Especially when you factor in the type of league it was back then. Sure, the Jets were more pass heavy than many teams, but DBs were basically allowed to molest you on the field without penalty, so even passing more it was tough to put up those stats. I wish I has been able to experience those seasons first hand. Damn my youth and good looks....
Of course you're right...need only to watch one rugby game. Dudes ball with NO helmets (or shoulder pads, rib pads, etc). Helmets become weapons and allow the person wearing one to feel invincible. Drop a helmet on your 5 yr old kid and see how he reacts!
The AFL compares a bit better to the current environment than the NFL did. The Jets, Raiders and Oilers had some pretty sick seasons throwing the ball around. Jets and Raiders were competing hard in their markets against well-known teams and the Oilers were competing against high school football for the locals affections.
Very good point. Sometimes I forget just how much gunning the AFL had back then. Really was a different world back then. Today the NFL is so corporate it makes me want to puke, but I have started to forget that the league wasn't always like this. It seems like every decade the league gets a bit more watered down. OTOH, I think this might apply to all sports. Shoot, once upon a time boxers continued matches with eyes hanging out of their eye sockets (just shove that sucker back in!) and now a little bleeding stops the fight. What a bunch of wussies! (So says the ball of pudge safely typing on his iPad keypad away from the physical harm that these athletes would surely inflict on him.....)
