For those of us who didn't watch Meredith

[Wood]

what is your memory of Meredith. Although it was long time ago - was watching Meredith similar to watching Romo. And ultimately what happend with Meredith...and was it best for everyone involved. Alot of questions but I am trying to get a sense of Dandy Don (i think that's what they called him).

 

[CalCBFan]

what is your memory of Meredith. Although it was long time ago - was watching Meredith similar to watching Romo. And ultimately what happend with Meredith...and was it best for everyone involved. Alot of questions but I am trying to get a sense of Dandy Don (i think that's what they called him).

I recall Dandy having some great games and some really lousy games, although I have heard Bob Lilly saying that in one of those losses to Cleveland in 68 or 69 that the D was worse than it had ever been, but Don Meridith got the blame.

In the '66 Championship game Bob Hayes funbled the 1st 2 opening KOs which GB recovered and scored so that when Meridith actually got on the field the score was 14-0 GB and there were about 11 seconds off the clock, He brought the team back thousg, but the D couldn't hold the lead and Bart Starr put the pack ahead with a couple of minutes left to play. Dandy tried to bring them back again, but he was hit and knowcked horitontal but tried to throw the pass in the EZ anyway and it was picked-off.

Dandy was a very good QB, but I think he was too much of a free spirit for Landry's liking. When Dandy took a year off for personal reasons (a divorce I think) and tried to return the next year, he was not welcomed back. The Craig Morton era had begun and I think Landry and Schramm also though Staubach would be a real winner which he was.

I am of the opinion that Romo is not nearly as good a Danny White, and I wondeer what Quincy could have been if he wasn't a stoner and had better coaching...

 

[bbgun]

Posts 4 & 5.

http://www.pfraforum.org/index.php?showtopic=1812&st=0

 

[Hostile]

The media were brutal to Meredith. Especially Gary Cartwright, whom I have been trying to meet for years, but that's another story.

The fans were brutal to Meredith. He was booed unmercifully in Dallas.

Romo is getting roasted. Meredith was hung in effigy.

 

[jobberone]

The media were brutal to Meredith. Especially Gary Cartwright, whom I have been trying to meet for years, but that's another story.

The fans were brutal to Meredith. He was booed unmercifully in Dallas.

Romo is getting roasted. Meredith was hung in effigy.

Most here have no idea how badly Meredith was treated. He never got the respect he deserved from the media and he was beat to death on the field for years. No wonder he quit.

To another poster Meredith threw a better long ball than Romo. About the same on outs. Romo is better over the middle esp vertical passes. Romo has the best improvisational skills I've ever seen in a QB. Neither had a really great arm just pretty good.

 

[BubbleScreen]

Most here have no idea how badly Meredith was treated. He never got the respect he deserved from the media and he was beat to death on the field for years. No wonder he quit.

To another poster Meredith threw a better long ball than Romo. About the same on outs. Romo is better over the middle esp vertical passes. Romo has the best improvisational skills I've ever seen in a QB. Neither had a really great arm just pretty good.

I missed the Meredith days, but I was baptized in Cowboys football by St. Roger. Romo is amazing on the improv but I still think Roger was better at making the best of a play gone bad. Of course, it could be that my memories from when I was six aren't all that reliable.

Why do you think Romo is better at improv?

 

[JonJon]

If it was that bad for him back then, I can't imagine what would have happened to him nowadays with the internet and other more advanced media outlets available.

 

[dun4]

Don was an athlete in many sports ( held the High School Dr Pepper scoring crown for many years). He was a pure passer and could elude the rush aka Romo. Alas, Landry, like Garret with Romo, forced Don to conform to their idea of what a QB should be.

If garret would let Romo improvise, like Tarkenton, you would see a phenomenal offense. I remember a quote from a defensive end regarding Tarkenton after missing a sack, " hell, just lay there, he'll be back around here again in a minute".

Football should still be about using a player's strengths.

 

[RS12]

Dandy Don was tougher than a $2 steak.

 

[punchnjudy]

I looked on youtube for highlights and this was the best I could find. Never saw him or Roger play--saw plenty of the next three on this clip. Depending on your musical tastes, you might want to turn your volume down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yWWoiPvGhQ

 

[FanSince61]

I looked on youtube for highlights and this was the best I could find. Never saw him or Roger play--saw plenty of the next three on this clip. Depending on your musical tastes, you might want to turn your volume down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yWWoiPvGhQ

There are some highlights of Meredith on the internet.

This link is for the Ice Bowl: http://www.hulu.com/watch/123940/greatest-games-1967-the-ice-bowl

I have highlights of the 1960, 1964 and 1967 seasons and part of the 1966 Championship game, but I have no way to post them.

 

[JoeCorrado]

If it was that bad for him back then, I can't imagine what would have happened to him nowadays with the internet and other more advanced media outlets available.

Exactly right.

Back then all we had was the local newspapers which typically ran a few 7 or 8 paragraph stories on the big games, as they viewed them, and then a couple paragraph synopsis on the rest. Other than that we could listen to local sports radio, or subscribe to a magazine; no ESPN stuff back then, no NFL Network, No big message boards for the teams, or even websites... heck, not much really compared to the feeding frenzy of today.

Now the beat downs begin even as the game is being played and is continued at a furious pace. ESPN always has their drop of drama to insert into any controversy, real or contrived, etc~ this all translates into a garbled (sometimes vindictive) "version" of the truth that is discussed and disseminated to fans everywhere and too often fiction (for the sake of ratings, etc) overtakes the actual truth, much to our collective loss as fans.

Talk about roller coaster rides. A casual fan must be confused as heck wondering what in the world to believe from week to week.

 

[JoeCorrado]

Dandy Don was tougher than a $2 steak.

Sure he was.

And he would have been crucified a 100 ways from sundown from week to week for his on field play; depending on competing story lines and the various axes to grind at any particular moment. And his off the field life, well...

An example: Romo caught heck for a guys trip to Mexico a while back, and then for his choice of female companions. Dandy Don was one who lived life fully (Namath had nothing on Dandy Don) and he certainly would have been flayed relentlessly for his actions off the field.

We don't hear much about that though, happily.