Alumni update: Billy Howton
We always hear this question: Why isn't Jerry Kramer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
So why not this one: Why isn't Billy Howton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
It was posed last week by Baltimore Examiner columnist Jim Henneman after Howton visited NFL alumni in that city on his way to Green Bay.
Did you know Howton held three NFL records when he retired in 1963?
As a rookie with the Packers in 1952, he had 13 touchdown catches in 12 games. That record stood until the Vikings' Randy Moss caught 17 in 1998, and he needed four more games to pass Howton.
Howton spent his first seven seasons with the Packers, then was traded to the Browns in 1959. He spent one season in Cleveland, then finished his career with four seasons with the Cowboys.
Howton retired with 503 receptions and 8,459 receiving yards, having surpassed Packers legend Don Hutson in both categories. Yet Howton's career marks stood for only one year, one reason he may not get consideration for the Hall of Fame. The Colts' Raymond Berry broke both of Howton's career records in 1964.
Henneman also suggests that Howton has been passed over for Hall of Fame consideration because he was active in the NFL Players Association when it was getting started.
Howton's banishment from Green Bay came about the time the NFL pension plan was created. Henneman suggests that may have been a factor in the trade. Other sources say new coach Vince Lombardi simply was acquiring his kind of players and ridding the Packers of their losing image. In any case, Howton was dealt to the Browns on April 24, 1959, for halfback Lew Carpenter and defensive end Bill Quinlan.
When Howton got to the Cowboys, they were an expansion team -- and perhaps a dumping ground for players active in the union.
"We had six player representatives on that first team in Dallas," said Dick Bielski, who was Howton's roommate for two years.
For the record, Howton has been in the Packers Hall of Fame since 1974. He still ranks 12th on the Packers' career receiving list, with 303 catches for 5,581 yards. That's an average of 18.4 yards per catch, putting him second among the top 20 players on the Packers' career list. Only Carroll Dale's 19.7-yard average was better.
Howton, now 77, lives in Spain. He's still pushing the NFL to give its retired players better benefits.
-- Jeff Ash, jash@greenbaypressgazette.com
So why not this one: Why isn't Billy Howton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
It was posed last week by Baltimore Examiner columnist Jim Henneman after Howton visited NFL alumni in that city on his way to Green Bay.
Did you know Howton held three NFL records when he retired in 1963?
As a rookie with the Packers in 1952, he had 13 touchdown catches in 12 games. That record stood until the Vikings' Randy Moss caught 17 in 1998, and he needed four more games to pass Howton.
Howton spent his first seven seasons with the Packers, then was traded to the Browns in 1959. He spent one season in Cleveland, then finished his career with four seasons with the Cowboys.
Howton retired with 503 receptions and 8,459 receiving yards, having surpassed Packers legend Don Hutson in both categories. Yet Howton's career marks stood for only one year, one reason he may not get consideration for the Hall of Fame. The Colts' Raymond Berry broke both of Howton's career records in 1964.
Henneman also suggests that Howton has been passed over for Hall of Fame consideration because he was active in the NFL Players Association when it was getting started.
Howton's banishment from Green Bay came about the time the NFL pension plan was created. Henneman suggests that may have been a factor in the trade. Other sources say new coach Vince Lombardi simply was acquiring his kind of players and ridding the Packers of their losing image. In any case, Howton was dealt to the Browns on April 24, 1959, for halfback Lew Carpenter and defensive end Bill Quinlan.
When Howton got to the Cowboys, they were an expansion team -- and perhaps a dumping ground for players active in the union.
"We had six player representatives on that first team in Dallas," said Dick Bielski, who was Howton's roommate for two years.
For the record, Howton has been in the Packers Hall of Fame since 1974. He still ranks 12th on the Packers' career receiving list, with 303 catches for 5,581 yards. That's an average of 18.4 yards per catch, putting him second among the top 20 players on the Packers' career list. Only Carroll Dale's 19.7-yard average was better.
Howton, now 77, lives in Spain. He's still pushing the NFL to give its retired players better benefits.
-- Jeff Ash, jash@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at
11:37 AM
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