CANTON, Ohio — Jim Brown's extraordinary life as a football giant and activist will be celebrated as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend activities.
Brown, long considered the standard of excellence for running backs, died in May at age 87. He did not want a funeral. His wife, Monique, has planned a private memorial for her husband on Aug. 3.
The invitation-only gathering will be held at Umstattd Performing Arts Hall near the Hall of Fame, which is hosting the event along with the Cleveland Browns and league. The induction ceremony is set for Aug. 5.
“We wanted to do something right after Jim died and for a variety of reasons — schedules, everybody, Monique wasn’t quite ready — it got put off,” Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam said. "I can’t really think of a better way to do it than do it in Canton.
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"Jim Brown’s definitely the greatest Brown of all time and arguably the greatest in the NFL. To do it in Canton, a lot of the gold jackets will be there. I think it’s appropriate to honor his legacy. We’re honored to be part of that.”
The Browns also plan to celebrate Brown during the coming season. Co-owner Dee Haslam said those plans are still being finalized.
Brown rushed for 12,312 yards in nine seasons for Cleveland before retiring in 1965 — after winning his third MVP — to pursue an acting career.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
CHARGERS: Justin Herbert is set to become the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback by annual salary, agreeing to a five-year, $262.5 million extension on Tuesday. The extension came as Los Angeles reported for training camp earlier in the day. Their first practice will be Wednesday. Herbert’s total value and $52.5 million average per season surpasses the $260 million, five-year extension ($52 million average) Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson signed three months ago.
GIANTS: Saquon Barkley settled on a contract just in time for training camp. The star running back agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million. The Giants have confirmed Barkley signed his franchise tag. According to an AP source, the contract adds $909,000 in incentives to the $10.1 million Barkley will earn playing under the franchise tag.
49ERS: Quarterback Brock Purdy has been cleared to take part in training camp after undergoing surgery on his throwing elbow in the offseason. General manager John Lynch said Purdy has been given the green light from doctors to practice after making good progress in his rehabilitation. The Niners will ease Purdy back into the flow and won’t have him throw more than two days in a row so he won’t take part in the team’s first practice on Wednesday after throwing the past two days.
PANTHERS: Rrookie quarterback Bryce Young is set to begin his first NFL training camp amid lofty expectations. The Panthers have not been to the playoffs since 2017 and the No. 1 overall draft pick has been entrusted with returning Carolina to relevance in the NFC South. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama said his expectations are to push his teammates to get better every day and keep stacking good days of work at training camp.
COMMANDERS: Ron Rivera said he has a lot to prove to the new owners. He's going into his fourth season as Washington's coach and director of football operations. It's Rivera's first under the ownership group led by Mark Harris that also includes Magic Johnson. Rivera has met with Harris and is of the understanding that winning is the expectation. But the football lifer also wants to show his new bosses that he and his staff are coaching the right way.
COWBOYS: Dallas settled one of its looming situations with contracts just as another gets interesting. The Cowboys and cornerback Trevon Diggs have agreed on a $97 million, five-year contract extension. The Diggs news on reporting day for training camp comes just as right guard Zack Martin becomes a camp holdout. According to an AP source, Martin, a six-time All-Pro, is seeking to rework his contract.
RAMS: Cam Akers wasn’t invited to join the Zoom call held by several top NFL running backs last weekend to discuss the distressing state of compensation at their position. Yet Los Angeles’ leading rusher in 2022 realizes the issue is about to affect him significantly. Akers is entering his contract year after three up-and-down seasons with the Rams that have included a Super Bowl ring, a torn Achilles tendon and a three-game midseason banishment due to an ugly clash with the coaching staff.
RAIDERS: Coach Josh McDaniels said Tuesday quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will not have any restrictions when the team opens training camp Wednesday. Garoppolo was cleared Sunday to practice after missing organized team activities and minicamp because of a left foot injury he suffered last season when he was with the San Francisco 49ers. Running back Josh Jacobs won’t be on the practice field Wednesday.
BILLS: Edge rusher Von Miller will open Buffalo training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list while continuing to rehab his surgically repaired right knee. Miller's timetable for recovery could lead him into missing the start of the season. The Bills also placed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and linebacker Tyler Matakevich on the PUP list without disclosing their injuries a day before opening training camp.
COLTS: Indianapolis want rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to play this season. They won't rush him onto the field, though. One day after Richardson agreed to a four-year contract worth $34 million, he arrived at his first NFL training camp with big expectations — and a team initially content to play the waiting game. General manager Chris Ballard said new coach Shane Steichen and his staff will make the decision when Richardson is ready.
LIONS: Detroit hosted Teddy Bridgewater for a visit this week and are interested in potentially signing the free agent quarterback. Dan Campbell said if the team can add a guy like Bridgewater and bring competition, he's “all for it.” Bridgewater met with team officials and coaches on Monday and Campbell acknowledged the visit on Tuesday.
VIKINGS: Edge rusher Danielle Hunter has reported to training camp after skipping the offseason program. His status with the club remains uncertain with his contract still an issue. Coach Kevin O’Connell said he doesn’t expect Hunter to be a full participant in practice “off the bat.” The Vikings have their first full-team workout Wednesday.
BROWNS: Greg Newsome II is zeroed in this summer. Cleveland’s third-year cornerback has switched jersey numbers, shedding No. 20 for No. 0, which is how many interceptions the former first-round pick has recorded in two seasons for the Browns. Newsome said he wanted a fresh start following a bumpy offseason that included speculation he wanted to be traded.
FALCONS: Atlanta re-signed free agent tight end MyCole Pruitt as players reported one day before the first practice of training camp. Pruitt had 16 catches for 150 yards and four touchdowns last season while starting four games with the Falcons. His signing adds depth to a position already bolstered by the offseason addition of Jonnu Smith.
JETS: Michael Carter was a bright spot in New York’s offense as a rookie. The versatile running back could turn a small play into a big gain from anywhere on the field. Then came a shaky second season that included frustration for Carter and doubts from outside the organization. Carter acknowledged he was a little too emotional about the situation but was confused when he didn't get the opportunities he expected. The 2021 fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina is confident he'll have a bounce-back third season and help Aaron Rodgers and the Jets' offense score points.
PATRIOTS: New England tied up most of its pressing offseason loose ends after a summer of adjustments to the roster and coaching staff. Veteran defensive lineman Lawrence Guy, who skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp last month because of an apparent issue related to his contact, was among the veterans that reported to training camp. Coach Bill Belichick confirmed that defensive back Jack Jones will be on the field after pleading not guilty to nine counts of weapons violations in connection with his arrest last month at Boston’s Logan Airport security checkpoint with two loaded guns in his carry-on bag.
CHIEFS: Wide receiver Kadarius Toney underwent surgery Tuesday morning for a torn meniscus in his knee. However Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid hasn’t ruled Toney out of the team’s season opener against Detroit.
SAINTS: New Orleans brought back tight end Jimmy Graham and also agreed to contract terms with guard Trai Turner. The moves came Tuesday as veterans reported for the club’s training camp at team headquarters. The 36-year-old Graham did not play last season.
DOLPHINS: Veteran left tackle Terron Armstead will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list along with second-year tight end Tanner Conner and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn. The Dolphins announced the news Tuesday on the day veterans reported for training camp.
PRO BOWL: The 2024 Pro Bowl Games are coming to Orlando. The league said Tuesday the game will be played at Camping World Stadium on Feb. 4, 2024. The weeklong event features AFC vs. NFC stars competing in various skills challenges and culminates with a flag-football game. Peyton Manning and his brother, Eli, again will coach the two teams.
