Earl Campbell: Team Captain for Saturday's game

[BullNation4Life]

Originally Posted by ChampionTexan

Can't swear he was a "captain", but he definitely felt more connected with the Ravens than the Colts after they came to town.

Yeah but the article doesn't really say if he was there for the Colts or for the Ravens and Harbaugh was just showing a sign of respect...

[BullNation4Life]

Originally Posted by ChampionTexan

Eh - I don't think it's that difficult to understand. I know prior to his passing, Johnny Unitas considered himself much more alligned with the Baltimore Ravens than the Indianapolis Colts who he pretty much disowned after they moved.

Earl's beloved in Houston and in Texas. I'm sure he's respected in Tennessee, but not having any claim to Earl during his playing career, I'm sure he's not viewed the same way by professional football fans in Nashville as he is in Houston. There's a deep affection for Earl in this city. I'm very happy the Texans have recognized and will honor that affection.

Thanks, all I was asking for, an explanation...

[atomictelephone]

The same way Johnny Unitas isn't associated with the city of Indianapolis but Baltimore, even though the Colts haven't been in Baltimore in over 30 years.

Earl Campbell IS Houston, Texas. He is the greatest football player to have ever played in this city and save for a debilitating genetic disease that affected his spinal cord he would have been even better than Jim Brown who has said Earl is the second best running back in the history of the NFL, after him (ever the modest one). The man's 1980 season is simply one of the greatest seasons in the NFL ever. He ran for over 200 yards FOUR times in one season and nearly eclipsed 2,000 in 15 games which is something only Eric Dickerson did and OJ Simpson (in 14).

Houston should never forget its sports past and Earl Campbell is part of its Mt. Rushmore.

[Hookem Horns]

Originally Posted by BullNation4Life

Yeah but the article doesn't really say if he was there for the Colts or for the Ravens and Harbaugh was just showing a sign of respect...

After his death, many fans of the Baltimore Ravens football team petitioned the renaming of the Ravens' home stadium (owned by the State of Maryland) after Unitas. These requests were unsuccessful since the lucrative naming rights had already been leased by the Ravens to Buffalo, New York M&T Bank. However, a statue of Unitas was erected as the centerpiece of the plaza in front of the Stadium named in Unitas' honor. Large banners depicting the NFL Hall of Famer in his Baltimore Colts heyday flank the entrance to the stadium.

There's your answer on the connection between Unitas and Baltimore.

I know you weren't an Oilers fan so maybe you don't get it. Look at it this way, the Oiler's front office moved as did the players that were on the roster back then. However the Oilers fan base (the ones that experienced and loved Earl) stayed here in Houston.

Earl was an Oiler however he will always be a Texan.

[eriadoc]

Originally Posted by ckhouston

Matthews is considered by many to be the best O-lineman to ever play the game. Not sure anyone would consider Campbell the best running back ever, although I am sure top five.

Taking nothing away from Earl, but Matthews is by far the greatest Oiler ever.

Jim Brown considers Earl the second greatest RB ever, behind himself. Matthews was an all time great, of course, but Earl was special beyond special.