It's hard for me to say he was BETTER when he returned. If anything, he was the same at most in that he would deliver sometimes, but also throw the interception at the costly moment. I suppose you can say he was better considering how much older he was when he came out of retirement in 1990. Paopao joined the Lions in 1978 and was a backup behind Jerry Tague, and won the starting QB job for the Lions for four straight years from 1979-82 before giving way to Roy Dewalt. He then went to Saskatchewan for three years in 84-86 before a final year in Ottawa in 87.KnowItAll wrote:Paopao maybe wasnt a great player, but he was more good than bad even when he returned. In fact, he was doing quite well before his final injury.
And I suppose you can say Paopao was better given the fact that he was the best QB in the huge list of available QB's in the disorganized 1990 season. I said it before, and I'll say it again Paopao may have been the best in that he started more games than the other QB's. The five QB's were:
1. Joe Paopao - came out of retirement in 87, won the starting job.
2. Doug Flutie - had trouble adjusting to the CFL game before becoming a superstar the next year. Regulated as a backup.
3. Rickey Foggie - after two seasons as backup, still couldn't be a starter and was eventually released in August 1990 and became great as an Argo.
4. Major Harris - a true rookie who certainly wasn't capable of being a starter.
5. Rick Johnson - a former all-star in 1986 acquired as part of the Dunigan trade, but suddenly retired.