Lets not forget Kenny Washington while we celebrate Jackie Robinson

[tazinib1]

NFL broke it first

[BeeR]

"Washington, on the other hand, has yet to be recognized by the institution with the official final word on football's legacy -- the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Washington's name hasn't been uttered by the senior committee..."

 

Maybe that's because he sucked?

[tazinib1]

"Washington, on the other hand, has yet to be recognized by the institution with the official final word on football's legacy -- the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Washington's name hasn't been uttered by the senior committee..."

 

Maybe that's because he sucked?

 

 

 

It doesn't matter if he sucked or not.... you totally missed the point.

[Roadrunner]

I think the difference is, in the 1940's, pro football wasn't a big deal yet. College football was more popular, and of course baseball was absolute king in this country. Also, part of the Rams moving from Cleveland to Los Angeles was a stipulation that the team become integrated, so signing black players was forced upon them. That's a little different than Branch Rickey going out on his own to sign a black player (against the unwritten rules), and baseball's popularity made it a much bigger deal than in the NFL. Plus, Robinson had a 10-year careeer and became a Hall of Fame player and hero. Washington had three ok years and was done.

 

Interesting note, Washington and Robinson played football together at UCLA, both in the backfield.

[Mr Bad Example]

FYI, Washington and Woody Strode both made their debuts in '46 in the NFL; Cleveland had Bill Willis and Marion Motley in '46 but they were in the AAFC.

 

 

Probably diminishes it a bit when there were 4 "Jackie Robinsons" on the scene. Also, Fritz Pollard, who was among a handful of black guys who played in the NFL in the 20s, and the first African-American coach, IS in the NFL.

 

So technically, Washington et al didn't "integrate" the NFL, the RE-integrated it.