George Blanda, 43, sub quarterback and kicking specialist of the Oakland raiders, Jan. 11, 1971, has been named male athlete of the year by the associated press. Blanda, who excelled in football while completing with athletes half his age, beat out a glittering array of stars in the year-end poll of sports writers and broadcasters. (Associated Press)

Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame quarterback George Blanda goes back to pass in a 20-20 tie against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 31, 1971 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. (George Long/NFL)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981 and who threw for six touchdowns in this game, tries to escape the grasp of New York Titans defensive end Nick Mumley (74) during a 56-17 Oilers victory on October 14, 1962, at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Lou Witt/NFL)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, runs away from the rush during a 33-13 victory over the San Diego Chargers on December 3, 1961, at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Lou Witt/NFL)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, hands off to fullback Charley Tolar (44) during a 33-21 loss to the Oakland Raiders on November 7, 1965, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Lou Witt/NFL)

Houston Oilers quarterback/kicker George Blanda (16) attempts a field goal during a 27-21 victory over the New York Titans on October 9, 1960, at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Lou Witt/NFL Photos)

Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler (12) holds for Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker George Blanda (16) during the AFC Divisional Playoff, a 28-26 victory over the Miami Dolphins on December 21, 1974, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Arthur Anderson/NFL)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, hands off to running back Sid Blanks (42) during a 24-0 victory over the New York Jets on October 16, 1966, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Lou Witt/NFL)

Houston Oilers Hall of Fame quarterback George Blanda (16)--who had a rough day throwing five interceptions--talks with head coach Pop Ivey during the AFL Championship Game, a 20-17 overtime loss to the Dallas Texans on December 23, 1962, at Jeppesen Stadium in Buffalo, New York. (Lou Witt/NFL)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, hands off to running back Ode Burrell during a 31-0 victory over the Oakland Raiders on September 10, 1966, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Lou Witt/NFL)

George Blanda, quarterback and place kicker for the Oakland Raiders football team. (Associated Press)

George Blanda, quarterback and place kicker for the Oakland Raiders football team. (Associated Press)

George Blanda (16) of the Houston Oilers is shown in action during game against the New York Jets, Nov., 1965. The rest of the players are unidentified. (Associated Press)

Quarterback George Blanda #16 of the Oakland Raiders sets up to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during a preseason game at Cal Memorial Stadium on August 21, 1971 in Berkeley, California. The Raiders defeated the Rams 20-7. (National Football League)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, in 1966. (National Football League)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, in 1964. (NFL Photos)

Oakland Raiders kicker/quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, throws a pass during a preseason game in 1971. (National Football League)

Chicago Bears quarterback George Blanda (16) deftly boots the ball over outstretched hands of defending San Francisco 49ers linemen to score a field goal from 10 yards at Kezar Stadium, Oct. 27, 1957, San Francisco, Calif. Identifiable Bears are: fullback Joe Fortunato, guard Stan Jones (78) and halfback Bobby Watkins (45). Identified 49ers are Marv Matuszak, linebacker (54); linebacker Matt Hazeltine (55) and linebacker Ed Henke (75). (Associated Press)

Jim Ringo, Morris (Red) Badgro, George Blanda, and Willie Davis are introduced to the crowd as the newly elected Hall of Fame class of 1981 during pregame activities before the NFC defeated the AFC 21-7 in the 1981 NFL Pro Bowl played on February 1, 1981. (National Football League)

George Blanda, star quarterback for the Houston Oilers, throws the ball during practice in Houston, Texas, Dec. 22, 1961. Blanda was named American Football League Player of the Year. (Associated Press)

Houston Oilers quarterback, George Blanda, is seen in this posed action shot from October 18, 1966, in Houston, Texas. (Associated Press)

George Blanda, star quarterback for the Houston Oilers, gets some admiration smiles from his two youngsters, Rick, 9, center, and Leslie, 6, Dec, 22, 1961 in Houston, when learned he was named the American Football League Player of the Year. Blanda, who came off the bench when coach Wally Lemm took over the Oilers, complete 187 passes for 3,330 yards, 36 for touchdowns, kicked 16 field goals, made 64 extra point attempts for 112 points. (AP Photo/Ed Kolenovsky)

George Blanda, center, sub-quarterback and kicking specialist of the Oakland Raiders, smiles as he discusses game against kansas City with his teammates, Jan. 11, 1971. Blanda, 43, has been named male athlete of the year by the Associated Press. (Associated Press)

Oakland kicker George Blanda, 16, sends the ball, center, off to the left as he attempts a field goal with eight seconds remaining in regulation time against the Washington Redskins in Washington, Sunday, Nov. 23, 1975. The game, tied at 23-23, went into overtime and the ageless Blanda booted a 27-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 26-23 win. (Associated Press)

Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler and kicking specialist George Blanda, right, relax in the dressing room after engineering 28-20 victory over Kansas City Chiefs in Oakland, Dec. 22, 1975. Blanda kicked his 2,000th point with a point after in second quarter. (AP Photo/Sal Veder)

George Blanda, left, 48, in his 26th pro football season, has some conversation with Al Davis managing general partner of the Oakland Raiders, in the team's training quarter in Oakland, Dec. 12, 1975. Blanda, the oldest player in National Football League history became the league's all-time high scorer several years ago and should reach the 2,000 point mark on Sunday. (AP Photo/RHH)

Veteran quarterback and kicker George Blanda of the Oakland Raiders gets set to toss the ball during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1975 in Oakland, under the watchful eye of head coach John Madden. Wednesday was Blanda's 48th birthday. He's entering his 26th pro season and is just 81 points shy of becoming the first 2,000 point scorer in pro football history. (Associated Press)

A tense moment in the first half brings Blanda's tongue out and a frown to the face of Raiders coach John Madden in March 1971. (Associated Press)

George Blanda (16) of the Houston Oilers is shown in action during game against the New York Jets, Nov., 1965.The rest of the players are unidentified. (Associated Press)

Kicker Mike Eischeid's arms go up as Raiders Kansas City on Saturday, March 1971 and George Blanda starts to go in to kick the extra point. (AP Photo)

Quarterback George Blanda #16 of the Oakland Raiders sets up to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during a preseason game at Cal Memorial Stadium on August 21, 1971 in Berkeley, California. The Raiders defeated the Rams 20-7. (National Football League)

Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, in 1960. (National Football League)

Oakland Raiders kicker George Blanda (16), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1981, attempts a kick during a preseason game in 1971. (National Football League)

The 1967 Oakland Raiders, including Hall-of-Famers George Blanda (16) and Jim Otto (00) in the front row. (National Football League)

George Blanda, shown setting up to pass in a game against the San Francisco 49ers Jan. 12, 1971. (Associated Press)

It's time for a game of cribbage for quarterback George Blanda of the Oakland Raiders with daughter, Leslie, while his wife, Betty, watches in background at the apartment the family occupies in Alameda, California, Nov. 4, 1971 during the pro football season. (Associated Press)

The Oakland Raiders' amazing though graying quarterback and place kicker George Blanda, right, looks over a happy birthday telegram with fellow quarterback Ken Stabler, Sept. 14, 1972 in Oakland. Blanda will be 45 years old on September 17 and hopes to celebrate the day - the start of the 53rd National Football League season -with a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game to be played just 20 miles from Blanda's birthplace of Youngwood, Pa. (AP Photo/Sal Veder)

Oakland Raiders quarterback and kicking specialist George Blanda relaxes on his helmet during workout for the Miami Dolphins game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 1973 in Oakland. Blanda, who recently turned 46, will have played in 300 professional games on Sunday. He's saved more than one contest for the Raiders with his kicking. (AP Photo/Sal Veder)

Oakland Raiders aging quarterback and kick specialist George Blanda keeps his concentration on the contest against Kansas City Chiefs, Dec. 21, 1975 in Oakland, after kicking the 2,000th point of his pro career. The point came following the Raiders second Touchdown. (AP Photo/Sal Veder)

Former Oakland Raider quarterback and kicker great George Blanda waves to packed crowd at the Oakland Coliseum at night, Saturday, August 12, 1979, during half time of the game against the San Francisco 49ers. 105 other Raider alumni players were also honored during half time. The Raiders beat the 49ers 41-10. (AP Photo)