Age: 28
5th
season in pro football, 1st in AAFC & with Browns
College: Canisius
Height: 6’0” Weight: 187
Prelude:
The versatile
Colella was a three-time Little All-American in college and the Detroit Lions
chose him in the fifth round of the 1942 NFL draft. Following two seasons as a
tailback in Detroit, he was traded to the Cleveland Rams and was a member of
the 1945 NFL Championship team, having been shifted to halfback in the
T-formation offense while still performing in the defensive backfield and
punting. Rather than move with the Rams to Los Angeles, Colella jumped to the
Browns of the new AAFC for 1946.
1946 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
Interceptions
– 10 [1]
Int. return
yards – 110 [3]
Int. TDs – 0
Rushing
Attempts – 30
Yards – 118
Average gain
– 3.9
TDs – 2
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 1
Yards – 12
TDs – 1
Punting
Punts – 47 [4]
Yards – 1895
[5]
Average – 40.3
[6]
Punts blocked
– 0
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 1
Yards – 29
TDs – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 8 [13,
tied with Cliff Lewis, Walt Clay & Ace Parker]
Yards – 172 [9]
Average per
return – 21.5
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 3
Points – 18
Postseason: 1 G (AAFC Championship vs. New York)
Rushing
attempts – 4
Rushing yards
– 14
Average gain
rushing – 3.5
Rushing TDs –
0
Punts –2
Yards – 77
Average –
38.5
Blocked – 0
Longest punt
– 41 yards
Browns went 12-2
to finish first in the AAFC Western Division while leading the league in
interceptions (41), fewest passing yards allowed (1317), fewest touchdowns
allowed (19), and fewest points allowed (137). Won AAFC Championship over New
York Yankees (14-9).
Aftermath:
Colella again
led the AAFC with six interceptions in 1947, one of which he returned for a
touchdown. After one more season with Cleveland, Colella was traded to the
Buffalo Bills in 1949, which was his last season. Overall, he intercepted 26
passes, five in the NFL and 21 in the AAFC, with 18 of those coming with the
Browns. He also averaged 37.4 yards on 197 punts, with 97 of those kicks
averaging 37.6 yards with Cleveland. 507 of his 753 rushing yards came in the
NFL, as did 10 of 18 pass receptions. Colella was a charter member of the
Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame and was later inducted into the Greater
Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
