AzStevenCal

He was only 56, it's hard to believe this guy is dead. I loved watching him play the game in college and the pros. I don't think I've ever heard a bad thing about the man (or his brothers). R.I.P.

Steve

az jam

Prayers to the family. RIP

Buccaneers say Lee Roy Selmon has died

Posted by Michael David Smith on September 4, 2011, 7:04 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers said today that Lee Roy Selmon, perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, has died.

“Tampa Bay has lost another giant,” the team said in a statement. “This is an incredibly somber day for Buccaneer fans, Sooner fans, and all football fans. Lee Roy’s standing as the first Buc in the Hall of Fame surely distinguished him, but his stature off the field as the consummate gentleman put him in another stratosphere. Put simply, he was first class. He was the real deal. We are so blessed to have known this fine man and to have called him one of our own, yet so sad to have lost him so soon. Our hearts go out to the Selmon family at this time of their loss.”

The 56-year-old Selmon suffered a stroke on Friday. There were conflicting reports about his condition, with his restaurant chain prematurely issuing a statement saying he had died on Friday, then his brother Dewey saying over the weekend that Lee Roy was improving. On Sunday afternoon, the Bucs confirmed that Selmon had died.

After an All-American career at Oklahoma, Selmon was the first overall pick of the 1976 NFL draft, and the first pick in Buccaneers franchise history. He led the team from NFL bottom-dwellers to NFC Central champions, and was chosen as a defensive end on six NFC Pro Bowl rosters.

NJCardFan

Wow, that's a shocker. He was a big part of turning that franchise around after an abysmal start. The Bucs' only hall of fame IIRC.

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Catfish

The Selmon brothers were a class act coming out of a pretty classless program at OU. LeRoy was the cream of the crop, both on and off the field, in college and in the pros. Thank you Mr. Selmon for a wonderful career, and especially for being the role model that we needed just when you came along. I will always remember you as the gatekeeper of the orange sherbet defense. No one passed without your permission. Thank you for those wonderful memories.

Jetstream Green

Great player and man, RIP Mr. Selmon...and I do say Mr., you earned all the respect in this world

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john h

He was one great player in college and in the pros. He came to play everyday and over the years was one of the best I ever watched at his position.