Former teammates on Hickerson

02.03.2007

Former teammates comment onGene Hickerson's NFL career.

Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, who ran behind Hickerson from 1958-65:

"He was one of the best pulling guards who ever lived. He had unbelievable speed and mobility and was the best lineman we had.

"He blocked downfield, something guys today can't do. Nobody knows blockers better than the guys who ran behind him, and I for one believe he should be in the Hall of Fame. He was the best blocker on a good blocking team. The fact that it hasn't happen before is a flaw in the system."

Browns Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly, Hickerson's teammate from 1964-73:

"I really don't know what more Gene could have done in his career."

Browns Hall of Fame wide receiver Dante Lavelli:

"He helped Jim Brown get all the records."

Former Browns left tackle and onetime Hickerson teammate Doug Dieken, also the longtime color analyst on the team's radio network:

"When he left the game, the all-time leading rusher was Jim Brown. The fourth-leading rusher was Leroy Kelly. Those kinds of numbers add up for you.

"Gene could run with the running backs. You wouldn't see a running back catching up to him on a sweep.

"Jim Brown said he should be in there. That should be enough right there.

"He's the best guard I ever played with. I've seen guards not as good as him get into the Hall of Fame."

Former Browns left tackle Dick Schafrath, whose own 13-year career ran almost concurrently with that of Hickerson's:

"They've overlooked him for years. He should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago."

Robert E. Jackson, a Browns guard himself from 1975-85 and a football historian:

"He was one of the best guards I ever saw play."

Erich Barnes, a cornerback who played seven years (1965-71) with Hickerson and seven years before that against him as a member of the Bears and arch rival New York Giants:

"I don't call many players great, but Gene definitely was."