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Friday, December 31, 1999
The Player of the Century
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By Bob Berghaus
Press-Gazette
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During the Green Bay Packers' long and colorful history, several Packers have been considered among the greatest at their positions.
Quarterback Bart Starr guided the Packers to five championships in the 1960s and landed in the Hall of Fame. Brett Favre, the current quarterback, has three Most Valuable Player trophies, a Super Bowl ring and his foot in the Hall of Fame's door.
As for versatility, halfback Paul Hornung passed, ran, caught and kicked his way into the Hall of Fame in addition to being the heart of the Packers' Glory Years teams.
But no player had the impact on his position that Don Hutson did during his 11-year career.
When Hutson entered the National Football League in 1935, the main purpose of an offensive end was to block and to catch an occasional pass.
But Hutson changed all of that, which is why many of the all-century teams for pro football that have been announced during the past few weeks listed him among the top five or 10 men ever to play the game.
The way he dominated his era is why he was chosen as the Press-Gazette's Packers player of the century.
"When James Lofton was inducted into the (Packer) Hall of Fame last year, he said Brett Favre told him that Sterling Sharpe thinks he's the greatest receiver in Packer history," said Lee Remmel, the executive director of public relations for the Packers and a former sportswriter for the Press-Gazette.
"Lofton said, 'I've got news for you. He's the third and Hutson's the first. We're all still using the pass patterns he invented."'
Hutson changed the way defenses played the game.
In his second game, he scored on an 83-yard touchdown pass from Arnie Herber. It was the first of 99 touchdown receptions, an NFL record that lasted for years. It also was the first message to the opposition that he was going to be something special.
Instead of simply running downfield and then turning for the ball, he invented patterns and moves. Double and triple coverage, strategies that had been unheard of, were developed because of Hutson.
He had his greatest year in 1942, when he averaged 16.4 yards on a career-high 74 receptions, 17 of which went for touchdowns.
"He caught 74 passes, and the guy who finished second had 27," Remmel said. "Nobody was close to him."
Hutson finished with 488 receptions for 7,991 yards. He led the league in receiving eight times and in scoring five times. He once scored 29 points in one quarter, and Hutson still holds the Packers' records for touchdowns, with 105, and scoring, with 823 points.
In addition to his offensive exploits, Hutson excelled as a safety, intercepting 30 passes. In 1994 he was named to the NFL's 75-Year Anniversary Team and also its All-Time Two-Way Team.
"There's no doubt he's the greatest player in our history," said former Press-Gazette sports editor Art Daley, who covered Hutson in the 1940s.
"Hutson's value not only was his receiving ability but also because he came along when the Packers were a small (market) team. They were winning with him. In 1933 the Packers were really the last little town team left, and in '35 Hutson came along and really made us."
Old but good read !!! I Wish I had some film from this Era !!
The Player of the Century
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bob Berghaus
Press-Gazette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the Green Bay Packers' long and colorful history, several Packers have been considered among the greatest at their positions.
Quarterback Bart Starr guided the Packers to five championships in the 1960s and landed in the Hall of Fame. Brett Favre, the current quarterback, has three Most Valuable Player trophies, a Super Bowl ring and his foot in the Hall of Fame's door.
As for versatility, halfback Paul Hornung passed, ran, caught and kicked his way into the Hall of Fame in addition to being the heart of the Packers' Glory Years teams.
But no player had the impact on his position that Don Hutson did during his 11-year career.
When Hutson entered the National Football League in 1935, the main purpose of an offensive end was to block and to catch an occasional pass.
But Hutson changed all of that, which is why many of the all-century teams for pro football that have been announced during the past few weeks listed him among the top five or 10 men ever to play the game.
The way he dominated his era is why he was chosen as the Press-Gazette's Packers player of the century.
"When James Lofton was inducted into the (Packer) Hall of Fame last year, he said Brett Favre told him that Sterling Sharpe thinks he's the greatest receiver in Packer history," said Lee Remmel, the executive director of public relations for the Packers and a former sportswriter for the Press-Gazette.
"Lofton said, 'I've got news for you. He's the third and Hutson's the first. We're all still using the pass patterns he invented."'
Hutson changed the way defenses played the game.
In his second game, he scored on an 83-yard touchdown pass from Arnie Herber. It was the first of 99 touchdown receptions, an NFL record that lasted for years. It also was the first message to the opposition that he was going to be something special.
Instead of simply running downfield and then turning for the ball, he invented patterns and moves. Double and triple coverage, strategies that had been unheard of, were developed because of Hutson.
He had his greatest year in 1942, when he averaged 16.4 yards on a career-high 74 receptions, 17 of which went for touchdowns.
"He caught 74 passes, and the guy who finished second had 27," Remmel said. "Nobody was close to him."
Hutson finished with 488 receptions for 7,991 yards. He led the league in receiving eight times and in scoring five times. He once scored 29 points in one quarter, and Hutson still holds the Packers' records for touchdowns, with 105, and scoring, with 823 points.
In addition to his offensive exploits, Hutson excelled as a safety, intercepting 30 passes. In 1994 he was named to the NFL's 75-Year Anniversary Team and also its All-Time Two-Way Team.
"There's no doubt he's the greatest player in our history," said former Press-Gazette sports editor Art Daley, who covered Hutson in the 1940s.
"Hutson's value not only was his receiving ability but also because he came along when the Packers were a small (market) team. They were winning with him. In 1933 the Packers were really the last little town team left, and in '35 Hutson came along and really made us."
Old but good read !!! I Wish I had some film from this Era !!
