1973 Los Angeles Rams

[Elmgrovegnome]

Well, that's disturbing...Speculation, you can you extrapolate somewhat on that?

I have been reading that book, "The fix is In", the guys logic is pretty sound. He does have to rely on coincidence a bit but he shows how easy it would be for players, refs, and league offices to cheat. It would have been very easy back in the seventies. Players didn't get paid well and any that had a gambling debt were fair game. The same for a player with a low pay position. Ray had been much better the entire year, than he was in that game and he misses three easy ones? That is classic point shaving. The introduction of the point spread made point shaving a big trend and with Vegas hooks into sports betting the set up for corruption is perfect, because it is a subtle cheat.

 

[den-the-coach]

Ray had been much better the entire year, than he was in that game and he misses three easy ones? That is classic point shaving. The introduction of the point spread made point shaving a big trend and with Vegas hooks into sports betting the set up for corruption is perfect, because it is a subtle cheat.

Well, I guess back then you could put anything under the microscope, however, now we are questioning Ray's character. You never know, but one would surmise something would have surfaced. Ray did have a good year in 73, but he still was 30-47 in field goals that year because kickers missed more kicks back then, they were just not as accurate, it's become a fine art over the years. So he missed 17 kicks that year, missing 3 in the playoffs is not a stretch, but then again I'm naive to the fact of players throwing games and would be the person who would utter..."Say it ain't so, Joe?" or "Surely, you didn't shave, Ray?"

 

[Akrasian]

Well, I guess back then you could put anything under the microscope, however, now we are questioning Ray's character. You never know, but one would surmise something would have surfaced. Ray did have a good year in 73, but he still was 30-47 in field goals that year because kickers missed more kicks back then, they were just not as accurate, it's become a fine art over the years. So he missed 17 kicks that year, missing 3 in the playoffs is not a stretch, but then again I'm naive to the fact of players throwing games and would be the person who would utter..."Say it ain't so, Joe?" or "Surely, you didn't shave, Ray?"

If he kicked 30-47 for the season, and kept up that same percentage kicking in the playoffs, then missing 3 kicks in a game like that would happen approximately once out of 21 games. A long shot, but not startling. Without a LOT more evidence, any accusation of shaving would be laughed out of court.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

If he kicked 30-47 for the season, and kept up that same percentage kicking in the playoffs, then missing 3 kicks in a game like that would happen approximately once out of 21 games. A long shot, but not startling. Without a LOT more evidence, any accusation of shaving would be laughed out of court.

No evidence just an observation of the times. The author of the book has me questioning everything. He even points out that by creating parity in the NFL, it is even easier to monkey with points or even game outcomes. In the end these leagues don't answer to anyone other than themselves. It would be difficult to prove anything, and if not for guys in the know being pissed about being cheated (Mangini) we would have no idea at all. Two things that make me think it's still being done is its easy to get away with and when money is being offered, or is owed, people do all kinds of risky stuff.

Vegas bookies are licking their chops waiting to get their hooks into Raiders players that like to gamble. A few debts can win some big favors.

 

[1983jblack]

So den-the-coach, your the one who was sharing the yearbook from YouTube. Because of that, they are all locked down again this time for good. When people share on private websites like this, it ruins it for the rest because it puts the uploader at greater risk of being dinged.

 

[den-the-coach]

So den-the-coach, your the one who was sharing the yearbook from YouTube. Because of that, they are all locked down again this time for good. When people share on private websites like this, it ruins it for the rest because it puts the uploader at greater risk of being dinged.

My bad, did not know that and I will refrain from doing that in the future.

 

[1maGoh]

David Ray missed three FG's in that game too as the Rams fell behind early 14-0, but battled back to 17-16, with Ray missing 3 make-able field goals. Ray had a good year up to that point, but was still the old style kicker and was not just a kicker either, as he could play WR too.

They ended up releasing Ray after the 74 season trading a 4th round pick to the Eagles for Kicker Tom Dempsey. Dempsey seem like a nice acquisition, but because of the half foot, struggled with accuracy and trajectory which led to getting FG's blocked and it happen against the Vikings, where he missed a chip shot field goal and had one blocked too.

1977 The Rams finally went away from the conventional style kicker in Dempsey and signed soccer style kicker Rafael Septién, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 10th round of the 1977 draft. Then the Rams drafted kicker Frank Corral in the 3rd round out of UCLA and he replaced Septien for several years.

What's the difference between an "old style kicker" and a "soccer style kicker"?

 

[den-the-coach]

What's the difference between an "old style kicker" and a "soccer style kicker"?

Back in the day, kickers kicked field goals straight on or right behind the holder, whereas the soccer style was off to the side that see nowadays.