Remembering Jim Brown’s impact on football, activism

CLEVELAND — Jim Brown was both extraordinary and extraordinarily complicated.

His greatness on the football field is beyond reproach. For generations, Brown, who died Thursday night peacefully at his home in Los Angeles, has long been the standard of excellence for running backs, a freakish blend of brute power and blazing speed who in many ways changed the NFL forever.

Cleveland’s No. 32 is in a class by himself.

“He’s (No.) 1,” said Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, the league’s career rushing leader. ”(Walter) Payton, two. I fall three.”