Stabler,who had been considered for a forgotten superstars piece on more than a few occasions,was such a character that he was known by even casual or non-sports fans in his late 70's heyday.
Stabler made his name at Alabama as the successor to Joe Namath before preparing for his NFL career in Oakland in the manner that quarterbacks were developed in the era-sitting for years behind a veteran passer in Stabler's case,it was Daryle Lamonica,who was the teacher to Stabler's student.
Kenny Stabler on the field was often overshadowed by Kenny Stabler off the field with a hard living party image,but not one like Joe Namath's,Stabler was more of a man of the people.
More comfortable in honky tonks than high scale parties,Stabler was the guy down the street that played hard and worked hard and as a result of all the powerhouse teams of the 70's (Oakland,Miami,Pittsburgh,Minnesota and Dallas) Stabler was the guy that was most loved by football fans that weren't Raiders haters (I.E.Denver,Kansas City and San Diego fans).
Kenny Stabler was just plain cool and he might have won any poll that would have been taken for the NFL star that was the most fun to hang out with.
Ken Stabler was respected in the football industry though as a player that you would have loved to have had the football in his hands when you needed one score at the end of a game.
How many other players had three games that not only were game winners,but were endings memorable enough to earn nicknames?
Stabler had those with the "Sea of Hands" with his threading the needle to Clarence Davis to down the two time defending champion Dolphins in the 1974 playoffs,the "Ghost to the Post" to tie the Colts in the 1977 playoffs in a game Oakland would win in double overtime and of course,the "Holy Roller" the deliberate fumble that pulled out a win over San Diego and saw the rule enacted that you see that affecting games to this day that you cannot advance a fumble with under two minutes to go in the game.
Figure that in with the long scramble down the sideline for the only Raider score off the bench that allowed the "Immaculate Reception to be possible and you can see that Stabler was almost the Forrest Gump (also a Alabama grad) of 1970's AFC football!
Stabler finished his career with Houston,with the rare star for star football trade for Dan Pastorini and New Orleans with the Saints first steps into becoming a contender,but was an immobile shell of the player he once was.
Stabler was given the nickname of Snake for being able to avoid the rush and slide away from pass rushers and the Oiler/Saint version was the opposite-a player that was meat on the platter for rushers,most notably in a Monday Night Football loss for the Saints against Dallas,where he was hammered into several fumbles.
The fact that Ken Stabler isn't in the Hall of Fame is a joke.
I can rattle you off five names that I would say Stabler has a better case to be in Canton than that are already there.
George Blanda (longevity and AFL Career),Len Dawson (same one title as Stabler),Bob Griese (2 titles,but Stabler a far better passer with a lesser run game),Fran Tarkenton (zero titles) and Sonny Jurgensen (zero playoff wins) all come up under Stabler in my judgement,
All and all,Ken Stabler,Hall of Fame or not,is one of the most memorable players of his time and will be remembered by football fans of all the memories that he provided.
My Stabler McFarlane figure and autographed cards (each of the three teams he played for) will be a cherished part of my collection forever.
Hopefully,I'll have a podcast up tonight that will talk about the legacy and memories of Kenny Stabler...
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