C Tom DeLeone (R.I.P.)

[Buckskin86]

OSU ON SUNDAY
Today Centers
Saturday, September 12, 2009
By BY RAY STEIN

Each week, Gameday+ examines Ohio State's impact on professional football with a position-by-position analysis of the Buckeyes who have made a mark in the NFL.

Centers get every football play started -- that's a snap -- so it seems a logical place to begin in earnest our series on Buckeyes in the NFL. Truth be told, though, former Ohio State centers haven't quite lit up the league over the years. There have been a handful of solid performers, but no one knocking down Canton's door -- at least not yet.

The best

Tom DeLeone

College life

Recruited out of Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio, DeLeone earned three letters at OSU, from 1969 to 1971. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1970 and '71 and a first-team All-American in 1971. He was co-captain of the Buckeyes in '71.

Path to the pros

Fifth-round draft choice by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1972

NFL career

After two seasons in Cincinnati, DeLeone was traded to Atlanta, but the Falcons released him after less than a month in training camp. The Cleveland Browns signed him to bolster a center position decimated by injury, and DeLeone became a mainstay, starting 101 games in the next eight seasons. He was named to two Pro Bowls (in 1979 and '80, the Kardiac Kids season).

Little-known fact

DeLeone was the 1977 recipient of the George Halas Award, given each year to the NFL player or coach who has "performed with abandon despite injury or personal problems off the field." Among the other winners of the award was Gale Sayers, who gave his famous "I love Brian Piccolo" speech in accepting the honor in 1970.

Quotable

"He was so quick, he had the fastest 10-yard time on the team, and that included the backs. And he was tough, too. A real hard-nosed player." -- former NFL guard Joe DeLamielleure, who played next to DeLeone for three seasons in Cleveland

The Columbus Dispatch : OSU ON SUNDAY

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[Buckskin86]

Ex-Roosevelt star DeLeone set to become Browns Legend
Record-Courier staff report

Former Kent Roosevelt High School star Tom DeLeone will be inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends in a special halftime ceremony at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the Browns? home game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

DeLeone, who played center for the Browns from 1974 to 1984, will be inducted along with former linebacker Vince Costello, a member of the Browns from 1957 to 1966.

DeLeone played in two Pro Bowls for the Browns, in 1979 and 1980, serving as the anchor of the team?s offensive line during the Kardiac Kids era in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He helped the team to the AFC Central Division title in 1980, along with a second playoff appearance in 1982.

DeLeone blocked for six 1,000-yard rushers as well as quarterback Brian Sipe, who led the NFL with 4,132 passing yards in 1980. DeLeone appeared in 176 career regular-season games, including 149 with the Browns.

DeLeone played in one of the most legendary games in NFL history: the Jan. 4, 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Oakland Raiders at old Cleveland Stadium. The game is forever known as ?Red Right 88? ? named after the fateful pass play by the Browns that resulted in an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter that sent the Browns to a heartbreaking 14-12 defeat.

That game was also famous for its wintry weather conditions, with the game-time temperature at 4 degrees and a wind-chill factor of 36 below, with the muddy, icy field resembling Arctic tundra.

Prior to his standout career in Cleveland, DeLeone was a star in football, basketball and track at Kent Roosevelt, graduating in 1968. He was a member of the powerful Rough Rider football teams coached by Tom Campana Sr. and featuring teammates Stan White, Mike Adamle and Tom Campana Jr., amongst others.

DeLeone, along with White and Campana Jr., went on to star for legendary coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State, and all three were members of the Buckeyes? 1968 national championship team.

As the Buckeyes? starting center, DeLeone was an All-Big Ten pick as a junior in 1970 and a senior in 1971. He was also an All-American selection in 1971, when he was named Ohio State?s team MVP.

He was drafted in the fifth round (106th pick overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1972 NFL Draft. DeLeone played for the Bengals in 1972 and 1973 before joining the Browns in 1974.

DeLeone was inducted into The Ohio State University Football Hall of Fame in 2002 after being named to the Buckeyes? All-Century Team in 1999. He was inducted into the Kent City Schools Hall of Fame in 2003.

http://www.recordpub.com/news/sports_article/5100917?page=0

 

[Buckskin86]

Rob Oller commentary: Ex-Buckeye in cancer fight stays positive
By Rob Oller
The Columbus Dispatch Saturday December 24, 2011

One of the more insidious characteristics of cancer is that in many cases it is a slow train coming. A body change, a diagnosis, followed by an estimated ?end date.? The patient moves forward trying to live normally while attempting to avoid looking down the tracks.

Tom DeLeone is succeeding in not obsessing over the proximity of that oncoming locomotive, which is not so easy when a small indent in his skull reminds him of the brain tumor that was there. And could return.

?This thing can reoccur,? DeLeone, 61, said during a conversation from his home near Park City, Utah. ?It?s a terminal cancer, supposedly, but the better attitude you have, the better chance you have.?

DeLeone?s attitude against injury and illness has always been that it is better to fight than flee. The former Ohio State center (1968-71), who also spent 12 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, has dealt with two knee surgeries, a dislocated elbow, multiple sprained ankles, several separated shoulders and numerous concussions during and due to his first career. He recently retired from his second career as a special agent in the Department of Homeland Security.

As a player, DeLeone learned to ignore injuries as much as possible, because otherwise the unemployment line beckoned.

?You might get a little dizzy out on the field from getting hit in the head, but if you put down your helmet somebody is going to take it and they?ll put someone else in,? he said. ?And I didn?t want that to ever happen.?

So he sucked it up and kept playing. When cancer came at him last January, this time trying to take more than his helmet, the Ravenna, Ohio native again sucked it up.

DeLeone was driving his son to work last Jan. 1 when he began making wrong turns.

?He grabbed my arm and said, ?Dad, what are you doing? This isn?t the way you go.? I got disoriented,? DeLeone said.

That?s just how cancer works, always looking for more ways to embarrass and snatch dignity.

Minutes later, doctors performed a CT scan that revealed the tumor. Two days later they removed the avocado-sized mass.

?After the operation I didn?t even get a headache,? he said. ?I?ve felt great ever since.??

cont..

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/12/23/gameday/rob-oller-opinion.html

 

[LordJeffBuck]

Passed away from cancer at age 65: LINK

Tom played center at Ohio State from 1969 to 1971. He was an All Big Ten selection in both 1970 and 1971, and an All American in 1971. He wore #52 while at Ohio State.

After leaving Ohio State, Tom played 13 years in the NFL for the Bengals (1972-73) and the Browns (1974-84).

 

[Jaxbuck]

RIP

fuck cancer

 

[Taosman]

One of the "great ones".
The 1970 roster has him listed at 214 lbs. And 6ft2.
I doubt he was either.
Amazing.

 

[ScriptOhio]

You ask most people today who the best Ohio State centers are that played in the NFL and the names of Uhlenhake, Lowdermilk, Mangold, and Bentley would likely come up. DeLeone should be on that "short list" too.

TOM DeLEONE, C (1969-71)
Born: 1950 (Ravenna, Ohio)
High School: Theodore Roosevelt

OHIO STATE CAREER

• The Buckeyes were 23-6 with DeLeone on the team.
• 1970 National Champion.
• 1970 Big Ten Title.
• 1969 Big Ten Title.

HONORS

• 1971 Captain.
• 1971 Team MVP.
• 1971 All-American.
• 1971 All-Big Ten.
• 1970 All-Big Ten.
• 2002 Inducted into the Ohio State Football Hall of Fame.
• 2003 Inducted into the Kent City Schools Hall of Fame.

NFL DRAFT
Round 5 to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 106th pick of the 1972 draft.
More biography: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum...015/07/56705/top-100-ohio-state-players-no-40

R. I. P.

 

[Bill Lucas]