Leroy Kelly

Leroy Kelly ( born May 20, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American former American football player. He played in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Cleveland Browns as a halfback.

Youth

Leroy Kelly visited in his hometown high school. In his school, he was active as a basketball and baseball player. In the football team, he played quarterback, but was also used in various other positions. In all three sports, he was honored by his school several times because of his athletic achievements.

Playing career

College career

Leroy Kelly initially wanted to take a crafting profession and had no ambition to continue his career as a football player. The Morgan State University offered him to study part-time, and gave him a job. Kelly studied in Baltimore from 1960 until 1963. From the coach of the football team, he was employed as a running back, but also found time use in the defense of the team. Kelly became deputy captain of his team and won with his team in 1962, the league championship. In 1963 he played with his college team in the Orange Bowl Classic against the team of the Florida A & M University. His team lost with 30:7. He himself, however, was elected MVP of the game. The training of the college team was regularly observed by players and scouts of the Baltimore Colts. In particular, from the players, he was repeatedly advice on how he can improve his game. Although uttered Buddy Young, Scout the Colts, with the club officials for a commitment from Kelly, it was rejected. Kelly weighed 85 kg and was considered by the club officials as too easy.

Professional career

Kelly was drafted in 1964 by the Cleveland Browns in the eighth round at 110th place. He received a contract with an annual salary of $ 17,000. The head coach of the Browns Blanton Collier was Kelly rarely play in the offense of the team. Jim Brown was a regular on the position of the full- backs and was used by Collier as a ball carrier in the run game. Since the position of the half- backs was already occupied, Kelly first had to be content with the role of the substitute score. More usage time Kelly got on special teams the team, where he found a punt and kickoff returner use. In 1964 he achieved his first touchdown with a Puntreturn as a rookie. This year he won the NFL championship with his team. In the final, the Colts were beaten with 27:0. The following year, the Browns failed in NFL playoff with 23:12 on the Green Bay Packers.

After the 1965 season, Brown finished his career to become an actor. Kelly was employed as starters on offense. He became the main ball carrier the Browns. In the next three years, Kelly set several NFL Saison. 1966-1968 he scored most touchdowns with running game in the years 1967 and 1968, he scored with 1205 and 1239 yards space gain also the high for the year. The Browns were a top team in the NFL, though they could not win any more titles. 1968 failed the Browns in NFL playoff with 34:0 to the Colts, followed in 1969 in the final a 27:7 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings. Kelly could be in any of the games decisively set the scene, a touchdown he did not succeed.

1972 Kelly signed a two-year contract with the Browns, which earned him an annual income of 80,000 U.S. dollars. Due to a knee injury left his effectiveness in 1973 after considerably. The Browns placed him on the transfer list and the Oakland Raiders secured the rights to Kelly, but ultimately saw a commitment from. Kelly then signed a contract with Chicago Fire, a team of World Football League ( WFL ). After the team after the 1974 season stopped the game mode of Chicago because of financial problems, Kelly ended his playing career and joined the coaching staff of Philadelphia Bell, another team from the WFL. The WFL went to the 1975 season in bankruptcy and Kelly retired from the football sport.

Honors

Leroy Kelly played six times in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. He was nominated five times for the All- Pro. Kelly is a member of the NFL 1960s All- Decade Team and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1968 he received the Bert Bell Award. The Cleveland Browns honor Leroy Kelly in their stadium on the Ring of Honor and added him to the Honor Roll.

508243
de