"Automatic" Otto Graham dead at 82 (Wow what a CHAMPION)

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/amfoot_nfl_graham

SARASOTA, United States (AFP) - Gridiron great Otto Graham, who won multiple championships in a rival league before dominating in the National Football League, died at the age of 82.

Graham won seven championships in 10 seasons with the Browns, including every title in the four-year history of the All-America Football Conference from 1946-49.

When the AAFC folded in the 1950, the Browns entered the NFL, and most experts felt they would struggle. But in the 1950 NFL championship game, Graham threw four touchdown passes in leading the Browns to a 30-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

In 1954, Graham was even better, passing for three touchdowns and running for three more scores as the Browns won the NFL title with a 56-10 rout of Detroit.

Graham announced his retirement after the win over Detroit but returned in 1955 after the Browns got off to a slow start and led them to yet another championship. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more in a 38-14 victory over Los Angeles.

In 1959, Graham became football coach at Coast Guard Academy, where he produced an undefeated team in 1963.

In addition to his success on the football field, Graham also played one season of professional basketball and helped the Rochester Royals, featuring Red Holzman and Chuck Connors The Rifleman), win the 1946 National Basketball League championship.

[ewagner]

1. I remember the Coast Guard Academy championship

Saw Graham interviewed on TV and thought he was the kind of coach I wanted to be.

He was truly great.

[underpants]

2. I had no idea that he won a pro basketball championship

Again WOW

[underpants]

3. Otto gets a

:kick:

[beanball]

4. "Automatic"

Lou"the toe" Groza was called automatic,not Otto.

[underpants]

5. Graham got that nickname because he was the forerunner of "modern" QB's

He focused on timed routes, footwork, and accuracy where many at the time just slung it around. I've always heard him referred to as "Automatic Otto".