Remembering the Steelers' Eric Green

by cgolden on Apr 9, 2008 4:28 PM EDT in News

Remember when the tight end position wasn't as glamorous as it is today? When a tight end didn't flex out in the slot? When blocking was the first priority and any receptions were just an added bonus?

If you remember that then you can probably remember the handful of years that 6'5", 280 pound Eric Green was the Steelers' tight end. He was the first round selection (21st overall) of the 1990 draft, and during his five years with the team, he put up the best single season by a Steelers tight end, and the best five year stretch as well (despite being suspended for nearly half of the 1992 season). In the 1993 season he totaled 63 receptions for 942 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading the Steelers in each of those categories. His five year run in Pittsburgh ended after the '94 season, but during those five years he averaged 39.6 receptions and 536 yards per season. To put that in context, only twice in Steelers history has a tight end, not named Eric Green, had over 40 receptions (Heath in 2007 & Bennie Cunningham in 1981), and only three times has a TE had over 500 yards receiving (Heath, Cunningham 1979 & 1981). Not only could Green catch the ball, he was a devastating blocker as well, using his size to overpower both defensive ends and linebackers. Green was voted to the Pro Bowl twice (1993 & 1994) and an All-Pro (1990) once during that time.

One of the things that I didn't realize during my years as a youngster who loved to watch this big man catch passes was the 'black eye' on his resume. Like so many 'could have been' stories, Green had a drug problem that he couldn't shake, at least in his early years. Twice during his five years in Pittsburgh he was suspended for failing drug tests for cocaine. In the end though, Green still stands as the most productive and arguably best (Bennie fans might have someting to say about that) tight end that the Steelers have had to date. Heath Miller could change all of that in upcoming years, but the fact remains that Green was a great Steeler that is largely forgotten.

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Beast of a TE

I don't remember the drug problem, but that makes sense. I always thought if his work ethic matched his size and talent he would have been one of the best TE's in the game. Then there was the standard Greene play, he streaks Bubby or Neil throws over the LB. Greene rumbles for 20 yards then starts to run out of gas, and the DB's catch him. He continues to rumble for 10 more yards then goes do. Not tackled but tired.

He was a great target in Super Tecmo Bowl too.

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 9, 2008 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

lol

He's not considered one of the Tecmo Bowl greats, but I do remember him being awesome. Good pt :)

Welcome btw.

by Michael Bean on Apr 9, 2008 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Eric Green

I didn't know about the drug problem either. I was surprised when we let him go, but now I know why. He, along with Barry Foster, were a couple promising guys that just kind of went away.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 9, 2008 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

guys

To be honest, I picked Green b/c he was one of my childhood favorites. I was a young aspiring TE and he was everything that I wanted to be (alas I ended up only 5'9 and slow as hell). Being just 9 years old when he was drafted, I didn't realize that he was suspended for failed drug test either until I started to do some research for this piece.

by cgolden on Apr 9, 2008 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

Ouch

I picked my HS jersey number after him. :)

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 9, 2008 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

Green Memories

Eric Green took a pass over the middle in the last minute of a game in AZ and rumbled about 80 yards finally running out of gas at about the 5 yard line and got tackled at the 3. With time ticking away Cowher calls the last time out and kicks the FG to go to OT where the Steelers lost when I think the opening KO in OT was returned for a AZ TD. (Typical Steelers special teams)
Green was a beast of a TE and along with Barry Foster the first two big threats on O that the Steelers possessed and used to dominate the AFC in the early years of the Cowher era. Bennie Cunningham was a lot like Green but Green had the most talent of any Steelers TE during my time as a part of the Nation.
In the end he was a head case and a coke user and the Steelers parted ways with him. Heath Miller looks to be the better team player.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Apr 9, 2008 8:03 PM EDT reply actions

Miller

probably better conditioned too. Didn't he catch a 80+ yarder from Batch against the Dolphins in '06? Or, am I remembering wrong?

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 9, 2008 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

it was

87 yds for a TD.

by steelerark on Apr 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought so

longest TD pass in franchise history, I believe. Or, maybe longest to a TE.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 9, 2008 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

In my opinion

Greene was better than Cunningham. Probably the best TE in franchise history...so far.

by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Apr 9, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

Actually Elbie Nickel

Has to be the best tight end in Steeler history. Green was truly a beast, but Nickel was a much better all-aound athlete. It's fair to say that in Green's few good years with us he was close to Nickel, but Nickel did it over a longer period of time and was very reliable. He even had the record for consecutive games, 120-something.

Nickel was such a good blocker and receiver, that the Steelers had him do both, even though the tight end position back in the 50s wasn't really defined at all. He actually helped create the position. In the early 50s he caught 9 or 10 touchdowns one of those years, which was unheard back in those days. The passing game was so crude. He even had close to 1,000 yards that year.

His numbers in comparison to his peers were remarkable, and he came to play year after year, game after game, with the same consistency.

Nickel could sky. He was a basketball player in college, a very good one. Jim Finks would just throw it high over the middle and no one could outjump him.

Sorry to off on a tangent, but when I see what Eric Green did with all his talent, I couldn't help but talk a litle bit about Elbie.

by maryrose on Apr 10, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

he sounds like a hell of a player

I'd never heard of him but his stats are certainly impressive. Nearly every record that I said was wrong. I went back into the 60's to check my stats but I never imagined a TE in the 50's would put up such impressive numbers.

Rose I was looking at Nickel's page on profootballreference.com and what is the difference on the positions back then. Nickel is listed as an RE, but it looks like there is an LE and a RE every year. Did they just have two tightends all the time, so they needed the clarification of right side and left side?

Just looking up the season that you were talking about, in 1952 he had 55 receptions for 884 and 9 touchdowns. Those numbers were good for top 5 in the NFL in each category. Nickel also had three seasons with 40 receptions or more and 5 seasons with over 500 yards.

Nickel also had a better had a better 5 year stretch than Green:

1952-1956 he averaged 44 receptions and 615 yards a season

by cgolden on Apr 10, 2008 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Hadn't heard of him either

but those numbers would be solid for TE today, let alone in the '50s. Not surprising that he was a basketball player, and the TE that's setting all the records today, Gonzalez, was a basketball player.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 10, 2008 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Back in the day...

Everyone played with a fullback, halfback, right end, left end and a "flanker" who would go either right or left and line up somewhere between the halfback and either end. The flanker ran alot and also caught passes.

During the 50s teams got creative and started moving either the right end or left end in tight next to the tackle to privide more blocking on running plays. At first there was no name for this, but eventually it became so prevalent and versatile that they started calling this formation "tight end" since he was still eligible yet tight on the line.

By the 60s, big receivers were actually drafted and positioned primarily as tight ends, not just receivers who moved in tight. Specialization.

Elbie Nickel was a great receiver so he was an "end," but he also had great size back then so he was one of the first guys who was actually moved in tight. He was so good there next to the tackle that Walt Kiesling kept him there more often than not.

Thus, he was a tight end in our history before there were tight ends. He was one of the first and he should get credit for at least helping to pioneer the position.

by maryrose on Apr 10, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks rose

Keep those history lessons coming, I love hearing more about the game long before my time.

by cgolden on Apr 11, 2008 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Green v Miller

While Eric Green had some great seasons and posted some great numbers for us I still remember him for bone-head plays...dropping catchable balls, penalities, loafing etc

In my book, if I had to choose btw Green and Miller, I take Heath Miller every day of the week...dependable, sure hands, team player, loves the game, and capable of big time plays...I love the guy...

by SteelerMike on Apr 10, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

no doubt

Miller's much more dependable and he doesnt bring those silly things to the table like Green does. I dont think theres any doubt Miller will go down as the best if he stays around and we get him the ball a bit more.

by Michael Bean on Apr 10, 2008 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions