Earl Morrall/Johnny Unitas

Baltimore Colts

Johnny Unitas will be 39 when the 1972 season gets underway, and that in itself may explain the pro scouts' reluctance to attempt to rate the man who has been voted the National Football League's all-time quarterback.

At the time the scouts' files were opened for Pro Quarterback, Unitas was sitting on the Colts' bench behind Earl Morrall, telling the scouts all they needed to know- Morrall at that point in the season was more capable of leading the club than Unitas.
 

In the scouts' eyes, Unitas obviously was having some difficulty following his Achilles injury and they shied from filling out a rating card. At the same time the scouts left little doubt who would be the Colts' quarterback if both Unitas and Morrall were both physically capable of doing the job.

For, despite his 16 years experience, the ratings showed that Morrall just does not have Unitas' talents. Although he never has had the arm problems that have plagued Unitas in recent years, Morrall was rated only a mediocre 2 in throwing ability.

Morrall, who will be 37 when the 1972 season gets underway, received his highest marks in the departments where experience is the major factor, achieving a 4 in leadership and 3.5 in reading defenses.

Obviously there is no way Morrall could have compared with a Unitas in his prime, but it should be emphasized that Morrall's ratings in those two departments speak well for a guy who apparently has limited passing skills.
 

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