Humphrey, Hall of Famer, dies
Former Falcon, Eagle retired with 130 sacks
ATLANTA — Pro Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey, one of the NFL’s most fearsome pass rushers during the 1970s with the Atlanta Falcons but long overlooked on mostly losing teams, has died at the age of 77.
Humphrey, who also reached the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, died unexpectedly Friday night in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, according to the Hall of Fame, which was informed of his death by his daughter. No cause was given.
Humphrey was the No. 3 overall pick by the Falcons out of Tennessee State in 1968 and went on to play 11 years with the team, earning the last of six Pro Bowl appearances as a member of the famed “Grits Blitz” defense in 1977.
He moved to the Eagles in 1979 and served as a designated pass rusher on the 1980 team that reached the Super Bowl.
Humphrey retired after the 1981 season, before sacks became an official stat, but he was credited with 130 sacks over 13 seasons (he missed the entire 1975 season recovering from a knee injury).
Humphrey was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Claude Humphrey,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said. “Known as a hard worker and a reliable teammate, Humphrey was always willing to help the team out wherever needed and knew success was achieved collectively. His humble spirit guided him on and off the field.”
Humphrey was a finalist for the Hall of Fame in 2003, 2005 and 2006, but he failed to get in each time. He finally was elected as a senior candidate in February 2014.
“I’m not glad that it took so long,” he said before the induction ceremony, “but I’m glad I got in when I can smell the flowers.”
STEELERS: Pittsburgh activated star linebacker T.J. Watt off the COVID-19 list on Saturday, giving their beleaguered defense a boost before Sunday’s visit by AFC North-leading Baltimore.
Pittsburgh placed Watt on the list Monday, a day after a 41-10 loss to Cincinnati dropped the Steelers to 5-5-1. He did not practice during the week, remaining away from the team’s facility as part of the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
Watt’s 12½ sacks rank second in the league, and his presence should help Pittsburgh in its attempt to keep Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in check.
While Watt will be available, cornerback Joe Haden will miss his third straight game with a sprained foot. The status of defensive end Cam Heyward is uncertain after he missed practice on Friday with an illness, though he has not been placed on the COVID-19 list.
SEAHAWKS: Seattle elevated veteran running back Adrian Peterson from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game against San Francisco.
Seattle made the roster move on Saturday due to questions about its running back depth. The Seahawks listed starter Alex Collins, and backups Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer as questionable on Friday due to injuries. Collins has been slowed by an abdominal injury but hasn’t missed any games. Penny (hamstring) and Homer (calf) both missed last week’s loss at Washington.
Peterson was signed to the practice squad Wednesday. The 36-year-old played three games earlier this season for Tennessee after Derrick Henry went down with an injury. Peterson started two games and had 27 carries for 82 yards. a 3.0-yard average per rushing attempt, and one touchdown run.
His longest run, 16 yards, came against Houston. Peterson was released by the Titans on Nov. 23.
Now in his 15th season, Peterson is a four-time All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was the 2012 league MVP and is likely bound for the Hall of Fame.
JETS: New York released Matt Ammendola and signed Alex Kessman from the practice squad Saturday, making a change at kicker after holding an open competition this week before facing Philadelphia.
Ammendola was just 13 of 19 on field goal attempts this season, and he missed three of his last six attempts.
“Sometimes you can get a little bit out of whack with your technique, so to speak, but he’s an ultra-talented kid,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said Friday. “He’s just got to convert when we need the points, right?”
Despite a strong leg that impressed during training camp, the first-year kicker from Oklahoma State was 2 for 8 on attempts 40 yards or longer — including 0 for 3 on kicks of 50 or more yards.
That prompted the Jets to sign Kessman, also a rookie, to the practice squad last week. While the job remained Ammendola’s at Houston, he went 2 for 3 including a miss from 42 yards in the fourth quarter of New York’s 21-14 win.