The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-08-31
of TIMES
Pro grid
picture
BY LOU FABR0
Times Sports Editor

Powerful favorites reign in the West and close races
shape up in the East as pro footballs regular season nears.
In case you haven't noticed, the American Football League
swings into action next weekend; the National Football
League race starts on Sept. 10.
Green Bay. coached by expert fundamentals Vince
lombard and featuring halfback Paul Hornung, fullback
Jim Taylor, quarterback Bart Starr and Co, is the over
whelming choice to win the NILS Western Conference
crown for a third straight year.
SAN DIEGO, BEHIND II PASSING of Paul Kemp
and the hard, jtterbug running of Paul Lowe, rules as the
top candidate in the AFLs Western Division. Should the
Chargers do as expected, the title will be their third
straight.
The Baltimore Colts. Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions
are likely to fight it out to determine who finishes as run
nerup to Green Bay. Should quarterback Johnny Unitas
stay healthy, we lean toward the Colts; otherwise, the
Bears, with the addition of All-American Ronnie Bull, are
q likely runnerup candidate.
San Diego's biggest threat and we use the term adj
visedly = will be the Dallas Texans, who reaped a large
crop of 1861 college stars, including Texas halfback Johnny
The other half of both leagues present an entirely diff
ferent story.
IN THE NILS EASTERN CONFERENCE, the bal
ance of power seems to be so evenly distributed that at
least four Of its seven teams are serious pennant possible
ties. These are the defending champion New York Giants,
the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cleveland Browns and the St.
Louis Cardinals.
Although there are only four cams in the AFLs East
en Division, the job of picking the eventual champion isn't
easy. 1t appears that defending champion Houston will
have a rough time preventing the Boston Patriots from
winning the 1862 crown.
Local interest, of course, is directed TO the Browns, who
last won a championship in 1857 How we'll the Browns will
fare may be determined in the early weeks of the season.
They open their campaign against the %contending Giants,
who seem to hold some kind Of magic spell over the Browns,
and they play their third game against the dangerous la
giles.
IN SIZING UP THE BROWN it's interesting to note
that in the annual p~aperback, PRO Football Handbook,
Cleveland was picked to finish no higher than fourth. And
this was published before An-American, Heisman Trophy
winner Ernie Davis was sidelined for the season because of
a serious blood ailment.
An annual football magazine, also printed before Da-
Wis was ruled out for the year, placed the Browns third.
In each case, the authors were skeptical about quarter
back Jim Ninowskis passing ability. Quite frankly, we new
err were impressed by quarterback Milt Plum and his high
completion averages. Those passing statistics OF his looked
great on paper but didn't seem Impressive on the held
especially since so many of his passes were behind the
line or "shortes" into the flat.
FROM THIS ORN 1T APPEARS the Browns are
stronger at quarterback as a result of the Plum-NinoWsk
trade, Even though the loss of Davis dlminishes tins adj
vantage. the Browns offense still is stronger than it was
last year when Cleveland finished third, Besides, Paul
Brown picked up a couple of offensive haltbacks who are
showing great promise.
Defense remains questionable. 1t was a weak link last
year but newcomers Bill Glass and Frank Parker should
beef up this department. If their defense improves suffl-
GENTLY, the Browns will face Green Bay in the NIL champ
ionship game. If their defense Says, the aging Giants may
well emerge from a wild free-for-all as the 1862 champion.
As we noted earlier, st. Louis and Philadelphia also
will figure in the scramble for the title. With halfback John
David Crow and quarterback Sam Etcheverry back in
shape, the Cardinals rate as a first-class dark horse. The
Eagles, with their terrific running and pass-recelVlng, also
are very much in the title picture.
HOUSTON WON THE AFLs EASTERN Division IL
tie and the playoff crown last year largely because of the
excellent performance of NIL castoff quarterback George
Blanda. Another MEL castoff, quarterback Babe Parilli, is
the key TO Boston's chances of unseating Houston.
The Patriots nearly won it last year, and this year,
they're stronger-especially in defense.
Houston, on the other hand, has a decided edge in Of
tense but is lacking in defense. And this defensive weak
ness probably will be costly enough to enable the Patriots to
win the division craWn.
NO MATTER WHO WINS THE EASTERN titles in
either league, they'll find their western rivals too powerful
in the playoff games. In other words, Green Bay will win
the MEL playoff crown and San Diego viii Twin the AFl.
crown it missed least year. And were the two to meet, Green
Bay would defeat San Diego.