Former NFL MVP Gabriel dies at 83
Roman Gabriel, who had a 16-year quarterback career in the NFL with numerous accolades, including winning league MVP in 1969, has died at the age of 83, the Los Angeles Rams organization and his son confirmed via social media.
Gabriel had his greatest success playing for his first team, the Los Angeles Rams, from 1962-72. His 1969 season, in which he led the league with 24 touchdowns passes, resulted in several MVP and player of the year awards, by such organizations as the Associated Press, the UPI, the NEA and the Sporting News.
His fourth and final Pro Bowl appearance came in 1973, his first in Philadelphia playing for the Eagles. That season marked the second season he led the league in touchdown passes with 23.
After a stellar collegiate career at North Carolina State, Gabriel became the top overall selection of the 1962 AFL Draft (Oakland Raiders), but he elected to go play for the Rams instead, who chose him second overall in the NFL Draft.
He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, but has yet to earn that same honor in the pros, despite holding better career numbers than several other inductees, including Bart Starr, who denied Gabriel’s Rams a chance at a Super Bowl championship in 1967.
Gabriel finished with 29,444 yards, 201 touchdowns and 149 interceptions in 183 games (157 starts).
ELSEWHERE
Jets: New York quarterback Zach Wilson will not attend voluntary offseason workouts in what general manager Joe Douglas labeled a “player’s choice.”
There has been no traction gained in trade talks with teams interested in Wilson, Douglas said Friday at his pre-draft news conference. But Wilson is still hoping to play elsewhere next season and didn’t report to the start of the Jets’ offseason program.
Texans: Houston is re-signing running back Dare Ogunbowale toa one-year contract, NFL Network reported on Sunday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
College football: Games in the upcoming college football season might feel more like the NFL, after the NCAA approved rule changes that include new options for communications and a new automatic timeout policy.
According to new rules announced by the NCAA’s Playing Rules Oversight Panel, in FBS games, teams will be given the option to use coach-toplayer communications through a device in the helmet of one player.
Similar to the NFL, that player will be identified by a green sticker on the helmet, and communications will be cut off either when the ball is snapped or with 15 seconds left on the play clock, whichever comes first.
Additionally, the NCAA will implement a system like the NFL employing automatic timeouts with two minutes left in the second and fourth quarters. These will not be additional television timeouts.