SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
September 12, 1966
John Brodie, by virtue of an aborted deal with the Houston Oilers (SI, Aug. 29) and the usual dire need of a proven first-quality quarterback by the San Francisco 49ers, has become a more costly player than John Unitas of the Baltimore Colts. Brodie signed with the 49ers for nearly a million dollars. If he is worth that much, Carroll Rosenbloom, the owner of the Colts, may need a piece of Fort Knox to pay Unitas his fit fee. Brodie is a fine quarterback, but he is no Unitas.
"John's a fine quarterback," one of the team's best receivers says. "I don't think about how much the club pays for every pass he throws. I'm just glad that he throws the hooks at my belly button and the flys high enough for me to run under them. If he wins us a championship, we ail get that money. And if we play the other league, we get it twice, baby. Could be maybe 15 real big ones."
Could be, but it is more likely that the 49ers will finish fifth.