Catching up with former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann
Former Washington Redskin quarterback Joe Theismann was in Savannah on Thursday for two good causes.
The primary cause was to speak at the Coastal Georgia Council Boy Scouts of America's Good Scout Dinner on Thursday night at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront.
The second was to play 18 holes of golf at The Club at Savannah Harbor on Thursday morning.
After playing what he described as a “pretty good round, actually,” Theismann took time to discuss a number of topics including why he thinks the Boy Scouts organization is vitally important to youth; the state of the NFL along with its recent legislation to limit concussions and head injuries; his former Redskins; and which quarterback he liked the best in the recent NFL draft.
“I was a Boy Scout for six or seven years growing up,” Theismann said. “My mother worked for the Scouts for 20 years, so I’m very involved in scouting and have been for a long time. I really think it’s one of the great institutions for young people to be involved with.”
He picked up his cellphone — its power turned off — and said that Scouting is “just another way to keep kids from doing something besides staring at this thing.”
Theismann, 68, said that Thursday’s night banquet is an opportunity for him to thank local donors for supporting the cause that’s near and dear to his heart.
“There so many great principles that Scouting can teach a young person,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of banquets like (Thursday) night because I want to try and thank the people that are investing in our youth. Their commitment is really important to the scouts, I can tell you that.”
NFL career
Of course, Theismann is better known for a stellar football career as a quarterback, first at Notre Dame and then for 12 pro seasons under center for the Redskins. A 1983 first-team All-Pro selection and NFL MVP that season, Theismann was a 1971 fourth-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins. He elected instead to play in Canada for three years before joining the Redskins ahead of the 1974 season.
His Redskins won the 1983 Super Bowl (XVII) over the Dolphins and he retired in 1985. Theismann still monitors the ‘Skins and the NFL very closely, and he thinks that while the league is “looking out for the players' health,” he feels that recent rule changes like the targeting penalty, changing special teams plays and the like are close to over the line.
“Football is a violent contact sport,” said Theismann, who briefly played on special teams as a punter and returner. “This new rule about not leading or using your helmet? Well, if you’re running at me full speed, I can guarantee you I’m going to put my head down. I’m not running at anyone with my chin in the air exposed.
“I think the new rule regarding hitting is going to be very difficult to officiate.”
Of the quarterbacks in the NFL draft last month, Theismann pointed out a few he thought stood above the rest.
“I like all of the top guys except for Josh Allen because of his low completion percentage,” he said. “That low percentage worries me, but I really think Baker Mayfield is the one who is most intriguing. He does a lot of things really well.”
Theismann touched on how he likes the situations for draft picks Josh Rosen (Cardinals) and Mason Rudolph (Steelers). He also noted the unique pairing in Baltimore with newly acquired Robert Griffin III playing role model to first-round pick Lamar Jackson.
“(Baltimore) signed Robert and drafted Lamar to play behind Joe (Flacco),” he said. “So, basically, you have a younger, healthy version of RG III playing behind Lamar, who is learning the mental part behind Flacco. I think that’s a good situation in Baltimore.”
