Pigskin Dispatch

The Refusal 1983 — John Elway, the Colts, and the QB Class That Changed Everything"

The crux of this episode revolves around John Elway's unprecedented decision to refuse playing for the Baltimore Colts, thereby instigating one of the most consequential standoffs in NFL draft history. On April 25, 1983, Elway, through his agent, communicated a resolute message to the Colts: he would not don their uniform, opting instead to pursue a career in baseball should they select him. This defiance was rooted in the Colts' tumultuous state, characterized by mismanagement and a lack of stability, which Elway and his family deemed unsuitable for the commencement of his professional career. The episode meticulously explores the implications of Elway's stance, the dynamics of the draft, and the subsequent trade that ultimately reshaped not only his career but also the fortunes of the franchises involved. As we delve into this historical narrative, we illuminate the broader context of the 1983 NFL draft, showcasing its lasting impact on the landscape of professional football. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

• Transcript

The Patriots: From Boston to Foxboro (Presented by the Sports History Network) - The Patriots: From Boston to Foxboro

This podcast is part of the Sports History Network - the headquarters of sports' yesteryear. SHOW DESCRIPTION: These days, the New England Patriots are often thought of as one of the elite teams in the NFL. However, that hasn’t always been the case, especially during the team’s infancy, when they were a charter member of the upstart AFL and chaos and confusion often reigned. The Patriots of the 60s and early 70s were a transient team and played its home games in no less than 5 different stadiums. The Pats also cycled thru its head coaches quite frequently back then and one coach in particular is often remembered as the one who best epitomized the team’s failings during this time. In this 4-part series, we will take a look at the team’s humble beginnings in Boston in 1960 to their first years in Foxboro. We will also do a deep dive into the timeline between 1969 – 1972 to relive some of the most shocking and bizarre events to ever impact a professional sports franchise. The Patriots: From Boston to Foxboro. HOST - JOE SANTOS: Joe Santos grew up in Massachusetts and is an avid football fan, with a special fondness for the NFL in the early 70s. This Week in Pro Football and NFL Game of the Week were must-see TV back in the day. And living in Massachusetts meant you saw all of the NY Giants games on tv, both home and away, as they were the de facto home team for the NFC. Due to the blackout rules at the time, only the Patriots away games were shown. Being a huge sports history fan, Joe will continue to tell the unusual stories from an era that's considered to be the golden age of pro football.