"I came out of a hellhole, and I intend to cover that up before I die."
Words from Deacon Jones, one of the greatest defensive players to step on the football field. Revolutionizing the game, he is credited for coining the term "sack," but unfortunately for Deacon, the NFL didn't recognize it as an official statistic until 1982.
After attending college at South Carolina State and Mississippi Vocational, he was selected by the Rams in the 14th round of the 1961 draft. At 6-feet-4, 260 pounds, Jones used his speed, quickness and passion to become the most feared pass-rusher in the game. The Rams defensive line was one of the greatest in history and known as "The Fearsome Foursome."
During his 14-year career, Jones is credited with 180.5 unofficial sacks, and he developed a technique called the "head slap," a move that was copied by defenders until it was outlawed in the late '70s. Jones appeared in eight Pro Bowls, was All-NFL six times and twice voted Defensive Player of the Year. He was names to the NFL's 75th Anniversary team, the Team of the Sixties and was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
An interview with Deacon:
Did you ever wish you played in a different era?
People always ask me about the money situation and how much I would've been worth if I played later. Hell, I couldn't be worth any more than I'm worth right now. The fact of the matter is, I moved the game along. I sit back and forever more, as long as time stands, I am registered as the guy who moved this era along. To me that's worth more money than they got in Fort Knox. Money comes and money goes, but I wanted to leave an indelible mark on this league. I want them to understand that this black man lifted the veil of ignorance from his face and he put a scar on this league. That's what I wanted to leave, and I'm going to leave that same message in my commitment to the communities in this country.
It is no secret that you would like to see your sacks recorded in the official record book of the NFL. Do you think Seymour Siwoff, (president and founder of Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL's statistical service) will ever list them? (Laugh). As I go along on this mission, Mr. Seymour Sidewater will never be forgotten. I will pick at him as long as he lives. Ain't no question about that. Me and him will rumble in the jungle as long as he lives.
Seymour Siwoff, president and founder of Elias Sports Bureau:
I can't believe Deacon Jones is still haunting me. It's unfortunate the rule didn't exist when he played. The league began in 1920, and we didn't begin the statistical leaders in any categories until 1932. We compiled sacks as a defensive element in 1963, as a team stat not as an individual stat. So how can you have a record that didn't exist at the time? He was simply born too soon, and there is really nothing we can do about it.
How do you compare the "Fearsome Foursome" to other well-known defenses?
In my opinion and I think I can prove this, we were the greatest line that played the game. We were precision. We were big, strong, and fast. We would even fit in today's game. We were knowledgeable, and we respected each other. We knew each other's game. We were probably, and I think you'd get a general consensus of opinion on this, pound for pound the strongest, and the best from end to end.
We adopted some hard-line philosophies in order for us to accomplish our goals. The four of us had to be on the practice field and football field together as a unit in every situation. In other words, "You don't go down, brother." That's the commitment we made. The bones had to be shooting through the skin for us to come out. For about four years in there, there was no winner. Nobody in the game could handle us. I don't care what you say, they threw every scheme at us that you want to name, and we beat 'em all.
In my estimation, and I'll bet any man, we were the best. I'll even go back and pull the film out and show you play for play and let you compare it for yourself. That's no knock on any of the great lines and great defensive players that have come through this league, and there are a lot of them. And the commitment we had still rings today. It's a 31-year relationship.
Merlin Olsen on Deacon Jones:
During the time that we played together, we missed a total of three games between the two of us. And he's right -- you didn't come off the field. I don't think there has ever been a better pass-rusher than Deacon. He had a great first step that allowed him an advantage on offensive tackles and his ability to shut their eyes with the head slap. When they opened their eyes, he wasn't around, probably chasing the quarterback. The other thing that made it easy for use to work together was we didn't have to communicate. I knew what he was doing, and he was able to do the same thing. That gave us a huge advantage. It meant if he ran into trouble outside, I'd cover his responsibilities on the outside.
I'm playing in his golf tournament this month, and it takes all of about 10 seconds to get back into that same sense of sharing and caring that characterized what we had together as players, and this went well beyond the football field. It is as strong today as it was then on the field.
Rosey Grier on Deacon Jones:
Deacon was a great team guy, and living in this world we have to play as a team. Deacon definitely is unique. He is very bold and says what's on his mind. I truly admire the work he is doing. To encourage children and put them on the right course. He is a fine representative to set an example of what an athlete can do when they put their mind to something and really make a difference.
Lamar Lundy on Deacon Jones:
The impression I had with him from the beginning, which made me want him to be a part of our future and our team, was he so real in his opinions and what he said was to the point. Back at that time there was a lot of finesse in statements and it was nice to meet someone who was raw but real. He's very concerned about others, obviously and I'm not surprised by what he is doing with his foundation. He's for real, and nowadays real people are hard to find.
We certainly were not shy and bashful as a group, and we all were confident about our ability. We were not overly impressed with anyone we played, and it was just the confidence we had within ourselves.
When you mention how important it was to play every down, what is your thought on today's so-called "specialists," like Kevin Greene and Charles Haley?
That's the evolution of the game, and I have to look at it that way. I'm just happy that I don't have to do it, because I could not play that way. I want to be in on the action. I want to be in on every play and every situation. That is a complete football player. And that's what I had to be. The game is timing and the game is feel, and you don't get that by coming in at certain situations. Yes, your ability will allow you to execute but to be dominant, you have to get into the flow of the game. Therefore, I feel you have to play every down in order to be that great player.
What lesson did you take away from the game?
Being true to myself. Looking at something for what it is and not what I want it to be. And that commitment of knowing when you work your butt off, you make it. Those basic things permeate my life right now. When you grab a project like the one I'm currently tackling, you better have that toughness and that commitment or you're gonna get your brains beat out.
When you were growing up in poverty and facing intense racial discrimination, did you say to yourself, there's something better for me?
My choices of what I was gonna be and what I was gonna do was made at an early age. And that's when I used to daydream and I used to see my whole career. I saw myself taking over the league. By believing in something so strongly and wanting it so badly, that's what it takes to get it. That's what dreaming is about. Dreaming forces you to fall in love with what you want to be, and once you fall in love with what you want to be, you can then commit to the work ethic that it's going to take to succeed. When you don't dream, and the days get tough, and that guy crosses in front of you and starts beating on your butt, then you quit. You quit because you ain't got enough faith in the dream. In order for me to come from where I came from, I had to have super faith, because I didn't have fundamentals and technique. That commitment got me through one of the worst experiences I've ever had and that was my first training camp. That was the toughest thing I've ever done.
