Thread: Can a person kick a ball farther or throw a ball farther

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

I have a hard time believing Elway threw an NFL football 90 yards in the air or that Vick threw one 100. I would have to see video to believe that.

I've seen video of Elway completing a pass 86 yards in the air, when he was in high school. A lot of people have probably seen it. It use to be part of a commercial. He threw it from the 7 yard line of the left hash mark and the receiver caught it on the right sideline at about the 7 yard line. That ball went well over 90 yards in the air....and that was when he was in high school. You can probably find it on youtube.

I've seen Troy Smith throw it 75 yards in a throwing competition. His arm was strong, but he didn't have a cannon.

Originally Posted by Al Wilson 4 Mayor

I've seen video of Elway completing a pass 86 yards in the air, when he was in high school. A lot of people have probably seen it. It use to be part of a commercial. He threw it from the 7 yard line of the left hash mark and the receiver caught it on the right sideline at about the 7 yard line. That ball went well over 90 yards in the air....and that was when he was in high school. You can probably find it on youtube.

I've seen Troy Smith throw it 75 yards in a throwing competition. His arm was strong, but he didn't have a cannon.

High school footballs are quite a bit smaller than NFL footballs. I want to see a player throw a regulation NFL football that far.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

High school footballs are quite a bit smaller than NFL footballs. I want to see a player throw a regulation NFL football that far.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. The footballs used in high school and college are the same size as the NFL. My son's NFL ball is the same size as the one he plays high school ball with. They stop using junior balls when they get out of junior high.

There was also a commercial years ago where Dan Patrick is quoted as saying Elway has the longest documented completion in the air in NFL history in SD for over 90 yards. Vick's stories are lore, but Elway has documented throws that far.

Huh, well ok then. I seemed to have it stuck in my head that 70-80 was as far as NFL guys could throw it. I guess I'll take your word for it.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Huh, well ok then. I seemed to have it stuck in my head that 70-80 was as far as NFL guys could throw it. I guess I'll take your word for it.

Well, there was only one Elway. 70-80 is as far as most qb's can throw it. However there are always a few genetic freaks out there.

I heard that Elway could throw a baseball from home plate and hit the center field wall in the air. Not sure if that's true and all ballparks are different, but if it is true no matter the park it's one helluva throw.

Originally Posted by Al Wilson 4 Mayor

John Elway did it....and in San Diego, 90 yards in the air. My son is only 16 and he can chuck it about 55-60 yards in the air. Michael Vick was reputed to be able to throw a ball 100 yards....there's a long list of qb's who have been able to chuck it in the 90 yard range. Brett Favre chucked it over 85 yards in the qb competition back in the day they use to have skill competitions at the pro bowl.

Much of that is exaggerated. I remember Elway's pass in SD. I don't remember
just what year it was at the moment, but it was to McCaffrey, I believe. The
DB who was covering him had actually given up because he thought they were
too far downfield. The pass went 80 yards.

I saw the QB competition in which Favre participated. He lost it because he
accidentally threw a lame duck. So he just started throwing footballs, every
one he could find. The last one he threw went 77 yards.

I severely doubt that Vick or anyone else can throw a football 100 yards.
Just go out and stand on the goal line and try to look at the other goal
line. You can't even see it. There is a limit to human performance, and
Superman is dead, last I heard.

Here's a tidbit: When Kyle Orton was 17, he threw the ball 72 yards in a
QB competition. He beat John Kitna, who had already turned pro, in that
contest. In another contest, our own Peyton Manning threw it 68 yards.
I know the year to that one: 2002. Tom Brady and Jake Plummer were in
that one, too. Brady threw it 67 yards, and Jake 66. Jake won the
overall contest that year. Just a side note.

There are a lot of stories about what some of the legends have done. One
thing about myths and legends: They can get pretty wild . . .
.

Originally Posted by topscribe

Much of that is exaggerated. I remember Elway's pass in SD. I don't remember
just what year it was at the moment, but it was to McCaffrey, I believe. It
The DB who was covering him had actually given up because he thought they
were too far downfield. The pass went 80 yards.

I saw the QB competition in which Favre participated. He lost it because he
accidentally threw a lame duck. So he just started throwing footballs, every
one he could find. The last one he threw went 77 yards.

I severely doubt that Vick or anyone else can throw a football 100 yards.
Just go out and stand on the goal line and try to look at the other goal
line. You can't even see it. There is a limit to human performance, and
Superman is dead, last I heard.

Here's a tidbit: When Kyle Orton was 17, he threw the ball 72 yards in a
QB competition. He beat John Kitna, who had already turned pro, in that
contest. In another contest, our own Peyton Manning threw it 68 yards.
I know the year to that one: 2002. Tom Brady and Jake Plummer were in
that one, too. Brady threw it 67 yards, and Jake 66. Jake won the
overall contest that year. Just a side note.

There are a lot of stories about what some of the legends have done. One
thing about myths and legends: They can get pretty wild . . .
.

Well neither Kitna nor Orton were known to have cannons for arms. You might be right about Elways throw in SD because I'm just repeating what Dan Patrick said in a commercial. Do you think he fabricated it? I've seen the video of Elway's high school throw with my own eyes.

I'm not sure which year you're talking about with Favre because I'm pretty sure he won the year I'm talking about.

Originally Posted by Al Wilson 4 Mayor

Well neither Kitna nor Orton were known to have cannons for arms. You might be right about Elways throw in SD, but I've seen the video of Elway's high school throw with my own eyes.

I'm not sure which year you're talking about with Favre because I'm pretty sure he won the year I'm talking about.

Oh yes, in fact, I might still have that video. I downloaded it a couple years
ago or so. I actually showed it at one time and calculated the throw at 85
yards, IIRC. Then TXBronc did the same calculation and said, no, it was 80,
When I went back and did it again, I found he was right. A high school kid
throwing the ball 80 yards in the air. Talk about a freak.

And yes, Favre did win that competition, IIRC. He won the distance, too.
That one lame duck didn't make any difference because, as I remember,
they took off the longest and shortest throws, anyway, back then. It
just got to his ego, I guess. Maybe it embarrassed him before a national
audience. But he really lost it at that point. lol

And I don't want to get into any debate about how strong Orton's arm is.
All I know is that he threw it 72 yards as a high school senior.
.

Originally Posted by topscribe

Oh yes, in fact, I might still have that video. I downloaded it a couple years
ago or so. I actually showed it at one time and calculated the throw at 85
yards, IIRC. Then TXBronc did the same calculation and said, no, it was 80,
When I went back and did it again, I found he was right. A high school kid
throwing the ball 80 yards in the air. Talk about a freak.

And yes, Favre did win that competition, IIRC. He won the distance, too.
That one lame duck didn't make any difference because, as I remember,
they took off the longest and shortest throws, anyway, back then. It
just got to his ego, I guess. Maybe it embarrassed him before a national
audience. But he really lost it at that point. lol

And I don't want to get into any debate about how strong Orton's arm is.
All I know is that he threw it 72 yards as a high school senior.
.

From the 7 to the 7 is 80 yards? Are we talking about the same throw?

Originally Posted by Al Wilson 4 Mayor

From the 7 to the 7 is 80 yards? Are we talking about the same throw?

Maybe not. I studied the one video. There might have been others. But
I would have to see it to believe it. (I know how to calculate the actual
distance. Remember, the field is 53 yards wide, too.) I have seen some
very strong arms in my 50+ years of football, and I personally have never
seen or heard (factually) about anything over 80 yards . . . and there is
only one person I have seen actually do that: our own John Elway.
.

I don't think Elway could throw the ball 90 yrds in the air. I would have to see it to believe it, and I dont believe it. Vick has a CANNON of an arm. Truly, an amazing arm. But he can't throw the ball 100yrds in the air. Flacco has a REALLY strong arm, and he threw a BOMB against us last year, and when he did, he put some air under it so that it rainbowed (which is why our DBs really blew it on the timing)....and it wasn't near 100 yrd throw.

The leg is not only the largest muscle in the body, but he foot can generate a LOT more speed than an arm can. Not only do kick-offs go further than throws, but they do it while going WAY up into the air.

The only time I remember seeing elway throw anything over 90 yards was when NERF came out with that new swoosh? football thing. Remember that torpedo looking thing. It was like the first half of a mini-football with a tailwing on the back of it. I think it was called a swoosh but im not sure. In that commercial Elway was at CUBuffs stadium I think. He stood on the goalline and chucked it all the way to the little slant hill thing behind the endzone.


The only other throw I have ever seen go super far was Jamarcus walRussell in a drill- that one looked to be around the 80 yard marker.

Originally Posted by underrated29

The only time I remember seeing elway throw anything over 90 yards was when NERF came out with that new swoosh? football thing. Remember that torpedo looking thing. It was like the first half of a mini-football with a tailwing on the back of it. I think it was called a swoosh but im not sure. In that commercial Elway was at CUBuffs stadium I think. He stood on the goalline and chucked it all the way to the little slant hill thing behind the endzone.


The only other throw I have ever seen go super far was Jamarcus walRussell in a drill- that one looked to be around the 80 yard marker.

Vortex football.

Originally Posted by Ravage!!!

I don't think Elway could throw the ball 90 yrds in the air. I would have to see it to believe it, and I dont believe it. Vick has a CANNON of an arm. Truly, an amazing arm. But he can't throw the ball 100yrds in the air. Flacco has a REALLY strong arm, and he threw a BOMB against us last year, and when he did, he put some air under it so that it rainbowed (which is why our DBs really blew it on the timing)....and it wasn't near 100 yrd throw.

The leg is not only the largest muscle in the body, but he foot can generate a LOT more speed than an arm can. Not only do kick-offs go further than throws, but they do it while going WAY up into the air.

I tend to agree with this. Seems like the classic fish story, where the fish you caught gets bigger every time you retell it. I have a REALLY hard time believing anyone has every thrown an NFL football 100 yards. MAYBE 90 if there was a really strong backwind, but even that I doubt.