The Pittsburgh Steelers are well-represented within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, however there is a participant from the franchise’s most profitable interval who deserves to affix his fellow members of the “Metal Curtain” protection in Canton: defensive finish L.C. Greenwood.
Many have argued for Greenwood’s enshrinement through the years, however it’s value citing once more as a result of he was named one of many senior player Hall of Fame nominees Tuesday.
Greenwood, who died in 2013, headlines a bunch of six former Steelers nominated that features kicker Norm Johnson, defensive lineman Eugene “Huge Daddy” Lipscomb, linebacker Andy Russell, security Mike Wagner and working again Byron “Whizzer” White.
Greenwood is certainly one of 27 defensive lineman on an inventory that shall be decreased from 183 to 50 earlier than those that earn induction are introduced in late fall.
Greenwood’s title might not carry the status of gamers resembling former Steelers defensive sort out “Imply Joe” Greene or linebacker Jack Ham, however his resume warrants him being immortalized within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame nonetheless.
There are two major explanation why Greenwood is the overshadowed and often-forgotten member of Pittsburgh’s legendary protection of the Nineteen Seventies.
First, Greenwood performed on a protection filled with superstars and All-Execs. Along with Greene and Ham, all-time greats Mel Blount, a security, and Jack Lambert, a center linebacker, additionally terrorized offenses.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, quarterback Terry Bradshaw, working backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier and broad receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth stole many of the consideration. Bleier is the one one among the many aforementioned teams who shouldn’t be within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Being on a dynasty staff can elevate gamers’ stature whereas additionally inflicting others to concurrently be overshadowed. Merely incomes 4 Tremendous Bowl rings, as Greenwood did, should not earn him or every other participant with comparable credentials an computerized HOF induction.
However Greenwood has a Corridor of Fame case purely on particular person prowess alone.
Greenwood performed from 1969 to 1981, one yr earlier than the NFL began to depend sacks as an official statistic. In keeping with Pro Football Reference, if sacks had been recorded throughout Greenwood’s profession, he would have registered 78 — the fourth most in franchise history behind solely present Steelers T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward and former Steelers nice James Harrison, who retired in 2018.
Greenwood, who famously wore gold cleats throughout his NFL profession, can be credited by Professional Soccer Reference with two double-digit sack seasons — 11 in 1971 and 11 extra in 1974. He additionally had 9 sacks in 1978.
Greenwood made six Professional Bowls however didn’t earn a Defensive Participant of the Yr Award or every other particular person {hardware}. A DPOY would have bolstered his HOF case.
Nevertheless, while you think about that Greenwood’s pass-rushing means and his stature on one of many best defenses of all time, if not the best, the Corridor of Fame looks like a worthy exclamation level on his fabulous profession.
It is unlucky Greenwood didn’t obtain this honor whereas he was alive.
