Posted on 10/08/2012 8:48:33 PM PDT by iowamark
Former Detroit Lions great Alex Karras is in failing health and currently in hospice care.
Karras, who played with the Lions from 1958-62 and then again from 1964-70 after sitting out a season for his role in a gambling scandal, is suffering from kidney failure and according to a report published Monday night in the Detroit Free Press, has been given a short amount of time to live.
Lions team president Tom Lewand issued the following statement Monday night:
"The entire Detroit Lions family is deeply saddened to learn of the news regarding the condition of one of our all-time greats, Alex Karras," Lions President Tom Lewand said Monday night. "Perhaps no player in Lions history attained as much success and notoriety for what he did after his playing days as did Alex.
"We know Alex first and foremost as one of the cornerstones to our Fearsome Foursome defensive line of the 1960s and also as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL," Lewand said. "Many others across the country came to know Alex as an accomplished actor and as an announcer during the early years of Monday Night Football.
"We join his legions of fans from both sports and entertainment in prayer and support for Alex, his wife Susan, and his entire family during this most difficult time."
Karras was a force on the Lions defensive line who later starred on the big screen and television. He gained notoriety for his roles in the movie "Blazing Saddles" and the television series "Webster."
Before joining the Lions, Karras starred at the University of Iowa, where he led the Hawkeyes to a Rose Bowl win over Oregon State following the 1956 season.
He was an All-American in 1956 and 1957, winner of the 1957 Outland Trophy as most outstanding lineman in the country and runner-up in the voting for 1957 Heisman Trophy.
Karras was selected by the Lions with the first round draft choice in 1958. Over the course of a career during which he played 161 games, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and was named a member of the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1960s.
Good luck, Mongo!
is he the guy from Webster? how sad...
one of the best and funniest interviews of all time...i heard him talk about the game against the New Orleans Saints when Tom Dempsey kicked the record for the longest field goal in NFL history which stood for a long time at 59 yards...Dempsey, you may remember, had half a foot...
Karas said, “most guys limp off the field near the end of the game- this guy limped onto the field...we all just stood around and said, the hell with it- if he makes it good for him, and it went through the uprights”...
he was also great in Paper Lion with Alan Alda...
Only man, to my knowledge, to punch out a horse.
and “Against All Odds”
God bless Alex, you belong in the Hall!
Or to properly identify Otis Sistrunk’s alma mater.
And "Victor/Victoria" as James Garner's bodyguard.
Mark
I loved Karras, why isn't he on dialysis?
Oh and BTW, IDK who this Lewand a--hole is, but the only "Fearsome Foursome of the sixties" was the Front Four for the Los Angeles Rams: Rosie Grier, Lamar Lundy, Deacon Jones, and Merlin Olsen.
That's the end of that story right there.
I had no idea that was Alex,WOW!
Prayers up.
Mongo sad.
63 yards..regular season game...still stands though has been matched a few times..he was first
i remember it on TV
'Now go on. Get the f___ out of here.'
not just a great football player but I really loved his acting. His role as George Zaharias in Babe (the story of Babe Didrickson Zaharias) was one of the best preformances I have ever seen
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