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FOR USE AS DESIRED HALL OF FAMERS MEL BLOUNT, JOE GREENE & FORMER PATRIOT ANDRE TIPPETT AMONG HONORARY CAPTAINS FOR AFC PREGAME COIN FLIP Pro Football Hall of Fame defenders MEL BLOUNT and JOE GREENE will join Steelers legends ROCKY BLEIER and L.C. GREENWOOD and former New England Patriots sack specialist ANDRE TIPPETT as honorary captains for the coin flip at Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. Blount was one of the most dominant cornerbacks in NFL history and was known for his superior strength, speed and intelligence. In 14 seasons with Pittsburgh (1970-83), Blount helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls, was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 and to the Pro Bowl five times. A defensive tackle, “Mean Joe” Greene led the famed “Steel Curtain” defense that dominated the 1970s. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year played in 10 Pro Bowls. Fullback Rocky Bleier was known for his grit and determination during his 12-year career (1968, ’70-80) with Pittsburgh. After playing one season in the NFL, he served for a year in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Bleier, a Notre Dame graduate, primarily opened holes for Franco Harris and was an important cog in Pittsburgh’s run of four Super Bowl titles in six years to close the 1970s. L.C. Greenwood, a 13-year veteran (1969-81), was a force at defensive end for the Steelers in the 1970s and is a finalist for this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class. Greenwood is best known for his defensive performance in Super Bowl X when he sacked Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach three times. In 1991, the Mississippi native was named to the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary team. Tippett spent his 11-year career (1982-88, ’90-93) with the Patriots. The team’s all-time sack leader is the only Patriot to record 100 career sacks. He also posted a single-season club record 18.5 sacks in 1984. Tippett was a member of three playoff teams and the Patriots’ 1985 AFC Championship club. He was inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame in 1999, and continues to keep his ties with New England by serving as the team’s football development and promotions director. # # #
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