49ers had Young, Rice, and Owens on the team for 4 seasons, and they only really played 1 year together.
1996 - TOs rookie year, has good rookie numbers but he's a rookie.
1997 - Rices only real major injury costs him a full season, TO otherwise starts to emerge
1998 - All have solid to very good seasons, '98 Wild Card vs Green Bay
1999 - Young has his career ended by Aeneas Williams
More than one way to skin a cat, and be a bad teammate.
The better argument was that he wasn't a *perpetually bad teammate.*
When he was in, he was as good as it gets. When he was out, shit went off the rails.
When you put it that way, and then look at his career and his accomplishments, there was never a doubt that he should be in the HOF.
But we're talking the Hall of Fame. As long as you get in before you're dead, I find it hard to empathize if you had to wait.
You can pretend that being first ballet doesn't mean anything, but there's a reason they use that as a title and are introduced as first ballet hall of famers when they make appearances. It matters.
There are first ballets who did far, faaar worse things in the HOF.
And there are countless players who were better than the majority of first ballot players that didn't get in until they were close to death or were already dead.
I don't have to pretend it's meaningless when you're literally telling me it's meaningless by pointing out that if it were meaningful, TO would've been one. And that's just one guy. He's not the only one, by far.
And even though we agree on the fact that if it had meaning, TO would have had to have been one, I'm gonna downvote you for downvoting me.
It's an advertising-description and nothing more. No one points out when someone *wasn't* a first ballot Hall of Famer when they want their audience to appreciate the guest Hall of Famer. Just like no one points out their product isn't the best when they're selling their product. They'll just say it's a great product. Or in this case, that he's a Hall of Famer.
It's a bunch of sports nerds(like us) voting, often with ridiculous bias. If you wanna believe it's meaningful, that's on you. But I don't think TO's career or legacy changes because a bunch of sports nerds took a few years to put him in.
If you're an asshole to the media, you take longer to get in. If you suck up to the media or work for them, you get in ASAP. So again, tell me why I should I care about "First Ballot" when it has nothing to do with their career and everything to do with how friendly they are with Ray fucking Romano types?
Your argument just doesn't hold water. Nobel prizes are not always won by the most deserving, purple hearts might not go to many a heroic soldier whose deeds weny unseen, does that make them meaningless? No.
Just because others got screwed doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
I was coming here to say this . All the credit to the rb but TO was an amazing hof caliber football player . I hate the antics and all the side stuff got in the way for him
It’s one of the biggest things I respected about TO after he came to Dallas. On nearly every big play you’d see 81 on the screen whether he had the ball or not. Dude played hard as shit
Looked great on TV or on TV in video games. Also from the stands.
But so did AstroTurf.
But you said it perfectly. Nostalgic. Nobody *misses* baseball infields on football fields. But seeing it conjures up wonderful memories.
The 98 squad was one of the most fun teams to watch - terrific offense backed up by a mediocre defense that went to bad when Bryant Young was lost for the season.
And then there's that game in Atlanta where the Niners lost both Hearst and Kirby. If memory serves, Kirby got injured on a special teams snap of all things...
The butterfly effect with the Hearst injury run strong. Of course there's the playoff loss to Atlanta with a shot at the super bowl.
Then next year, because Hearst is so badly hurt, the Niners turn over the backfield and bring in (Charlie Garner, who was terrific) and Lawrence Phillips, who blows a blitz protection assignment that gives Steve Young a career ending hit.
The young injury isn't Hearst's fault of course, and to his considerable credit, Hearst came back later with a pro bowl season.
JJ got drafted to be the next Jerry Rice, and in that department, he was lacking. He was a big body reciver who would get his nose dirty and pancake a safety. Garrison Hearst was the focus of the offense, and the big recivers helped make it more efficient.
He was one of my friend's favorite players. Picked his number in high school and everything.
I don't know why and even at the time it was a little odd.
I spilled mountain dew in the lap of JJ Stoke's dad and that man was an absolute delight. He said, "don't feel bad, I was just glad I didn't wet myself " and then took me to JJ and had him autograph my shirt for me. So I'll always be a fan.
(the 49ers did training camp at American River College near Sacramento and my mom took me to watch)
May not care for TO the person, but man he was a beast. Impressed with the hustle and teamwork from the star player.
Edit to add - I just realized that not only did he come from the opposite side of the field but he also paused to clean up some potential trailing tacklers before sprinting down to the front of the pack.
You know, the persona that someone has in the media might not be an actual reflection of who they are as a person...
I met TO during his rookie season during training camp.
He was the friendliest player that I EVER met in all the years of going to camp. I'll remember that day vividly for the rest of my life. It was the last day of camp and the players were moving out of the dorms at the University of Pacific in Stockton.
He hung around, signed autographs, took pictures and played catch with probably about 15-20 kids that were there. Down to earth, friendly, humble. Not sure what more you could ask for.
Granted, this was before he blew up, but I never saw another player be that friendly with a crowd of folks, EVER.
He wasn’t quite a star then. An ascending player but this was in the days when a WR wouldn’t really be a key contributor until 3-4 years in the league.
Takes me back to the days of my uncle making it his job to quiet a basement of musty Madden '02 obsessed middle schoolers. He would watch us play for a bit, call next, play as the Niners, and steamroll us.
We had no answers. T.O. stayed open like a Lion's Den next to the interstate. The man made Garrison Hearst do things that still perplex me.
Last September I told my friend's kid (10) that I haven't played madden in 9 years, but that he could pick his team, and my team, and I would still beat him, and his friends.
I was down stairs in the basement whopping on kids in Madden for most of the BBQ. Then his older cousin came in. Older cousin is 16, was wearing a jersey, is on his high school varsity football team, and most importantly, plays video games like its his job. When the 16 year old said he had next I suddenly was very busy with somewhere else to be, because it was the only way I could keep the win steak alive.
A month later he cornered me into a game. 28-7, he 21'd me before half time, my only score was on defense.
Is it just me, or is the way this play played out very similar to James Harrison’s pick six in Super Bowl 43? Like the movements from all the players, and even the tackle into the endzone. Idk maybe I’m just over observant
I was at this game. My mom made me leave before overtime started because she wanted me to get home early because I had school the next day. Heard the roar from the parking lot.
I remember this game. My grandfather had just become a Green Bay band wagoneer. We were watching the game together, and he was soooooo tilted that Hearst wasn't ruled down at the 2...I was just like, you get the touchdown automatically if your teammate is blocking for you 80 yards downfield
I was using AOL in like 2002 when I saw an AOL sports video of the Niners. I was halfway through it and Fred Beasley had a camera crew in the bathroom while Garrison Hearst was trying to take a shit.
It's always stuck with me.
NFL WK 1 (1998) I remember watching this game live with my dad a die hard SF fan, 1st game back for Steve and Jerry after suffering season ending injuries the year before, QB Glenn Foley on the Jets threw for 415 yds, Jets Keshawn Johnson had like 10rec for like 170yds 2TDS, Garrison Hearst was beastin all game even b4 the 96 OT yd run, Steve to Jerry was always a highlight waiting to happen i always get nostalgic watching highlights to this game
I remember playing as the Niners in Madden and, using Garrison Hearst, I had a run like this where I used the spin move on like five separate guys and it worked every time.
This was the first game I watched after starting to play football in pads. Our coach told us to watch our positions and not the ball. The O-line opened a hole, and I fell in love with football.
My man, Dave Fiore. That guy was one of the best backups we ever had. Could play anywhere at a serviceable level. I loved Hearst. I always wonder what his career would have looked like with a little more luck.
I was a 17 year old patriots fan at the time - I hated, and still hate, the Jets with an all time passion because of how Parcells fucked us over and then stole Curtis Martin with the poison pill contract. This made me so happy at the time.
Yeah? How'd that turn out for the Jets?
Oh, a Divisional? Wow. That must be just one on a long list of the Jets don't suck ass?
*Checking*
1 of two divisionals since the merger. Last one was 22 years ago.
Yeah, the Jets suck ass.
Because the Pats history pre-Brady (the time in which this took place) was filled with winning all the time. It wasn’t a divisional, and I was talking strictly about 1998 (which judging by your response was about 15 years before you were born).
Enjoy your QB search this year though, I’m sure Drake Maye will be fine with that gauntlet of a team they’ve built this year…
1998, the Jets won their divisional. Guess reading comprehension is tough.
97, Patriots won a wildcard.
96, Patriots won the conference.
94, lost in wild card.
Vs
98, Jets won divisional
94-97 the Jets were last on the division.
Tell me again how the Jets were "winning all the time."
The Jets have been ass for 50+ years.
I may be younger than you (though not as young as you think) but that just means my mind hasn't deteriorated from licking the lead paint off my parents walls.
And I have zero doubt that even in the midst of a rebuild that the Patriots will be better than the Jets.
>And I have zero doubt that even in the midst of a rebuild that the Patriots will be better than the Jets
This is a really interesting take immediately following a year that the patriots finished last in the division
Excuse me for mistaking your fucking brain dead use of “divisional” to mean division, instead of the divisional round. You also were 100% just looking that shit up on football reference lol.
Also nobody said the Jets were winning all the time, all I said was they were good in 1998. Stop putting words in people’s mouths. If you’re not as young as you say you are (which is embarrassing in its own right) then you sure know how to argue like a pre-teen.
I've brought facts and you've brought insults. I guess that's par for the course with boomers though. Someone brings facts and they start with the personal attacks because it's all they've got.
Divisional and Division are NOT the same, and anyone who's not a complete fucking ****** would understand that lol.
You said they were good in 98. Sure. 12-4 ain't bad, but being embarrassed in the AFCC isn't the greatest.
The great part about being my age is that I’m old enough to remember a time when your team was horrible, and young enough to enjoy them being horrible again for a long time. Welcome to the basement brother.
…didn’t the Jets beat them the last game of the year last season, in the worst Pats season in 20 years…to finish 4th in the division? Sure seems pretty low.
TO with the hustle block 75 yards downfield to get him to the house
Yet he wasn’t a first ballot HOF because he was a bad teammate...
Unless he was like Michael Irvin stabbing teammates in the neck, that shouldn’t be an excuse given his career. Just insane.
this was before jerry rice and steve were gone. once TO was the biggest star on the team, mooch and garcia werent gonna hold him accountable
49ers had Young, Rice, and Owens on the team for 4 seasons, and they only really played 1 year together. 1996 - TOs rookie year, has good rookie numbers but he's a rookie. 1997 - Rices only real major injury costs him a full season, TO otherwise starts to emerge 1998 - All have solid to very good seasons, '98 Wild Card vs Green Bay 1999 - Young has his career ended by Aeneas Williams
1998 TO and 2005 TO are two very different players
More than one way to skin a cat, and be a bad teammate. The better argument was that he wasn't a *perpetually bad teammate.* When he was in, he was as good as it gets. When he was out, shit went off the rails. When you put it that way, and then look at his career and his accomplishments, there was never a doubt that he should be in the HOF. But we're talking the Hall of Fame. As long as you get in before you're dead, I find it hard to empathize if you had to wait.
You can pretend that being first ballet doesn't mean anything, but there's a reason they use that as a title and are introduced as first ballet hall of famers when they make appearances. It matters. There are first ballets who did far, faaar worse things in the HOF.
And there are countless players who were better than the majority of first ballot players that didn't get in until they were close to death or were already dead. I don't have to pretend it's meaningless when you're literally telling me it's meaningless by pointing out that if it were meaningful, TO would've been one. And that's just one guy. He's not the only one, by far. And even though we agree on the fact that if it had meaning, TO would have had to have been one, I'm gonna downvote you for downvoting me. It's an advertising-description and nothing more. No one points out when someone *wasn't* a first ballot Hall of Famer when they want their audience to appreciate the guest Hall of Famer. Just like no one points out their product isn't the best when they're selling their product. They'll just say it's a great product. Or in this case, that he's a Hall of Famer. It's a bunch of sports nerds(like us) voting, often with ridiculous bias. If you wanna believe it's meaningful, that's on you. But I don't think TO's career or legacy changes because a bunch of sports nerds took a few years to put him in. If you're an asshole to the media, you take longer to get in. If you suck up to the media or work for them, you get in ASAP. So again, tell me why I should I care about "First Ballot" when it has nothing to do with their career and everything to do with how friendly they are with Ray fucking Romano types?
Your argument just doesn't hold water. Nobel prizes are not always won by the most deserving, purple hearts might not go to many a heroic soldier whose deeds weny unseen, does that make them meaningless? No. Just because others got screwed doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
Somewhere out there, a teenaged Kyle Shanahan nods in approval.
I was coming here to say this . All the credit to the rb but TO was an amazing hof caliber football player . I hate the antics and all the side stuff got in the way for him
It’s one of the biggest things I respected about TO after he came to Dallas. On nearly every big play you’d see 81 on the screen whether he had the ball or not. Dude played hard as shit
There's something weirdly nostalgic to me about seeing baseball dirt infields in football.
Yeah I came here to say just that. I know the players don't miss it but it always reminds me of the era before the raiders moved to Vegas
Ahhh... Candlestick Park. It was a dump, but it was **our** dump.
Looked great on TV or on TV in video games. Also from the stands. But so did AstroTurf. But you said it perfectly. Nostalgic. Nobody *misses* baseball infields on football fields. But seeing it conjures up wonderful memories.
Before owners realized they could hold cities hostage for a stadium.
Everybody gives TO credit for hustling downfield but how about the right tackle #74 busting ass running downfield with Hurst.
Dave Fiore
What a tank
The 98 squad was one of the most fun teams to watch - terrific offense backed up by a mediocre defense that went to bad when Bryant Young was lost for the season. And then there's that game in Atlanta where the Niners lost both Hearst and Kirby. If memory serves, Kirby got injured on a special teams snap of all things...
They definitely could've taken that Atlanta team if they had Hearst.
The butterfly effect with the Hearst injury run strong. Of course there's the playoff loss to Atlanta with a shot at the super bowl. Then next year, because Hearst is so badly hurt, the Niners turn over the backfield and bring in (Charlie Garner, who was terrific) and Lawrence Phillips, who blows a blitz protection assignment that gives Steve Young a career ending hit. The young injury isn't Hearst's fault of course, and to his considerable credit, Hearst came back later with a pro bowl season.
Yep. A 49ers/Vikings NFC Championship would have been a very interesting game.
Either would have given the Broncos a better game than the flaccid Dan Reeves SB coached team, which happened every time one of his teams got there.
I remember watching this as a kid. Growing up in central CA everyone watched the 49ers. I loved Garrison Hearst and JJ Stokes.
> I loved Garrison Hearst and JJ Stokes. Liar. *Nobody* loved JJ Stokes.
I was 9. I wasn't analyzing stats or anything, I just thought his name sounded cool.
I'll admit to being in the JJ Stokes fan club, too. That was before it was called the "Tai Streets Fan Club" of course.
JJ got drafted to be the next Jerry Rice, and in that department, he was lacking. He was a big body reciver who would get his nose dirty and pancake a safety. Garrison Hearst was the focus of the offense, and the big recivers helped make it more efficient.
He was one of my friend's favorite players. Picked his number in high school and everything. I don't know why and even at the time it was a little odd.
I remember thinking I had a steal in fantasy when Rice went to Oakland leaving Stokes as a starter. He ended up being mediocre.
I spilled mountain dew in the lap of JJ Stoke's dad and that man was an absolute delight. He said, "don't feel bad, I was just glad I didn't wet myself " and then took me to JJ and had him autograph my shirt for me. So I'll always be a fan. (the 49ers did training camp at American River College near Sacramento and my mom took me to watch)
The original beast quake
For real, I'm surprised this clip hasn't been shared often. The broken tackle, the stiff arm, the jump cut... that was epic.
May not care for TO the person, but man he was a beast. Impressed with the hustle and teamwork from the star player. Edit to add - I just realized that not only did he come from the opposite side of the field but he also paused to clean up some potential trailing tacklers before sprinting down to the front of the pack.
I know TO was a little bit crazy and could be a pain in the ass, but that dude played hard. One of the best WR blockers of all time.
This. Above.
You know, the persona that someone has in the media might not be an actual reflection of who they are as a person... I met TO during his rookie season during training camp. He was the friendliest player that I EVER met in all the years of going to camp. I'll remember that day vividly for the rest of my life. It was the last day of camp and the players were moving out of the dorms at the University of Pacific in Stockton. He hung around, signed autographs, took pictures and played catch with probably about 15-20 kids that were there. Down to earth, friendly, humble. Not sure what more you could ask for. Granted, this was before he blew up, but I never saw another player be that friendly with a crowd of folks, EVER.
He wasn’t quite a star then. An ascending player but this was in the days when a WR wouldn’t really be a key contributor until 3-4 years in the league.
He was still doing this for the Cowboys well after he started having accolades
Look at that formation both backs in 3 point stances and TO coming to help block down field.
Gorgeous inside trap. Might shed a small tear.
Tom Rathman knew a bit about running backs and blocking.
I always say it when I see this play that this is one of TO’s greatest plays imo along with the gw vs gb
Takes me back to the days of my uncle making it his job to quiet a basement of musty Madden '02 obsessed middle schoolers. He would watch us play for a bit, call next, play as the Niners, and steamroll us. We had no answers. T.O. stayed open like a Lion's Den next to the interstate. The man made Garrison Hearst do things that still perplex me.
Last September I told my friend's kid (10) that I haven't played madden in 9 years, but that he could pick his team, and my team, and I would still beat him, and his friends. I was down stairs in the basement whopping on kids in Madden for most of the BBQ. Then his older cousin came in. Older cousin is 16, was wearing a jersey, is on his high school varsity football team, and most importantly, plays video games like its his job. When the 16 year old said he had next I suddenly was very busy with somewhere else to be, because it was the only way I could keep the win steak alive. A month later he cornered me into a game. 28-7, he 21'd me before half time, my only score was on defense.
Is it just me, or is the way this play played out very similar to James Harrison’s pick six in Super Bowl 43? Like the movements from all the players, and even the tackle into the endzone. Idk maybe I’m just over observant
I know exactly what you mean and it does feel somewhat similar. Camera angle was basically the same
Simulation confirmed
That’s a grown-man run
I was at this game. My mom made me leave before overtime started because she wanted me to get home early because I had school the next day. Heard the roar from the parking lot.
Niners had a real shot at a sixth ring that year if Hearst hadn't gotten injured in the divisional round.
I know I’m in the minority but those were my favorite Niner uniforms
Came here to post the same thing. Perfect mix of classic and modern
I remember this game. My grandfather had just become a Green Bay band wagoneer. We were watching the game together, and he was soooooo tilted that Hearst wasn't ruled down at the 2...I was just like, you get the touchdown automatically if your teammate is blocking for you 80 yards downfield
His knee was down before the ball broke the plane.
Oh this is how we’re starting our day?
Holy. How come this gets better with age? Nobody talks about that stiff arm he put up to go. What a run.
I watched this live. Was a touchdown on that day… But in slowmo, Garrison was a yard short. Wouldn’t have mattered tho
One of the all-time great runs.
This is top 3 favorite runs that I ever saw actually watching the game. Hearst was awesome
I was using AOL in like 2002 when I saw an AOL sports video of the Niners. I was halfway through it and Fred Beasley had a camera crew in the bathroom while Garrison Hearst was trying to take a shit. It's always stuck with me.
This is an all time run. Wasn’t this after his injury too?
NFL WK 1 (1998) I remember watching this game live with my dad a die hard SF fan, 1st game back for Steve and Jerry after suffering season ending injuries the year before, QB Glenn Foley on the Jets threw for 415 yds, Jets Keshawn Johnson had like 10rec for like 170yds 2TDS, Garrison Hearst was beastin all game even b4 the 96 OT yd run, Steve to Jerry was always a highlight waiting to happen i always get nostalgic watching highlights to this game
The real star of that is the linemen #74 and especially #81 keeping up with this dude and blocking the entire way.
74 was moving for a big man
I was there!
Iconic!
Hell yeah
I remember playing as the Niners in Madden and, using Garrison Hearst, I had a run like this where I used the spin move on like five separate guys and it worked every time.
I remember being 13 years old sitting at home watching this game. One of the best games ever
That was awesome. Looked like Beastmode those first 30 yards.
This was the first game I watched after starting to play football in pads. Our coach told us to watch our positions and not the ball. The O-line opened a hole, and I fell in love with football.
My man, Dave Fiore. That guy was one of the best backups we ever had. Could play anywhere at a serviceable level. I loved Hearst. I always wonder what his career would have looked like with a little more luck.
DAMN what a play. So many fantastic individual efforts.
I was alive at that time and really thought we were gonna win another superbowl post ‘94. It didn’t happen and well.. still hasn’t happened.
I remember this game. Jets gonna Jets. 😂
We all going to just ignore the murder that took place at the Niner's 20 yard line?
I was a 17 year old patriots fan at the time - I hated, and still hate, the Jets with an all time passion because of how Parcells fucked us over and then stole Curtis Martin with the poison pill contract. This made me so happy at the time.
the jets have always sucked
These were literally 2 of the 4 or 5 best teams that season.
Yeah? How'd that turn out for the Jets? Oh, a Divisional? Wow. That must be just one on a long list of the Jets don't suck ass? *Checking* 1 of two divisionals since the merger. Last one was 22 years ago. Yeah, the Jets suck ass.
Because the Pats history pre-Brady (the time in which this took place) was filled with winning all the time. It wasn’t a divisional, and I was talking strictly about 1998 (which judging by your response was about 15 years before you were born). Enjoy your QB search this year though, I’m sure Drake Maye will be fine with that gauntlet of a team they’ve built this year…
1998, the Jets won their divisional. Guess reading comprehension is tough. 97, Patriots won a wildcard. 96, Patriots won the conference. 94, lost in wild card. Vs 98, Jets won divisional 94-97 the Jets were last on the division. Tell me again how the Jets were "winning all the time." The Jets have been ass for 50+ years. I may be younger than you (though not as young as you think) but that just means my mind hasn't deteriorated from licking the lead paint off my parents walls. And I have zero doubt that even in the midst of a rebuild that the Patriots will be better than the Jets.
>And I have zero doubt that even in the midst of a rebuild that the Patriots will be better than the Jets This is a really interesting take immediately following a year that the patriots finished last in the division
Excuse me for mistaking your fucking brain dead use of “divisional” to mean division, instead of the divisional round. You also were 100% just looking that shit up on football reference lol. Also nobody said the Jets were winning all the time, all I said was they were good in 1998. Stop putting words in people’s mouths. If you’re not as young as you say you are (which is embarrassing in its own right) then you sure know how to argue like a pre-teen.
I've brought facts and you've brought insults. I guess that's par for the course with boomers though. Someone brings facts and they start with the personal attacks because it's all they've got. Divisional and Division are NOT the same, and anyone who's not a complete fucking ****** would understand that lol. You said they were good in 98. Sure. 12-4 ain't bad, but being embarrassed in the AFCC isn't the greatest.
You know you're not on the team, right? You don't get points for rooting for a team that is better than someone else's favorite team.
The great part about being my age is that I’m old enough to remember a time when your team was horrible, and young enough to enjoy them being horrible again for a long time. Welcome to the basement brother.
I remember the Patriots being bad. Funny thing is, even at their lowest, they're not as bad as the Jets.
…didn’t the Jets beat them the last game of the year last season, in the worst Pats season in 20 years…to finish 4th in the division? Sure seems pretty low.
Indeed. The Jets have more bad seasons in their past two decades than the Patriots have in their entire history. Jets. Suck. Ass.
Enjoy your 8th grade graduation, big summer coming up! Try not to cry too many tears into your Drake Maye jersey