Football great Art Donovan dies at 89

Art Donovan, Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts, died Sunday. He was 89.

Donovan died of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium, Md. He was best known as one of the NFL’s greatest storytellers.

“Artie made a career out of telling people everything that he’d done right -- and wrong -- in football,” former teammate Ordell Braase told the Baltimore Sun. “The diversity of his appeal was amazing. Everyone wanted to hug ‘Fatso,’ from young girls to little old ladies.”

Said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti in a written statement: “We lost a friend, one of the finest men and one of the greatest characters we were fortunate to meeting this community and in this business.

“Baltimore is now without one of its best and someone who was a foundation for the tremendous popularity of football in our area. The world is not as bright tonight because we lost someone who could make us all smile.”

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