Raymond Berry RIP

Raymond Berry passed away at the age of 93. He was the greatest possession receiver in the NFL in the '50s and '60s. This really brings back the memories of how good football was played back in the Golden days of the NFL. An HOF player who had one fumble in 13years of playing. Unitas to Berry, what memories that phrase brings back. R.I.P.

The old man they would bring on to ESPN was his roommate and he would tell interesting stories about Berry.

When Berry retired he was the league's all-time leader in receptions. It's a shame his highlight film is narrated by the liberal clown Frank Deford, who wrote for Sports Illustrated for over half a century and was also on TV quite a bit. This NFL Films piece starts off by Deford saying Berry "was the hero of everybody who wasn't very athletic" and continues in that vein. Oh, really? I doubt there was ever a single football fan who thought that way. You don't become the all-time leader receiver in league history without being athletic. Berry wasn't a burner but he was quite simply an athletic receiver with hands of glue but the narrative of Whites being "overachievers," especially at the taboo positions, has to always be presented.

Despite Deford's demeaning commentary, these highlight are the best I could find on YouTube. RIP Raymond Berry:

That Deford what a worm. Great highlights and I fail to see the un-athleticism of Mr. Berry in those highlights.

I was watching pro football on TV when Raymond Berry was playing and one of the best of his time. He was written up a lot in the sports magazines of the time and he was never described as "not very athletic."

A weird remark by Deford even by current standards. Deford must have figured he had to say something like this about a great White WR of the late 50s and 60s.

And he caught passes in crappy weather without the luxury of gloves which more or less do the job for you now.

RIP

He also was the prototypical receiver for his era as defensive backs could mug players down the field so elusiveness was at a premium over raw speed.

What Deford said was caste mumbo jumbo but that was par for the course I remember when heavyweight boxing was shifting from a Black American dominance to foreign fighters including a few non Black Americans he had a similar statement on HBO before a heavyweight bout on the decline of heavyweight boxing.

Sad news but his health had been declining for a few years now, he is probably in a better place...