Baltimore Colts (1-1) 21, Green Bay Packers (1-1) 20
Sunday September 20th 1964 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - The Packers kicked and threw away a 21 to 20 decision to the Colts - and to the horror of 42,327 fans - in City Stadium Sunday afternoon. They blew two game-winning scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter in a shocker that must have reverberated around the NFL like a loose rocket. The difference was a missed extra point kick by Paul Hornung after the Packers' second touchdown in the second quarter. But the clincher was interception of two Bart Starr passes in Colt territory in the final minutes, the last of which was to set up a "winning" field goal by Hornung. The law of averages seemed to have a hand in the Pack's first loss and the Colts' first win ever in Green Bay. Hornung never missed an extra point kick in 152 attempts in his pro career, though he had two blocked - by the 49ers in 1958 and again by the 49ers in '59. And Starr had thrown 151 straight passes without an interception - all the way back to the fifth game in '63. The result demonstrated clearly the power and the balance of the Western Division. The Colts, a big underdog here, were clobbered by the Vikings last Sunday, while the Packers were dumping the champion Bears. Sunday, the Bears waxed the Vikings. Now, the Packers face the Lions - in Detroit, a week from tonight, and the rugged Detroits were victimized, too, over the weekend, running into a surprise tie with the suddenly-strong Rams Saturday night. The Packers got off the floor beautifully after being pushed around and out-yarded for 21 points in the first half, but they couldn't land the knockout blow in the second half. The Colts were held to four first downs and 55 yards in the last two periods and the Packers made four scoring bids. Behind 20-13, the Packers moved 46 yards to the Colt 34 in the first bid, but Boyd Dowler fumbled and the Colts recovered. The next bid worked - 82 yards in 7 plays, with Jim Taylor bolting 23 yards for the TD and a 21-20 score. The third bid reached the Colt 28, but rookie Jerry Logan intercepted Starr's pass on the 6. Then, with 2 minutes left, Don Shinnick stole Starrs' third and nine sideline pass play from McGee on the Colt 23. The Colts were fiery and furious, as expected, and they never lost a lead. John Unitas, as sharp as he'll ever be, and Lenny Moore worked a 48-yard aerial for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Packers slammed right back and tied it up on Hornung's 20-yard TD run, climaxing a 68-yard drive. The Colts went ahead 14-7 on their next turn, with Moore smashing four yards for the TD. The Packers again smashed back, going 80 yards with Hornung running the last four for the TD. But, alas, his point kick was wide to the right. Three plays later, the Colts went in front - on Unitas' perfect 40-yard TD toss to John Mackey. Lou Michaels kicked the point that eventually won the game. Lou missed two field goal tries - from 46 and 45 yards. The Packers won the statistics, 20 to 13 in first downs and 308 to 261 in total yardage, but the Colts had an edge in this important figure: Starr was dumped six times for losses totaling 47 yards. The Bays got to Unitas but once - for 9 yards. The Packers had the ball for 60 plays, the Colts 50. Ironically, Starr had a terrific completion percentage of nearly 80 percent on 16 completions in 21 attempts for 175 yards, but three were intercepted. Unitas hit 7 of 12. Taylor was his socking self with 98 yards in 18 carries and on his TD run he broke tackles by Bill Pellington and Jim Welch. The two clubs were good traders all afternoon. On the fourth play of the game, Lenny Moore fumbled and Lionel Aldridge recovered. On the Packers' fourth play, Lenny Lyles intercepted Starr's pass. Then the teams traded punts, Jerry Norton getting off a 57-yard boot, before they started exchanging TDs. The Colts scored first. On a second and nine play, Moore got behind Dan Currie, took Unitas' throw around the Packer 20 and went into the end zone. Willie Davis got a good rush on Unitas, but the QB stepped into the pocket for the 52-yard TD. The Packers snapped back 68 yards in seven plays to tie it up. The big gainers were Starr's passes to Taylor for 13 and 16 and to Dowler for 9, the first of 7 throws to long Boyd. On the 20, Hornung hit right tackle and thundered in for the TD, it was 7-up.
AGAIN CRACKED BACK
Now it was the Colts' turn - 62 yards in 12 plays. Hill's running and Unitas' pass to Orr for 18 yards and a 14-yard run by Moore set up Moore's second down smash for four yards for the TD. The Packers again cracked back. After Taylor made 13 and Starr was thrown 9 trying to pass, Lyles was found guilty of interfering with McGee and the ball was put on the Colt 37. Hornung, just about on his back, threw a six-yard pass to Dowler and then Taylor charged off left tackle and out of Marchetti's arms for 30 yards to the 1. On third down after Hornung lost three, Hornung went in for the TD. Paul's kick just wasn't and it was 14-13. The only offensive gestures until the Pack went on to their first ill-fated drive in the third quarter were the missed FG attempts by left-footed Michaels. The Bays move started on the 20 and gained
tackle and out of Marchetti's arms for 30 yards to the 1. On third down after Hornung lost three, Hornung went in for the TD. Paul's kick just wasn't and it was 14-13. The only offensive gestures until the Pack went on to their first ill-fated drive in the third quarter were the missed FG attempts by left-footed Michaels. The Bays move started on the 20 and gained great momentum on Starr's 17-yard pass to Kramer on the 42. Starr then threw to Dowler for 12 and Taylor and Hornung ripped off another 12 yards rushing to the Colt 34. Then, on first down, Dowler caught Starr's pass on the 28, but fumbled and Fred Miller recovered. The Packers scored quickly the next time they had the ball late in the third period, going 82 yards in seven plays. Starr led off with a 28-yard run when he couldn't pass. Bart hit Taylor on a flare for 14 and Dowler for a 12-yard pass again to the Colt 23. Taylor hit off the right side and went all the way on the last play of the third quarter. Hornung's kick made it 21-20 and hopes were really high. Green Bay's defense, on a key tackle by Dan Currie, forced the punt in one series and the Bays started on their own 38. Starr slipped but righted himself in time to hit Taylor with an 18-yard pass to the 43. Hornung ran four and Starr passed to Kramer for six to the 33 and Taylor belted another five to the 28. Then Logan intercepted on the six on a Starr pass aimed at Kramer up the middle. The Colts managed a first down but the Bays tightened up as Lee Roy Caffey made an important tackle and the Bays once again were off to a scoring bid - with 5:30 left. On third and eight on his own 43, Starr completed a 14-yarder to Dowler for the first big down. Starr threw to McGee for nine, with 3:53 left, and Taylor made the first down with two yards to the 32. There was an apparent miss-snap on the first play and the down was lost. On Down 2, Starr couldn't find a receiver and ran for one yard. Starr then threw to the left flat, aiming at McGee, but Shinnick intercepted on the 21 with 1:35 left. The Colts ran out the clock with five straight running plays, including a first down.
BALTIMORE - 7 14 0 0 - 21
GREEN BAY - 7 6 7 0 - 20
BALTIMORE GREEN BAY
First Downs 13 20
Rushing-Yards-TD 37-116-1 32-174-3
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 12-7-154-2-0 22-17-181-0-3
Sack Yards Lost 1-9 6-47
Net Passing Yards 145 134
Total Yards 261 308
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1
Turnovers 1 4
Yards penalized 3-50 0-0
SCORING
1st- BALT - Lenny Moore, 52-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick) BALTIMORE 7-7
1st - GB - Paul Hornung, 20-yard run (Hornung kick) TIED 7-7
2nd - BALT - Moore, 4-yard run (Michaels kick) BALTIMORE 14-7
2nd - GB - Hornung, 4-yard run (Kick failed) BALTIMORE 14-13
2nd - BALT - John Mackey, 40-yard pass from Unitas (Michaels kick) BALTIMORE 21-13
3rd - GB - Jim Taylor, 23-yard run (Hornung kick) BALTIMORE 21-20
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 18-98 1 TD, Paul Hornung 10-49 2 TD, Bart Starr 3-29, Elijah Pitts 1-(-2)
BALTIMORE - Jerry Hill 15-49, Lenny Moore 12-34 1 TD, Johnny Unitas 5-16, Tom Matte 3-10, Tony Lorick 3-7
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 21-16-175 3 INT, Paul Hornung 1-1-6
BALTIMORE - Johnny Unitas 12-7-154 2 TD
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Boyd Dowler 7-66, Jim Taylor 4-61, Max McGee 2-30, Ron Kramer 2-23, Paul Hornung 1-2, Tom Moore 1-(-1)
BALTIMORE - Jerry Hill 2-28, Raymond Berry 2-16, Lenny Moore 1-52 1 TD, John Mackey 1-40 1 TD, Jimmy Orr 1-18
Three Packers legends — Paul Hornung, Bart Starr, and Vince Lombardi — stand together during a game against the Baltimore Colts (Credit: Sports Illustrated)
COULD HAVE RUN DEEPER, MAX ADMITS; STARR: 'NO ALIBIS'
SEPT 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Jaunty Max McGee, an exceedingly droll citizen, seldom is at a loss for a quip - even in defeat. But there was no wry jest, no sardonic smile from "The Taxi" at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. Morosely shedding his gear, he painfully described the play that had transformed budding victory into stunning defeat for the Packers minutes earlier. "We knew what defense they were going to be in," he said in a low voice. "The pass was supposed to be over him...But it's hard to see those things." "It was a first down play. I probably could have run the pattern a little deeper," Max admitted sadly. "We knew they were going to be in the zone." A disconsolate Bart Starr, who obviously was taking full responsibility for the misadventure, would only have been a sideline pass. I have no alibi." Paul Hornung, a hero in the 23-12 opening conquest of the Bears a week earlier, voiced similar sentiments about his errant conversion attempt following the Packers' second touchdown which, as it turned out, deprived the Bays of a tie. "I just missed it," Hornung said simply. "That's all. I was a little too quick - didn't move up to the ball correctly - and I missed it. We stopped ourselves in the second half," he added. "You can't do that and win." Explosive Jim Taylor, wincing from an awesome collection of confusions, pondered matter-of-factly, "You always wonder if Bart had happened to throw the ball out of bounds and we'd have had that 38-yard kick..." Managing a weary smile, he was accepting wholesale congratulations for a large afternoon. "It was tough in there," the Bayou Bronco confided. "There were a lot of people in that middle. Those front four were really coming." Taylor, who has added to his all-time Packer record for number of attempts by running his total to 1,198 with 18 thrusts, also issued a partial explanation for his 98-yard success. "It was my birthday today," Jim revealed with a shy grin. "That gives you a little incentive - you want to make it different than some others, something to remember."...ONLY ONE MAN: Describing his 23-yard burst for a touchdown in the third quarter, a thing of bruising beauty, the 215-pound blaster said, "It was a sweep back to the right - we were strong left. Paul (Hornung) took Stonebreaker (Colt linebacker Steve) out of there and I just popped up the middle. After that, there was only one man." And then, shortly, there was one...Henry Jordan, only player left in the now deserted dressing room, pulled absently on a bottle of soft drink and dressed, but shoeless, brooded on the chair in the front of his locker. "I thought he had it...I thought we had it," he said numbly. "We couldn't stop 'em...couldn't stop that Unitas."...Massive Gino Marchetti, rated by some the world's greatest defensive end, was in an understandably expansive mood over in the Colts' lively headquarters. "That's the first time we've ever beaten them in this stadium, you know," the 13-year veteran revealed. "We've beaten them in Milwaukee but never in this stadium." "And it couldn't have come after a worse game (last week's 34-24 upset by the Vikings)," he added with satisfaction. Marchetti, who came out of retirement in the middle of the preseason grind, pronounced himself "getting better every week," an opinion in which the Packers will ruefully concur. "My legs feel good," said the 37-year-old marauder. "I've just got to get a little more wind." Commenting on THE interception, Gino declared, with understandable
authority, "Starr had a pretty good rush on him, so you can't blame him for what happened."
GRIMM AWAITS FILM 'VERDICT' ON FIRST MAJOR ROLE
SEPT 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Smiles were hard to find in the Packer dressing room late Sunday afternoon, but square-faced Dan Grimm managed to produce a semblance of one. "I enjoyed it," the sophomore pro from Colorado University admitted regarding his longest stint in a game as replacement for the sick Jerry Kramer. "That's what you're here for...to play, you know," he said, emphasizing the point. "I think I did alright but you never know until you see the films. Just when you think you played okay, you find out in the films you didn't. Other times it's the opposite." The 23-year-old Iowa native was called on early in the first quarter when Kramer took time out to catch his breath and he played the rest of the game on offense. "I knew Jerry wasn't feeling well, and I expected to play. I was ready," said Grimm whose longest previous duty in one game was about a half in the Runnerup Bowl in Miami last year. Kramer felt his substitute did "a fine job. He's a real capable player. I have to get back in there, or I'll be picked up my glove," he added, borrowing a baseball term. Just when he will get back in there is apparently questionable at the moment. Afflicted with what he described as "a low grade infection in the diaphragm," the Packers' All-Pro guard has lost about 15 pounds from his usual 250 and admits "I just can't seem to shake it." Suffering from a fever for about five weeks, Kramer acknowledged, "It's draining the heck out of me. I'm just weak...I feel terrible." He said he plans to check into a hospital in an attempt to get at the solution. "I just came out to catch my breath a bit and Coach Austin sent Grimm in," Kramer said of his early departure Sunday. "When I was ready to get back in, Austin said Dan was doing a good job, I might as well let him in." Grimm found himself in the unenviable position of tangling with the Colts' Gino Marchetti "much of the game as the Colt defensive forwards did a lot of crossing." "I have a lot to learn," Grimm offered that semi-smile again. "Marchetti is one of the great ones and I found it's different trying to handle a defensive end than a tackle. He's real strong and is awful good with his hands."
TWO INTERCEPTIONS, FUMBLE BEAT US - LOMBARDI
SEPT 21 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Grim and tight-lipped, Vince Lombardi made no attempt to conceal his deep chagrin. "Two interceptions and a fumble, that's what beat us," he barked, his eyes flashing sparks of indignation to a covey of newsman, "you can't do that and win the close ones." "We played like we were asleep defensively in the first half. The great Green Bay Packers," Lombardi snorted. "They thought they (the Baltimore Colts, 21-20 victors with the aid of Don Shinnick's eleventh hour interception that frustrated a potential Packer field goal bid in hazy City Stadium Sunday afternoon) were going to hand it to 'em." The Packers had been in field goal position before that fateful pass, a Chicago writer suggested. "Field goal position?" Vince echoed, somewhat incredulously. "The ball was on the 35, wasn't it? That's a 42-yard field goal. What the hell do you think we are? We'd make if 50 percent of the time, but it would be much better to be down around the 30." Unwilling to abandon his point, the Chicago scribe interposed, "The ball was on the 31, so that would have been a 38-yard kick, wouldn't it?" Lombardi, evincing some surprise, nodded agreement. Tom Moore had been sent in shortly before the interception, it was noted. Had he gone in with the play? "Yes, I called that play," Vince replied without hesitation. Had the Packers planned to use the swing pass so extensively? "Yes, we did," the Packer major-domo replied, conceding, "It worked very well." He added with an ironic smile, "We must have made 500 yards doing something. We were going up and down the field, but we couldn't go any place." Concurring on another point, he said, "Yes, Starr was getting a pretty good rush in the first half, but it wasn't too bad in the second half. At least, that's the way it looked. As far as the Colts sending in all three linebackers, everybody does that. That shouldn't make any difference." Had the Packer made any defensive changes to effect a shutout of the Colts in the second half? "Yeah," Lombardi rapped, "we stayed awake." "In the first half, the Colts seemed to be going on a quick count and we didn't seem ready. I don't know what was the matter." Asked about the condition of linebacker Dave Robinson, who limped off the field midway through the fourth quarter, Vince said, "I don't know how he is. He got a shot in the knee." There was, inevitably, mention of those two John Unitas "bombs" to Lenny Moore and John Mackey, the last of which eventually sealed the Hosses' victory. "You can't allow those," Lombardi dryly conceded, "They'll kill you when you let 'em go...A great business, this." "Taylor had a fine day," he agreed, taking note of another comment. "Taylor, Hornung, McGee and Dowler played well enough to win most of the time. But, there is no place for mistakes in this business, coach, not in this league," Lombardi concluded, a trace of bitterness in his tone. "The team with the fewest mistakes is going to win."...Youthful Don Shula, the Colts' sophomore head coach, was not only elated but obviously relieved. "It sure feels good to be back in this thing," he informed with a wide smile. "The Packers, Bears and us all are 1-1 now." "We were just awful last week (in a 34-24 loss to Minnesota's Vikings). There's nothing else you can say about it. This week, we started early, got our share of breaks and," he added with quiet pride, "we made some of our own breaks." He had made no defensive adjustments for the Packers, Shula explained in a reply to a question. "We mixed up the blitzes as we normally do. We used coverage on some plays, blitzed on others. Pellington, by the way, played a great game - he was a real leader out there. Today, we tackled well, too, except perhaps for a couple of instances on those touchdown runs by Hornung and Taylor. Last week, we didn't tackle anybody. Today, we were gang tackling out there." Explaining the Colts' two first half "bombs," a topic he launched into with obvious relish, the Steeds' headmaster said, "On the first one, nobody covered Moore (Lenny). And on the second one, Mackey made a great catch. He beat Gremminger on it - and the ball was beautifully thrown by Unitas." "This one was particularly satisfying to me," Shula admitted, "because I've had some heartbreakers up here when I was an assistant with Detroit. Do you remember that 9-7 game here two years ago? And last year we played well here, but we had five fumbles." "That was the difference here today," he added. "We only gave the ball up once, on a fumble, and we intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble ourselves." Analyzing the situation another way, the John Carroll University alumnus observed, "You've got to put pressure on Starr, but you have to defense their running. The blitzes we called today were in the right situations. Today, things were going for us. Last week, we blitzed a couple of times against the Vikings and we got picked apart." He shrugged his shoulders philosophically and concluded, "You have to gamble in this game...sometimes you win..."...PACKER PATTER: Although a consort of the enemy, little Buddy Young was electrified by Jim Taylor's 30-yard ramble in the second quarter. "That was absolutely tremendous," Young, now a Baltimore businessman who doubles as a columnist for the Baltimore Post, enthused. "That's playing football - that's carrying the tomato." Another Baltimorean, Colt publicist Harry Hulmes quipped at halftime, with the Hosses leading 21-13, "This beats defense any day."...The Colts have added a new wrinkle, a captain of special squads (platoons). That worthy is a former Packer, Alex Hawkins....Billy Vessels is the Colts' TV sideline reporter - opposite number of the Pack's Tony Canadeo...Referee Art McNally ordered the lights turned on at 1 o'clock, six minutes before kickoff, and they remained on throughout, although the skies brightened considerably in the second half. There was concern for a time, however, that the combatants might have to fumble through the first half haze - the electrician couldn't be found to turn on the lights..."Doctor from Marinette," Field Announcer Gary Knafelc intoned over the public address system, "the glasses you lost last week are at the lost and found window." Which prompted Bill Gleason of Chicago's America to quip, "How does he find his way to the lost and found?"...Again in evidence after a one-week absence was Ronald Gibbs, midwest observer for the NFL, present to "scout" the officials...Exemplifying "the show must go on" tradition, Trainer Carl (Bud) Jorgensen, still grieving over the death of his wife Thursday, was back on duty at his sideline post yesterday.
HOW CAN YOU SECOND GUESS "TITLED' QB?
SEPT 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - How can you Tuesday Quarterback a quarterback, namely Bart Starr, who (1) completed 16 out of 21 passes, (2) was dumped six times trying to pass and (3) hurled the Packers to a couple of world titles? John Unitas threw only 12 passes (and completed seven) and wasn't touched once. Except one time he slipped and fell just before the half, losing 10 yards when the Packer defense arrived in time to prevent him from bouncing up. If Unitas had the "protection" Starr had, the Colts would have a tough time scoring. Anyhow, let's skip through the scribbled notes on Sunday's game from the play book: SUB ALREADY: Tony Lorick, the Colts' prize rookie, started, but came out in favor of Jerry Hill after Lorick carried twice for six yards. On Play 3, John Unitas threw 27 yards to Hill - so Hill must have carried in his own play...GET BACK THERE: Paul Hornung's opening kickoff went to Lorick
bouncing up. If Unitas had the "protection" Starr had, the Colts would have a tough time scoring. Anyhow, let's skip through the scribbled notes on Sunday's game from the play book: SUB ALREADY: Tony Lorick, the Colts' prize rookie, started, but came out in favor of Jerry Hill after Lorick carried twice for six yards. On Play 3, John Unitas threw 27 yards to Hill - so Hill must have carried in his own play...GET BACK THERE: Paul Hornung's opening kickoff went to Lorick about six yards deep in the end zone. He started to take off, but Tom Matte grabbed him just before he crossed the goal line and held him...GREAT CATCH: Boyd Dowler made one of those stretch catches with Bob Boyd blanketing him in the second quarter. It gained 9 yards and continued the Packers' drive for their first TD...MEASURE MEASURE: The Colts called for two measurements in a row early in the second quarter. The first was a foot short of 10 yards and a first down and the second was just about a foot beyond the first down. Hill ran both times...TWO IN TWO GAMES: When Paul Hornung missed his PAT on the south end, it became the second such happening in two games here. Bob Jencks of the Bears missed one week ago Sunday on the same end...FAIR CATCH FIELD GOAL: The Colts were in position for a field goal after a fair catch just before the half, just as the Packers were a week ago vs. the Bears. Jerry Norton booted from just in front of the end line. Alex Hawkins caught the ball on the Bay 47, and, rather than kick, returned the ball 17 yards to the Packer 30.
'MISSED EXTRA POINT DIDN'T BEAT US,' LOMBARDI SAYS
SEPT 22 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The sun popped out at times today. And Coach Vince Lombardi was able to manage a chuckle or two. The combination of the two, plus the passage of time, helped erase a real Blue Monday, which was brought on by steady rain, dark clouds and the Packers' 21-20 loss to the Colts Sunday. Lombardi and aides Phil Bengtson, Norb Hecker, Bill Austin, Red Cochran and Tom Fears spent yesterday looking over films of the Packers' first league loss of the season. And today Lombardi observed that "we played well enough offensively and defensively to win most games, but glaring miscues beat us." The Packers rolled up 308 yards on offense and shut out the explosive Colts in the second half, which as Vince pointed out is enough to win most games. "The interceptions at the end and the fumble stopped us...and on Moore's long touchdown we were in the wrong defense but never made the adjustment," Vince pointed out, adding: "The missed extra point didn't beat us, although you have to say it was the difference, it was our mistakes." As to the shot at a field goal that never came off, Lombardi reiterated what he had said after the game. The Bays had a third and nine situation on the Colt 31 with 1:55 left when Bart Starr threw his interception to Don Shinnick in the left flat on the 21. It was aimed at Max McGee, but thrown short. Lombardi is being criticized by second guessers (who are never wrong) for not kicking a field goal, but Vince noted "who makes field goals from 39 yards more than half the time? That's 50 percent territory." Has Starr's pass been complete to McGee the Packers would have had a first down on the 20 or 21? If it had been short of a first down, Hornung would have had a field goal shot from just inside the 30, a distance from which most field goal kickers, especially, is exceptionally accurate. As to Starr's three interceptions, Lombardi said, "Those things happen, and they crop up all of sudden - like Taylor's three fumbles last week. I have to admit that Starr's protection wasn't good. But he had plenty of protection on that last one." Asked if this was his toughest loss, Vince laughed a bit and answered: "I don't think so. Every loss is tough. You win some and you lose some. We've won our share of games like this. It all evens up." What's next? The Lions in Detroit Monday night. "And they're tough," Vince said, "but there are a lot of tough teams in this league." Due to the late game, the Packers were off from practice today, other than a 3 o'clock squad meeting. The team will hit the practice field Wednesday. Jerry Kramer was still in St. Vincent's Hospital today to determine the cause of pains just below the breast bone. He underwent tests this morning and, "I hope to find out what's the matter with me," Jerry said. Kramer had been bothered by pains and fever since the Giant game (Aug. 22), but it had been gradual. He had lost 15 pounds. Jerry started Sunday against the Colts, but was replaced midway in the first quarter by Dan Grimm. The Packers came through the game with no serious injuries. Dave Robinson, who was removed late in the game and replaced by Lee Roy Caffey, had nothing more than a bruise.
LIONS DRAW CURFEW FINES
SEPT 22 (Detroit) - William Clay Ford, owner of the Detroit Lions, said Monday night "more than one" of his NFL players had been fined for violating an 11 p.m. curfew last Friday before Saturday's game against Los Angeles. Ford said the fines ranged up to $100 "and they're going to stick." Asked if a report were true that "several, meaning three or more," had been fined, Ford replied: "Let's just say more than one." "Some players violated the curfew, and the fine was automatic," he added. The Lions and Rams tied 17-17 Saturday. General Manager Edwin N. Anderson and assistant general manager Bud Erickson said they knew nothing about the levying of any fines. Newsmen were unable to reach Coach George Wilson immediately. Bruno Kearns, sports editor of the Pontiac Press, reported early last week there was discontentment among the Lions over the front office policies and that veteran end Sam Williams went AWOL for almost 24 hours after the Lions beat San Francisco 26-17 on Sept. 13.
KRAMER OUT INDEFINITELY WITH ABSCESS
SEPT 23 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - An exploratory operation performed this morning revealed that Packer offensive guard Jerry Kramer is suffering from an inflamed abscess just beneath his abdomen. It is expected to hospitalize him for a couple of weeks and it is not known whether he will again be available for action, according to a Packer spokesman. Meanwhile, this is a long week. Since the Packers don't play until Monday night in Detroit. First off, there isn't an unblemished team in the entire circuit after two weeks of play. The league had just three "perfects" after the first two weeks a year ago. It's a wee bit early to start predicting things like championships, but it is interesting to note the "comeback" of the two west coast clubs, the Rams and 49ers. The Rams, sporting the biggest defensive line in the league, whipped the Steelers and then tied contender Detroit. Last year, the Rams lost to Detroit and Washington in the first two. Los Angeles has performed its '64 heroics with a rookie quarterback, one Bill Munson of Utah State, who is working in the absence of injured veteran Roman Gabriel. No doubt Bill is a fine QB, but the suspicion is that the Rams are highly improved. The 49ers lost its opener to the Lions and then whipped the Eagles. With John Brodie healthy again, San Francisco might surprise and, come to think of it, the 49ers were the only team to beat the champion Bears last year...ROUGHEST RACE EVER: If the west coasters start kicking up their heels, the Western Division could have the roughest race ever. And, if so, the eventual champion may not escape with one or two losses - as in 1962 when the Packers lost one and in '63 when the Bears lost one and tied two. The East is of no particular concern in the wild and wooly West at the moment but it must be pointed out that the Pack's two Eastern opponents this year, the Browns and Cowboys, are off and winning. Dallas split and the Clevelanders have a win and a tie. Official team statistics came out today and the team leading those important defensive figures is none other than the aforementioned Rams. They have allowed 354 yards on 159 rushing and 195 passing. Our Packers are second on an allowance of 390 yards - 162 rushing and 228 passing. John Unitas fattened the Pack's passing total on his two touchdown passes in the Colts' 21-20 win Sunday. He hurled a 52-yarder to Lenny Moore and a 40-yarder to John Mackey. The Packers are fifth offensively on a total of 602 yards, while the explosive Vikings have piled up 876 yards for first. The Packers are leading the league in four offensive departments and two on defense. On offense, the Bays have piled up 20 first downs rushing; completed 65 percent of their passes; have the fewest penalties - three for 30 yards; and a 50-yard average on punts. On defense, the Packers allowed just 10 first downs by passing and none by penalties...The Bays, off Tuesday except for a 3 o'clock squad meeting, took to the field today and then went back to the clubhouse to hear a report on the Lions by Scout Wally Cruice.
PERSONALITY PARADE
SEPT 23 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It was the morning after the Baltimore nightmare and Fuzzy Thurston's voice, occasionally raised in boisterous song in leisure moments, now came faintly over the phone from the depths of Menasha's Left Guard. Informed he was barely audible, Valparaiso's valued contribution to the Packer offensive line replied apologetically, with slightly higher volume but obvious effort, "I can't talk too well today - I'm trying to get my senses back in shape. It's not too tough when you really get beat, but when you beat yourself, it's hard to take," Mercifully, the conversation turned to the future. At the moment, of course, it is represented by the miserly Detroit Lions, who owned the NFL's most anti-social "front four" in 1963, in the opinion of many - including the considered judgment of today's subject, a genuine authority. The return of mountainous Alex Karras after sitting out a one-year suspension for betting "is bound to make the 'four' even tougher," conceded Fuzzy, who along with his smoldering colleagues will find out first hand in Detroit's Tiger Stadium Monday night. "Karras (who has replaced Floyd Peters in said foursome) and Roger Brown are as
good defensive tackles as there are," Thurston declared. "There are others as good but none any better." "Playing Detroit also is a big challenge for me, particularly because of Brown. He's 310 or 320 pounds and he's as good a football player as I'll ever play against," Fuzzy, a mere 245, asserted. "He's big, quick and has a lot of hustle. Last year, the Lions had the best front four in the league. This year, of course, we've only played two teams, so it's hard to say. But the Rams must be pretty tough - they've got four guys 6-7 ad 280 or so and I read where the Lions to 7 yards rushing in the first half last Saturday night." Returning to the matter at hand, he observed in somewhat scholarly fashion, "We know that to score against the Lions is always a difficult problem. But this is a must game for us. We have no choice - we've got to win it."...BRIGHTENED SLIGHTLY: Fuzzy, christened Floyd at birth in Altoona, Wis., back in 1935 but seldom so addressed since, brightened slightly at the suggestion of victory and pointed out, "if we do, we'll be back in first place because the Lions (who currently share the Western Division lead with the surprising Rams) have a win and a tie." Understandably, since the scoreboard still reflects the only vital statistics, the 1962 all-pro was unable to enthuse over the Packers' offensive success in last Sunday's 21-20 misadventure with the Colts. "It doesn't do too much good moving the ball between the 20s, if you don't put it in there," he said wryly. Reconsidering after a pause, Fuzzy admitted, "I suppose it's better than not moving at all. Gives you a little confidence that you can move it. Certainly, we'll have to do it against the Lions," he gravely concluded. "And I think we can."
GRIMM 'GLAD OF OPPORTUNITY' BUT NOT THE WAY IT CAME
SEPT 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Dan Grimm is "glad to have the opportunity but not under the circumstances." The Packers' sophomore guard steps into Jerry Kramer's shoes for the crucial game against the Lions in Detroit Monday night and Grimm is the first to admit that "they will be tough to fill." Grimm, affectionately known as Charley, played just about all of the game for Kramer against the Colts Sunday. Jerry started but came out after several plays. Kramer underwent exploratory surgery at St. Vincent Hospital Wednesday morning and an isolated abscess in his abdomen was disclosed. Hospital authorities said Jerry was in satisfactory condition today. The big all-pro guard will be out indefinitely. He will be hospitalized about two weeks and when he is able to return to the team will depend on how quickly he recuperates. Coach Vince Lombardi said Wednesday that Grimm will "step right in there." The circumstances leaves the Packers with just two guard - Grimm and Fuzzy Thurston, but Vince noted that "we can shift Gregg to guard, move Skoronski at tackle and use Bowman at center if necessary." Similar adjustments were made when Kramer suffered a serious ankle injury against the Vikings in Milwaukee Oct. 29, 1961. Forrest Gregg was moved to Kramer's spot and Norm Masters was shifted from left to right tackle, while Bob Skoronski remained at left tackle. This year, with Jim Ringo gone, the centering would fall to Ken Bowman, the rookie from Wisconsin. The Bays have two other first-year men ready to go to work - Steve Weight, who has been backing up Gregg, and John McDowell, who plays behind Masters. McDowell also has been working some at guard. Grimm has an especially "interesting" chore for Monday night. He'll be looking at none other than Alex Karras, the Lions' star left defensive tackle who, like Paul Hornung, is making a spirited comeback after the year's suspension. "I kept my eyes glued on him when we watched pictures of the Ram-Lion game and he looked real good," Grimm said. Actually, Grimm never saw Karras play in person since Alex was absent during Dan's rookie season. But Grimm recalled that "I saw the Packer-Lion Thanksgiving Day game in 1962 on television (the Bays' only loss) and he was giving us trouble. I had no idea I'd become a Packer then," Dan said. The Packers had a little added protection from prying eyes today with the completion of a fence on three sides of the practice fields. The only unfenced side is on Oneida St. The Lions and Bears, plus a few others, undoubtedly have had the Pack's practices watched. Keeping spectators on one side and taking away the scouts' "end zone" view will add to the Pack's privacy. Official individual statistics released today by the NFL showed Paul Hornung in a first place tie in scoring with Jim Bakken of the Cards. Each has 25 points. Bakken is leading the league with his seven field goals (in eight attempts). Boyd Dowler, with seven catches vs. the Colts, moved into the first 10 in pass receiving, with nine receptions. Pete Retzlaff of Philly leads with 14. Fran Tarkenton of the Vikings took over the passing lead while the Pack's Bart Starr dropped from second to sixth despite 16 completions in 21 attempts vs. the Colts. Starr has the best completion percentage in the league - 64.9
on 24 completions in 37 attempts. Bill Wade of the Bears is next with 64.3. Jim Taylor is in a close race with the two Browns, Bill of the Vikings and Jim of the Browns. Bill is first with 180 yards, Taylor is next with 177, and J.B. is third with 168. Jerry Norton retained his punting lead, with an average of 50.0 yards on five kicks. Don Chandler of the Giants and Yale Lary of the Lions follow.
IT HAPPENED TO THE LIONS, TOO...LANE TO START
SEPT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It happened to the Lions, too. Blowing a chance to win with a late field goal. The Packers' victimization vs. the Colts here last Sunday needs no repeating, but the Lions' washout vs. the Rams last Saturday night is worth hanging out on the Green Bay line. The Lions, who hose our Packers Monday, had ye olde pigskin on the Rams' 35-yard line, second down and six yards to go, and slightly over 2 minutes left to play, with the score tied 17-up. Earl Morrall drifted back to the 50 and unleashed the bomb - all the way to the end zone where, you guessed it, Bobby Smith intercepted. The pass was aimed at Terry Barr. Morrall actually had two downs to make a first down and if that didn't succeed he had an ace named Wayne Walker waiting on the bench to kick a field goal. Walker has a hot foot, too, because he is kicking 1.000 on five for five. He set a Lion record with four for four vs. the 49ers and then kicked one earlier in the Ram game...Before we forget it, there's an NFL game tonight, the Redskins vs. the Giants in New York, and a prediction must be made. We'll take the New Yorkers despite the fact that they're starting rookie quarterback Gary Wood ahead of the injured Y.A. Tittle. Just for kicks, let's pick a score: Giants 28, Redskins 26...Dick Lane, the Lions' wonder man who must be in his upper 30s, will start against the Packers. The star cornerbacker is a quick healer. He underwent surgery on a knee on Aug. 14 and played some against the Rams last Saturday night. Lane is now ready for full-time duty. And this indicates a real individual duel between Lane and the Pack's Boyd Dowler is in the offing. Boyd is coming off a seven-catch performance...Coach George Wilson isn't ready to announce his starting quarterback. Milt Plum started the first two games - in San Francisco and LA. The Lions beat the 49ers, but Milt had completed only three of 10 vs. the Rams when Morrall was called off the bench. Morrall came along strong later in the 1963 season and it appeared the Lions might become a one-QB team. Wilson probably won't pick his starter until just before the game...Dave Hanner went to St. Vincent Hospital to see Jerry Kramer this morning. Dave, of course, had that big chew of tobacco bulging under his cheek and one of the good sisters, who wasn't aware of his fondness for a "chaw," asked him "what happened to your jaw, young man?" Early-riser Dave allowed that he wasn't in for treatment - just to see Jerry. Jerry said this
morning he was feeling "pretty good" and admitted, "I must be losing a few pounds." He said he is anxious to "get going on my treatment." Incidentally, J.K. said, "People have been wonderful to me, and I understand some of them have been saying some prayers for me."...Paul Hornung and Ron Kramer were the featured demonstrators at a clinic in Madison Monday for boys who plan to enter pass, punt and kick competition. And one of the question asked Hornung was this: Who gave you your best block on your touchdown run off right tackle against the Colts? "I'd have to say Kramer because he is here and he would slug me if I didn't name him, but the guard, tackle and end all have key blocks on the sweeps," Hornung replied...The Packer-Lion game will be shown via closed circuit TV in three Detroit theaters - the first such experiment there. A sellout crowd of 54,000 is assured. The game will be shown on other-than-theater television only on the regular Green Bay Packer network, including Channel 2...Due to the late game, the Packers' daily practices are on the "wrong" days, as it were. Today's practice was the usual tough Thursday full-pad session. The Bays will have their usual light Saturday drill on Sunday morning. They'll fly out on United Airlines charter at 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
HORNUNG, GIANTS, PATTERSON OWE IRS $270,000 TAXES
SEPT 25 (Washington) - Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers, the New York football Giants, and former heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Patterson allegedly owe the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) a total of nearly $270,000 in back taxes. All three are disputing the IRS claims, an examination of U.S. tax court records revealed today. The federal tax agency claims that Patterson and his wife, Sandra, owe it $17,1436.57 from 1957, the year of the Patterson-Pete Rademacher fight, and $24,212.07 from 1958, the year of the Patterson-Roy Harris fight. The IRS has also filed a deficiency notice totaling $44,736.07 against Floyd Patterson Enterprises, Ltd., for the same two years. In another case, Hornung is disputing an IRS contention he owes $3,136.76 in back taxes from 1963. Deficiencies charged against the New York football Giants are $74,350.67 in 1959; $43,716.90 in 1960; and $61,216.29 in 1961. Among other things, the IRS claims that the Giants paid their chief executive officers, John V. Mara and Wellington T. Mara, a total of $120,000 too much salary during the years in question. Each man was paid $60,000 a year.
PACK CAN EXPECT LONG BALL FROM LIONS
SEPT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Lions apparently like to throw the long ball. Their top two receivers
Gloom hung over the Packers on Sept. 12, 1964, in the closing minutes of a game at Green Bay with the Baltimore Colts ahead, 21-20, and in possession of the ball after an interception. Shown are Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr (15) and Forrest Gregg. - By Journal Sentinel Archives
Something you do not see on the sidelines anymore. Lombardi lighting a cigarette during the Colts game at City Stadium.
are averaging slightly under 20 yards per reception on 19 catches. This means that the receivers are getting downfield most times at least 15 yards and the passers are getting time to throw. It also cuts the Packers' defensive work against the Lions when the two clubs meet in Detroit Monday night. The Packers are fresh from a long-ball experience. John Unitas completed 52 and 40-yard passes for touchdowns in the Colts' tight win last Sunday, although the longest came on a defensive error. Terry Barr caught 10 passes for 217 yards - an average of 21.7, and two went for touchdowns. Gail Cogdill caught nine for 155 - an average of 17.2. The Lions have thrown 66 passes, 44 by Milt Plum and 22 by Earl Morrall, and completed 30 for 408 yards. Morrall has a completion percentage of 54.5 and Plum 40.9. The Packers, by comparison, have passed less, 40 attempts, but completed almost as many as the Lions, 26 for 231 yards. Bart Starr has an impressive completion percentage of 65.0. Rushingwise, the Packers pulled off 68 running plays for 371 yards - an average of 5.3 per trip, while the Lions ran off 58 times for 178 yards, an average of 3.0. The Lions undoubtedly hope to break out with a running game at the expense of the Packers. Danny Lewis is leading the club with 91 yards in 21 carries, an average of 4.3. Nick Pietrosante is next with 55 yards in 22 trips, an average of 2.5 but the big fullback has scored two touchdowns. Tom Watkins is next with 28 yards in 12 tries. Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung have picked up 303 yards in 59 carries for a five-plus average. Tom Moore is averaging 4.8 yards on four carries, and Starr is off to a rushing start with 51 yards in four carries, which is almost half as many as he gained last year when he had 116 yards in 13 carries.
THREE 'DETROITERS' TAKE AIM AT LIONS BEFORE HOMEFOLKS
SEPT 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Three guys from Detroit, who are now living temporarily in Green Bay, will try to beat Detroit in Detroit Monday. In case you haven't guessed, the Packers has three homegrown Detroiters - Dan Currie, Ron Kramer and Norm Masters. And as Currie puts it, "If you want to get a winner in this league get three yokels from Detroit." When these three play in Tiger Stadium, the alumni from three different Detroit high schools and two Michigan universities experience mixed emotions. Kramer played at East Detroit High and the University of Michigan; Currie at St. Anthony's and Michigan State; and Masters at St. Mary's of Redford and Michigan State. Kramer was the Packers' first draft choice in '57; Masters came to Green Bay in '57 in the Tobin Rote deal; and Currie was the Packers' first choice in 1958. They've been making annual trips to Detroit (all on Thanksgiving Day, incidentally, until this year) since becoming pros and each says it's always a thrill to play before the "home" people. "When I was a kid, I always wanted to play in the stadium, but the only way we could get there was to win the (prep) championship. Norm played there twice, but Ron and I never made it. I'd see a lot of Lion games, and I always thought I'd like to play pro ball," Currie said. All outstanding players in high school and college football, Currie, Kramer and Masters grew up as "favorite sons" in Detroit. "But," Dan laughed, "all we get now is static." Kramer noted "the rivalry between the two teams. They've been going at it as long as I can remember. I get more enthused when we get in that stadium. I'm sure it's because we've known the people there so long." Big Ron caught eight passes for 145 yards in the last two games in Detroit - four in each of the last two years. He scored one touchdown last year and set up the other as the teams played to a 13-13 tie. Kramer caught four passes for 68 yards in Detroit as a rookie. He now has caught 15 passes for 238 yards in his hometown. Masters said he "always enjoys" his visit to Detroit "but it always means that we have an extra tough game." Norm will be working against a familiar face. That would be Bill Quinlan, who will start at defensive right end. Masters said he figured Quinlan, the former Packer, will be "exceptionally high for us - just like he was for us against the Browns in 1961." The Packers held a light workout this morning and then departed (1 o'clock) in their United Airlines charter for Detroit. They will headquarter at the Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel.
PACKERS LAUNCH 'OPERATION SNAP BACK' VS LIONS TONIGHT
SEPT 28 (Detroit-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers launch "Operation Snap Back" against the Lions in Tiger Stadium tonight. A victory is a must for both teams in this third NFL game and each club will be out to prove that their last outings were huge mistakes. The Packers lost to the Colts, 21-20, in Green Bay while the Lions were tied by the Rams in Los Angeles 17-up a week ago, with both teams muffing a chance to win in the final minutes. The Colts and Rams, however, proved their performances were no flukes Sunday as Baltimore scrubbed the Bears, 52 to 0, and the Rams downed the Vikings, 22 to 17. Detroit will be trying to climb into a first place tie with the Rams, who have a 2-0-1 record while the Green Bays will be out to grab a second place tie with the Colts, who have 2-1. A Packer win would drop the Lions to 1-1-1 and leave the Rams in first place alone for this week. There is some history attached to tonight's game. This is the first time the Packers have ever "opened" in Detroit. Traditionally, the nightcap of the annual Packer-Lion series is played here. This year, the second game will be played in Green Bay Nov. 8. In addition, the Packers have not lost two in a row since 1960 and the team to hang No. 2 on the Packers that season was Detroit. The Bays had lost a 33-31 decision to the Rams in Milwaukee in '60 and then lost a thriller here in the next game. Tonight's game will be the first head to head meeting of Paul Hornung and Alex Karras, who missed the 1963 season due to the suspension. With Hornung going at option back and Karras working at the Lions' left tackle spot on defense, the two are expected to collide quite a bit. The Packers aren't in the best of condition, what with the loss of Jerry Kramer, who would have been the Pack's man on Karras, and an injury to Hank Jordan. Kramer, recuperating from surgery, will watch the game via television in his St. Vincent Hospital room, while sophomore Dan Grimm steps into the important right guard position. Grimm played just about all of the game against the Colts and is looking forward to his new assignment. Jordan has been bothered by a groin injury and may not be at his best. Ron Kostelnik will back him up. The Packers' big chores will be keeping the ball and scoring. Green Bay rolled up over 300 yards on Baltimore and controlled the ball in the second half. But a fumble and two interceptions in the last two periods ruined their chances of winning. Bart Starr, Jim Taylor, Max McGee, Hornung and Co. will have their hand full with Detroit's active defense which is spearheaded by Roger Brown, Joe Schmidt and Karras. The Detroit defense will bolstered by a fired-up Bill Quinlan, the ex-Packer, and Dick Lane, the star defensive back who is scheduled for all-out action after surgery on his knee. The Lions' offensive hopes to do a little exploding, too, after last week's 17-point performance. The starting quarterback is a tossup between Milt Plum and Earl Morrall, but the local experts are guessing Plum, who started the two games on the
West Coast. The two clubs played a 13-13 tie in the final Thanksgiving Day appearance for Green Bay last year. A sellout crowd of 54,000 will watch tonight's game, which will be televised and radioed back home (WJPG and WBAY-TV). Kickoff is set for 7:05. The game also will be showed on three Detroit theater screens via closed circuit TV. The Packers will fly back home right after the game via United Airlines charter.
