Friday, January 18, 2008

Rest in Peace

The Steelers family lost one of its greatest players yesterday (Jan. 17). Ernie Holmes, a member of the famed Steel Curtain that dominated the NFL in the mid- to late 1970s, died after a car accident, according to a report from KHOU TV.

Holmes was the defensive lineman who wore gold cleats, and if I remember my old NFL films correctly, also cut his hair to resemble an arrow. It always pointed to the quarterback. Holmes was 59.

Update: The Steelers official Web site had this excerpt of a story written by Myron Cope from after a 1976 game against the Browns. Holmes carried an injured Terry Bradshaw up stairs and on to the team plane by himself.