Raymond Berry, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was one person who did not watch the NFL Draft on Saturday.
At least that was the case from about 1 to 2:30 p.m., as he signed autographs for fans of the old Baltimore Colts at Sports Cards Heroes in Laurel.
“The draft is an interesting thing,” said Berry, in his Texas drawl. “It is huge. It is funny how the interest in the draft has resulted in (more) coverage for the NFL in the off-season.”
Berry, who now lives in Tennessee, was the all-time pass catcher when he retired from the NFL. After his playing career, he was the head coach of the New England Patriots, and was later an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos. He led the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
He signed autographs for nearly 100 fans on Saturday, and the event brought back good memories for Berry.
“Yes, it is a reminder of a real special time in our lives,” Berry said. “None of us could have ever foreseen the long-term relationship with the fans. It was something we had no idea would last this long.”
Berry moved from Colorado to Tennessee last year in order to be closer to his grandchildren. He remains involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and speaks at FCA events.
He is slated to return to Maryland for the annual Lenny Moore dinner, which is scheduled for Monday.
Berry teamed up with quarterback John Unitas to form one of the best tandems in NFL history.
According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Web Site, Berry did not become a starter in high school until his senior year. And his father was the coach. Berry ended up with 631 catches for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns.
Berry played in six Pro Bowl games and fumbled just once in his career. He had 12 catches for 178 yards in the “greatest game ever played” ? the 1958 NFL championship, in which the Colts beat the Giants, 23-17, in sudden-death.
THE BERRY FILE
Years with the Colts: 1955-67
Position: Wide receiver
Elected to the Hall of Fame: 1973
Did you know? Berry was a 20th-round draft choice. He caught just 33 balls in three years at Southern Methodist, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Web Site.
