During the ‘50s a football player emerged from the college ranks and joined the Cleveland Browns, and changed football forever. His name was Lou Groza. His positions were placekicker and offensive tackle.
And people called him “The Toe.”
Groza kicked the ball as though it was his worst enemy. His ability to kick harder than almost any other placekicker before him meant that his team could score from distances way beyond teams were used to scoring, which was past the 50-yard line. Because of this, Groza broke and set records in career kicking and points. He was basically the Otto Graham of placekickers, and his missile-esque kicks won a number of close games for the Browns.
Groza was one of the greatest Cleveland Brown players in history, alongside guys like Otto Graham. He was instrumental in helping the Browns win eight league titles in his 21 seasons with the team.
Early into his career, Groza commanded a huge following. A number of individual awards and accomplishment served to further his legacy as one of the game’s greatest. His retirement in 1959 was short-lived, as he returned to Cleveland three years later to add to his legend.
If anything, players who excel at kicking in football owe their development to “The Toe.”
Comentarios