Career
He has the third most career points for a Brown behind fellow kickers Philosophy Dawson (second) and Lou Groza. Cockroft served as the Browns" primary punter and placekicker for the first nine seasons of his career. In 1977 he dropped punting from his duties and became solely a placekicker.
He and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker/punter Dave Green were two of the last NFL players to lead their teams in both punting and kicking in the same season (1976).
Later NFL players to have this dual distinction were Steve Little of the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1979, and Frank Corral for the Los Angeles Rams in 1980 and 1981.