Billy Howton

[Brian wolf]

RIP

Did the HOF miss the boat on his election? I felt he was deserving and had a bad luck career playing well on bad teams. He goes to a winner in Cleveland but due to union leadership, gets jettisoned to Dallas, where he helps a young team build a fanbase.

Could he have helped Lombardi and Brown win championships? I believe he could have helped the Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship game but Lombardi didnt like his blocking before being sent to Cleveland. Considering that Paul Brown only had one true playmaker at receiver in Ray Renfro, Howton could have helped their team from 59-63. His teammate in Dallas, Frank Clarke, also was let go by the Browns.

[SeahawkFever]

RIP to Howton.

Great, overlooked career! Didn't know he led a union (I presume the players union is what was meant?)

[JuggernautJ]

There's an excellent Bio for Howton on the HoVG page:
https://profootballresearchers.com/hall ... -2004.html

Re: his work with the NFLPA:
Howton was a strong players rights’ advocate and that likely led to his being traded by both Green Bay and Cleveland. Paul Brown, one of the staunchest foes of the NFLPA of which Howton was president, was especially outspoken in badmouthing Howton. His negative experiences with Brown and Vince Lombardi undoubtedly hampered Howton’s chances for the Hall of Fame, though he is in the Packers Hall of Fame. He was also bypassed for the all-1950s team despite having vastly superior credentials to three of the four receivers chosen.

[JohnH19]

Yes, the HOF definitely missed the boat on the all-time leading receiver at the time of his retirement. Howton and Del Shofner are the two senior receivers most deserving of enshrinement.

[JameisBrownston]

Seems like we talk about Billy Howton every year. Yeah, he's near the top of WR backlog to make the HOF. It doesn't seem like pre-SB era WR are taken seriously as candidates, though.