Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 30, 1994 TAG: 9408200011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CANTON, OHIO LENGTH: Medium
Two years into his career with the Cleveland Browns, it seemed that Leroy Kelly's ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame would have to be purchased at the window.
Yet today, Kelly will be inducted along with Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and defensive tackle Randy White, Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmy Johnson and Jackie Smith, a tight end for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kelly appeared to be stuck in Cleveland. He had only 43 carries for 151 yards and no touchdowns his first two years while watching Jim Brown rack up 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Then, the 30-year-old Brown, with eight rushing titles in his nine years, retired just before the start of the 1966 season.
``Nobody saw it coming,'' Kelly said by telephone from his New Jersey home. ``I found out when our coach, Blanton Collier, came in to a meeting and told me that Jim had decided to retire. He said, `This is your opportunity to fill his position.'
``I was shocked and surprised. I just got myself mentally and physically prepared to do what I had to do.''
The Cleveland offense didn't suffer. In his first year as a starter, Kelly rushed for 1,141 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing with 1,205 and 1,239 yards the next two seasons.
Dorsett, a Heisman Trophy winner at Pitt; and White, an Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner at Maryland, were anything but long shots for induction. Dorsett, who gained more than 1,000 yards in eight of his first nine seasons; and White, with 111 sacks; made the Cowboys an annual threat to win it all.
Smith spent his first 15 years with the Cardinals and his final one as a Cowboy. Despite 480 catches and 40 touchdowns, Smith said he didn't make it to Canton on talent.
``The only advantage I had was I worked very, very had,'' he said. ``I wasn't smart enough to know I had a chance.''
Grant was the stone face on the Vikings' sideline while guiding the team to 11 division titles and four trips to the Super Bowl. He started as an NBA basketball player, switched to the NFL, then jumped to the Canadian Football League before returning to the Vikings as head coach in 1967.
``The best thing I can say is I've never been fired,'' said Grant, who is traveling from his home in Minnesota to the induction in a bus filled with his six children, 10 grandchildren and assorted other relatives and friends.
Johnson retired in 1976 after 16 seasons as a cornerback with the 49ers. He had 47 interceptions and also played as a receiver.
``This has rekindled a lot of wonderful, warm feelings that people haven't forgotten you and your accomplishments,'' he said.
by CNB