From the NY times 1984
Terry Bradshaw, the 35-year-old quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to their record four Super Bowl championships, spoke vaguely about his football future today after having stood on the sideline throughout a 38-10 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders in the American Conference playoffs.
''I think I'll be all right,'' he said, alluding to his ailing right elbow, ''but if I'm not fine, I'll retire.''
''Right now, he's not healthy,'' said Chuck Noll, the Steeler coach. ''But if he can throw the ball, we want him.''
Bradshaw, who underwent surgery last spring for torn muscles and tendons in his passing elbow, appeared in only one game for the Steelers during the season, their only victory in their last six games. In that 34-7 triumph over the Jets at Shea Stadium, he aggravated his elbow injury while throwing two touchdown passes in the first half.
Its Time to Decide
''I don't know what the club wants me to do now,'' he said. ''But if they have to know by the draft at the end of April or early May, maybe that's too soon for me.''
Bradshaw planned to rest his arm until April, then begin lifting 5-pound weights to strengthen it. He hoped to be able to know more about his arm by the National Football League draft in order to ease the Steelers' decision on whether to select a rookie quarterback to go with Cliff Stoudt and Mark Malone.
''I want to play five or six more years if my arm comes around,'' Bradshaw said. ''I don't want my career to end like this; a lot of 'em do, but I don't want mine to.''
Over his 14 seasons, Bradshaw has completed 52 percent of his passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns (ninth in the career N.F.L. list). Against the Jets, he completed 7 of 9 passes for 77 yards.
''But as soon as I threw that first touchdown that day, I felt my elbow snap,'' he said. ''All the medical experts tell me to rest and I'll be fine, but I'll find out.''
Won't Leave Steelers
Bradshaw originally injured his elbow at training camp prior to the 1982 season. Practicing on a wet field, he slipped as he threw a long pass, tearing the muscles and tendons on the inside of his elbow.
''I'll finish my career right here,'' he said, meaning with the Steeler organization. ''I won't go to another N.F.L. team or the U.S.F.L.''
Bradshaw sounded distressed at the Central Division champions' inability to challenge the Raiders after taking an early 3-0 lead.
''Our people never got caught up in the battle,'' he said. ''It seemed like they were never too enthusiastic, but the Raiders didn't seem to be too enthusiastic either. I don't think they had much respect for us.''
Not the Same Time
Noll made no mystery of why Bradshaw did not play today. ''He can't throw the ball,'' the coach said. ''What do you want him to do - direct the running game? But it's more than just one guy. You have to have the whole team to have anything work.''
Over in the Raiders' locker room, Al Davis, their managing general partner, talked about how the Steelers were not the same team that won four Super Bowl titles in a span of six seasons.
''They're just not what they used to be,'' Davis said, ''I know No. 12 didn't play, but it wouldn't have mattered. Bradshaw was the most productive quarterback of my time, but we've been able to do O.K. with him. The big thing is that their cast isn't the same. Franco Harris isn't what he was, John Stallworth isn't, Jack Lambert is still there, but he doesn't have those same four guys in front of him now.''
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/02/sports/bradshaw-ponders-his-future.html
Terry Bradshaw, the 35-year-old quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to their record four Super Bowl championships, spoke vaguely about his football future today after having stood on the sideline throughout a 38-10 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders in the American Conference playoffs.
''I think I'll be all right,'' he said, alluding to his ailing right elbow, ''but if I'm not fine, I'll retire.''
''Right now, he's not healthy,'' said Chuck Noll, the Steeler coach. ''But if he can throw the ball, we want him.''
Bradshaw, who underwent surgery last spring for torn muscles and tendons in his passing elbow, appeared in only one game for the Steelers during the season, their only victory in their last six games. In that 34-7 triumph over the Jets at Shea Stadium, he aggravated his elbow injury while throwing two touchdown passes in the first half.
Its Time to Decide
''I don't know what the club wants me to do now,'' he said. ''But if they have to know by the draft at the end of April or early May, maybe that's too soon for me.''
Bradshaw planned to rest his arm until April, then begin lifting 5-pound weights to strengthen it. He hoped to be able to know more about his arm by the National Football League draft in order to ease the Steelers' decision on whether to select a rookie quarterback to go with Cliff Stoudt and Mark Malone.
''I want to play five or six more years if my arm comes around,'' Bradshaw said. ''I don't want my career to end like this; a lot of 'em do, but I don't want mine to.''
Over his 14 seasons, Bradshaw has completed 52 percent of his passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns (ninth in the career N.F.L. list). Against the Jets, he completed 7 of 9 passes for 77 yards.
''But as soon as I threw that first touchdown that day, I felt my elbow snap,'' he said. ''All the medical experts tell me to rest and I'll be fine, but I'll find out.''
Won't Leave Steelers
Bradshaw originally injured his elbow at training camp prior to the 1982 season. Practicing on a wet field, he slipped as he threw a long pass, tearing the muscles and tendons on the inside of his elbow.
''I'll finish my career right here,'' he said, meaning with the Steeler organization. ''I won't go to another N.F.L. team or the U.S.F.L.''
Bradshaw sounded distressed at the Central Division champions' inability to challenge the Raiders after taking an early 3-0 lead.
''Our people never got caught up in the battle,'' he said. ''It seemed like they were never too enthusiastic, but the Raiders didn't seem to be too enthusiastic either. I don't think they had much respect for us.''
Not the Same Time
Noll made no mystery of why Bradshaw did not play today. ''He can't throw the ball,'' the coach said. ''What do you want him to do - direct the running game? But it's more than just one guy. You have to have the whole team to have anything work.''
Over in the Raiders' locker room, Al Davis, their managing general partner, talked about how the Steelers were not the same team that won four Super Bowl titles in a span of six seasons.
''They're just not what they used to be,'' Davis said, ''I know No. 12 didn't play, but it wouldn't have mattered. Bradshaw was the most productive quarterback of my time, but we've been able to do O.K. with him. The big thing is that their cast isn't the same. Franco Harris isn't what he was, John Stallworth isn't, Jack Lambert is still there, but he doesn't have those same four guys in front of him now.''
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/02/sports/bradshaw-ponders-his-future.html
