Super Bowl XLI: Hickerson Gets Justice At Last
Posted February 3rd, 2007 by George Thomas
Gene Hickerson, regarded as one of the premier pulling guards of his era, finally received his just reward with election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, today.
Forgive me for saying this: but it's about damned time! Hickerson's list of accomplishments in the NFL is vast and impressive according to a release from the Browns:
Hickerson, who played 15 seasons (1958-60, 1962-73) for the Browns, appeared in six Pro Bowls (1966-71) and was voted an all-league selection on five occasions (1966-70). Hickerson was also named the NFL’s most outstanding blocker in 1969.
Hickerson, 72, joined the Browns as a seventh-round draft choice out of
And he should have been in years ago. Comedian Richard Pryor, a friend to Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, used to have a line in his stand-up routine to highlight the racism that existed in the era in which Brown played. He essentially said that Brown was really the best because he didn't have anyone blocking for him. Brown knew that wasn't true and said as much in numerous print and electronic interviews over the years.
But what troubles me about his long wait is that he was nearly forgotten. While tooling around my car this week and listening to ESPN Radio on XM Satellite Radio, I heard numerous hosts reel off the names of who should get in: Art Monk, Derrick Thomas and others. All great in their own right, but it showed that some of these hosts lack any semblance of perspective and appreciation of the game's history.
Hickerson blocked for not one, but two Hall of Fame running backs. The other: Leroy Kelly. The HOF is about the best, not the very good. My fear was that because of a more recent history, some of the very good would make it ahead of Hickerson on what was reportedly his final opportunity.
They say that those who forget history are destined to relive it. It's good to see that the 39 individuals who have voting power for the Pro Football Hall of Fame haven't forgotten that today's NFL was built on the blood, flesh and pain of previous players. There are some out there who still deserve this recognition.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
so glad he made it….as you said he belonged there long ago, it also gives us Browns fan something good to remember about 2006….go Browns
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Hickerson blocked for three Hall of Fame running backs. You omitted Bobby Mitchell.
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Bobby Mitchell went into the Hall of Fame primarily as a Washington Redskin where he played flanker.
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:44 pm
At long last!! Gene Hickerson was a player's player and a true, orange and brown Cleveland Brown. Today's Browns could learn a great deal from Mr. Hickerson.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Finally! As a lifelong Browns fan, I am truely happy for Mr. Hickerson. He was one of the best guards in NFL history and the best pulling guard the league has ever seen. Congratulations Mr. Hickerson, you desrve this honor!
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Bobby Mitchell does count. He played four years for the Browns and rushed for more than 2,200 yards in that time (an average of over 550 yoards per year). A significant amount of yardage when you figure Jim Brown took the overwhelming number of rushes. I think blocking for hall of famer Bobby Mitchell for four years definitely means he blocked for THREE hall of famers.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I heard Sean Salsbury (sp) say on Dan Patrick's show that he didn't know much about Gene Hickerson, and felt he should not make it into the HOF. How stupid! All he had to realize is that Gene blocked for 3 HOF running backs. Jim Brown said that Gene was so fast pulling out in front of him that he had a hard time keeping up with him. Gene Hickerson was one of my favorite Browns and his election is long overdue.
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Ahhh Mr. Butto:
Whatever you say. But Bobby Mitchell didn't go into the HOF as a running back. He went in as a wide receiver and those numbers were amassed as a member of the Redskins. Think what you will, but history doesn't lie.
February 4th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Finally: The voters got it right. Gene deserved this honor 30 years ago.
Despite what ESPN thinks or says sports didn't just arrive with their network.
February 4th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Loooonnnnnng overdue.
Here's another way to look at it… before Hickerson started his career, the NFL had produced a total of seven 1,000-yard rushers in its entire history up to that time.
After he entered the league, the Browns produced NINE 1,000-yard rushers during his first ten years on the team.
I'd have to agree that he deserved this years ago.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Just an FYI: ESPN's Dan Patrick basically said it was long overdue on his radio show today.
July 8th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
when will dick schafrath get in? when he suffers from dementia like gene is. i worked the HOF festival 13 years and those two out class and out played 90% of the men i met.
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