Hughes Raised Stakes as Pro Lineman

In the 1982 pro football training season, Ray Perkins, the soft-spoken coach of the New York Giants, said at a press conference that he thought his team's Ernie Hughes was probably the strongest offensive center in the National Football League.

Someone in the back of the room suggested that Hughes was "so strong he can lift refrigerators."

Since we were at the team's training camp in Pleasantville, NY, I sought out Hughes, a 6-foot, 3-inch, 265-pounder, to apprise him of that back-room remark. He was much more modest when queried about his strength.

"I never even tried to lift a refrigerator," he said with a smile. "But not too long ago I lifted 525 pounds off my chest in a bench press. I don't think there are many centers in the NFL who can do better than that. At least, I've never heard of one."

The quarter-ton-bench-pressing player, who had undergone surgery after injuring a knee in the 10th game of the previous season, was considered a key player in the Giants' offensive line. A former All-American center from Notre Dame, he seemed as proficient as ever as the team went through the early phases of the training camp program on the Pace University campus.

"We were extremely pleased with his work last season," Perkins had said at the conference. "We anticipate he'll be even better this time around."

The center position was considered by the Giants as almost hallowed. Starting in 1930, it had been occupied by the great Mel Hein, who became the Giants' fixture at that spot for 15 consecutive years, or 172 games.

Hughes had come to the team after the 1980 season as a tackle, but said the position change had not been a difficult adjustment for him because of his earlier football experience.

"In high school, I started out as a tight end," said Hughes, whose secondary school was in Boise, Idaho. "Then, I was moved to the team's fullback position. When I got to Notre Dame, I suddenly found myself a defensive end. But before long, I switched to tackle."

"I was still a tackle when I got picked up by San Francisco in the draft," he continued. "Yet last season I played center for the Giants for every down, until I was hurt. I'm what might be called a mobile inside lineman."

The irrepressible Hughes said he had made a remarkable recovery from the knee injury.

"I was just unfortunate last season," he said. "My injury came in the last 90 seconds of our game with Green Bay." But, he said, he had later lucked out, in that he was able to walk after using crutches for only six weeks. By early February, he said, he was back to 100 percent.

"The doctor tole me that if the season opener had only been four weeks away, I would have been able to play."

The eager Hughes lost little time in strengthening his knee. While he was still wearing a cast, he did leg lifts. Within two months after surgery, he was using kick machines. During the late winter, he engaged in 25-minute weekday sessions running up and down the steps of an empty Giants Stadium.

"Incidentally," he asked, as we parted company, "can you tell me how heavy a refrigerator really is?"

I couldn't.