R.I.P. Milt

[ballpeen]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Oh, no. I just voted for him for the College Football Hall of Fame!"

 

Those were the first words from former Browns star Paul Wiggin, after learning Milt Morin had died of a heart attack over the weekend.

 

Morin was the Browns' first-round pick in 1966, and played 10 years for the team. He was set to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this weekend.

 

Wiggin said he had been voting for Morin for years, and urging some others who had votes to take a look at what the tight end did at the University of Massachusetts.

 

"He was a complete player, a proto-type tight end," said Wiggin. "Back then, they had 240-pound tight ends who couldn't catch the ball, and 200-pounders who couldn't block. Milt did both."

 

He did it well enough to make two Pro Bowls with the Browns. He was 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, agile and aggressive.

 

 

In 129 games over 10 seasons, Milt Morin caught 271 passes and scored 16 touchdowns for the Browns.

"He could have played tight end in this era," said Paul Warfield, recently retiring as a Browns consultant. "He'd be worth his weight in gold because most teams have a tight end who can catch, or a tight end who can block. Milt was such a good blocker, we ran Leroy Kelly's sweeps around his end. He could run precise patterns, and he could blow you off the ball with his blocks."

 

Warfield paused, remembering Morin for their four years together with the Browns.

 

"He can back from a very serious back injury that required surgery," said the Hall of Fame receiver. "He was just a great teammate, a big fellow, a wonderful guy."

 

Morin was 67 when he died Friday at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass. Before retiring in 2003, he spent 15 years as a corrections officer in Hampshire County. Sheriff Robert Garvey raved about Morin to the Hampshire Gazette: "He had the respect of his colleagues as well as the inmates. You would think someone with his background would be just a tough guy, but he was a gentle man, tremendously understanding of people who were incarcerated."

 

Former Browns defensive end Bill Glass said he "had lost track" of Morin, but is not surprised that his former teammate became an effective corrections officer.

 

"Milt was just good with people," said Glass, who has spent nearly 40 years doing prison ministry. "He was very fair-minded, an impeccable guy. I loved to make fun of his New England accent, and he got a kick out of me being from Texas."

 

Wiggin added, "One day, we were at a place where Milt order a frappe. We looked at him strange, and he said it was like a milk shake. I'm from California, and I thought I knew everything. Never heard of a frappe."

 

 

Plain Dealer file photo"You could count on him to be where he's supposed to be," said Browns QB Bill Nelsen of Milt Morin. "He was a big target to throw to." Added Paul Warfield, "He was just a great teammate, a big fellow, a wonderful guy."

The Browns of Morin's era never made much money. They needed careers after football, be it Warfield and Wiggin working for NFL teams, or Glass in ministry. Morin never made more than $65,000 a year as a pro. He mostly worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at the local jail.

 

In addition to his law enforcement work, Morin was a carpenter. He owned an antique store for a while.

 

One obituary said he met his wife, Ellen, while working as a bouncer at a bar on Cape Cod. They were wed when he was a senior at UMass and remained married for 44 years. In college, Morin lettered in lacrosse and was an outstanding wrestler, in addition to playing tight end and serving as the kicker.

 

"Money is nice, but money doesn't mean anything compared to ... relationships," Morin said in a 1993 interview. "I've just had the greatest in the world."

 

Morin caught 271 passes in his Browns career, many of them from Bill Nelsen -- the starting quarterback from 1968-71, when the Browns were 34-15-1 when he played.

 

"Milt died?" said Nelsen. "I'm afraid to answer the phone or pick up a newspaper. So many are not with us."

 

On the phone from Orlando, Nelsen's voice cracked as he said, "Such a nice guy. You could count on him to be where he's supposed to be. He was a big target to throw to. We had so many good guys on those teams, and it's a shame to keep losing them."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index....age_clevel.html

[roach]

Milt was a punishing runner after the catch. He seemed to run at and through defenders. One of the toughest players i can remember . RIP Milt.

[Mark O]

I remember him from when I was little...I don't remember ever seeing him play but I remember his name because I called him "Milk" Morin...

[Canton Mike]

I'm shocked to hear this sad news.

Milt Morin was my kind of player....blue collar all the way & a consistent, solid performer.

RIP Milt, & prayers going out to all his loved ones.

God Bless,

Mike

 

[ballpeen]

Milt was fun to watch.

 

After he caught the ball Milt wouldn't run for a corner of the endzone. It was almost as if he would look for the safety and run straight towards him.

[Zombo]

One of my favorite players as a little kid. I still remember him barreling over people.

 

Every Sunday morning I would watch "This Week in Pro Football" with Tom Brooksheir and Pat Summerall, and, next to Leroy Kelly, I remember Morin the most, because he would be all muddy running downhill crushing people.

 

Zombo

[The Gipper]

Apparently this was a sudden thing. And very shocking. Morin was a better version of Steve Heiden.

In fact, I think it may be said that behind Ozzie Newsome, Morin is the 2d best TE in Browns history.

[NewEraDawg]

I have to agree with that Gipper

[calfoxwc]

As a kid, watched Milt Morin get open, when it wouldn't seem like he could,

 

and he caught those passes and blue collar pummeled anybody between him and a first down or td.

 

God Bless, Milt. And what a shame he wasn't n the HOF years ago, so he could have enjoyed how much the older fans appreciated him.

 

Too bad.

[ballpeen]

Apparently this was a sudden thing. And very shocking. Morin was a better version of Steve Heiden.

In fact, I think it may be said that behind Ozzie Newsome, Morin is the 2d best TE in Browns history.

 

I don't think it is even close. No other TE in our history made 2 pro bowls as far as I know.

 

[The Gipper]

I don't think it is even close. No other TE in our history made 2 pro bowls as far as I know.

 

 

I believe K2 did. Talentwise, he certainly was up there. His maturity didn't match up to his talent.

[SJ_Browns]

rip, milt.

[The Gipper]

OK, here is the scoop on the Tight Ends:

 

Ozzie made the Pro Bowl 3 times: 1981, 1984, 1985

 

Milt made it twice: 1968 and 1971

 

Johnny Brewer made it 1 time: 1966

 

Kellen Winslow Jr. made it 1 time: 2007

 

and that's it.

[ballpeen]

OK, here is the scoop on the Tight Ends:

 

Ozzie made the Pro Bowl 3 times: 1981, 1984, 1985

 

Milt made it twice: 1968 and 1971

 

Johnny Brewer made it 1 time: 1966

 

Kellen Winslow Jr. made it 1 time: 2007

 

and that's it.

 

 

 

Thanks.....he played in the era where Jackie Smith, Raymond Chester, and Charlie Sanders played the TE position...pretty darn good players.....Milt was right there for a 6-7 year period.

 

[Riffer X]

One of my favorite players as a little kid. I still remember him barreling over people.

 

Every Sunday morning I would watch "This Week in Pro Football" with Tom Brooksheir and Pat Summerall, and, next to Leroy Kelly, I remember Morin the most, because he would be all muddy running downhill crushing people.

 

Zombo

 

I would have dug that!!!

[rich4eagle]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Oh, no. I just voted for him for the College Football Hall of Fame!"

 

Those were the first words from former Browns star Paul Wiggin, after learning Milt Morin had died of a heart attack over the weekend.

 

Morin was the Browns' first-round pick in 1966, and played 10 years for the team. He was set to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this weekend.

 

Wiggin said he had been voting for Morin for years, and urging some others who had votes to take a look at what the tight end did at the University of Massachusetts.

 

"He was a complete player, a proto-type tight end," said Wiggin. "Back then, they had 240-pound tight ends who couldn't catch the ball, and 200-pounders who couldn't block. Milt did both."

 

He did it well enough to make two Pro Bowls with the Browns. He was 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, agile and aggressive.

 

Milt was a stud when the Browns were studs...............I recall him running over folks after the catch.........thanks MIlt for all you did when the Browns were still the Greatest SHow in Football

 

 

In 129 games over 10 seasons, Milt Morin caught 271 passes and scored 16 touchdowns for the Browns.

"He could have played tight end in this era," said Paul Warfield, recently retiring as a Browns consultant. "He'd be worth his weight in gold because most teams have a tight end who can catch, or a tight end who can block. Milt was such a good blocker, we ran Leroy Kelly's sweeps around his end. He could run precise patterns, and he could blow you off the ball with his blocks."

 

Warfield paused, remembering Morin for their four years together with the Browns.

 

"He can back from a very serious back injury that required surgery," said the Hall of Fame receiver. "He was just a great teammate, a big fellow, a wonderful guy."

 

Morin was 67 when he died Friday at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass. Before retiring in 2003, he spent 15 years as a corrections officer in Hampshire County. Sheriff Robert Garvey raved about Morin to the Hampshire Gazette: "He had the respect of his colleagues as well as the inmates. You would think someone with his background would be just a tough guy, but he was a gentle man, tremendously understanding of people who were incarcerated."

 

Former Browns defensive end Bill Glass said he "had lost track" of Morin, but is not surprised that his former teammate became an effective corrections officer.

 

"Milt was just good with people," said Glass, who has spent nearly 40 years doing prison ministry. "He was very fair-minded, an impeccable guy. I loved to make fun of his New England accent, and he got a kick out of me being from Texas."

 

Wiggin added, "One day, we were at a place where Milt order a frappe. We looked at him strange, and he said it was like a milk shake. I'm from California, and I thought I knew everything. Never heard of a frappe."

 

 

Plain Dealer file photo"You could count on him to be where he's supposed to be," said Browns QB Bill Nelsen of Milt Morin. "He was a big target to throw to." Added Paul Warfield, "He was just a great teammate, a big fellow, a wonderful guy."

The Browns of Morin's era never made much money. They needed careers after football, be it Warfield and Wiggin working for NFL teams, or Glass in ministry. Morin never made more than $65,000 a year as a pro. He mostly worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at the local jail.

 

In addition to his law enforcement work, Morin was a carpenter. He owned an antique store for a while.

 

One obituary said he met his wife, Ellen, while working as a bouncer at a bar on Cape Cod. They were wed when he was a senior at UMass and remained married for 44 years. In college, Morin lettered in lacrosse and was an outstanding wrestler, in addition to playing tight end and serving as the kicker.

 

"Money is nice, but money doesn't mean anything compared to ... relationships," Morin said in a 1993 interview. "I've just had the greatest in the world."

 

Morin caught 271 passes in his Browns career, many of them from Bill Nelsen -- the starting quarterback from 1968-71, when the Browns were 34-15-1 when he played.

 

"Milt died?" said Nelsen. "I'm afraid to answer the phone or pick up a newspaper. So many are not with us."

 

On the phone from Orlando, Nelsen's voice cracked as he said, "Such a nice guy. You could count on him to be where he's supposed to be. He was a big target to throw to. We had so many good guys on those teams, and it's a shame to keep losing them."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index....age_clevel.html

[The Gipper]

Thanks.....he played in the era where Jackie Smith, Raymond Chester, and Charlie Sanders played the TE position...pretty darn good players.....Milt was right there for a 6-7 year period.

 

And don't forget John Mackey

[ballpeen]

And don't forget John Mackey

 

To be sure, though I think both Mackey and Ditka were starting to wind down by the late 60's. The before mentioned were more of what I would consider his peers.

 

[ballpeen]

And don't forget John Mackey

 

To be sure, though I think both Mackey and Ditka were starting to wind down by the late 60's. The before mentioned were more of what I would consider his peers.

 

[The Gipper]

To be sure, though I think both Mackey and Ditka were starting to wind down by the late 60's. The before mentioned were more of what I would consider his peers.

 

Here are the dates of the careers from some of the renowned Tight Ends of that era:

 

Ditka played from 1961 through 1972

Mackey played from 1963-1972

Morin played from 1966-1975

Charlie Sanders played from 1968-1977

Jackie Smith played from 1963-1978

Raymond Chester played from 1970 to 1981

Johnny Brewer played from 1961-1970

Marv Fleming played from 1963-1974 (he was a combo TE/Flanker)

Jim Mandich played from 1970-1978

Dave Parks played from 1964-1973 (also a combo TE/WR)

Bob Trumpy played from 1968-1977

 

So, actually it seems that Morin was probably as much a contemporary of Mackey and Ditka as he was of the others mentioned.

[ballpeen]

Looks good to me, and why he probably didn't make 1-2 more pro bowl teams.

[rich4eagle]

Milt made the college football hall of fame.............and all about his herioics above was well accurate...........thanks Milt for all you did for us who remember when All the World Was Browns Town