John Brodie

San Francisco 49ers

At age 35 in 1970, John Brodie hit the jackpot- gathering in almost every post-season honor available to an offensive player and stepping up to Super Star status. Yet he has failed to convince the scouts.

It's not that Brodie doesn't get good marks; it's that the scouts have definite reservations in two critical areas, reading defenses and reacting under pressure.
 

That those two categories deny an outstanding status to the 16-year pro veteran who will be 37 when the 1972 season begins is obvious, because he receives 4’s in set-up speed and throwing ability, the major prerequisites for successful passing.

It's Brodie's inability to enhance those tools, in the scouts' eyes, that leave him short. A 2.5 is his mark in reaction under pressure and he gets a 3 in reading defenses, a poor mark considering his vast experience.

There is, however, no denying that Brodie's throwing ability makes him a threat all the time, particularly when he gets time.
 

What the future holds for Brodie remains in question as it does for all quarterbacks when they hit the age the one-time Stanford product has. Some retain their skills; some find them eroding quickly. Brodie has given no indication that age has made any inroads and he seems to have remained remarkably free of serious arm trouble. So the Brodie story figures to have still more chapters.
 

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