Ask anyone to define Steve Grogan in two words, and you will always get this response: tough and dedicated. Steve played in the NFL before the days of protecting the quarterback became standard. Back then, there was no tackling the QB easy cushioning him with a pillow as he went down. Instead, the Defense would line up and search out the QB like a stinger missile. Also, there were no pocket protection rules. If the QB had the ball, he was fair game to get knocked into next week. In today's game, if the QB throws the pass, the Defense has to avoid the QB like he has malaria. Graze him with a fingernail or let the shoelace touch the QB's head even as you are contorting yourself to miss him, out comes the flag. Back in Grogan's days, QBs were popped many seconds after making the completed pass just to to let them know a sack was on the horizon.

In today's game, the quarterback can throw the ball away to avoid getting sacked by the defense. If the rush is to strong, and if the QB is outside the "pocket", the QB can simply loft the ball 50 yards straight up in the air, or 40 yards away from any eligible receiver, and as long as the ball lands .01 inches across the line of scrimmage, no flag is thrown. The QB gets away with an intentional grounding, and avoids getting hit by the D to live another day. In Grogan's day, throwing the ball away like that was intentional grounding (loss of yards and loss of down). Fact of the matter is, if the QB was on the run, they had to tough it out and try to run away from the D and gain positive yards, or try to force a pass to an open receiver. If not, then the QB was planted into the ground while the D recorded a sack. Ever wonder why QBs are hardly sacked anymore? It is because the rules have changed that protects them.

Back then, there were no baseball rules in effect. Today's QB can scramble past the line of scrimmage, and as soon as the opposing team come nears them, they slide to safety. Should any D player touch the QB while he is in this NFL protected slide, out come more flags than the UN has. In Grogan's days, when a QB ran, he was treated like a RB and tackled accordingly. In fact, the D hit QBs harder just to let them know they did not like a QB gaining rushing yards against them. Fact of the matter is, the only thing between a QB in practice and a game, is that in practice, QBs wear red shirts and in a game, they are protected by yellow flags.

Had Grogan had the rules that QBs enjoy today, it is not inconceivable to think he would have been a much better QB than he already was. Fact of the matter is, Grogan was a very dedicated and tough QB. He played with broken bones, torn ligaments, sprained tendons, and crushed vertebrae. Grogan even played one year with cracked vertebrae in his neck and never once complained of his ailment, nor made any excuses about his performance. Only after the season completed, and a statement was released, did fans find out about his injury.

Grogan played with pride and dignity and never once publicly complained about anyone or anything. Fact of the matter is, he had standards in which he conducted himself and never lowered them. Even during tumultuous times in Patriots history with ownership or alleged scandals, Grogan never once commented on them. He simply remained focused on the game, and tried his very best to keep his teammates focused on the game. It is very regrettable that Grogan never got the chance to slip on the Super Bowl ring, and have his name in the Hall of Fame. While some purists would argue his stats do not rate entering the Hall of Fame without a Super Bowl title, I respectfully disagree. Grogan is a legend in Patriots history, and is widely known across the league. Given the years and under the conditions he played, and given the statistics he has acquired, Grogan should certainly be on the selection committee's minds to honor a workhorse of the game.

When Grogan retired, he had amassed quite a few records. He was the Pats all time leading passer with attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. He also had the highest average per rush which is quite an amazing feat considering he was not a running back. Grogan also earned the highest QB rating of any QB during a game with the Jets (227.8). His NFL record of 12 rushing TDs in a season (1976) for a QB still stands, even in today's era or "mobile" quarterbacks. Some of the records Grogan established have since been broken; but, many still remain. Grogan was entered into the Patriots Hall of Fame and was treated to Steve Grogan day by the Patriots after the Krafts took ownership of the team; however, his number, much to the disappointment of the fans, has still not been officially retired.

After retirement in 1990, Steve Grogan decided to remain in the Foxboro area, even though he is a Kansas native. He provides pre and post game analysis of the Pats games on many websites and television shows during the football season, and is deeply respected for his keen insight of the game. Steve also owns a sporting goods store located in Mansfield Massachusetts called: Grogan/Marciano Sporting Goods Store. Fans of all ages still stop by the store and ask for autographs, and Grogan, being the true gentleman that he is, honors each and every request.

Side note: I want to thank Jim Galvin, Adele Kohl, and Steve Grogan. After finding out how much of a fan I was of Steve Grogan, Jim & Adele arranged for me to have lunch with Steve a few weeks ago. Grogan is still grateful for all the fan support he still has in New England and was very kind enough to meet me. Needless to say, I was very excited to meet the man who had brought so much to the fans of New England, and was at the helm of the offense for so many years. (Picture below: Personalized autographed 8x10 from Grogan to me.)