"Slingin'" Sammy Baugh dead at 94

[djtestudo]

ESPN - Washington Redskins great "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh dead at 94

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Slingin' Sammy Baugh, the ultimate three-way threat who revolutionized the use of the forward pass as a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Washington Redskins, died Wednesday night. He was 94.

Baugh, who had numerous health issues, died at Fisher County Hospital in Rotan, according to his son, David Baugh. He said his father had battled Alzheimer's disease and dementia for several years and recently had been ill with kidney problems, low blood pressure and double pneumonia.

"It wasn't the same Sam we all knew," his son told The Associated Press. "He just finally wore out."

Sammy Baugh was the last surviving member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's inaugural class.

...

When Baugh entered the NFL, the forward pass was so rare that it was unveiled mostly in desperate situations. But Baugh turn the pass into a regular feature of the offensive game plan.

As a rookie in 1937, he completed a record 81 passes (about seven a game) and led the league with 1,127 yards. By contrast, only six quarterbacks averaged three completions a game that year. He went on to lead the league in passing six times.

Baugh still holds Redskins records for career touchdown passes (187) and completion percentage in a season (70.3). His 31 interceptions on defense are third on the team's career list.

What a sad day.

Sammy Baugh created what the NFL has become. All quarterbacks that have come after owe their careers to how his ability to pass changed the game. He may not have been the best ever at the position, but he was the first. Even if he isn't treated as such, he is the NFL's equivalent to Babe Ruth.

And, oh by the way, he's got a legitimate argument for the list of top defensive backs as well. He could defend the pass as well as he could throw it.

He might be the best all-around football player in NFL history.

Even if he was a stinkin' Redskin

And after all of that, there's one of the best interview lines in NFL history:

Baugh was known to make blunt, witty remarks.

After the Redskins' 73-0 loss to the Chicago Bears in the 1940 championship, a writer asked if the outcome would have been different had an end not dropped an early touchdown pass.

"Yeah," drawled Baugh. "It would have been 73-7."

You don't have to play both ways in the game of life, Sammy, so take a well-deserved rest.