By Brett Crow
Don
Cockroft, both a punter and kicker for the Cleveland Browns from 1968
to 1980, was on the Sports Fix this past week to discuss his new book
“The 1980 Kardiac Kids, Our Untold Stories: A Season of Destiny, A
Moment of Despair, and a Lifetime of Memories.”
Don
almost immediately went into how he felt about the Cleveland fanbase,
saying “Cleveland is one of the greatest cities in the world and
especially the sports fans. When I started my book, I knew exactly who I
would dedicate this too, and that would be the Cleveland fans. It’s
just great to be part of the sports history of Cleveland.”
Throughout
the night, Don was always quick to talk about the love affair between
the Browns and the fans: “Let’s put it this way, the Cleveland Browns
fans who are listening, you deserve a winner. I’m hoping and praying
that you guys get this winner, you deserve it... The fans connected to
us, and we connected to the fans... Unlike anytime else in the history
of the Cleveland Browns.”
The
placekicker was also quick to lament that today’s athletes didn’t seem
to have that kind of connection with the fans, stating that “It’s
unfortunate today that our players don’t understand Cleveland fans...
We’d go and have lunch, people learned we were there and people just
came and we talked. It’ll never be that again.”
Despite
having many personal accomplishments, such as being elected to the
Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, becoming a Cleveland Browns
Legend in 2007, and his many accomplishments in leading the team in
scoring for twelve of his thirteen seasons, and having the record
longest kick in franchise history, Cockroft shied away from talking
about his personal accomplishments to highlight the success and
meaningfulness of the 1980 Cleveland Browns.
Of
course, it was only a matter of time before they talked about the
infamous “Red Right 88,” the pass play thrown by Cleveland Browns
Quarterback Brian Sipe in the closing moments of the 1980 AFC Divisional
Championship game. The pass was intercepted and sealed the fate of the
Browns, allowing the Raiders to advance to the AFC Championship game,
where they would lose to the San Diego Chargers.
“I
should just tell you to read the book,” joked Don, “But no, I probably
understood [Coach] Sam’s decision more than most. It was horrendous
conditions. Brian Sipe had something like 13 out of 44 passes completed
that day. My feeling was, it wasn’t ‘Can we make the field goal,’ it was
‘Can we get the ball in the air?’”
As
a member of the Cleveland Browns, Don Cockroft took up the mantle of
placekicker after Lou Groza retired from playing. Don is placed 3rd all
time in field goals made and in all-time scoring in the entire franchise
behind only Lou Groza and Phil Dawson.
With
his final words in the interview, Cockroft was also quick to praise the
current Cleveland Browns front office: “I’ve got that same hope that
people are carrying. You’ve got to have hope... I heard both Holmgren
and Shurmer speak in the last month and I was impressed. I’m just hoping
and praying that they can get things going, they can start winning and
let it become a habit, Lord knows the Brown’s fans deserve it.”
For anyone interested in checking out the Don Cockroft’s new book, you can check out his web page at www.thekardiackids.com You can listen to the whole interview by going to the Sports Fix Facebook
page or by clicking on the audio players below. And don’t forget you
can also listen to the Sports Fix every Saturday Night at 10pm on
Newstalk 1420 on an AM radio or by listening online at www.whkradio.com
Showing posts with label shurmer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shurmer. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Browns Shurmur Trying To Change Luck At Combine
Written By Larry M. Glicken "LG"
Pat Shurmur held one of his famous press conferences at the NFL combine on Thursday, you know one where he really doesn't say much but still talks a lot. Shurmur said the Browns could talk trading up to chase Robert Griffin III and he is even going to talk to Andrew Luck. Tom Heckert wasn't in Indy, he is back in Cleveland Ill. Lets hope the Browns do something worth while in this years draft, many think Cleveland needs a quarterback.
This years we are going to see Luck and Griffin in the draft. Indianapolis may pull a rabbit out of their hat and not take Luck who knows what Jim Irsay is thinking or if he is even capable of thinking with all the Peyton Manning drama on his mind.
Shurmur went on to say the Browns could trade up draft picks, and talking to Luck surprises me a bit. Does Shurmur really think the Browns can get into a position to draft at number one? Does he think the Colts would give it up? Who knows how Pat Shurmur thinks? I think the Browns should be focused on play-makers. The Browns front office guys are in Indianapolis to see guys like Robert Griffin III and Griffin already said he isn't going to throw at the combine. Why the heck not? It is easy, Griffin said he doesn't trust the receivers there.
Are you kidding me, Griffin should throw the ball and if those guys drop it he would be getting a preview of playing in Cleveland. What is RGIII going to do if the Browns take him and he doesn't have any play makers to throw to? Maybe RGIII can live through one season in the NFL without throwing the football, can you imagine that? Then the Browns can go into the 2013 draft and get him some play makers.
If RGIII doesn't trust the receivers at the combine he is going to be on for a rude awakening once he arrives in Cleveland, if he does come to Cleveland that is. I mean come on, we had a guy drop six passes in one football game last season for the Browns. The NFL should keep that stat, how many drops receivers have. If The Browns just draft a guy like Griffin and don't add any play makers to the teams roster, we could see the Cleveland Browns ruin their 11th quarterback since coming back into the NFL in 1999.....
Larry Glicken is the owner of www.clevelandsports360.com and the host of the Cleveland Sports 360 Show, an online streaming sports video show at www.streamingsportstalk.com
Pat Shurmur held one of his famous press conferences at the NFL combine on Thursday, you know one where he really doesn't say much but still talks a lot. Shurmur said the Browns could talk trading up to chase Robert Griffin III and he is even going to talk to Andrew Luck. Tom Heckert wasn't in Indy, he is back in Cleveland Ill. Lets hope the Browns do something worth while in this years draft, many think Cleveland needs a quarterback.
This years we are going to see Luck and Griffin in the draft. Indianapolis may pull a rabbit out of their hat and not take Luck who knows what Jim Irsay is thinking or if he is even capable of thinking with all the Peyton Manning drama on his mind.
Shurmur went on to say the Browns could trade up draft picks, and talking to Luck surprises me a bit. Does Shurmur really think the Browns can get into a position to draft at number one? Does he think the Colts would give it up? Who knows how Pat Shurmur thinks? I think the Browns should be focused on play-makers. The Browns front office guys are in Indianapolis to see guys like Robert Griffin III and Griffin already said he isn't going to throw at the combine. Why the heck not? It is easy, Griffin said he doesn't trust the receivers there.
Are you kidding me, Griffin should throw the ball and if those guys drop it he would be getting a preview of playing in Cleveland. What is RGIII going to do if the Browns take him and he doesn't have any play makers to throw to? Maybe RGIII can live through one season in the NFL without throwing the football, can you imagine that? Then the Browns can go into the 2013 draft and get him some play makers.
If RGIII doesn't trust the receivers at the combine he is going to be on for a rude awakening once he arrives in Cleveland, if he does come to Cleveland that is. I mean come on, we had a guy drop six passes in one football game last season for the Browns. The NFL should keep that stat, how many drops receivers have. If The Browns just draft a guy like Griffin and don't add any play makers to the teams roster, we could see the Cleveland Browns ruin their 11th quarterback since coming back into the NFL in 1999.....
Larry Glicken is the owner of www.clevelandsports360.com and the host of the Cleveland Sports 360 Show, an online streaming sports video show at www.streamingsportstalk.com
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Plenty Of Off Season Chatter About The Peyton's Manning & Hillis
Written By Larry M. Glicken "LG"
The talk of the off season about the fate of the Peyton's has kept the presses busy this year. Whether it be Peyton Hillis from the Cleveland Browns or Peyton Manning from the Indianapolis Colts there have been rumors galore. In Manning's case the rumors have him going to almost every team in the NFL. In the case of Hillis there is lots of concern about him re-signing with the Cleveland Browns.
The only certainty this far into the off season is if your name is Peyton and you play in the National football league there is lots of concern as too where you're going to be playing this season. For the Browns fans re--signing Hillis is a top priority. In the case of Manning I'm sure the fans in Indy want him to return to the Colts. Jim Irsay has certainly put this on his back burner. There were suppose to be talks following the super bowl, how Irsay has put this off this far is anyone's guess.
For the Cleveland Browns, they have made the case they want to re-sign Hillis. The sticking point could very well be Hillis's agent thinking Hillis is worth much more than the Browns are willing to pay. There were rumors floating this past weekend saying the Browns and Hillis already had a verbal contract agreement. We still haven't had any confirmation of those yet.
One thing that is certain is the fact Peyton Hillis will be playing football somewhere. As far as Manning goes, who knows? Peyton Manning may be better off going into retirement. Hey there are only two guys in the Monday Night Football Booth, maybe they kept a spot open for the 4 time NFL MVP.
Larry Glicken is the owner of www.clevelandsports360.com and the host of the Cleveland Sports 360 Show, an online streaming sports video show at www.streamingsportstalk.com
The talk of the off season about the fate of the Peyton's has kept the presses busy this year. Whether it be Peyton Hillis from the Cleveland Browns or Peyton Manning from the Indianapolis Colts there have been rumors galore. In Manning's case the rumors have him going to almost every team in the NFL. In the case of Hillis there is lots of concern about him re-signing with the Cleveland Browns.
The only certainty this far into the off season is if your name is Peyton and you play in the National football league there is lots of concern as too where you're going to be playing this season. For the Browns fans re--signing Hillis is a top priority. In the case of Manning I'm sure the fans in Indy want him to return to the Colts. Jim Irsay has certainly put this on his back burner. There were suppose to be talks following the super bowl, how Irsay has put this off this far is anyone's guess.
For the Cleveland Browns, they have made the case they want to re-sign Hillis. The sticking point could very well be Hillis's agent thinking Hillis is worth much more than the Browns are willing to pay. There were rumors floating this past weekend saying the Browns and Hillis already had a verbal contract agreement. We still haven't had any confirmation of those yet.
One thing that is certain is the fact Peyton Hillis will be playing football somewhere. As far as Manning goes, who knows? Peyton Manning may be better off going into retirement. Hey there are only two guys in the Monday Night Football Booth, maybe they kept a spot open for the 4 time NFL MVP.
Larry Glicken is the owner of www.clevelandsports360.com and the host of the Cleveland Sports 360 Show, an online streaming sports video show at www.streamingsportstalk.com
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