~ AND ~ ? only 204 days and now 92 ? 57 ? 32 ? 19 ? YES really ! And still counting... ? ....?
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I found this Tom Cousineau story interesting with the .... Bills, CFL, Houston, BROWNS, SF ...... and so what was the HOT in demand #1 pick in the entire 1979 NFL Draft actually worth ? So let's follow the money and see ...... (right up mjp's alley). A #1 pick would be from $20-$30+ Million/ year today. Mayfield got $33M. From OSU Marketing major Tom Cousineau himself .
.......Tom Cousineau's major while an he was an undergraduate at Ohio State was marketing, which is appropriate, for Cousineau has marketed his football skills as well as any professional athlete. Although he has never played a down in the National Football League, Cousineau has a starting position - weakside inside linebacker - waiting for him, along with a salary reported to be $500,000 a year, which will make him one of the highest paid players in the National Football League.
After Buffalo made Cousineau the first player taken in the 1979 N.F.L. draft, he spurned the Bills and played for three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. The Alouettes had paid him $150,000 a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus. He became a free agent last March and, after seven weeks of weighing many inquiries, Cousineau signed a five-year contract reported to be worth $3.5 million with the Browns.
'It Worked for Me'
I guess it did Tom and Art Modell and the BROWNS too. Five year 3.5M deal or $700,000/ year. ( I always wanted him as a Cleveland BROWNS player .... eventually. )
AND the Bills got Jim Kelly in the now famous 1983 quarterback class trade for Cousineau plus two additional picks. They ended up happy with that deal. SF got OJ, eh ?
What a deal. (Nice topic syd, it all starts with an individual jersey number)
I found this Tom Cousineau story interesting with the .... Bills, CFL, Houston, BROWNS, SF ...... and so what was the HOT in demand #1 pick in the entire 1979 NFL Draft actually worth ? So let's follow the money and see ...... (right up mjp's alley). A #1 pick would be from $20-$30+ Million/ year today. Mayfield got $33M. From OSU Marketing major Tom Cousineau himself .
.......Tom Cousineau's major while an he was an undergraduate at Ohio State was marketing, which is appropriate, for Cousineau has marketed his football skills as well as any professional athlete. Although he has never played a down in the National Football League, Cousineau has a starting position - weakside inside linebacker - waiting for him, along with a salary reported to be $500,000 a year, which will make him one of the highest paid players in the National Football League.
After Buffalo made Cousineau the first player taken in the 1979 N.F.L. draft, he spurned the Bills and played for three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. The Alouettes had paid him $150,000 a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus. He became a free agent last March and, after seven weeks of weighing many inquiries, Cousineau signed a five-year contract reported to be worth $3.5 million with the Browns.
'It Worked for Me'
I guess it did Tom and Art Modell and the BROWNS too. Five year 3.5M deal or $700,000/ year. ( I always wanted him as a Cleveland BROWNS player .... eventually. )
AND the Bills got Jim Kelly in the trade for Cousineau plus two additional picks. They ended up happy with that deal. SF got OJ, eh ?
What a deal. (Nice topic syd, it all starts with an individual jersey number)
Interesting story!
My guy tomorrow has an interesting trade story too.... stay tuned!
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We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.
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We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.
Well done Dutch! Any RB that impressed Jim Brown was worthy of high praise; and the numbers you shared support the respect he earned. The way his career unfolded sounds very similar to the way Eric Metcalf's career went. Metcalf became far more effective as a slot receiver after Cleveland than the Browns ever allowed him to be as a RB. It would have been nice if the Browns had the wherewithal to try using him in the slot where access to open fields was easier. Mitchell was a better RB than Metcalf as was Leroy Hoard when he finally got the chance to start.
Poor Ernie Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia before his NFL career ever had a chance to launch. It almost makes you wonder if the Washington Redskins knew he had Leukemia before they traded the guy they selected 1st overall to Cleveland. Seems weird a guy would go from that gotta-have to let's trade him (unless there was something scary going on with his health like unexplained weight loss or an onset nose bleeds).
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We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.We are only seven weeks out - Bobby Mitchell days left to be exact - until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Mitchell was possibly the most talented offensive weapon the Browns ever had, considering his ability to beat you running the ball, catching the ball, or receiving the ball. Bobby was a seventh round pick of the Browns in the 1958 Draft out of Illinois, and was the perfect halfback compliment to Jim Brown at fullback - which makes Paul Brown's decision to trade him to Washington puzzling, even for a talent like Syracuse RB Ernie Davis, who was more like Brown. Washington, owned by well-known bigot George Preston Marshall, was still an all-white team in 1962. Forced by the U.S. government to integrate his team or get kicked out of the publicly-financed DC Stadium (later re-named for one of the men who forced Marshall to integrate his team, Robert Kennedy, after his assassination) the Redskins drafted Ernie Davis. Paul Brown was enamored with the Syracuse star, and sent Mitchell to Washington for him. Davis would shortly after be diagnosed with leukemia, and never played a down for the Browns.
In the four years Mitchell played for the Browns, he amassed 2297 yards rushing, 1463 yards receiving, 607 yards in punt returns and 1550 yards in kickoff returns, and 38 total touchdowns. When he moved on to Washington, he was moved from halfback to flanker (wide receiver) and would end his career with 14,078 combined yards and 91 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and Washington retired his number 49 after his death in 2020, at age 84.
First no doubt on the HOF Class of 1983 #49 Bobby Mitchell as a player with Cleveland or Washington.
Second there are absolutely no real notable players on the Cleveland BROWNS that have ever worn the #49.
NOW the important stuff, after the 1961 season I was 11 going on 12 during the 1962 season - but - wait- my Cleveland BROWNS traded #49 Bobby Mitchell to the Washington Redskins WHAT ! THEY CANT DO THAT ! How can you break up the Greatest 1-2 punch running game on earth with the Greatest JIM BROWN + Bobby Mitchell. Take it back. Why ? (and i never liked the Redskins after that)
Well I was young back then and in time I would understand and get over it ...... yeah maybe 20 or 30 years, lol. And the BROWNS did win it all in 1964 but my next crushed psyche attack was coming up when I was 14 .... JIM BROWN RETIRES at the top of his career, 9 years. Led the NFL in rushing 8 of 9 years. Why ? HE CANT DO THAT !
Our beloved Cleveland BROWNS who needs a shrink ? GO BROWNS !
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Perhaps you are feeling persecuted, like there is an evil conspiracy to do you in... Well fear not! Throw off your tin foil hat and rejoice, for we are Ernie Green days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season! Another excellent Browns running back that gets overshadowed by his teammate, Green was a 14th round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1962, but was traded by Vince Lombardi to the Browns in training camp. Green would play sparingly for the Browns his rookie season, but would be the replacement the Browns were looking for to fill the departed Bobby Mitchell. When Jim Brown retired after the 1965 season, Green slid in to his fullback position, and went to two consecutive Pro Bowls. Injured during a 1968 preseason game, he played little that season, and would retire shortly after. Green rushed for 3204 yards and 15 touchdowns, and added 195 receptions for 2036 yards and another 20 touchdowns.
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First, wlll #48 Ernie Green like the previous #49 but just good but not a real BIG standout name. He's no Jim Brown or Bobby Mitchell -but- who is ?
And second like #49 there are no other players even close to Ernie Green's numbers. Well here they are NOT spectacular but good enough. ( I was worried that we might have our first no winner ! OMG. and No pictures. ( and like magic his ink switched from black to red ĺ.
Good but not great in Cleveland, Ohio.
Games Rushing Receiving Total Yds Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Touch Y/Tch YScm RRTD Fmb AV Awards Career 89 76 668 3204 15 73 4.8 36.0 7.5 195 2036 10.4 20 69 2.2 22.9 863 6.1 5240 35 11 60 1962 24 CLE HB 48 13 4 31 139 0 45 4.5 10.7 2.4 17 194 11.4 1 65 1.3 14.9 48 6.9 333 1 2 4 1963 25 CLE HB 48 14 12 87 526 0 73 6.0 37.6 6.2 28 305 10.9 3 35 2.0 21.8 115 7.2 831 3 2 9 1964 26 CLE HB 48 14 14 109 491 6 37 4.5 35.1 7.8 25 283 11.3 4 32 1.8 20.2 134 5.8 774 10 1 10 1965 27 CLE HB 48 13 13 111 436 2 41 3.9 33.5 8.5 25 298 11.9 2 69 1.9 22.9 136 5.4 734 4 3 8 1966* 28 CLE FB 48 14 14 144 750 3 35 5.2 53.6 10.3 45 445 9.9 6 31 3.2 31.8 189 6.3 1195 9 2 14 PB 1967* 29 CLE FB 48 13 12 145 710 4 59 4.9 54.6 11.2 39 369 9.5 2 41 3.0 28.4 184 5.9 1079 6 1 11 PB 1968 30 CLE RB 48 8 7 41 152 0 14 3.7 19.0 5.1 16 142 8.9 2 62 2.0 17.8 57 5.2 294 2 0 4 -
The journey to the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns continues on, seeing that it is Fullback Lawrence Vickers days until the Browns kickoff vs the Bengals. Vickers was a sixth rounder in 2006 out of Colorado, and took over the starting fullback position in 2007, helping Jamal Lewis have a very good year. The next season, Vickers would be a Pro Bowl alternate at fullback. Strange Vickers fact: He scored three touchdowns for the Browns - all pass receptions vs the Steelers.
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And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
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And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
Vickers was a 2006 draft pick, Thomas was in 2007.
But yes, it was pretty slim pickings with #47 and the Browns.
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We are now at Don Fleming days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Fleming grew up in Shadyside, Ohio and played football and baseball for the University of Florida. A 1959 draft pick of the Chicago Cardinals, Fleming forgo the NFL to play another year of college baseball for the Gators, and the now St. Louis Cardinals traded Fleming in 1960 to the Browns. Over the next three seasons, Fleming would regularly play safety, nabbing ten interceptions, four fumble recoveries and being named to the Sporting News All-NFL team in 1962.
During the football season, he and his wife lived in Shadyside, but during the offseason they lived in Florida. On June 4th, 1963, working as a construction foreman, he and a fellow coworker were electrocuted in a construction accident. Neither could be saved. His death came only seventeen days after the death of Ernie Davis, and both had their numbers retired by the Browns.
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And at #47 we have one Mr Lawrence Vickers in what was an apparent commitment to establish a running game. And he was picked in the same draft class as the Cleveland BROWNS number one pick in draft that year at OT Mr Joe Thomas. Yes the same Joe Thomas that will be enshrined in the NFL HALL of FAME this coming AUGUST 5th.
And second there are NO other #47 players that can come close to Mr Lawrence Vickers.
That all makes sense now.
Vickers was a 2006 draft pick, Thomas was in 2007.
But yes, it was pretty slim pickings with #47 and the Browns.
Vickers was a 2006 draft pick, Thomas was in 2007.
But yes, it was pretty slim pickings with #47 and the Browns.
That is TRUE ..... even though I read an article that had them in the same plan to run the football. Hmmm, I digress there. Made a good HOF story though.
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We are now at Don Fleming days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Fleming grew up in Shadyside, Ohio and played football and baseball for the University of Florida. A 1959 draft pick of the Chicago Cardinals, Fleming forgo the NFL to play another year of college baseball for the Gators, and the now St. Louis Cardinals traded Fleming in 1960 to the Browns. Over the next three seasons, Fleming would regularly play safety, nabbing ten interceptions, four fumble recoveries and being named to the Sporting News All-NFL team in 1962.
During the football season, he and his wife lived in Shadyside, but during the offseason they lived in Florida. On June 4th, 1963, working as a construction foreman, he and a fellow coworker were electrocuted in a construction accident. Neither could be saved. His death came only seventeen days after the death of Ernie Davis, and both had their numbers retired by the Browns.We are now at Don Fleming days left until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Fleming grew up in Shadyside, Ohio and played football and baseball for the University of Florida. A 1959 draft pick of the Chicago Cardinals, Fleming forgo the NFL to play another year of college baseball for the Gators, and the now St. Louis Cardinals traded Fleming in 1960 to the Browns. Over the next three seasons, Fleming would regularly play safety, nabbing ten interceptions, four fumble recoveries and being named to the Sporting News All-NFL team in 1962.
During the football season, he and his wife lived in Shadyside, but during the offseason they lived in Florida. On June 4th, 1963, working as a construction foreman, he and a fellow coworker were electrocuted in a construction accident. Neither could be saved. His death came only seventeen days after the death of Ernie Davis, and both had their numbers retired by the Browns.
The only other #46 would be on a asterisk *Lou Groza from 1946-1949 -and- 1950-1951 before switching to #76 for the rest of his fine career. Just to complete his #46 days:
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Games 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Scoring Scoring Kickoffs Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM FGA FGM Lng FG% XPA XPM XP% KO KOYds TB TB% KOAvg AV Awards 1946 22 CLE C 46 14 5 2.07 0.93 44.8% 3.36 3.21 95.7% 1947 23 CLE RT 46 12 5 1.58 0.58 36.8% 3.50 3.25 92.9% 1948 24 CLE LT 46 14 14 1.36 0.57 42.1% 3.71 3.64 98.1% 1949 25 CLE LT 46 12 12 0.75 0.17 22.2% 2.92 2.83 97.1% 1950* 26 CLE LT 46 10 8 1.90 1.30 68.4% 2.90 2.90 100.0% PB 1951* 27 CLE LT 46 12 12 1.92 0.83 43.5% 3.58 3.58 100.0% PB 1952*+ 28 CLE LT 76 12 12 2.75 1.58 57.6% 2.67 2.67 100.0% AP1, PB 1953*+ 29 CLE LT 76 12 -
Not even this oppressive heat can stop the inevitable fun that is an upcoming Cleveland Browns season, as we are Ernie Davis days until the start of the 2023 Browns season. Davis was a great follow-up to Jim Brown at Syracuse, in fact he wore Browns #44. In the three years he played for the Orangemen (freshman could not play back then) he helped Syracuse win the National Championship in 1959 and was named All-American the next two seasons, including winning the Heisman Trophy his senior season in 1961. He was the first black player to win the Heisman, and almost was the first black player to play for the Washington Redskins, but Davis refused to play for their racist owner, George Preston Marshall, and demanded a trade. Paul Brown quickly jumped on the chance to have an All-Syracuse backfield, and traded future Hall of Fame RB Bobby Mitchell to Washington for the first overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft, the "Elmira Express".
Unfortunately, Paul Brown's dream never happened. Davis had a swollen throat during the College All-Star Game practices leading up to their exhibition game vs the World Champion Green Bay Packers, and what was expected to be a case of the mumps was leukemia. Davis never played a down for the Browns, but did suit up in a Browns uniform and ran out onto the Cleveland Stadium field during a night preseason game, as a spotlight followed him. He would pass away the following May, at the age of 23.
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Not even this oppressive heat can stop the inevitable fun that is an upcoming Cleveland Browns season, as we are Ernie Davis days until the start of the 2023 Browns season. Davis was a great follow-up to Jim Brown at Syracuse, in fact he wore Browns #44. In the three years he played for the Orangemen (freshman could not play back then) he helped Syracuse win the National Championship in 1959 and was named All-American the next two seasons, including winning the Heisman Trophy his senior season in 1961. He was the first black player to win the Heisman, and almost was the first black player to play for the Washington Redskins, but Davis refused to play for their racist owner, George Preston Marshall, and demanded a trade. Paul Brown quickly jumped on the chance to have an All-Syracuse backfield, and traded future Hall of Fame RB Bobby Mitchell to Washington for the first overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft, the "Elmira Express".
Unfortunately, Paul Brown's dream never happened. Davis had a swollen throat during the College All-Star Game practices leading up to their exhibition game vs the World Champion Green Bay Packers, and what was expected to be a case of the mumps was leukemia. Davis never played a down for the Browns, but did suit up in a Browns uniform and ran out onto the Cleveland Stadium field during a night preseason game, as a spotlight followed him. He would pass away the following May, at the age of 23.
Not even this oppressive heat can stop the inevitable fun that is an upcoming Cleveland Browns season, as we are Ernie Davis days until the start of the 2023 Browns season. Davis was a great follow-up to Jim Brown at Syracuse, in fact he wore Browns #44. In the three years he played for the Orangemen (freshman could not play back then) he helped Syracuse win the National Championship in 1959 and was named All-American the next two seasons, including winning the Heisman Trophy his senior season in 1961. He was the first black player to win the Heisman, and almost was the first black player to play for the Washington Redskins, but Davis refused to play for their racist owner, George Preston Marshall, and demanded a trade. Paul Brown quickly jumped on the chance to have an All-Syracuse backfield, and traded future Hall of Fame RB Bobby Mitchell to Washington for the first overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft, the "Elmira Express".
Unfortunately, Paul Brown's dream never happened. Davis had a swollen throat during the College All-Star Game practices leading up to their exhibition game vs the World Champion Green Bay Packers, and what was expected to be a case of the mumps was leukemia. Davis never played a down for the Browns, but did suit up in a Browns uniform and ran out onto the Cleveland Stadium field during a night preseason game, as a spotlight followed him. He would pass away the following May, at the age of 23.
Well Ernie Davis 6' 2" 210 lbs All American, Heisman Trophy Winner following with the great Jim Brown to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ? He must be one lucky guy ..... well maybe not, we'll see.
▪︎. Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone.
At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis. At age 12, he went to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football in grade school. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. At the end of his senior season he was recruited by numerous colleges, and chose to attend Syracuse University after being persuaded by Jim Brown, a Syracuse alumnus. ▪︎
Earnie went on to an outstanding career at Syracuse, as previously mentioned an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy went on to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ? LIFE sometimes just isn't fair no matter how decent and deserving you might be.
I remember this period just fine as a 11 and later 12 year old BIG Cleveland sports fan. Everything going on was a sports dream. Our NILES McKinley high school won the OHIO State Championship in 1961 (and later in 1963). OSU and Woody were rolling.
Just one thing did not happen, how do you explain to a 12 year old kid what leukemia is -and- back then it was a near fatal diagnosis.
Ernie Davis died at 23 ...... life is just not fair sometimes regardless of who you are.
BUT we just have to carry on. EOM.
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Not even this oppressive heat can stop the inevitable fun that is an upcoming Cleveland Browns season, as we are Ernie Davis days until the start of the 2023 Browns season. Davis was a great follow-up to Jim Brown at Syracuse, in fact he wore Browns #44. In the three years he played for the Orangemen (freshman could not play back then) he helped Syracuse win the National Championship in 1959 and was named All-American the next two seasons, including winning the Heisman Trophy his senior season in 1961. He was the first black player to win the Heisman, and almost was the first black player to play for the Washington Redskins, but Davis refused to play for their racist owner, George Preston Marshall, and demanded a trade. Paul Brown quickly jumped on the chance to have an All-Syracuse backfield, and traded future Hall of Fame RB Bobby Mitchell to Washington for the first overall pick of the 1962 NFL Draft, the "Elmira Express".
Unfortunately, Paul Brown's dream never happened. Davis had a swollen throat during the College All-Star Game practices leading up to their exhibition game vs the World Champion Green Bay Packers, and what was expected to be a case of the mumps was leukemia. Davis never played a down for the Browns, but did suit up in a Browns uniform and ran out onto the Cleveland Stadium field during a night preseason game, as a spotlight followed him. He would pass away the following May, at the age of 23.
Well Ernie Davis 6' 2" 210 lbs All American, Heisman Trophy Winner following with the great Jim Brown to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ? He must be one lucky guy ..... well maybe not, we'll see.
▪︎. Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone.
At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis. At age 12, he went to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football in grade school. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. At the end of his senior season he was recruited by numerous colleges, and chose to attend Syracuse University after being persuaded by Jim Brown, a Syracuse alumnus. ▪︎
Earnie went on to an outstanding career at Syracuse, as previously mentioned an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy went on to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ? LIFE sometimes just isn't fair no matter how decent and deserving you might be.
I remember this period just fine as a 11 and later 12 year old BIG Cleveland sports fan. Everything going on was a sports dream. Our NILES McKinley high school won the OHIO State Championship in 1961 (and later in 1963). OSU and Woody were rolling.
Just one thing did not happen, how do you explain to a 12 year old kid what leukemia is -and- back then it was a near fatal diagnosis.
Ernie Davis died at 23 ...... life is just not fair sometimes regardless of who you are.
BUT we just have to carry on. EOM.
Well Ernie Davis 6' 2" 210 lbs All American, Heisman Trophy Winner following with the great Jim Brown to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ? He must be one lucky guy ..... well maybe not, we'll see.
▪︎. Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone.
At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis. At age 12, he went to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football in grade school. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. At the end of his senior season he was recruited by numerous colleges, and chose to attend Syracuse University after being persuaded by Jim Brown, a Syracuse alumnus. ▪︎
Earnie went on to an outstanding career at Syracuse, as previously mentioned an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy went on to the Cleveland BROWNS what could be better ? LIFE sometimes just isn't fair no matter how decent and deserving you might be.
I remember this period just fine as a 11 and later 12 year old BIG Cleveland sports fan. Everything going on was a sports dream. Our NILES McKinley high school won the OHIO State Championship in 1961 (and later in 1963). OSU and Woody were rolling.
Just one thing did not happen, how do you explain to a 12 year old kid what leukemia is -and- back then it was a near fatal diagnosis.
Ernie Davis died at 23 ...... life is just not fair sometimes regardless of who you are.
BUT we just have to carry on. EOM.
GREAT stuff by you and Dutch about this guy! The movie "The Express" does a great job of bringing viewers back in time to what made him a 1st overall pick in the draft by Washington. It also reminds people that some of the racial induced hatred never stopped at Jackie Robinson. Davis took an extra volume of late hits after the whistle and out of bounds; while I'm sure some people will say that was just Hollywood trying to juice up the story.
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The last two installments have been pretty heavy, haven't they? Well we now are Leroy Kelly days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season, and he's still alive, so thank dog for small miracles! Kelly was an eight round pick out of Morgan State University in 1964, and he spent his first two seasons with the Browns as a returner and a backup RB. When Jim Brown retired, Kelly became a starter, and he kept the tradition of excellent Browns RB play going. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead the NFL in rushing two times. He finished his career with the Browns in 1973 with 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
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The last two installments have been pretty heavy, haven't they? Well we now are Leroy Kelly days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season, and he's still alive, so thank dog for small miracles! Kelly was an eight round pick out of Morgan State University in 1964, and he spent his first two seasons with the Browns as a returner and a backup RB. When Jim Brown retired, Kelly became a starter, and he kept the tradition of excellent Browns RB play going. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead the NFL in rushing two times. He finished his career with the Browns in 1973 with 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
The last two installments have been pretty heavy, haven't they? Well we now are Leroy Kelly days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season, and he's still alive, so thank dog for small miracles! Kelly was an eight round pick out of Morgan State University in 1964, and he spent his first two seasons with the Browns as a returner and a backup RB. When Jim Brown retired, Kelly became a starter, and he kept the tradition of excellent Browns RB play going. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead the NFL in rushing two times. He finished his career with the Browns in 1973 with 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Way to go Dutch! I didn't even have to say "Thank you sir! May I have another?" I feel like a kid getting an allowance again only this is every day...
As good as those stats look, the fact is they only played 14 game seasons in his era. He was my 1st impression of the Browns as a kid.
Now that you covered the best, here's some other guys that wore/wear #44 with this team: Earnest "Saves Christmas" Byner, Don Shula, Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell, Lee Suggs, Ben Tate, Jim Shofner, Marc Edwards, and if memory serves me right, your mom's fave - Sione Takitaki.
Those that weren't mentioned were less heralded guys that played a season or less a long time ago.
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The last two installments have been pretty heavy, haven't they? Well we now are Leroy Kelly days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season, and he's still alive, so thank dog for small miracles! Kelly was an eight round pick out of Morgan State University in 1964, and he spent his first two seasons with the Browns as a returner and a backup RB. When Jim Brown retired, Kelly became a starter, and he kept the tradition of excellent Browns RB play going. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead the NFL in rushing two times. He finished his career with the Browns in 1973 with 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Way to go Dutch! I didn't even have to say "Thank you sir! May I have another?" I feel like a kid getting an allowance again only this is every day...
As good as those stats look, the fact is they only played 14 game seasons in his era. He was my 1st impression of the Browns as a kid.
Now that you covered the best, here's some other guys that wore/wear #44 with this team: Earnest "Saves Christmas" Byner, Don Shula, Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell, Lee Suggs, Ben Tate, Jim Shofner, Marc Edwards, and if memory serves me right, your mom's fave - Sione Takitaki.
Those that weren't mentioned were less heralded guys that played a season or less a long time ago.
Way to go Dutch! I didn't even have to say "Thank you sir! May I have another?" I feel like a kid getting an allowance again only this is every day...
As good as those stats look, the fact is they only played 14 game seasons in his era. He was my 1st impression of the Browns as a kid.
Now that you covered the best, here's some other guys that wore/wear #44 with this team: Earnest "Saves Christmas" Byner, Don Shula, Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell, Lee Suggs, Ben Tate, Jim Shofner, Marc Edwards, and if memory serves me right, your mom's fave - Sione Takitaki.
Those that weren't mentioned were less heralded guys that played a season or less a long time ago.
I seriously considered doing Lee Suggs instead of Kelly, just to watch mjp's brain implode ?
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Way to go Dutch! I didn't even have to say "Thank you sir! May I have another?" I feel like a kid getting an allowance again only this is every day...
As good as those stats look, the fact is they only played 14 game seasons in his era. He was my 1st impression of the Browns as a kid.
Now that you covered the best, here's some other guys that wore/wear #44 with this team: Earnest "Saves Christmas" Byner, Don Shula, Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell, Lee Suggs, Ben Tate, Jim Shofner, Marc Edwards, and if memory serves me right, your mom's fave - Sione Takitaki.
Those that weren't mentioned were less heralded guys that played a season or less a long time ago.
I seriously considered doing Lee Suggs instead of Kelly, just to watch mjp's brain implode ?
I seriously considered doing Lee Suggs instead of Kelly, just to watch mjp's brain implode ? Lee Suggs, had to look him up, 8 games and 4 TDs, about 1,000+ yards ? .....Now Jim Shofner 30 games as a DB, eh, DBs don't get mentioned unless they get a mentioned unless they have a neat nickname. lol.
Well I was thinking about #44 and who doesn't like Leroy Kelly except for one thing he was a Cleveland BROWNS player from 1964 - 1973 and 102 games and he was not Jim Brown the "GOAT" the greatest RB or maybe NFL player of all time. What an impossible player to be compared to as a Cleveland BROWNS player.
Even as a 14 to 23 year old Cleveland BROWNS fan i thought about the same thing in fact it wasn't until he was almost done as a player. ALSO Leroy Kelly was a good rusher and receiver which got him in the HOF as a player in his later years.
And comparing him to other players who also wore #44 only Ernest Byner 1984 -1988 40 games comes close and was remembered by "the fumble " who was a good rusher. ● Leroy Kelly numbers as a rusher and receiver are listed below. His TOTAL rush + rec yards are 9,555 total plus MVP awards.
Rushing & Receiving. Regular Season
Games Rushing Receiving Total Yds Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Touch Y/Tch YScm RRTD Fmb AV Awards Career 136 110 1727 7274 74 70 4.2 53.5 12.7 190 2281 12.0 13 68 1.4 16.8 1917 5.0 9555 87 35 102 1964 22 CLE RB 44 14 0 6 12 0 5 2.0 0.9 0.4 0 6 2.0 12 0 0 1 1965 23 CLE RB 44 13 1 37 139 0 16 3.8 10.7 2.8 9 122 13.6 0 52 0.7 9.4 46 5.7 261 0 3 5 1966*+ 24 CLE HB 44 14 14 209 1141 15 70 5.5 81.5 14.9 32 366 11.4 1 40 2.3 26.1 241 6.3 1507 16 1 18 AP MVP-4, UPI MVP-2, AP1, PB 1967*+ 25 CLE HB 44 14 14 235 1205 11 42 5.1 86.1 16.8 20 282 14.1 2 48 1.4 20.1 255 5.8 1487 13 7 16 AP MVP-3, UPI MVP-4, AP1, PB 1968*+ 26 CLE RB 44 14 14 248 1239 16 65 5.0 88.5 17.7 22 297 13.5 4 68 1.6 21.2 270 5.7 1536 20 6 18 AP MVP-2, UPI MVP-2, AP1, PB 1969* 27 CLE RB 44 13 13 196 817 9 31 4.2 62.8 15.1 20 267 13.4 1 36 1.5 20.5 216 5.0 1084 10 1 11 AP2, PB 1970* 28 CLE RB 44 13 13 206 656 6 33 3.2 50.5 15.8 24 311 13.0 2 55 1.8 23.9 230 4.2 967 8 3 8 PB 1971* 29 CLE RB 44 14 14 234 865 10 35 3.7 61.8 16.7 25 252 10.1 2 29 1.8 18.0 259 4.3 1117 12 7 11 PB 1972 30 CLE RB 44 14 14 224 811 4 18 3.6 57.9 16.0 23 204 8.9 1 28 1.6 14.6 247 4.1 1015 5 4 8 1973 31 CLE RB 44 13 13 132 389 3 19 2.9 29.9 10.2 15 180 12.0 0 36 1.2 13.8 147 3.9 569 3 3 6 -
The train keeps rollin' on, and now we are Mike Pruitt days until the start of the 2023 Cleveland Browns season. Pruitt was the Browns 1st round pick of the 1976 Draft, but he struggled to get on the field his first two seasons. It wasn't until midway through the 1978 season before he became a starter, and he grabbed the job and ran with it. He would be a Pro-Bowler in 1979 and 1980, and ran for 1000 or more yards four times with the Browns. He was a late training camp cut prior to the 1985 season. He had 7378 career rushing yards and 51 touchdowns, and also was a threat as a receiver, with 270 receptions for 1860 yards and another 5 touchdowns.
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