Jim Brown Died Today, Age 87
- Thread starter Permacock70
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Paul Hornung won the Heisman and barely beat out Johnnie Majors from Tennessee. Hornung player on a losing ND team and Majors did everything for TN and they won the SEC. They had never met and people around the country argued over which should have won. Finally, Hornung was in the press and was covering one of Major’s Pitt teams. Paul went up to Majors and said “ OK, let’s settle this once and for all. Who should have won the Hiesman “ Majors was said to have replied:” Jim Brown.“ he was really an awesome player.
At great risk there is another story about Brown and Sam Huff, the New Yourk Giants linebacker. They were constantly at each others throat. In a game Huff gave Brown a huge hit and knocked him for a loss. Got up and said n##### you stink! Next play Brown went right over Huff and on in to the end for a touchdown. Brown is said to have telled back at Huff. “Hey Sam, how do I smell from here!”
I don't hesitate to say he WAS the greatest NFL running back of all time.
I watched him play on TV when I was growing up and he could have competed in any era on the strength of his power alone.
Played only nine years, some of which were 12-game seasons, some 14-game seasons. Gained more than 12,000 yards rushing. Led the NFL in rushing eight out of his nine years. NFL MVP three times. The ONLY NFL running back in history with as many or more seasons to average over 100 yards/game for his entire career. Retired at 30. No one can compare.
I watched him play on TV when I was growing up and he could have competed in any era on the strength of his power alone.
Played only nine years, some of which were 12-game seasons, some 14-game seasons. Gained more than 12,000 yards rushing. Led the NFL in rushing eight out of his nine years. NFL MVP three times. The ONLY NFL running back in history with as many or more seasons to average over 100 yards/game for his entire career. Retired at 30. No one can compare.
Sadly only recall him last few yrs of his career….return with me to those days of old…..
Ray & Jim…
Ray & Jim…
6-2 230 pounds with great speed..My two favorite Running backs were Jim Brown and Gale Sayers...Brown was better but I loved watching Gale Sayers run.Never been a smoother more fluid athlete.
Another thing about Jim Brown was his persona...A strong,strong personality yet with great dignity.Bill Russell.Jim Brown,and Muhammed Ali all did more for the civil rights movement than just about anybody this side of MLK.
His heavy-handed dealings with women in his life were a detraction from an otherwise outstanding legacy.
I never got to see him run - I'm sure it was impressive. I think Barry Sanders is the only one that could possible be compared to Brown, though their running styles were vastly different. Their careers were close to identical (with the exception of championships - Sanders had the misfortune of playing for an inept franchise).
Both were Rookie of the Year. Both were 1st or 2nd team All-Pro for every one of the seasons they played (this in itself is probably the most incredible stat - they were the best at their position for their entire careers). Both made the Pro Bowl every season they played. Sanders just missed out in joining Brown on averaging 100+ rushing per game (99.8 ypg). Both were NFL MVP's (3 to 1 in favor of Brown). Both left the game with at least 5-6 seasons left in the tank. Sanders played a total of 10 seasons to Brown's 9.
Both were Rookie of the Year. Both were 1st or 2nd team All-Pro for every one of the seasons they played (this in itself is probably the most incredible stat - they were the best at their position for their entire careers). Both made the Pro Bowl every season they played. Sanders just missed out in joining Brown on averaging 100+ rushing per game (99.8 ypg). Both were NFL MVP's (3 to 1 in favor of Brown). Both left the game with at least 5-6 seasons left in the tank. Sanders played a total of 10 seasons to Brown's 9.
I saw them both play.Brown was the best.One guy no one talks about for obvious reasons but if you just look at his on the field production,then OJ Simpson is likely on that second tier with Barry Sanders,Walter Payton,and likely OJ.Like Jim Brown OJ was 6-3 230 with Olympic sprinter speed.
One other big one in the comparison between Brown and Sanders. They're the only two in the top 25 all-time rushers to average 5.0+ yards a carry. They might be the only two in the top 50, but my patience ran out at 25. Brown was at 5.2 and Sanders 5.0. In fact, there's only 15 guys ever in the NFL to ever average 5.0+ per carry. There's a smattering of QB's and several RB's that never had the careers of Brown and Sanders. Those two are the gold standard for sure.