for those who arent in the know"
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Pat_Haden?o=2800&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com
Professional career
Haden played one season in the
World Football League for the
Southern California Sun, which allowed him to attend school at
Oxford University under his Rhodes Scholarship. His decision to go to the
United Kingdom for schooling hurt his NFL possibilities as well as a lack of height (he stood 5-10) and lack of arm strength and he dropped to the 7th round of the
NFL Draft.
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Haden made the
Los Angeles Rams' roster in 1976 as the third quarterback behind
James Harris and
Ron Jaworski. When both Harris and Jaworski were injured, Haden was pressed into duty in the second game of the season. Running a low-risk offense to cover his limitations, he responded by playing mostly mistake-free football, letting running backs
Lawrence McCutcheon and
John Cappelletti shoulder the offensive load and passing only occasionally. Harris returned to the lineup as starting quarterback and Haden went back to a backup role. In a Monday night game against the
Cincinnati Bengals, Harris played poorly in a 20-12 loss, and Rams head coach
Chuck Knox was ordered by team owner
Carroll Rosenbloom to bench Harris, who is black, in favor of Haden, who is white. This is documented in Knox's autobiography
Hard Knox: The Life of an NFL Coach and
William Rhoden's
Third and a Mile: The Trials and Triumph of the Black Quarterback. At the time of the quarterback change, Harris was the top-rated passer of the National Football Conference. Many argue that this fact alone supports that the move was racially motivated. However, an argument from statistics cannot be used to prove that racism. At the end of season, Haden's QB rating was 94.8% compared to Harris' 89.6 (neither had enough attempts to qualify for leader board). Additionally, Haden had a better won-loss record as the starter than Harris, at 5-1-1, compared to 3-2. The Rams went on to win the NFC Western Division title and a 14–12 upset of the defending NFC champion
Dallas Cowboys in the opening round, but the Rams fell to the
Minnesota Vikings in the
NFC Championship Game.
The Rams wanted experience and a stronger arm at the quarterback position for the
1977 NFL season. Harris and Jaworski were traded, and the Rams acquired veteran QB
Joe Namath from the New York Jets. Namath started the first four games, but it was evident his knees couldn't take it anymore, so the Rams went back to Haden. The Rams took eight victories in the last 10 games, winning the NFC West and making the playoffs once again. Their first-round opponent was the Vikings at home, but the Rams lost 14–7 in the
Mud Bowl. Haden's small hands impaired his ability to grip the wet muddy ball, leading to a dismal passing performance (14-32 for 130 yards, 3 interceptions).
Haden was rewarded with the starting position from day one in 1978. The Rams started fast, going 8-0, but tailed off to 12-4, still winning their third straight NFC West Division title. Haden threw a pair of touchdown passes and led the Rams to a 34-10 victory against the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs. The
Dallas Cowboys, however, walloped the Rams 28-0 in the
1978 NFC Championship Game on their way to the
Super Bowl. Haden was voted the
Washington D.C. Touchdown Club NFC Player of the Year of the 1978 season.
Haden began the 1979 season as the starter, but a broken finger midway through the season sidelined him in favor of
Vince Ferragamo. Ferragamo ended up leading the Rams to
Super Bowl XIV.
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Because of Rams' coach
Ray Malavasi's policy of giving an injured starter his job back, Haden began the 1980 season as the starter with Ferragamo as the backup. Haden was injured in the Rams season opener against the Detroit Lions. Ferragamo took over as the starter and didn't relinquish the job (despite Haden returning mid-season), passing for a then Rams-record 30 touchdown passes.
Ferragamo, however, bolted the Rams for the
Canadian Football League. Haden once again went into the 1981 season as starter, but was injured midway through the season. After the season, while recovering from knee surgery and contemplating retirement, he got a call from
CBS about a broadcast job and decided to take the job.
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