Many of you may have forgotten or not even recognize the name Jerry Sherk, but opposing linemen sure remembered him as Sherk was an All-Pro selection for four years in a row from 1973-76 and was the defensive player of the year by one news agency in 1976 for a 9-5 non-playoff Cleveland Browns team.
Jerry Sherk was that rarity that teams covet even today- the defensive tackle that can rush the passer and play the run with a career high of 12 sacks in 1976.
Some of the success that Sherk had might have been due to his success as a wrestler at NCAA powerhouse Oklahoma State.
I have always thought that linemen on both sides of the ball with an amateur wrestling background have a huge advantage in line play with the balance that is needed to work with strength in the mat game and that helps greatly when those players take their skills to the NFL against players of similar size and strength.Sherk suffered a pre-season knee injury that cost him most of the 1977 season and seemed to rob him of some of his pass-rushing ability upon his return to the field.
In 1979, Sherk was hit by a devastating staph infection from the legendarily awful AstroTurf at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium that scraped a boil off of his arm and allowed staph to enter his bloodstream and travel to his knee.
Sherk's life was threatened, spent six weeks in the hospital and missed the remainder of the 1979 season and all but one game of the Kardiac Kids 1980 Central Championship season.
Sherk was used as a pass rush specialist for the 81 Browns, but was clearly not the same player and hung up his cleats after the season.
Two injuries that likely cost the Browns best defensive lineman of my lifetime a ticket to the Hall of Fame and the Browns some quality seasons as well.Jerry Sherk is a noted sports photographer and hosted a showing of his work last fall during his time with the Browns.
Sherk also developed a mentoring program in San Diego that has been picked up by the state of California and deals with mentoring youths, adults, and former prisoners after their release.
Welcome Jerry Sherk to the Forgotten Superstars universe.....
Post Script-In looking for a photo of Jerry Sherk in action, I stumbled upon this organization that both Sherk and one of our forgotten superstars and all-time favorites of mine Kenny Easley are part of.
Dignity after Football is an organization that is "“DIGNITY AFTER FOOTBALL” is an organization committed to giving a voice to past heroes of the NFL and to finally restoring dignity to the lives of thousands of disabled and under-pensioned former players.".
I read this site and could not stop reading.
Check their site out and you may never look at the NFL the same way again.
Look for them in our links to the right and a post here on the topic shortly...
Photo Credits: Unknown
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