Catching history

Gary Collins, the pride of Williamstown, Pa., makes history 54 years ago today by scoring the first points in the first Monday Night Football game.

Collins’ moment comes at 7:04 of the first quarter as he catches an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cleveland quarterback Bill Nelson to give the Browns a 6-0 lead in their 31-21 victory over the New York Jets at Cleveland’s old Municipal Stadium.

Collins, who plays collegiately at the University of Maryland, spends 10 seasons with the Cleveland Browns from 1962-71.

He finishes his career with 331 total receptions for 5,299 yards and 70 touchdowns.

Collins catches another 19 passes in seven career postseason games with five TDs – three coming in the Browns’ 27-0 victory over the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL championship game.

Arguably, Collins’ most memorable catch – at least the one most talked about in bar bets – remains the one he makes 54 years ago tonight.