Detroit Athletic Co. Blog » Detroit Lions

The Non-Curse of Bobby Layne

Tom DeLisle — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:51:35 +0000

For the 125th time … and apparently I have to keep saying this till I’m Honolulu Blue in the face … there IS no “Curse of Bobby Layne.”

And there never was.

Just as politics are the last refuge of scoundrels, the internet is the hideout of dumb-bells. And no rumor has gotten as much general circulation as the idiotic supposition that the legendary Lions quarterback “cursed” his former team when the Lions traded #22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers two games into the 1958 NFL season.

Yes, the trade came as a huge shock to the town where Layne had ruled as the premier sports figure since he came here in a trade in 1950. And the Lions had just come off a World’s Championship 1957 season (the pre-expansion equivalent of the Super Bowl), the team’s third such championship in six years and their fourth visit to the season-ending title game in that time. So the trade of Layne was a stunner, one that echoes down to the present day … for two obvious reasons. One is that 1957 was the last time the Lions would come close to a league championship, and local fans have suffered through a succession of mostly awful quarterbacks in the 52 years since Bobby last took to the turf at Briggs Stadium. And secondly, because the franchise — certainly the most entertaining and colorful; arguably the most successful NFL team of the 1950s — was hijacked in the early ’60s by a cruel (ask some former employees) and clueless owner who ran that inherited glory right into the now-dilapidated grounds at Michigan and Trumbull.

Back to Layne and the absurd claim of his “curse.” About five years ago some doofus from the east side with access to a computer and a website noticed that it was coming onto 50 years since Layne had been peddled by the hometown team. He pointed out that nearly 50 years of relative failure in Layne’s wake seemed to indicate that a kind of ‘curse’ was attached to the perhaps-foolish trade of the Lions’ bigger-than-life star. Okay, that was understandable. But then, guys dumber than the guy who ventured that projection took a look at the internet claim, saw the words “Layne” and “curse,” and with the intelligence God gave a hamster came away with a belief that an actual “curse” had been muttered by Layne when he was informed of the trade. Some jerk even made up a quote, along the line that “The Lions won’t win again for 50 years now that they’ve traded me!” and posted it on his own idiotic website. And everybody, seemingly, and suddenly, bought into that quote. Here and across the country.

I even saw an expansion on that idiocy on a new website recently, one that shows a picture of a modern jet plane (in 1958 Detroit?) apparently zooming away from our town, and under it the claim that Layne made the infamous statement AS HE WALKED UP THE STAIRS TO ENTER THE PLANE (my capitals, of course, to emphasize the stupidity) to take him to Pittsburgh. Now we have a fake quote, and a fake location where it was fake-delivered.

Some quick facts. I was around in ‘58, and followed every development surrounding Layne and the Lions. Better than that, I interviewed Bobby Layne at length for a magazine bio in 1969. Layne NEVER said a word about the big trade. There never was a reaction from him. Better than that, Layne retained an affection for the city of Detroit, for his former teammates, and for the Lions franchise throughout his life. He would have never, and I mean NEVER, have wished disaster on buddies like Joe Schmidt (an All-Pro player and team leader in ‘58; later the team’s best subsequent head coach) and Jim David and Jack Christiansen and old Texas pals Harley Sewell and Yale Lary — his friends for life. Guys who carried Bobby’s casket almost 30 years after he was dealt.

These were the guys upon whom he wished disaster?

When I interviewed Layne he was excited about Schmidt’s promising tenure as head coach, saying several times that nothing would please him more than an upcoming Lions berth in a Super Bowl. As a scout, Layne had RECOMMENDED (my capitals again, for the dumb guys) then-Lions starting quarterback Greg Landry to the team, selling the Lions on Landry’s dual talents as a passer and runner … the two talents Layne employed (along with electric leadership) to get the Lions their three world titles.

The Lions were HIS team. Bobby Layne’s team. Then and forever. A team he loved, playing in a city he loved. If he was cheesed at management — namely then-coach George Wilson — for peddling him, he KEPT IT TO HIMSELF (see above). He took the trade with class. He cursed no one. Not a word. Never happened.

So no matter how far the fake rumor of his quote and complaint have gone — and they’ve gone ’round the world — and no matter how easily a lie or easy fabrication can take wing on the internet … the truth has to be made known somewhere, somehow. Here’s one attempt. Try to keep this in mind the next time you hear some local dipwad, or network football “expert” (often a synonym for dipwad), tell you about The Curse That Never Happened.

Enough is enough. Let 22 be remembered for the phenomenal things he did; not for something that never happened.

Layne 31, Unitas 27

Tom DeLisle — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:44:03 +0000

Well, I finally got to ’see’ one of my all-time favorite Lions games the other day. With my own aging eyes.

That the game took place nearly 53 years ago, and at the time it was played the NFL was enforcing its infamous home “blackout” rule, forbidding the local telecast of home games, made my recent viewing of that classic contest especially fascinating and rewarding to me. I remember that game – as the useful cliche goes – like it was yesterday … even though it was played in October of 1957 (a vintage year for wine and Detroit Lions fans). And it evolved into living history before 55,764 astounded onlookers … on a downtown parcel of scarred and forgotten local land that today is covered with weeds and littered with rocks and debris of varying sizes and sources.

An odd location for one of the greatest National Football League contests of all time, yes? Yes.

When I say I recall that game played at Michigan and Trumbull with remarkable clarity, I ain’t lyin’. Practically every Lions game of the 1950s, even those played during the franchise’s rare down years of the decade, featured drama and high excitement of one sort or another. And in 1957, the last championship year of the Lions golden era, our guys in silver and blue played an amazing brand of football that featured phenomenal comebacks and last-second heroics on what seemed like almost a weekly basis. It’s no exaggeration — and I’m normally capable of exaggerating my ass off — to say that fully five of the regular season and championship playoff games of that phenomenal Lions year could be described as being among the greatest Lions games in team history.

Indeed, the Lions versus Baltimore Colts game played on October 20, 1957 was ranked as the Fifth Greatest Lions Game of All-Time in 1993, as part of the team’s 60th anniversary observation, by a select group of football writers and broadcasters. I can vouch for their selection, as I sweated, strained, and screamed in accompaniment to the radio transmission of that beautiful match, as the Lions and quarterback Bobby Layne pulled out a dizzying 31-27 victory over young Johnny Unitas and the Colts. Yes, I did my duty, staying at my post (on my bed next to the old dial radio in my second floor room in our home on the east side of Detroit) even though we trailed the up-and-coming young Colts 27-3 late in the third quarter. That’s right … think of it … 27 to 3. (Yes, those were your grandfather’s Lions … God love ‘em.) I was all of ten years of age then, but I’d been following the team since 1953, and I knew enough to never give up hope as long as Layne was out there calling the shots.

Rookie sensation Steve Junker caught a touchdown pass near the end of the third to bring the Lions to 27-10, still a long way out against a strong Baltimore squad that would claim world titles in 1958 and ‘59. Layne, shaking off the lethargy that had plagued the offense earlier in the game (shaking off lethargy or a hangover, take your pick) went to work and drove the Lions to three touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the game, with the last two coming within 89 seconds of play. Old 22 (Layne) hit back Hopalong Cassady twice (yes Virginia, there was a Hopalong Cassady), to bring the Detroiters back to 27-17 and then 27-24, but there was only 90 seconds left on the clock … as Johnny Unitas took the field.

And that was when Lion defender Carl Karilivacz (yes Virginia, there was a … well, you get it), Yale Lary, and I went to work. On a Statue-of-Liberty delayed handoff from Unitas, All-Pro halfback Lenny Moore slipped and slid his way up to the Lions 29, where he was spun around by Karilivacz, then belted hard by Lions safety Lary. The ball squirted free! … (I can still recall Van Patrick’s radio description of the play) … and Lary pounced on it as the Briggs Stadium crowd went into a frenzy. (As I mentioned, I went to work myself at that point, screaming downstairs to my father to put on the radio … the Lions were about to dot the “i” in “miracle.”) Layne hurried the excited offense onto the field, immediately faded back to pass, and hit Cassady again … this time as he flew up the left sideline, splitting two Colt defenders, and roaring untouched into the south end zone of that beautiful old stadium. The Lions had, improbably, incredibly, astonishingly … capped a 28-point second half comeback, stealing a huge one from the Colts at 31-27 with only 46 seconds left on the clock.

The Lions, of course, went on to win the World’s Championship that year, bopping Cleveland 59-14 in the title game in late December. I never forgot that amazing Colt game, and was rewarded for my patience when I came across a rare item on eBay recently … the sale of a 16 mm color highlight film of the Lions ‘57 campaign. The eBay seller of that film chose to make a four-minute You Tube highlight clip of the Colts game available for viewing by anyone interested in the historical film. Interested? I was absolutely transfixed, as I sat … now an old duffer in his 60s (his young 60s, but yes his 60s) … at my computer and watched every important moment, in beautiful living Honolulu Blue and Silver color, play out across my computer screen. What a delight.

They don’t make Lions like that anymore….

And two final notes: The eBay highlight film ultimately sold for $220.26 … which was about $219.26 more than my bid. And I well remember later reading – in his autobiography – Bobby Layne’s description of that memorable Sunday at Michigan and Trumbull, and the excitement the miracle game engendered. Years later, as a journalist, I interviewed Layne at length, and he was notoriously haphazard in recalling old scores and situations from the storied games of his career. But in his book, he correctly pointed out that the Lions had indeed overcome a 24-point deficit with a late 28-point onslaught on that fabulous afternoon.

Yet that accomplishment, Bobby maintained, faded into relative obscurity when compared to his claim that the team party that erupted after the victory … went on for 30 hours.

The Stanton Saga Continues

Jeff Lutz — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:41:53 +0000

I remember covering Drew Stantonwhen he first began to make a name for himself locally. He was already a star in Oregon when he made his way back to his home state of Michigan to get behind center for the Farmington Hills Harrison football team. I saw him dismantle a number of teams, including my high school alma mater in a first round match-up by a 59-0 score. He was fantastic to watch, and was especially exciting to see in action during his days in East Lansing.

When Stanton was drafted mid-second round by Matt Millen, my confidence in the once-star quarterback was at an all-time high as I had seen the potential that he had shown in flashes at MSU. That 2007 draft will be remembered by Lions as the Calvin Johnson draft, but should be better known for the players the Lions missed on by taking the local product Stanton. Without a clear plan on how to use their new quarterback, the Lions ended up trashing their talent and something that could have changed the team’s fortunes for the better.

He remains an athletic quarterback, but his psyche has changed in the wrong direction. Stanton no longer fits within the Lions plans or the plans of Matthew Stafford. Many reports have stated that Stanton at this time next year will likely be elsewhere and there is no doubt that he will succeed in his revised role. With a few injuries behind him along with the taste of the NFL, Stanton’s career may depend on his ability to persevere through his greatest challenge.

Remembering the Detroit Lions Training Camps at Cranbrook

Bill Dow — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:50:27 +0000

On July 30th the Detroit Lions will begin training camp at their Allen Park headquarters, and once again, the team will announce a few dates when fans can watch the team go through its drills.

Detroit Lion quarterback Milt Plum signs autographs for his young admirers at the Lion training camp at Cranbrook Schools, July 29, 1963.

Older Lions fans will recall when the team practiced at the beautiful Cranbrook School grounds in Bloomfield Hills through the summer of 1974. Fans were welcome every day and at the end of camp enjoyed watching the blue and white teams face each other in a scrimmage game at Wisner Stadium in Pontiac or at the University of Detroit Stadium.

Of course the most famous camp at Cranbrook occurred in 1963 when writer George Plimpton tried out for the team and subsequently wrote arguably the greatest football book, Paper Lion.

Back then, fans were allowed to watch training camp everyday and after practice they would obtain autographs from the players.

Sometimes they were lucky enough to retrieve equipment and footballs and on occasion toss “The Duke.” Plimpton describes one incident in Paper Lion where one fan got a little greedy.

Quarterback Earl Morrall lined up several kids to go out for passes.

After several throws, one boy ran a deep route and Morrall hit him on the run. The kid kept running . . . and running . . . and running . . . and ended up stealing a genuine Wilson football.

In August of 1964 as a nine year old, I had the great fortune to attend camp one day when my Dearborn neighbor, assistant coach Bob Nussbaumer had his wife take me and my mother to Cranbrook.

I will never forget standing behind the ropes and watching my heroes, in their Honolulu Blue, running scrimmage plays. They were all there: Nick Pietrosante, Joe Schmidt, Gail Cogdill, Alex Karras, Roger Brown. All larger than life. When practice ended I carried two Lion helmets into the locker room and obtained numerous autographs. At the end of the day, Bob Nussbaumer drove me and head coach George Wilson back to Dearborn.

Occasionally I go back to Cranbrook and walk the grounds. I can’t help but gravitate to the football field just off of Lone Pine and think back about that training camp experience.

Charity Event on July 24th Will Help Former NFL Players

Bill Dow — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:17:54 +0000

Many familiar with the situation believe that the NFL players who built the game years ago have inadequate disability and pension benefits, (especially compared to baseball players from the same era) and have been thrown under the bus by today’s player and owners.

Prior to his death, Baltimore Colt legend Johnny Unitas was a key advocate asking the the NFL and today’s multimillionare players to help the former players who literally paved the golden brick road for today’s NFL riches. Unfortunately, Unitas’s pleas is still ignored.

Several years ago Hall of Fame Bears legend Mike Ditka and others formed the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund to help former NFL players facing financial hardship or in need of medical assistance. This summer, if you would like to help a great cause, check out the following.

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund will hold its second annual Hall of Fame Induction Charity Dinner at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan on Saturday, July 24th at 6:30 PM.

The event will honor 14 individuals for their outstanding football careers and contributions to the community. Prior to the dinner from 10 AM to 4PM, many of the former players will be available for an autograph session at the venue. Part of the proceeds from the events will be directed to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.

The honorees include Pro Football Hall of Famers Mike Ditka, Joe Schmidt, and Lem Barney, legendary NFL announcer Pat Summerall, former Lion standouts Mike Lucci, Lomas Brown, and Tom Nowatzke, former Baltimore Colt great Tom Matte, University of Michigan stars Bob Chappuis and John Greene, former U of M coach Lloyd Carr, current Michigan Athletic Director David Brandon, and Michigan State stars Lynn Chandnois and Walt Kowalczk. Detroit Piston play by play announcer and the former voice of the Detroit Lions Mark Champion will be the MC at the dinner.

“We are thrilled to be able to honor these very deserving individuals for their contributions to football but also for their charitable work in the community,” said Mark Lewis of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund- Michigan chapter.

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is a 501 c 3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to helping retired NFL players in need of financial assistance for basic needs and medical assistance in large part due to inadequate disability and/or pensions. The organization has provided over $1.75 million in financial aid and medical assistance to retired NFL players.

Tickets for the dinner cost $125 per person or $1,100 per table of ten. For tickets, sponsorship, or advertising contact Gridiron Greats of Michigan 28151 Galien Drive South Lyon, Mi 48178, or call (248) 444-2241. Email: gridirongreats313@gmail.com.

When Pontiac Hosted the World

Jeff Lutz — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:44:09 +0000

You could see the giant Swiss flag from miles around upon approach to the Pontiac Silverdome. The stark reminder that this was the world’s game, and seemingly one of the very few things that hadn’t been dominated by Americans over the years. As anticipation continued to build upon entering the stadium, my childhood eyes were fixated on something beyond the screaming Swiss fans or the pageantry before the game. For me, it was the sight of a grass field inside the building where Barry Sanders had run wild and monster trucks had run wilder. For one month in June of 1994, the United States was at the epicenter of the soccer world.

The World Cup begins on Friday in South Africa, and the event has a totally different attitude for Americans following winning hosting rites for the ‘94 Cup. Americans almost take for granted the appearance every four years in the World Cup, but it was the preceding Cup in 1990 that began the current run of participating in six straight World Cup finals. Also, it was the 1994 World Cup that made the idea of somebody buying the Silverdome for soccer purposes seem somewhat reasonable. Now that we’ve seen it can be done, and successful for major events, there is no reason why soccer can’t be as big at the professional level as it is for kids in grade school.

It’s also interesting to look back and think of how that moment in June of 1994 was a high point for Pontiac that would begin a significant downfall. The hotels and businesses in the area see the occasional traffic, but the events don’t come to the Silverdome like they used to. The drive-ins are being cleaned up for use again, but the empty Big Buck Brewery and the continuously shuttered Showcase Cinemas remind everyone of what was. The city of Pontiac is such a history-filled location at the other end of Woodward from Detroit, but for one sunny afternoon, history was made anew in its largest venue.

Remembering The Lions’ Dick “Night Train” Lane

Bill Dow — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:00:21 +0000

I recently interviewed former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Roger Brown for a Detroit Free Press article and after the phone conversation I thought of another legendary Lion player, Hall of Famer Dick “Night Train” Lane who many say was the greatest cornerback in NFL history.

Night Train Lane nearly decapitates the Ram's Jon Arnett in 1962.

As one of his “techniques” Roger Brown utilized the head slap on his opponent as he rushed the quarterback.

Roger told me, “At Maryland State our coach taught us that to control the offensive player you have to control his head. That is, if you get the head going the body’s going to follow and if it’s not, it’s going to come off. (laughs) I would slap my right hand against the left side of my opponent’s helmet and then with my left hand grab his shoulder pads and push to the left so you’re by him.

Brown’s “head slap” was eventually outlawed by the NFL, and so were two moves used by Night Train Lane, the face mask tackle and the often called “Night Train necktie”, otherwise known as a clothesline tackle.

After playing football for one year at a junior college, Richard Lane served four years in the U.S. Army, and later worked at an aircraft factory before walking into the offices of the Los Angeles Rams in 1952 and asking for a tryout.

In his rookie season, Lane intercepted 14 passes, a record that still stands today which is remarkable considering back NFL teams only played 12 games. He was later traded to the Chicago Cardinals and then to the Lions in 1960 where he would star until he retired in 1965.

Lane was one of the most feared players who ever lived.

Pity the receiver who cut across the middle.

Lane was known for playing off the receivers, and quarterbacks seeing an open man would make the throw. Night Train would then quickly head towards the receiver and more often then not either one of three things would happen.1.) Lane intercepts the ball 2.) The receiver drops the ball after hearing Night Train coming down the track, or 3.) The receiver catches the ball and Lane nearly decapitates him with his “Night Train necktie.”

Eventually Lane’s rather unique way of tackling would be outlawed.

In 1969, Lane was named the best cornerback of the first fifty years of professional football, then he enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. In his 14 NFL seasons, Lane had 68 interceptions, five touchdowns and 11 fumble recoveries.

In 1999 the Night Train was picked by the Sporting News as the 19th greatest NFL player of all time. After he retired, Lane worked briefly for the Lions and later for Detroit’ Police Athletic League under Detroit Mayor Coleman Young. He passed away in 2002 at age 73. If the accompanying photo doesn’t tell the story, check out this great you tube video on Night Train.

Fifty Years Ago: Roger Brown Brought Lions’ Defensive Line to Life

Bill Dow — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:20:08 +0000

Detroit Lions fans are giddy, and rightfully so, since the team drafted the number 2 pick overall: 6’4” 307 lb. Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

And it has been exactly fifty years since the team drafted a great defensive tackle, and that was Maryland State College’s Roger Brown, who at 300 pounds was the largest defensive player in the game in the early 1960s. His teammates have told me (believe it or not) that he was also the fastest player on the Lions in a short sprint.

Brown, along with Alex Karras, Sam Williams, and Darris McCord comprised the famous “Fearsome Foursome” of the 1960s, the most formidable front line in football at the time.

Roger’s greatest season was in 1962 when he set an NFL record by scoring two safeties on legendary quarterbacks Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr. The safety on Starr occurred in the famous 1962 Thanksgiving Day Massacre at Tiger Stadium when the Lion defense smothered the Packers in a 26-14 victory. Brown had six of the 11 sacks that day.

Number 76 was Detroit’s starting right tackle from 1960 through 1966 before being traded to the Rams in 1967 where he would replace Rosey Grier and become a member of L.A.’s Fearsome Foursome along with Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, and Lamar Lundy.

Last year Brown was selected to the Lion’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Squad. He lives in Portsmouth, Virginia where he runs his restaurant called Roger Brown’s.

One can only hope that Ndamukong Suh will, like Roger Brown, prove to be a great NFL draft pick and help create a dominant defense.

Roger Brown tackles Green Bay's Bart Starr during the famous Thanksgiving Day Massacre at Tiger Stadium on November 22, 1962.

Caleb’s Story

Jeff Lutz — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:46:51 +0000

We are only one week to the day since the Lions decided to invest in a Nebraskan product to help shore up their defense. The overall NFL Draft has been considered by many pundits for the Lions as a success, with perhaps three starters to come out of the event. With the excitement demonstrated by both players and fans, there is almost the temptation to present expectations for a team that has lost 30 over the previous two seasons.

At the 2008 NFL Draft, the second day of coverage on ESPN featured a strong safety from Army with a controversy swirling around. For those of you who are familiar with the cadets from West Point, there is a wee bit of a post-graduation obligation to serve two years in the military. Following in the footsteps of one of his teammates, Caleb Campbell expected to get his obligation deferred while he played professional football. Nonetheless, the pre 0-16 Lions decided to take Campbell with a 7th round selection to the throngs of cheers and a standing ovation in New York City.

Following reporting to Allen Park for Lions training camp, Campbell was immediately pulled due to a change in Army rules. Before he could take his first snap in the NFL, he was sent to begin his military service, immediately placing his NFL career in doubt. Now comes word that Caleb Campbell has signed a tryout deal with the Lions for the 2010 season.

Campbell was truly a rare talent coming from the US Military Academy. He was the first player in over a decade to get taken in the NFL Draft by one of the teams, and it seemed that his star was very bright. If Campbell were to have some substantial success in the NFL, especially with the Lions, I think that this would change how many viewed the squad and how players from the military outlets would be viewed moving forward.

Suh-per Man

Jeff Lutz — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:38:49 +0000

For me, the one most memorable impression of last year’s college football season happened during the Big XII championship game. During the 60 minute 13-12 battle, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh made the Texas offensive line look like a bunch of elementary school kids. I believe Colt McCoy still wakes up in the middle of the night thinking of being tossed around the field like a ragdoll. If things go their way on Thursday night, the Lions will have an impressive force on the defensive line.

While the temptation to trade for Ben Roethlisberger is clearly in my mind, the Lions find themselves in the position to complement some pieces already in place. They are pretty settled in the TE, WR and QB departments, and now with the trade of Ernie Sims, the defense is left with even less talent than they began the week with. Even if things suddenly shift and the Rams don’t take Sam Bradford, the Lions will likely look to shore up that offensive line. In a year where the draft is this deep, the Lions need to add pieces that can step in immediately.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions made a move at the end of round one for Missouri’s impressive Sean Weatherspoon. He developed from a 2-star coming out of high school, to a 3-time Big XII first-teamer. Weatherspoon is a steal at the end of the first round, and would form a nice 1-2 punch with the pick at no. 2.

The common thread about players like Suh and Weatherspoon, is that they have performed their best when it mattered the most. The Lions have been chock full of college stars over the past decade-plus, that didn’t know how to perform when it counted. Maybe this will be the year that the Lions breakthrough with perennial Pro Bowlers. Then again, these are the Lions, and you never know what you’re going to get!