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Great as the veteran pocket passers are, their futures are uncertain. Brodie, 37, whom many pros rate directly behind Namath in passing ability, ranks third in alltime yardage statistics, has had 207 career touchdown passes and was 1970's Player of the Year. He threw a lot of interceptions (24) in 1971, though, and was taken out of the 49ers game with Buffalo this year with an injured wrist. With two touchdown tosses last week against New Orleans, he is still in better shape than Jurgensen, 38, who glowers on the bench (at $125,000 a year) while that determined disciplinarian, George Allen, sticks with disciplined Billy Kilmer at the Redskin helm. Unitas joined Namath on that stratospheric day in Baltimore to set an N.F.L. record for most passing yardage gained by two teams in one game (872). But he is now 39, and his arm has never fully regained its snap after a 1968 shoulder injury.
While Miami Coach Don Shula readily concedes that Namath is "without equal as a passer," he feels that his team has the best all-round quarterback in Bob Griese (6 ft. 1 in., 190 Ibs.), who led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl last January. "He's become the team leader in a quiet, intelligent way," says Shula. "When he sticks his head in the huddle, everything he says is gospel." Griese demonstrated his poise in the final quarter against the rugged Minnesota zone defense last week, carefully picking it apart until he found Tight End Jim Mandich all alone in the end zone for the winning touchdown.
The explosive Detroit Lion offense revolves around an equally rugged quarterback, Greg Landry (6 ft. 4 in., 205 Ibs.), who passed for more than 2,200 yds. last year and broke Tobin Rote's 20-year-old rushing record for quarterbacks of 530 yds. The New England Patriots are off to a sparkling start behind Jim Plunkett (6 ft. 3 in., 210 Ibs.), the former Heisman Trophy winner and 1971 American Conference Rookie of the Year. And in Pittsburgh, long-suffering Owner Art Rooney hopes that his Steelers can ride to the first league title in their 40-year history on the strong arm—and legs—of Terry Bradshaw (6 ft. 3 in., 214 Ibs.), who passed and ran for 634 yds. in the first three games of the season.
For all their power and potential, most of the youngsters shooting for their first Super Bowl are mercurial performers who lack what Joe Namath has finally attained: maturity. It has not come easily. Says Teammate Larry Grantham: "It takes everybody a while to get his feet on the ground. I don't see how he handled it as well as he did."
Some think Joe's reputation as an eternal swinger has been exaggerated, and his devotion to football underrated. Says Veteran Receiver Don Maynard, Namath's favorite target over the years: "Everything you hear about Namath's personal life, divide it. Everything you hear about his professional life, multiply it." Not that Joe is an incipient St. Christopher, whose image in metal he wears round his neck. True, he turned down the drinks pressed upon him by coaches and friends two weeks ago in Houston with a nonchalant, "Haven't you heard? Tomorrow is game day." But the grin and the drawl were the purest Namath insouciance.