Evening star., 1957-12-24
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,,.uu
The Value of No. 2

The value of that real good No quarterback never
was pointed better than in San Francisco Sunday
Trailing by 20 points at stage the Detroit Lions beat
the FortyNners 3l27 to win the Western Division title
Of the National Football League
The Lions couldn't have done it without Tobn Rote
Their No. quarterback. Bobby Layne was sidened with
broken ankle. Thus, with the pressure him. ROte
led the way
Rote, who toiled so long for the Green Bay Packers
when they weren't winning any titles viii be the boy the
Lions will count this Sunday too when it's Detroit
versus Cleveland for the championship
Players like Rote don't panic, and there reason
for the Lions to feel panicky last Sunday
team Of FortyNiners had PAT lead at halftime and
277 lead early in the third period Many Of the 10000
fans. who had been fighting for tickets. confident
Of San Francisco victory.
THE FORTY MINERS own quarterback, bading, lame
legged Y Title doing very well There didn't
to be great deal to recommend the Lions They had
sneak in the back door, speak to win the right
play the Forty Miners.
Roes heroics remndful of the Cleveland Browns
Of the when Coach Paul Brown paid George
erman fancy salary just to be hand anything
happened to Otto Graham his bread-and butter quar-
terback.
Ratterman like Rote could have been first-strng on
most pro league teams Indeed George had been first
string almost from the time he got out OF Notre Dame
But there was dsplacing Graham and so Ratterman
sat on the bench, more highly paid than most regulars
Graham was very durable. But there occasions
when Raterman came in very handy True. he may not
have been as directly responsible for a division title
Rote but Coach Brown felt it was money well spent to
have him available.
!. AS MAGNIFICENT AS WAS Detroit's victory in San
Francisco have to like the chances Of the Browns for
the big money The Browns locked up the Eastern title
early and they figure to be relaxed and refreshed
outfit whereas the Lions have been under pressure for
weeks
But on the other hand the Cleveland team, despite
Its fabulous record, never has beaten the Lions in
Detroit-where the playon will be held The last time
In Detroit Cleveland lost 207 decision But the Browns
already had cinched their title the loss was dismissed
rs one Of those things
Once-and this preseason affair-Cleveland got
1928 tie in Briggs Stadium in Detroit That's the best
Coach Brown Of Cleveland has been able to do
WHILE THE LIONS may have the home field going
for them Cleveland has Jimmy Brown the large and we'll
musced young who played at Syracuse impressed
among others, one of Jim Tatum's last good Maryland
teams
The bet here Is that Cleveland will lick the Lions on
Sunday And, chances Jimmy Brown will play lead
ing role.
Brown is the 22O-pounder the Redskins somewhat
belted though he is the rookie the-year and
the leagues leading ground gamer
you get those ball players OCCASION Coach Paul
Brown drawls, as If it true Now our Brown he's
. little bit better than most
He is, and he'd better be- Right after the cham
pionship game he'll belong to Uncle Sam, reporting at
Fort Benning, Ga.