N/S Brian Mitchell HOF? (1 Viewer)

[IceHot]

Here's a name you may or may not have ever heard of in your lifetime since he died of AIDS in the mid/late 80's but during his long and winding career, he compiled IMHO, a HOF-worthy career as a TE, Jerry Smith. He played for the old Redskins for over a decade and was apart of their 1972 Super Bowl VII squad that lost, 14-7, to the unbeaten Miami Dolphins, and IIRC, was voted to 4-5 Pro Bowls over the course of his career. His overall career stats, as a TE, are compatible to former Raiders/Colts TE Raymond Chester (being a DC native, your parents or older Colts/Redskins fans on here will remember him) but like with Chester's career, Jerry Smith has sort of been forgotten and very much over-looked in terms of being one of the best at his position during the 1970's.

One of the reasons why, I suspect, might explain Smith's being over-looked and his career and legacy since his death could be long-stemming homophobia against gay players or sports stars in general. While mainstream public opinion or attitudes towards LGBT community had thankfully become more enlightened and improved over the past 2 decades, 45-50 years ago, they were still viewed as societal outcasts, the DSM-IV actually had homosexuality listed as a mental disorder as late as the mid-70's, in many states, if it was discovered one was gay/lesbian, one could lose their job, livelihood, profession, and while Jerry Smith never officially came as gay publicly (despite doing it privately in front of his family in early 1980's in Texas), most of his Redskins teammates, including former HC Vince Lombardi, knew he was and in fact one of his domestic partners was a former closeted gay player himself.

There are very few TEs in the Hall of Fame as it stands. Jerry Smith should definitely be one of them. Another one that gets overlooked is Marv Flemming.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Back due the Taysom thread

 

[Judge_Smails]

Fwiw, I met Biran Mitchell a few times at ULL when he led the Cajuns to some of their best seasons at that point in their history. Just a cool and classy guy to talk to. He was one of the GOAT special teamers and did it over quite a long period of time. If there were a special teams category for the HOF, he would easily get in.

I played against Mitchell when at NSU. He and our RB, the late, John Stephens (former Patriot Rookie of the Year, RB) were the two best players on the field.

Mitchell was electric.

 

[Noble Saint]

Wrong board but you started. We have BRANDED our selves the University of Louisiana just as LSUAM@BR (check the diplomas and you will see) has branded themselves LSU. I can’t be bothered by those who support a Top 10 or maybe Top 5 university who find it necessary to do all they can to put down a mid 100s major

Mods this may get ugly so feel free to move

There is a reason I had to hit click to see what what you were responding to because it said I was ignoring it.

Anyway, Brian Mitchell was a stud. He could do it all. He could’ve taken direct snaps like Taysom and thrown the ball. He could’ve been a legit Swiss Army knife back then.

 

[RaginCajun83]

Memory foggy but didn’t he get snaps as the emergency QB for a game?

 

[DaveXA]

Memory foggy but didn’t he get snaps as the emergency QB for a game?

He did in a brief spot when he was with the then Redskins. He actually did alright, but never got a real chance to QB in the pros. He was an excellent returner and pass catcher out of the backfield. I would have liked to see him play QB for a few games just to see how well he could do.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Memory foggy but didn’t he get snaps as the emergency QB for a game?

he would always do about 2 or 3 halfback passes a year

Don't remember him ever playing QB though

 

[Big_L]

I started going to USL a year after he graduated/left/drafted.

 

[kcirdor]

ULL if you mean Lafayette otherwise It's Louisville.

It is Louisiana. Not ULL, not Lafayette. Louisiana.

 

[Saintman2884]

he would always do about 2 or 3 halfback passes a year

Don't remember him ever playing QB though

Yeah, he did play as an "emergency backup QB" situation in 1990 with the Redskins during the infamous "Body Bag" game where the Eagles defense knocked out or injured both the starting Redskins QB, and both backups during a game and IIRC, that probably is what RaginCajun83 is referring to.

Ironically, even though the Redskins lost that regular-season game and had both starting and backup QB's knocked out of the game, it was Washington who ended up having the last laugh as they defeated Eagles in the WC round later that year and essentially ended Buddy Ryan's tenure in Philadelphia after 5 seasons.

 

[kcirdor]

he would always do about 2 or 3 halfback passes a year

Don't remember him ever playing QB though

He played Qb for like 3 drives in one game where both QBs got hurt. I think they just ran the ball mostly. I remember watching the game.

 

[St. Widge]

It is Louisiana. Not ULL, not Lafayette. Louisiana.

Isn't that name already taken?

 

[RaginCajun83]

It is Louisiana. Not ULL, not Lafayette. Louisiana.

Dad and I still still sometimes call it USL, he graduated there under that name and I started my college career there

 

[kcirdor]

Dad and I still still sometimes call it USL, he graduated there under that name and I started my college career there

I went to USLs final semester, it changed to Louisiana the second semester. USL is acceptable.

 

[kcirdor]

Isn't that name already taken?

Yes by the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.