San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Hall of Fame lineman Culp dies at 75
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hall of Fame defensive lineman Curley Culp, who helped the Kansas City Chiefs win their first Super Bowl during a 14-year NFL career, died Saturday of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 75.
Culp announced this month that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. His wife, Collette Bloom Culp, announced “on behalf of our family and with a broken heart” the five-time All-Pro’s death.
Culp was considered one of the strongest players in the NFL during his playing career, though his position on the interior of the defensive line meant his play often went unnoticed. He was chosen to participate in six Pro Bowls, and he was second to Steelers cornerback Mel Blount for AP Defensive Player of the Year after the 1975 season.
It wasn’t until long after his playing days — Culp retired in 1981 — that he was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame. But after his enshrinement in 2013, Culp proudly wore the golden jacket of a Hall of Famer seemingly everywhere he went.
Culp learned to use his speed and leverage while at Arizona State. He was an All-American in football for the Sun Devils and, standing 6 feet and weighing about 265 pounds, won the heavyweight national championship in wrestling.
The Denver Broncos selected Culp in the second round of the 1965 draft with the idea of turning him into an offensive guard. But when it became clear that wasn’t
going to work, they traded him to the Chiefs, where Hank Stram plugged him into the middle of a defensive line that ultimately would take Kansas City all the way to the Super Bowl.
Culp was part of a defense that included fellow Hall of Famers Emmett Thomas, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell and Buck Buchanan. And in the fourth Super Bowl, that group shut down the Vikings’ vaunted run game in a
23-7 victory.
Culp was traded to the Oilers in 1974, and he had arguably his best season the following year. He remained in Houston through the 1980 season, and then spent one season in Detroit before announcing his retirement.
Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
Titans place Brown on IR
The Tennessee Titans placed wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve Saturday.
Brown already had been declared out for Sunday’s game against
New England after he sustained a chest injury during last weekend’s loss to Houston. Now he will be out at least until Dec. 23 and becomes the 17th player currently on IR for Tennessee (8-3).
He is the Titans’ leading receiver with 46 catches for 615 yards and three touchdowns.
The Titans activated fullback Khari Blasingame from injured reserve among seven personnel moves Saturday.
Browns’ offense at full strength
The Browns activated running back Kareem Hunt and Pro Bowl right tackle Jack Conklin from injured reserve, and they will be in the lineup for Sunday night’s critical game against AFC Northleading Baltimore.
Hunt missed the past five games with a calf injury. Conklin was out for the past three with a dislocated elbow.
Niners activate backup Greenlaw
The San Francisco 49ers have activated linebacker Dre Greenlaw off injured reserve to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Greenlaw injured his groin in the season opener and was on injured reserve until being activated on Saturday.
The Niners didn’t activate edge rusher Dee Ford off IR after he returned to practice this week. Ford has missed the last four games with a back injury.
Steelers corner sits with sprain
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden will miss Sunday’s visit to Cincinnati because of a sprained foot.
The Steelers also placed tight end Eric Ebron and offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer on injured reserve after both were hurt against the Chargers. Ebron is dealing with a knee injury while Hassenauer has a pectoral issue.
Seattle rules out a trio of players
The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting left guard Damien Lewis and running backs Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer on Monday night at Washington.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Saturday that Lewis hyperextended his elbow in last Sunday’s loss to Arizona.
The Seahawks also will be without reserve offensive lineman Jamarco Jones, meaning Kyle Fuller and Phil Haynes are the likely candidates to fill in for Lewis.
Jones has been bothered by a back injury, and injured reserve may be an option.