Ask Athlon: NFL

Q: What’s the farthest an NFL quarterback has ever thrown a football in practice?

— Al Gabel, Rockford, Ill.

A: Al, it’s tough to provide a definitive answer to your question. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that strong-armed gunners like Steve Bartkowski, Randall Cunningham and JaMarcus Russell could heave it close to 100 yards in the air, but no video evidence exists that we’ve been able to uncover. (Russell was touted for being able to throw it 75 yards from his knees, as though that were a useful skill.)

As for a game? We can at least cite a contender for longest pass. In 1966, Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith (left) and receiver Bob Hayes hooked up on a 95-yard touchdown, and reports have Dandy Don launching the ball 83 yards in the air, before Bullet Bob took it the rest of the way for the score. We’ll give the nod to Dandy Don, unless readers can provide definitive evidence to the contrary.

— Rob Doster, Senior Editor

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