a flanker. And Claridge appears to be a great future. He's a good runner, passer and punter." Voris, who works on the Pack's draft the year-round, said Robinson was "our No. 2 rated prospect. We had rated Terry Baker No. 1." Chosen by the Rams, Baker was the first player selected in the draft. Robinson seems a bit light at 238 but Packer scouts feel he can "grow" to 250 or more without hurting his quickness. His coach, Joe Paterno, claims Robinson is the greatest player he's ever coached. A rugged tackle who has a reputation for shedding blockers, Robinson is also a top-flight kickoff man. The top pick hails from Moorestown, N.J., and Voris feels that this will be a factor in "beating out" San Diego of the AFL in the battle for his signing. He will be closer to home in Green Bay and the Bays play some of their games in the east. Brown is a fine baseball prospect, having led the Atlantic Coast Conference with a .449 batting average. The prospect is interested in pro football but he'd also like to give baseball a try. He caught 47 passes this season to tie Randle's record and intercepted eight passes as a safety. he had excellent moves. The draft was the longest 20-rounder on record, lasting 17 hours and 20 minutes and finishing up well after 3 o'clock this morning. The first round lasted 3 hours and 33 minutes. The Packers came out with 27 players and the list included eight futures, juniors who class will graduate next June. They will be available for delivery in 1964. The extra seven choices were in payment for players traded earlier in the season. The Packers kept an eye open for specialists and their top choice in this category was Green Bay's Gary Kroner, the Wisconsin halfback and kicker. The former Premontre High star kicks off consistently over the goal line and has a string of 27 extra points without a miss. He has kicked four field goals for the Big Ten champions, the longest 30 yards. Kroner, a hard runner, stands 6-1 and packs 198 pounds. He was selected in the seventh round - on the choice the Bays received from the Browns. The Packer list included Notre Dame quarterback Daryle Lamonica, who has good size, 6-2 and 205, to go with a strong throwing arm. He was named in the 12th round. The futures included the second-high pass receiver in the country, sixth choice John Simmons of Tulsa, who caught 65 passes, nine for touchdowns, in 10 games. He twice tied the season college record for most passes caught in a single game, 12, last season and 204. Another future was Jack Cvercko, the highly touted guard from Northwestern and brother of Andy, the former Packer who is now with the Cowboys. Jack is bigger than Andy at 6-1 and 240 and rated a better prospect. Jack missed last season with an
injury. The Bays stocked up with a large number of linebackers and linemen, topped by Lionel Aldridge of Utah State, a tackle-end, and Carlton Simons, a center-linebacker from Stanford.
49ERS WILL GUN FOR PACK, HICKEY VOWS
DEC 5 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Will the 49ers be growling and snortin' at the Packers Sunday? "That's how we play all our games and Sunday will be no exception," 49er Coach Red Hickey said as he jetted out here Tuesday from the draft in Chicago with Vince Lombardi and Phil Bengtson. The 49ers have the momentum of a three-game winning streak going for them and, as Red put it: "Yes, that will help us - those three in a row, but the fact that the Packers are in the championship race yet makes it more interesting for us." Bill Johnson, the 49ers' offensive line coach, reminded that "the three teams we beat (Rams, Cardinals and Vikings) had won a total of five games. But it was nice winning and you can look for a real game from us."...CAN SET RECORD: Thus, the Packers have their work cut out for them in Kezar Stadium - plus during the week of preparation. It's never easy winning in the NFL and in this case the opposition has given Green Bay fair warning. As the baseball announcers say, the chips are big and blue, and a Green Bay victory will give the Packers a tie for their third straight Western Division championship. What's more, the Packers can set a modern-day record of 12 victories. The last team to win that many games was Green Bay way back in '31. The Packers of '29 won 12 and actually had the best won record was 14 by the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1926. The Packers would finish with a fantastic 13-1 if they sweep the West Coast series. Lombardi said, "We'll go right into preparation for the 49ers without looking at the Ram pictures. We lose a day with the draft and we'll be playing the Rams again." The Bays' coach called a squad meeting upon arrival Tuesday afternoon and then worked far into last night on 49er plans. The team was handled by Coaches Bill Austin, Red Cochran, Norb Hecker and Tom Fears during a light workout Tuesday morning at Stanford University. Unlike a year ago when the Bays had the western title sewed up when they arrived here, the Packers have that title purpose written all over their faces. The team came out of the 41-10 victory over the Rams in good condition, other than bumps and bruises - plus a sore foot for Jim Ringo. The Bays lost 22-21 to the 49ers here last year. They went on to win 18 straight before losing to the Lions Turkey Day. Lombardi is receiving daily reports from his three agents out on the lookout for signatures of the new draftees. On the trail are Dick Voris, personnel chief; Verne Lewellen, business manager; and Tom Miller, publicity director. They'll all report here later in the week. The Bays won't have to go far for one signer. That would be Carlton Simons, the center-linebacker from Stanford. He lives a few blocks from Rickey's Inn where the Bays are training. Simons, the fourth choice who stands 6-2 and packs 230 pounds, likely will be out to a few practices...DRAFT LEFTOVERS: The Bears picked Junious Buchanan, the giant Grambling tackle who was chosen as a future by the Packers a year ago. Buchanan was named by Dallas in the AFL draft and then signed by the Texans. The Bays lost Buchanan after the league discovered that Buchanan's class won't graduate until 1963. Earlier info on him was that he was in the class of '62...Green Bay's firs draft choice, Dave Robinson, was chosen in the third round by San Diego; second pick Tom Brown was Buffalo's third choice; third choice Tony Liscio was New York's 10th round selection; fourth pick (trade) Lionel Aldridge was Houston's sixth; and the other fourth pick, Simons, was nailed 24th by Denver. Future QB Dennis Claridge wasn't chosen by the AFL but future guard Jack Cvercko was San Diego's 14th pick. Lombardi said he expects to get the usual opposition from AFL clubs in signing the athletes.
KRONER FIND PACKERS' DRAFT THRILL, SURPRISE
DEC 5 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Gary Kroner awoke to some spirited yelping and a big surprise Tuesday morning. Awakened by a group of his dormitory buddies at the University of Wisconsin. Gary found a copy of a Madison newspaper thrust into his hands. The paper proclaimed the fact that Kroner had been selected by his hometown Green Bay Packers in the wee hours of the morning during the NFL draft. "It was certainly a thrill," he said later in the day. "It was a big surprise for me. I had never been contacted by the Packers. I received questionnaires from quite a few other teams in the National League and the American League and Canada, but I never heard a thing from the Packers." Kroner added that he was "hoping to be drafted by somebody. Of course, I've wanted to play with the Packers since I was in grade school, but with the record they've had in the last three or four years the chance seemed pretty remote." Plucked in the seventh round by the Packers, Kroner was a 19th round selection of the New York Titans in the American League Saturday. "I had received some letters from the Titans and I wasn't too surprised by them but this (the Packer draft) was something I really got excited about." Kroner, the former Premontre High School star who was given the Ivan Williamson Award for sportsmanship at Wisconsin this year, declared that he is "very much interested" in playing professional ball and would "prefer to play in the National League if I could make it." He quickly pointed out, however, that he would have to "think about it" for some time before actually deciding which team he would sign with. He indicated that the fact that he would probably have a better chance to make the Titans might have some bearing on his decision. A regular offensive halfback who also saw considerable service as a defensive back with Wisconsin's Big 10 champions, Kroner is 6-1, 195 pounds. And he is a kicking specialist of some note. He set a Wisconsin record this year buy toeing 27 of 27 extra points and added four field goals. Gary, who admitted that "I didn't carry the ball too much this year" and started only two games on defense, felt that he probably was taken primarily for his kicking ability.
PACKER DRAFTEE NAMES FOR BOWL
DEC 5 (Tucson, AZ) - Tony Liscio, a 235-pound Tulsa tackle selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the NFL draft, was named Tuesday to the small college team for the All-American Bowl game Dec. 29 in Tucson.
PACK LOSES WILLIAMS FOR LAST TWO
DEC 6 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers will finish the league season one under the league player limit of 36. Howard Williams, the promising rookie defensive back and the fastest man on the squad, suffered a slipped disc during practice Wednesday and was put in traction at Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital. Coach Vince Lombardi announced that Williams will be lost for the last two games on the West Coast. He will be confined to the hospital until Monday but figures to make the trip to Long Beach Tuesday...HAVE NO REPLACEMENT: "And we don't have anybody to replace him on the roster," Lombardi said. The Packers have halfback Bob Jeter on their "cab" team but he's ineligible because he played in Canada earlier in the training season. Members of Canadian clubs can't play in the NFL in the same season they played in Canada, under league rules. This was a tough break for the highly-touted Williams. He had been on the active roster for only two games, taking the place of Nelson Toburen whose injury in the Colt game Nov. 18 put him out for the season. Williams hadn't been used on defense in the games against the Lions and Rams but made several tackles on platoon duty..."BACK ACHE TUESDAY": "I had a back ache Tuesday and that night I couldn't sleep too well on the soft bed. My back was sore when I went out to practice Wednesday," Williams said while visiting with Willie Wood in the hospital last night. Norb Hecker, coach of the Pack's secondary, said Williams was guarding Max McGee who was running a square out. "I yelled 'intercept it' and just as Williams grabbed the ball he tightened up and fell down," Hecker said. Trainer Bud Jorgensen and Dr. Gene Brusky formed a seat with their hands and carried Williams to a car for the trip to the hospital. Williams was the sixth defensive back, playing behind Johnny Symank, who in turn backed up Jess Whittenton, Herb Adderley, Hank Gremminger and Wood. Jeter also is a defensive back...THURSTON, RINGO HURTING: The Packers put a strong emphasis on offense in yesterday's workout and Lombardi made no bones about his displeasure with the manner in which some of the plays were performed. Green Bay's offense, which snapped back with 41 points vs. the Rams after getting 31 in the previous two games, will be subjected to considerable pressure from the highly-keyed 49er defense Sunday. Two key offensive performers are hurting - guard Fuzzy Thurston, twisted ankle, and center Jim Ringo, whose foot, hand, back and shoulders are aching. Paul Hornung had some stiffness in his injured knee but he has been running it out. Dan Currie figures to be ready for some action Sunday, but he wasn't pleased Wednesday. "A 100-yard sprint feels like a 200-yard sprint. I move like an old lady," Currie told Dr. Brusky, who is handling the team "physicianing" this week. Dr. Jim Nellen will join the team next week. The weather has been good here, with the temperature rising to about 65 in mid-day and the dropping to around 40 at night. The warm sun is expected to heal plenty of hurts. Ron kramer led calisthenics alone Wednesday and shouted before the exercises, "Stretch 'em out real good, we don't want any pulled muscles." The Big Oaf works hard on his training and Tommy Kalminir, the former Ram star, marveled as Kramer leaped high to snare a few passes. "He's the best tight end in football and his basketball ability helps him, too," said Kalminir, who was among a few spectators permitted to watch the drill in an enclosed practice field. Kramer, incidentally, played "defense" to prevent an interception in the Ram game. Elijah Pitts rolled out to his left for an option pass and threw the ball as he was chased down. Four Rams were waiting for the ball to come down when Kramer out-leaped 'em all and batted the ball away. Other visitors who got the okay from doorman Carl Zoll were Bo Molenda, the former Packer fullback and coach who is athletic director and coach at Menlo Junior College; Dave Gregg, civilian athletic director of the Sixth Army here and brother of the Pack's Forrest; and Carlton Simons, the Bays' fourth draft choice from Stanford. Simons had to hurry back to a class before meeting any of the Packers. Zoll, one of the first Packers, is on the coast trip with the team and is assisting Dad Braisher with the equipment.
STARR GRABS NFL AIR LEAD
DEC 6 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers' Bart Starr had finally left the likes of Eddie LeBaron of Dallas and Y.A. Tittle of New York behind him. He was ranked today as the top passer in the NFL. Starr trailed in the NFL statistics behind LeBaron and Tittle for most of the season, but finally proved in statistics what everyone who has faced the Packers have been saying in the locker room - he's the best quarterback in the league. Starr's hard-hitting teammate, Jim Taylor, meantime, continued as the league's leading ground gainer and regained sole possession of the scoring lead. Two other Packers, defensive halfbacks Willie Wood and Herb Adderley, continued as the best one-two pass stealers, respectively, in the league. Starr overhauled LeBaron and Tittle with a 12-game performance that saw him gain 2,103 yards on 152 completions in 235 throws. He has completed 64.7 of his passes, 10 of which went for touchdowns. Starr had gained an average of 8.95 yards a toss and has the lowest percentage of passes intercepted, 3.4. Taylor, the Pack's multi-muscled workhorse, now has bulled and sprinted to 17 touchdowns for a total of 102 points. Kicking specialist Don Chandler of New York is second with 94 points. Taylor needs only one more touchdown rushing to tie an NFL record.
KILMER BREAKS LEG IN AUTO MISHAP, CAREER IN JEOPARDY
DEC 6 (San Francisco) - San Francisco 49er halfback Bill Kilmer suffered a compound fracture of his right leg Wednesday night when his convertible sped off a freeway in suburban Belmont, ran over a cement sign base, continued 435 feet across a field and landed in a gully of water. The right side of the car and part of Kilmer lay in the water until rescuers pried open a car door and lifted Kilmer to safety, the California Highway Patrol said. The former UCLA star had been driving alone north on the Bayshore Freeway when he passed a car, then apparently lost control of his auto. "He can't explain what happened," said 49er Coach Red Hickey, who rushed to see Kilmer in San Mateo Community Hospital, as soon as he heard of the accident. After emergency care, Kilmer was transferred to St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco. X-rays had not been fully evaluated, said 49er team physician Dr. Lloyd Milburn. Milburn emphasized that the fracture was a major injury. But he said it's too early to tell if it might mean the end of Kilmer's football career. The halfback also was cut on the chin and above the eye. Hickey lives near the San Mateo Hospital and was there soon after Kilmer arrived. "Bill is the type of boy who isn't easily upset," said Hickey. "He was mainly upset because he's going to miss this ball game Sunday. He kept talking about how he wanted to play against the Green Bay Packers. But he was jovial, and we were kidding right up to the time the ambulance came for him." Hickey was optimistic about Kilmer's future. "I wouldn't think it will knock him out for good - it would have to be a pretty bad fracture." He cited the example of defensive halfback Dale Messer, who came back this year to star defensively after receiving a compound ankle fracture last year...12TH IN RUSHING: Kilmer alternated at shotgun quarterback in his rookie 1961 season, but switched to halfback this season. He ranked 12th among NFL rushers with 448 yards gained and his 5.2 yards per carry average was second only to Jim Taylor of Green Bay among the league's top 15 ball carriers. He sometimes passed on option plays. Kilmer was the No. 1 49er draft choice in 1961 after he rolled up 1,086 yards passing and 803 rushing in his senior year at UCLA.
49ERS' MILLER OUT
DEC 6 (San Francisco) - Defensive end Clark Miller won't play the final two games of the San Francisco 49ers schedule because of a thigh injury. Dr. Lloyd Milburn, the team physician, recommended that Miller not play to avoid any chance of further injury to his leg. The 250-pounder from Utah State had been a starter. Coach Red Hickey said Wednesday that Roland Lakes, who started for Miller last week, would be in the opening lineup against the Green Bay Packers at Kezar Stadium on Sunday. Charlie Krueger will be available for duty there also with John Mellekas moving into Krueger's right tackle spot. Hickey said it was "very doubtful" that offensive tackle Bob St. Clair or defensive halfback Jim Ridlon would be able to play. Both have been out with injuries. Offensive halfback Bill Kilmer was listed as doubtful since a bad ankle still hampers him. Either Bob Gaiters or rookie Jim Vollenweider receives the starting assignment, but Hickey had not made that decision. Leo Nomellini establishes a new "iron man" record for the NFL when he steps on the field Sunday to mark the 159th straight game in which he's participated. Last Sunday at Minneapolis, he equaled the 158 by Emlen Tunnell of the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. A special ceremony will honor Nomellini.
TAYLOR SEEKS TD RECORD; DEFENSE CAN SCORE, TOO
DEC 7 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packer defensive team had a meeting at 8 o'clock Thursday morning. That's a bit early in the day but there was important work on the docket, as Henry Jordan explained: "We were figuring out some scoring plays to use on the 49ers." The defense planning to score? Henry was kidding, of course, but he added: "It's easier for the defense to score than the offense. Would you believe that? When we make an interception, we're usually somewhere out by ourselves and don't have as much opposition as an offensive player." The Packer defense has intercepted numerous passes - 29, to be exact, including one by Jordan in the victory over the Rams last Sunday, and the thefts set up a number of touchdowns for the offense. But the defensive unit has scored only two direct touchdowns - one by Willie Davis, with an assist from Bill Quinlan, in the Lion game Thanksgiving Day, and the other by Herb Adderley against the Bears in Green Bay. Both came on pass interceptions. Adderley scored another TD - on a 103-yard kickoff return. The Packer defense which leads the league in fewest points allowed, 110, must take a back seat to the Lions in scoring. Detroit's defensers rolled up four touchdowns and four safeties. What no field goals? Maybe Henry and his defensive teammates want to catch up with the Lions. And speaking of scoring, Jarrin' James Taylor is just one touchdown shy of tying the league record for most TDs in a single season. Jim has 17 six-pointers. The standard of 18 is held jointly by Steven Van Buren, 1945, and Jim Brown, '58. Taylor's TD total figures out to 102 points, which tops the league. Taylor has another record to shoot at in the last two games out here, but he'll have to run wild. He is 289 yards short of breaking Brown's season rushing mark of 1,527 yards. He needs 289 yards in the two games to break it - an average of 144-plus. He is just 69 yards short of breaking his Packer record of 1,307 set last year. With Paul Hornung back now, Taylor's record chances appear brighter. Jimmy was the chief target during Hornung's absence. Hornung ran exceptionally well in Thursday's rugged workout but the blond bomber confesses that "it's not like it used to be." Paul says he just doesn't have the strength (in his leg) that he had before a knee injury floored him Oct. 14. Hornung, who kicked 149 extra points and 54 field goals in his pro career, has stayed away from kicking entirely. Jerry Kramer is now the kicker and he has booted 32 extra points and eight field goals in 10 attempts. Willie Wood is the No. 2 kicker. Kramer and Wood are also the kickoff men and they had some good "competition" in the kicking drill after Thursday's practice at Stanford University. Kicking along with the Bay booters was Stan Lindskog, Stanford halfback and son of Vic Lindskog, the former Eagle who is now line coach of the Rams...HITTING FROM WAY OUT: Lindskog, a left-footed kicker, reached the goal line consistently with his street shoes. Young Stan, a senior, said, "Nobody drafted me but I'm going to scout around and maybe I can pick up with some team." His dad has a good kicker at LA, Danny Villanueva, who also punts. Kramer and Wood were hitting from way out on their field goal attempts, but they were lucky to reach the 10-yard line with the kickoffs. Coach Vince Lombardi had good reason to be excited after Thursday's rough-stuff action. "It was excellent," he said. After practice, he huddled with C.B. (Carlton) Simons, the Stanford center-linebacker who was the Bays' fourth draft choice. There was good news Thursday from the Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital. Howard Williams, who suffered a slipped disc in Wednesday's defensive drill, was taken out of traction. His condition is improved considerably though he still may be finished for the season. Ironically, the 49ers also lost a player for the season Wednesday. That would be Bill Kilmer, the versatile halfback who broke his leg in an automobile accident on a San Francisco freeway that night. Kilmer underwent surgery to reduce the fracture. There was some fear that Kilmer's football career may be ended...VOLLENWEIDER TO START: Pinned in his car for 20 minutes, Kilmer never lost consciousness and laughed aloud at the San Mateo Hospital when 49er Coach Rd Hickey joked: "You certainly go to lengths not to play against the Packers." Actually, Kilmer may have been used little Sunday since he hurt his ankle in the victory over the Vikings last weekend. It was a recurrence of an injury he sustained against the Packers in Milwaukee Oct. 21. He went out in the first quarter. Scheduled to start in Kilmer's position Sunday is the strong rookie, Jim Vollenweider, the Schofield, Wis., star by the way of Miami. Vollenweider has looked good and is stepping ahead of Bobby Gaiters. "We are very hopeful of having Kilmer back next season, but we'll just have to wait and see when the cast comes off," a club spokesman said after talking with the team's physician, Dr. Lloyd Milburn. The crash caused a compound fracture of his right tibia, the long bone of the lower leg, just above the ankle. Dr. Milburn said he was "inclined not to make any judgement until the leg heals" adding that it is "very difficult to determine at this time as everybody heals differently." The 49ers were optimistic of Kilmer's return, nevertheless, since they have another player, defensive halfback Dale Messer, who came back to star this season after suffering a compound ankle break last year.
NFL PLAYOFF MAY DRIVE FANS 'AWAY'
DEC 7 (New York) - The NFL championship game is going to drive a lot of people out of town. That may be the only way they can see it. Tickets haven't gone on sale yet, and already it looks like it might have been easier to snag a pair of seats on Noah's Ark than for Yankee Stadium for the Dec. 30 game between the New York Giants and Western Division winner. Hundreds of New York fans have reported they plan to travel to areas where the game will be shown on television. It is blacked out for a 75-mile area around New York. Connecticut motel owners, who have made extra money renting rooms on Sunday afternoons to football fans to watch the sold-out regular season Giants' game, report bookings are booming for the title contest. But they have a problem. The network (CBS) which broadcasts the regular games does not handle the championship. And the network that does (NBC) does not have an outlet in Connecticut close by enough to be received on most regular sets. The motels are scrambling to make arrangements to bring in the ultra high frequency outlet that will carry the game. "If we don't have our sets converted by Dec. 30, we'd better leave town," one motel operator said. "We have a reservation for every one of our 160 rooms for the game." Many other fans are expected to have urgent business in Philadelphia on Dec. 30, where television watching is no problem. There is talk of arranging theater-television showings in the New York area, but nothing has been decided yet. NFL official Jim Kensil said if it goes through, the players will get a cut of the box office receipts. The players are already assured of a record split, with all 62,800 seats at Yankee Stadium reserved at a new high of $8-12. Some 45,000 season ticket holders get the first call on seats. The rest are limited to four to a buyer, who must call in person to get them. They won't last long. The NFL is studying proposals for theater television in the New York area for the title game, a league official said Thursday. Kensil, aide to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, said the league had received proposals for a theater-TV arrangement for the title game, between the New York Giants and the Western Division winner. "We haven't decided if we will go in theater-TV," Kensil said, "nor to what extent if we decide to go ahead."
RINGO REBOUNDS, WILL PLAY IN 119TH STRAIGHT GAME SUNDAY
DEC 8 (Palo Alto, CA-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Jim Ringo will play his 119th straight game Sunday. The Packers' six-time all-pro center played every Packer league game, plus two championship tests, since he won the regular's job midway in 1953, his rookie season. Ringo is as spry as a kitten today as the Packers awaited their key struggle against the 49ers in Kezar Stadium, but he was really aching earlier in the week. The rugged 235-pound Ringo, who finished the 1956 season at 190 pounds after fighting illness, could hardly move in practice Wednesday. He pointed to his foot, arched his back and shoulders and then his hand after the drill. "Four places," he groaned with a smile, "but I'll be ready Sunday. Got to be." The Bays' offensive captain was practically ready the next day when the teams wore pads for the weekly session of sled hitting. However, no sleds and tackling dummies were available so the defensive players held up shields while the offensive line, with Ringo getting up there first over the ball, slammed into the likes of Bill Forester and Co. It's a long season, Jim pointed out, "and the linebackers in the Western Division are the toughest. They've worn out two centers - Hunter (Art, Rams) for one." Ringo, in his blocking assignment, must bat hands with Joe Schmidt and Bill George, and other top-flight linebackers, who often are coming into the Packer backfield on the dead run. Ringo then must pick 'em off. No center in the league comes close to matching Ringo in ability and flaming desire and he was automatic all-pro choice for the last five seasons. Ringo played the last six games in 1953 and hasn't missed a game in the next nine years, including '62. He suffered one serious injury - in the Thanksgiving Day game of '57 at Detroit, when he hurt his back. Jim was in such bad shape that a hurried call was made to get Trapper Stephenson out of retirement for the last two games on the West Coast. Trapper never left the bench as Ringo went the distance in both games - bad back and all...159 IN ROW FOR LEO: Ringo will be one of two most durables in action Sunday. The other would be Leo Nomellini, the 49ers' great tackle who will break Em Tunnell's record of playing in 158 straight games. It will be Nomellini's 159th in a row and in pregame ceremonies he'll receive a plaque from friends honoring him for setting the new record. Leo the Lion, now in his 13th season, might introduce Ringo as his possible successor. Jim likes this game, too, and you can bet he'll be leading the Packers' offensive line a few more years.
PACKER SIGN DRAFT PICKS GRIMM, HOLLER
DEC 8 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Two draftees, No. 5 pick Dan Grimm and No. 14 choice Ed Holler, announced Friday they had signed Packer contracts. Grimm, a 244-pound tackle at the University of Colorado, was drafted both the Packers and the Denver Broncos of the AFL. A Des Moines, Iowa, native, Grimm was an offensive tackle and linebacker for Colorado this season. Holler, University of South Carolina linebacker, said he was signed to a bonus contract by Packer Personnel Director Dick Voris. A 6-foot, 2-inch, 224-pounder from Columbus, S.C., the 22-year-old Holler was termed by South Carolina Coach Marvin Bass "one of the best linebackers I have ever seen." Contract terms were not revealed in either case.
PACK EYE WEST TITLE TIE (OR CINCH) VS. 49ERS
DEC 9 (San Francisco) - The Packers had to come from behind twice to beat the 49ers in Milwaukee Oct. 21. It wasn't easy. Today, the Packers meet the same 49ers and it won't be easy - especially if the Gold Diggers get a lead in friendly Kezar Stadium. The 49ers will have the backing of a sellout crowd of 55,000 and they'll be yelling for an upset victory. The Packers are rated as 13-point favorite. The circumstances are also similar to Milwaukee in that the 49ers went into that one with a three-game winning streak, having beaten the Vikings, Colts and Bears. They engage the Pack today after beating the Rams, Cardinals and Vikings. The Packers overcame deficits of 6-0 and 13-10 before they stopped the 49ers in Milwaukee with a burst of power in the second half,
31-13. The 49ers' touchdown came on an 85-yard punt return by Abe Woodson. And in case the Packers have forgotten (Coach Vince Lombardi won't let 'em forget), the 49ers were the second last team to whip the Packers - in Kezar, at that. The surroundings were different then since the Bays had captured the title the previous Sunday. The 49ers won 22-21. The Packers will be more purposeful today, the championship still is up for grabs. The Packers can clinch a tie for the title by winning - or win it outright if the Vikings knock off Detroit. The final result of the Lion game will be on the scoreboard about the time the Packer game starts. Kickoff here is set for 3:36, Packerland time, and the action will be relayed home via radio (WJPG) and television (Channel 2). The Packers will be going for their 12th victory and that would be a modern "win" record. The last team to win 12 in one season was (who else?) Green Bay - in 1931. The biggest cheer in practice came Friday morning when Paul Hornung ran right end for a "touchdown." Golden Boy is starting to look more like himself every day, and while he can't reach his before-injury peak, he's starting to take charge of his option position. The 49ers will get their first look at Hornung this season since he missed the earlier test. Tom Moore was a terror that day, along with Jim Taylor, who gained 160 yards. So the Bays are well fortified with ball carriers, and let's not forget Earl Gros, the No. 2 fullback. All Packer hands are in good condition and that includes Dan Currie, who missed the last two games with a knee injury. Currie may get the starting call at left linebacker, which isn't good news to Kenny Iman, who did so well in Currie's position against the Lions and Rams. The 49ers will miss Bill Kilmer, who is out for the season with his broken ankle suffered in a car accident, but the versatile back figured to see little action anyway due to a leg injury. Kilmer hurt his leg originally in the earlier Packer game, going out in the first quarter. Bobby Gaiters, the ex-Giant, will start in Kilmer's position and share the running with J.D. Smith, who has been the 49ers' workhorse with 218 carries for 799 yards. Gaiters has moved 32 times for 153 yards. The 49ers' coach, Red Hickey, figures the best way to beat Green Bay is to keep the ball away from the champs and out-hit 'em. The Packers can
Green Bay Packers QB Bart Starr (15) and Paul Hornung (5) on sidelines bench during game vs Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Jim Lee Howell (c) director of personnel, New York Giants and former head coach of the Giants, greets Al Sherman head coach New York Giants; Tom Landry, head coach, Dallas; Howell; Harland Svare, head coach, L.A. Rams; and Vince Lombardi, head coach of the Green Bay Packers, during the National Football League Draft meeting here December 3. When Howell was head coach of the Giants he had all the group as his assistants. (Credit: Getty Images)
expect a vicious hard-socking game and that's what Hickey has promised. The Packers, who have allowed an average of only 10 points per game, will be tested to the limit if John Brodie is hitting. Brodie has one of the top receivers in the league in Bernie Casey, who has caught 46 passes. The 49ers may use two tight ends today, Monte Stickles and Casey, with the swift Jim Johnson playing the flanker. Bart Starr, the league's leading passer after weeks as second or third, hopes to be relieved off some of the pressure he played under the last two games. He was dumped for losses of nearly 150 yards by the Lions and Rams.
WILLIAMS LEAVES BED
DEC 9 (San Francisco) - Howard Williams, who suffered a slipped disc in practice Wednesday, left the hospital Saturday and will see the game today. The Packer rookie showed such rapid improvement that he was taken out of traction Friday.
49ERS FIRED UP FOR PACKER TODAY
DEC 9 (San Francisco Examiner) - It's elementary, Watson. The San Francisco 49ers will have to play the perfect game, and then some, if they're to subdue the might of the Green Bay Packers on Kezar Stadium's skinned turf today, starting at 1:30. Driving hard for a third straight conference title and a second consecutive world's championship, the Packers, by all logic and reasoning, figure to brush aside the 49er challenge and clinch at least a tie for the Western crown. One game up on second place Detroit with two games to go, the Pack simply appears too solid everywhere to falter against what will be a determined, but ever so shaky, 49er bid. The San Francisco pros are aroused to a fever pitch. Their desire is at an all time high, fired by fierce anxiety to make amends for what thus far as been a dismal 1-4 home season...JUST ONCE: Just one, just THIS once, the 49ers would like to put one on for what is expected to be the largest crowd of the season, upwards of 52,000 fans who, assuredly, will be in their corner pulling for one of the great upsets in 49er history. Only once before, the approach to the 1960 game at Baltimore, has any 49er team been confronted with an assignment of the proportions this one faces today. Then, as 18 point underdogs - longest odds in SF history - and with the Colts striving for a third conference title in a row, the 49ers turned the crank on a 30-22 miracle win on that historic Bobby Waters-Dee Mackey-R.C. Owens last minute touchdown dazzler...ODDS GREATER: The odds loom even greater today. Manpower drained with the loss of regulars Bill Kilmer, Bob St. Clair, Jim Ridlon and Clarke Miller, the 49ers tackle a Green Bay outfit restored to full power with the return of halfback Paul Hornung and linebacker Dan Currie. Without the help of Hornung, one of pro football's most prolific talents, the Packers methodically beat down the SFers, 31-13, at Milwaukee in October. It took the 49ers a month to recover from that thumping and recuperate to the point where they could square off their record at 6-6 by winning three straight against some of the league's lesser lights. In the doing, San Francisco may have come on the one thing which, by chance, might rattle the Green Bay strong box. That's the long passing game unfurled against the Vikings with Brodie throwing four touchdown passes and Bernie Casey grabbing three of them. But there'll have to be dogged protection before Brodie can think of throwing to anyone. That's a key.
