[Rally]

I wouldn't call the 49ers a safe haven. Plunkett was the starter, and still got beat up quite a lot behind a substandard offensive line. (Do I remember correctly that O.J. Simpson was in the backfield with him?) It was the Raiders who essentially let him take off the entire 1978 season -- I think he literally did not take a snap outside of practice. He barely played in 1979, then got his second career started early in the 1980 season when Dan Pastorini's leg was broken. I remember watching Plunkett's second Raiders start, on a Monday night against the defending champion Steelers, and thinking, "Now that's the guy I watched in the Rose Bowl."

Yes, you're correct.  My bad. 

One more fond Plunkett memory.  In those days there used to be a College All Stars vs All Pro (I think). Held in the summer.  The Plunkett-led College All Stars beat the Pros and the NFL decided, wisely, to cancel that little exhibition.  The game wasn't televised but we listened to it on the radio.  I remember the announcers exclaiming that the college boys ran FIFTY PLAYS!  Amazing in those days.

[Rally]

I wouldn't call the 49ers a safe haven. Plunkett was the starter, and still got beat up quite a lot behind a substandard offensive line. (Do I remember correctly that O.J. Simpson was in the backfield with him?) It was the Raiders who essentially let him take off the entire 1978 season -- I think he literally did not take a snap outside of practice. He barely played in 1979, then got his second career started early in the 1980 season when Dan Pastorini's leg was broken. I remember watching Plunkett's second Raiders start, on a Monday night against the defending champion Steelers, and thinking, "Now that's the guy I watched in the Rose Bowl."

Yes, you're correct.  My bad. 

One more fond Plunkett memory.  In those days there used to be a College All Stars vs All Pro (I think). Held in the summer.  The Plunkett-led College All Stars beat the Pros and the NFL decided, wisely, to cancel that little exhibition.  The game wasn't televised but we listened to it on the radio.  I remember the announcers exclaiming that the college boys ran FIFTY PLAYS!  Amazing in those days.