Cory's Corner: What Does 2-22-2022 Mean?
The best No. 22 in Packers history is pretty easy.
Enough of the serious stories.
Today is 2-22-2022. This is a big deal because we won’t see this sequence again until 2-2-2222.
Now I know you’re asking yourself: “Cory, what exactly does this all mean?”
To be honest, I’m not really sure. But, all of this number chatter made me think about what the best No. 22 was to wear a Packers jersey. There may be a lot of Bucky Brooks fans that watch him on NFL Network that don’t know that he was a Packers defensive back. Or there was also Mark Lee that tallied 31 picks in 11 seasons as a Packers cornerback.
But the best No. 22 in Packers history is easily Elijah Pitts. He is No. 29 on the Packers all-time rushing list with 1,684 yards, helped the Packers claim the first two Super Bowls and he’s in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
Pitts is still the only NFL player from Philander Smith College. He also rose to amazing heights after being taken 180th overall in the 13th round in the 1961 NFL Draft.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime day. I’m not sure what that means. Do we celebrate it with more cake than we already eat? Or do we sing familiar songs? (My boys happen to love “Yellow Submarine” and “YMCA.”)
I’m just going to acknowledge the number itself. Pitts was one of the first versatile backs. He averaged 168 yards a season on the ground and 118 yards receiving. He was ahead of his time — at a time when the passing game was more of a niche than a focal part of the offense.
So celebrate today and when the twos start bouncing through your brain, the first and last stop should be the father of Ron Pitts, who ironically enough, also played for the Packers.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (11)
Zapato
February 22, 2022 at 08:58 am
Well count me as an Elijah Pitts fan! For some reason, he was an early hero when I was barely old enough to know what football was. Maybe because he scored a couple of TDs in Superbowl 1. He played on five championship teams including two Superbowls. And I thought it was pretty cool that his son played cornerback for the Packers for a couple of years.
Maybe we could declare Feb 22nd as Elijah PItts day.
I wasn't expecting an article on 2-22-2022 this morning but view it as a good warm-up for when I go over to my FB page and see all the memes declaring that this will be the last time we see a date like this for the next two thousand years or some mystical link between a date with six consecutive 2s in it and a minion of Satan. I'm sure all that stuff is true! Well, maybe not the first one. Cory already debunked that claim for me. Sheesh!
croatpackfan
February 22, 2022 at 09:12 am
Maybe he reached the decision?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaRC1rdLw14/?utm_source=ig_embed
Irish_Cheesehead
February 22, 2022 at 12:49 pm
That’s just him playing more of his asshat games. Hey, it’s only February. Take your time. Then make a decision. But stop the stupid games. The guy is mental. I bet Shailene is shaking her head and counting her blessing she got out when she did.
dobber
February 22, 2022 at 01:26 pm
Maybe they both are...
Since'61
February 22, 2022 at 10:03 am
Pitts was a great Packer! Tough reliable RB. I always enjoyed watching him play. He took over a full starting role when Paul Hornung was lost to injury. Good to see him get some recognition here. Thanks, Since ‘61
Starrbrite
February 22, 2022 at 02:23 pm
Right-on Since’61.
DanL
February 22, 2022 at 03:40 pm
Totally agree with Since’61.
mnbadger
February 22, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Thank you for the article Cory. I'm too young to remember PH play, but I loved EP22. I remember announcers speaking glowingly of hornung and I thought he really must have been special to be considered better than Elijiah Pitts!
On another note, I think you meant to says touches, not yards when you said:
"Pitts was one of the first versatile backs. He averaged 168 yards a season on the ground and 118 yards receiving. He was ahead of his time"
Etiher way GPG!
beerandbrats
February 22, 2022 at 03:47 pm
Happy Twosday 2-22-22!
LeotisHarris
February 22, 2022 at 06:36 pm
Fun article, Cory, and Pitts is certainly deserving, but we all need to give a nod to another #22, Packers HOFer LaVern "Lavvie" Dilweg. Dilweg was named to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, and is one of only two players on that team not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played End on the 1929, 1930 and 1931 NFL Championship teams, was also a Big 10 Official, and went on to serve in Congress, representing Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District. He was born in Milwaukee, and a three-sport star at Marquette.
dobber
February 22, 2022 at 08:31 pm
Packers sign Justin Eberle, K, to a futures contract. That makes 3 kickers on the 90-man...