Former AFL star Gilchrist dead at 75

BUFFALO - Cookie Gilchrist's nickname gave the false impression of a man who might easily crumble. He was a 251- pound bruiser whose ferocious running style drew comparisons with that of the great Jim Brown, and his grit and single-mindedness extended beyond the football field. He took stands against racism and wasn't afraid to demand better contracts.

One of the American Football League's first marquee players, Gilchrist died of cancer Monday at 75. He died at an assisted living facility near Pittsburgh, nephew Thomas Gilchrist said. He was first diagnosed with throat cancer, and the disease spread to his prostate and colon.

Said Bills owner Ralph Wilson, 92, "The Bills were very lucky to have procured the services of Cookie Gilchrist, who was one of the greatest fullbacks I have ever seen in all of my years in professional football.''

Carlton Chester "Cookie" Gilchrist joined the Bills in 1962 and spent three seasons there. He was the AFL's player of the year in 1962, when he had 1,096 yards rushing and a league-leading 13 touchdowns. In 1964, Gilchrist and quarterback Jack Kemp led the Bills to their first of two straight AFL championships. Before joining the Bills, he spent six years in the Canadian Football League, where he is regarded as one of its top two-way players.

Former Bills teammate Booker Edgerson said Gilchrist was "just as good and maybe even better" than Brown. Edgerson noted that Gilchrist starred at linebacker in the CFL and wanted to play the position in Buffalo. "Yeah, he was tough," Edgerson said. "If they would've allowed him to play linebacker, he would've kicked a lot of butt."