New York Jets

1969 Joe Namath  SB III
(Authentic Reproduction)

Cut a tree down, count the rings and you will have its age.  Well that same philosophy works well with the number of horizontal bars in Joe's face masks.  The longer Namath played in the NFL the lager and more protective his mask became.  He entered into the league wearing a Riddell two bar and ending his career with one of the oldest mask made, the open face cowcatcher.  "I just don't see why you shouldn't take the extra protection.  It doesn't hurt your vision any.  You aren't looking down at  your chin anyway."  If this progression continued, it would have taken just a few more years in the league and his mask would have protected those bad knees.