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RIP Tom Dempsey

KDavies : 4/5/2020 7:04 am
Legendary kicker who was born without toes and kicked with a modified shoe. Held the NFL record for decades for longest FG.

Died with complications from coronavirus, but had been suffering with Alzheimer’s for eight years.
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Damn. Last I heard he  
Bubba : 4/5/2020 7:07 am : link
was recovering. Watched that kick in awe.
RIP.
RIP Tom  
Tittle 9 20 64 : 4/5/2020 7:27 am : link
I remember other teams bitching about him because he had an unfair advantage with the large kicking surface on his foot.
Should say  
Tittle 9 20 64 : 4/5/2020 7:29 am : link
They felt he had an unfair advantage.
I think he had a lifetime struggle with diabetes too.  
Ivan15 : 4/5/2020 8:10 am : link
Until a couple of months ago, assisted living facilities were among the best ways seniors could extend their lives. Never more unless the vaccine is 100% effective.

Rest In Peace.
Unfair advantage?  
Giant John : 4/5/2020 8:55 am : link
I don’t see that. He had to live his life with no toes. That’s not any advantage.
RE: Unfair advantage?  
KDavies : 4/5/2020 8:57 am : link
In comment 14859687 Giant John said:
Quote:
I don’t see that. He had to live his life with no toes. That’s not any advantage.


I’d encourage anyone to chop off their toes if they think that lol
He  
AcidTest : 4/5/2020 10:40 am : link
didn't have an unfair advantage. That kick is still going. It was an iconic statement about the ability of the disabled to compete and thrive in society, and the respect they deserve. What a player. RIP. God bless. Prayers to his family and friends.
Didn’t say I agreed with it.  
Tittle 9 20 64 : 4/5/2020 11:00 am : link
But it was the case.
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I believe the unfair advantage  
jvm52106 : 4/5/2020 11:05 am : link
was due to the block style shoe and not that he was at an advantage for not having toes.
RE: I believe the unfair advantage  
steve in ky : 4/5/2020 11:15 am : link
In comment 14859783 jvm52106 said:
Quote:
was due to the block style shoe and not that he was at an advantage for not having toes.


Yeah this was prior to everyone kicking soccer style and since the kicked the ball strait on it was more of a challenge because of the rounded toe of the shoe, his was a flat fronted shoe with no curve. That was why people concluded it aided in his record kick.
RE: I believe the unfair advantage  
KDavies : 4/5/2020 11:36 am : link
In comment 14859783 jvm52106 said:
Quote:
was due to the block style shoe and not that he was at an advantage for not having toes.


And the reason for his special style shoes? Oh yeah, because he was missing toes.
i remember watching that kick live  
markky : 4/5/2020 12:23 pm : link
it was quite a surprise at the time
Tom Dempsey  
JerseyCityJoe : 4/5/2020 12:55 pm : link
He used to love to run downfield and bang into people with that big belly and half a foot too.
RE: i remember watching that kick live  
steve in ky : 4/5/2020 1:05 pm : link
In comment 14859847 markky said:
Quote:
it was quite a surprise at the time


I saw Alex Karras tell the story about lining up against them for the kick. He said how none of them (Lions) rushing the kicker nor the blockers (Saints) took it seriously because it seemed so impossible and all were half laughing while just going through the motions and were all stunned when it went through.


Joe Scarpatti  
RetroJint : 4/5/2020 2:52 pm : link
The ex Eagle DB on the hold . Karras’s laughter soon turned immediately to tears . He also said that when he heard the noise that was made when Dempsey got into the ball he thought to himself , “ he is going to reach it.”

Tom (R.I.P.) missed a short one in Buffalo against the Bills at the end of a game I attended . Roman Gabriel had engineered one of his famous last minute comebacks . Where the ball landed in the stands it would have split the uprights . But he hooked it . It came back true too late .

I think he also played either Oline or DLine at Pamona St JC, or wherever he attended college . Karras respected that . Never cared much for the soccer guys. “I keek a touchdown .” Garo -Paper Lion
Dempsey kicking at Yankee Stadium  
truebluelarry : 4/6/2020 8:56 am : link
against the Giants 11/16/69.



Ben Agajanian was the first kicker to wear a squared off shoe on his kicking foot, he'd lost his toes in an accident on an elevator.

Pat Summerall was wore a similar shoe. He'd had procedures performed as his right foot was backward at birth and had several toes missing.

When I hear about players  
Bubba : 4/6/2020 11:49 am : link
being out due to "tweaking" something I think of guys like Dempsey and Jim Abbott.
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