With the recent selection of Floyd Little to the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2010, and the considerable discussion about how soon Shannon Sharpe will earn his place as well-next year, in my opinion-the conversations turned my attention to the many players who are already in the Hall.
Just for the fun of it, I thought it might be interesting to run a few blogs about some of the greatest players in pro football history, incorporating some tidbits of information that might not be readily known.
I was driving in to the office the other day listening to some jazz on XM radio and they played a Dinah Washington song. Naturally, anything by Dinah Washington would capture my attention, but as usual, it reminded me of Dick “Night Train” Lane.
No connection, you say?
More than you could imagine.
He is so well known as Night Train that even his entry in Total Football, The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League, lists him simply as “Night Train Lane,” not by his given name of Richard.
He broke in with the Los Angeles Rams during the first Golden Age of Pro Football in the early 1950′s (1952, for Night Train), playing two for the Rams, six for the Chicago Cardinals and finally six more for the Detroit Lions.
One of the greatest cornerbacks of all-time, he finished with 68 interceptions, five returned for touchdowns, and had the astonishing total of 14 in his rookie season, despite the NFL at that time playing only a 12-game season.
A daring player, Night Train Lane had one of the most unconventional tactics in the game at that time. At a critical passing down he would sometimes abandon his coverage at the line of scrimmage and actually blitz the quarterback.
Not only did this have great shock value, but it was a devastating move at that time, made possible only by Lane’s quickness, allowing him to get to the passer before the pass could be made. All by himself, he invented the corner blitz, which shocked all defensive thinking in pro football at the time.
Now it is a routing part of any defensive concept, but it all began with Night Train Lane.
But how he got his nickname is where the connection with Dinah Washington comes in.
When Lane reported to training camp with the one year, he took with him, among the standard clothing and toiletries, several pair of khaki slacks (he really became attached to them as his favorite slacks while in the military), a record player for his room, and a number of “singles” (that’s what records used to be called, “singles” or “albums,” before CDs-way before CDs) made by a singer of whom he was particularly fond, Dinah Washington.
Dick Lane and Dinah Washington were married, eventually -he was the last of her six husbands-and she was a major star way before he had made any kind of a name for himself in football.
Dinah Washington is notable for many great contributions to American jazz, including “Unforgettable,” but a mostly forgotten song which she pressed was “Night Train.” I can only guess than Lane must have been crazy about that song, besides his feelings for Dinah herself.
After a long day of practice and meetings, after dinner when everyone was settled in, Lane would play “Night Train” on the record player in his room, over and over and over again.
After a few nights of this spillover sound blaring through the walls, down the halls, and into every room besides his own, one morning he went to practice and was dubbed “Night Train” by his teammates.
The moniker stuck and became one of the great nicknames in pro football history.
Dick and Dinah were married in 1963–the union lasted just one year as she died later that same year-and Night Train Lane entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974 with records and a nickname that would last forever.
Tags: Dick Night Train Lane, Dinah Washington, Floyd Little, Pro Football Hall of Fame
great story jim i love reading these articles about players who helped make the game as great as it is today
Jim, what a great piece of pro football history. As a newer fan of the game, I really appreciate these tidbits. Thanks.
Excellent read, Mr. Saccomano, thank you. Yes the singles back then were on 78 rpm’s, then later they put them on 45 rpm’s and invented the 33 rpm’s albums, records able to record more than one song on each side. Most old jazz was recorded on 78 rpm’s, records as fragile as glass and came in paper sleeves, unbendable but easily broken, I forget what they were made of but when they went to 45′s and 33′s they switched to vinyl, still big today, actually making a strong comeback if you can believe it. I had a couple 78 rpm’s from my dad playing the piano in a jazz band recorded back in the late forties to early fifties, I guess about the same time as the records you are talking about, unfortunately they are no longer around. Funny, you brought back some memories for me, they weren’t of football, but more importantly about my father, Thanks again.
The Raiders gave Janikowski a 4 yr $16M contract. Al Davis continues to drag his team into the pit of obscurity.
As I was growing up in Detroit at the time of “Night TYrain” and a plethora of other Detroit Lion HOFers, this sure brought back a lot of exciting memories for me. But then, at that point i time the Lions had an owner who cared unlike the current one. Bronco fans who complain about the Broncos should take a good hard look at the pitiful state of the Detroit Lions due to an uncaring owner. We are absolutely blessed to have had a string of caring owners who’ve always done everything the could to put the best team possible on the field. Have they made a bad choice or two? Yes, Wade Phillips is an exceptional DC, but stunks as a HC (and still does).
Thanks for the great article on “night train lane”. You are truly one of the bright spots in the Denver Broncos organization. I will have to keep my eyes open for a copy od Dinah Washington’s song “nighttrain on vinyl. I have tube amplifiers from the 1950′s and speakers from the early 60′s, I’m sure it will sound exceptional on vinyl played thru this system and give me an understanding why “nightrain” couldn’t stop listening to her wonderful voice. Thanks, john
Baylin you are correct. This is not the place to continue this disagreement. It’s not my fight so let’s not turn this on me. You have a way of doing that. I rarely comment this deep. So I will not bring up how you lead me on, Remember this in you’re made up Super Bowl presence- Created Monday, November 23, 2009, 8:59:11 PM in response to the your fiction post of unruly fans in San Diego: I posted in response to your post:
Wow Baylin did not mean to bring up bad mojo. But sounds like you at least made the best of it. I was only thinking you would remind me not to live in the past. I was at the Washington SB paid for by my brother so I can relate. Elway’s first pass was a TD and then we made a no name running back famous in Super Bowl XXII: Playing in the Super Bowl for the second straight year the Broncos faced the Washington Redskins in San Diego. The Broncos took control early taking a 10-0 lead in the first five minutes. However, a stunning 35-point lashing by the Redskins in the 2nd Quarter doomed the Broncos to their third Super Sunday loss. The Redskins would go on to win going away 42-10 as the Broncos, and John Elway got the reputation of losing the big one. 35 in one Quarter!!
We ended up at the Hotel bar drowning our woes.
FTR
Only to find out you were joking.
I will say no more and think I have exposed you for what you are. So this is the last post from me on this subject. I will continue to post here proudly knowing I have not deceived anyone! You feel free to post also. I just will chose to ignore you cuz I do not trust you. And that’s the most I have said about anything!!
I take no solace in your humor.
Peace Out
FTR
Great article on the Night train. I am sorry I had to post the last one on this subject but it would not post on the last blog.
GO Broncos.
FTR
ha…you doods need to put your purses away and MAN UP..!!
XX
You are right. Not like me. I guess I will take the off season off. Need to get back to football. Apologies too all. See you guys closer to when the season begins.
I think anyone who has followed my posts would know that I am not here to deceive anyone, I have always been truthful to every thing I say about the Broncos and about myself, including me being at the 1986 SB in Pasadena against the Giants and many other big games of ours, like the fumble AFC championship in Denver, the greatest game ever played in our history at home in my opinion. Occasionally, I follow things up with jokes surrounded by LOL’s so as it is understood that I am joking, and I remember when answering your concerns that you thought I had seriously made up my story about the 86 SB and the large bet I placed in Vegas on the way there, I told you everything I tell you here you can take it to the bank, that’s the way I roll. For some reason you chose to disregard that. I am not a fictional writer, just someone telling it as is, and I’m sorry it’s rubbing you the wrong way. I think it is a good thing that you will ignore me from now on because no one on this blog needs to be dealing with our dirty laundry. Hopefully you remain true to your word.
What about Darrell Reid having a knee operation now, seven weeks after the damage was done at season end? I know it is said that he wanted to get multiple opinions about it before he proceeded, but his lenghty wait is now putting him a month and a half behind his comeback schedule, he was a big contributor on ST, sorry to see that happen, it seems it could of been handled a little more efficiently.
The correct spelling is Dudes, sorry just had to say it not trying to be a jerk! doods made me laugh!
doods is the new school…however its only truly authentic if it is spelled “doodz”..
Can you guys quit ignoring each other and get back to arguing again? It’s getting boring in here….
The fights are great, just throw a Bronco jab in there once in a while to keep it clean…kddn
Maybe if we all just sat down and did Curls together….We could become ” a contender”….? lol
I have seen curls become jabs and jabs become schlobberknockers and then… well you get the idea?
Anyways, I always enjoy a good old curled-up schlobbernocking battle for Top Dog Super Supreme BLOG Commander! YeeeeeeeHaaaw!
I’m pretty sure that “dudes” don’t wear purses, and “doods” is something that my dog leaves on the lawn for me and I recall shopping for my son at a store in the mall named “doodz”.
kddn
I don’t think the teach kids to spell very well at that “New School” that you keep talking about?
lol
See…see, this is what I was talkin’ about. If we all just agree or agree to disagree or just ignore everyone that doesn’t agree with you we have nothing to talk about and no fun. I mean its fun debating with others about their opinion and stuff.
Well I’m kickin’ it “old school”..ice ice baby…too cold..too cold playin’ with my NES. LMFAO!!!!
brian,
I still have my NES and SNES and I do still play them sometimes. I often have a debate as to which is better Madden or Techmo Bowl?
baylin,
I remember calling you out, realizing i was at fault and we moved on. Why is it that it cant happen the same way now with you and FTR?
codybleedsorangeandblue: Techmo Bowl is the only football game where you can throw a 100 yd. TD pass, plus it has sweet graphics. LOL!
I mean 100 yds in the “air.”
Also the only game where if you run around in a circle then you get all the defenders to follow you and then you run for a 100 yd touchdown.
Oh yeah I forgot about that.
I’ve seen on youtube some videos of people that crank down the AI and then they can do the same thing in madden. Ok, ya got me I’ve tried it too. It only works though if your guys has like 99 speed and acceleration. LOL!
the girls are cuter in the “new school”…who cares if they can spell…
…making the broncos blog your outlet for picking fights with someone who disagrees with you…sounds like a purse totin’ broad to me…dood or not…
Well this Reid surgery thing is kind of surprising. He should have went with the microfracture surgery. Bonheaded move on his part, waiting this long. Kind of like when he committed a boneheaded penalty at a critical point in the Indianapolis game. The 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for removing his helmet after a turnover. Cost us some critical points!
Which leads me to the “great divide”. There was a mention of a split locker room. Shanny Guys vs McD guys. This is a perfect example. Reid is from the latter group. Yet no decrease in playing time. Now Hillis, in week 3 or 4 commited a block in the back and we didnt have a sighting again until week 16. And as Haggen and Davis wore down near the end of the season, we still saw less time from Woodyard and Larsen. I believe they could have good careers at LB. Maybe not, all-pro, HOF, careers, but they should have got a fair chance to showcase what they have. Sceff voicing his displeasure after a game, which is overheard by a player, then relayed to the coach, resulting in the benching…..
May I suggest if there is a split as has been mentioned, It was all created (whether intentional or unintentional) by McD!
Grace this is testosterone at its best!
And keepin with the whole new school thing…..its a European handbag, not the purse you mention!!!!!
What do you guys think about trading Scheff to the Panthers for a 4th round pick?
Why not trade him to the Redskins and Shanny for a 3rd?
The Redskins have two good TE, Chris Cooley and another one that did good when Cooley went down. They wouldn’t give a 3rd for him. Mabye a 5th or 6th.
But Shanny likes Scheffler and it would not surprise me to see Shanny go after Marshall, Scheffler, and Hillis. Lets send all 3 for Haynesworth and their first round pick. Just joking of course.
I can see them going for Marshall and Hillis, but I don’t see them going for a TE when they already have 2 good ones on the roster. But, I guess you never know. Anything can happen?
If Shanny is to go after anybody, I see it being Scheffler. Here is my reasoning- Cooley is good yes, and Davis filled in well. But Scheff can be dynamic in the Shannahan directed offense. He has the size, speed and hands. Is familiar with what Shannahan wants to do. Plus if Shanny takes a QB, it would be a security blanket. I know this is Denvers website, but I could see him trading down from the 4th pick, getting Dez Bryant, Scheffler and Portis and giving Campbell a shot to succeed. Hillis in the meantime, could end up in Houston. While they have Slaton, they missed the power back. Marshall, to whatever team offers the most. While I hope amongst hope, its Denver that offers him the most……we should have a slew of draft picks. That McD can turn into picks like Phonzy!!!!!!!
Ok people enough with the Marshall trade scenarios. It brings me down that we MIGHT trade him.
Anyways Karlos Dansby is going to be a free agent according to nfl live. And Anotnio Pierce is also a free agent. What do you all think about picking 1 of them up?
I would prefer Dansby because he’s still young, but Pierce provides leadership but is up there in age and was injured for most of last season.
OK, because I like to say it like it is, Chris Collinsworth doing commentary on the Winter Olympics for NBC is SICK, the guy knows nothing about Winter sports. There are so many past winter Olympic champions who could do at least a 100% bettter job at it, it is just so sad that we have to listen to an old Bengal talking about today’s Winter Olympics, NBC must really be hurting money wise to bring in a football guy to attempt to act as if he knows what the heck he is talking about in Winter sports. BTW, NBC ‘s coverage of the queen event of the Olympics, the men’s downhill race, was absolutely sickening, just thought I would mention it here since Collinsworth is an ex-NFL player.
Guys, Shanny never liked Hillis. He did not recognize his tallent, had him riding the bench until every other guy was hurt befor he put him in at HB. Also, Shanny did not like Marshall and was ready to cut him before he got cut. The only viable player he would be into is Scheffler and I don’t think shannny would give much to get him so none of those trade scenerios is realistic..imho
uh…Collinsworth can’t cover football either…. i’m just sayin he is weak..
His color comentairy is all black and white..haha
And Sandaval…. I bet if you got constipated……. It would be all McD’s fault….haha
I don’t mind responding to you but you gotta expect that the fire McD BS is gonna get some neg feedback…
Anyhow….Bronc On Family!!!!!
OC,
I agree with the Marshall bit but I think Shanny did like Hillis, however, Hillis was a FB that Shanny had no other choice but to make a RB.
OC- do not know who this Sandaval person is, but the fire McD is totally me. So, if you can please get my name right- Sandoval, I would appreciate it. Or you can refer to me as “charlie”.
Im sorry to hear about your ailment. Just to ease your mind, constipation is a symptom not a disease process (this is totally free of charge, this time) for men of your age!
To understand constipation, it helps to know how the colon, or large intestine, works. As food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water from the food while it forms waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum it is solid, because most of the water has been absorbed.
Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon’s muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry. Common causes of constipation are
•not enough fiber in the diet
•lack of physical activity (especially in the elderly)
•medications
•milk
•irritable bowel syndrome
•changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, aging, and travel
•abuse of laxatives
•ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
•dehydration
•specific diseases or conditions, such as stroke (most common)
•problems with the colon and rectum
•problems with intestinal function (chronic idiopathic constipation)
A little prune juice should cure what ails ya! Though I am only a paramedic, not an MD,so you should still consult your physician!!!!!
If it were to afflict me, I would just incorporate more fiber into my diet. Then drop some “doods” in McD’s front lawn!!!!!
Just so we are ALL clear, I have backed off my fire McD rhetoric. Mr. Bowlen spoke on the matter and that was good enough for me. However, I haved “manned up” and refuse to be a cheerleader for him. Just because he is the coach. I will be a fan long after his dismissal (or if he wins the superbowl). Which I see the former before the latter. I expect the negative feedback, but it is still my opinion. Hopefully, McD turns it around and leads us to a successful year. There are no indications of that. Anybody remember the 2-8 finish. Followed by the mass exodus of coaches and most likely players of a certain “ilk”. Time will only tell. And if he does turn it around, I will be first in line to apologize. He11, I will buy a page in the Denver Post just to admit I was wrong! Yeah, but I dont have a good feeling about him….
OC,
I disagree. Hillis may not have been shannys first choice for HB because he was drafted as a FB in the 7th round. BUt he did however recognize his talents and give him kudos once hillis proved himself. Theres an interview of it. As far as “he was gonna cut Marshall before he got fired”…purely speculation and we will never know the truth. Just like now with McD i heard Woodyard said th Bmarsh drama is 20% real and 80% media…after all i have witnessed in this league…I am inclined to believe that even if no one on the team said it. And as for sheffler…highly doubtful…Cooley is as good as they come at TE and they drafted TE fred davis high last year…No room for sheffler…not unless he is a Daniel Graham type blocker…which we all know he is not. People are blowing the possible luring of our players to the redskins out of proportion.
Just my 2 cents as far as McD…I agree with sndvl…He is not my favorite person and he has to work for my respect like any other coach/player. when he does i will praise him and give him his props. But i will not blindly cheer for all his decisions and if he gets cut, it is what it is. He is as expendable as any player. I dont think any one of us would follow him to another team, the same way most fans wouldnt follow a player to another team. But we all have the right to root for a player/coach on another team if we so choose and wish they were on our squad or be sad about their dismissal. But of course…this is just my opinion.
Have a good one broncos country…..
GO BRONCOS TWENTY-TEN
..ha..testosterone at its best…that is debatable…
What’s happening to everyone, this offseason is making everyone turn on everyone else, *sigh* I digress. LOL!
Shanny knows first hands the benefit of having a big physical TE like Scheffler. He’s just smidge bigger than Cooley but Cooley probably is a better run blocker. If Shanny does go out and get his QB, I could see him making a move for Scheffler, because a good o-line is a QBs best friend, but a good TE is a QB’s second best friend. Some of you may say a good WR, but when things get shaky, which they do for young QBs, a good TE (especially in Shanny’s system) is like a security blanket. Remember Jay Cutler, he loved having Scheffler as a security blanket. That may be just enough to have Shanny fork over something for Scheffler. Hillis, I don’t think Shanny will go after him, 1) he only got to play after 6 HB went down 2) He’s a FB not a HB, if Portis is on his way out they’ll want another feature back 3) I think maybe McD might see the value Hillis brings to the team…maybe not.
Hey, TRB, it looks like Woody Paige timed his response to a fan named Manuel today about Marshall perfectly for you, LOL, here it goes:
Manuel: Don’t send in the clowns. Send away the clown. It’s time. I’m tired of Marshall’s act. The Broncos are tired of his act. Broncos fans are tired of his actions. Marshall has calmed down his off-field actions with women, but not his off-field antics with the Broncos. I don’t think there’s any way Marshall and coach Josh McDaniels can go forward together.
You haven’t heard Josh say he wants Brandon back. There’s a reason.
I can pull out my old columns: “Time to trade Marshall,” “Grow up, Brandon,” “Brandon has matured,” “Brandon shows immaturity,” “Brandon promises no more mistakes,” “Brandon makes more mistakes,” “Brandon has great year,” “Brandon doesn’t want to play last game,” “Brandon hates Denver,” “Brandon loves Denver,” “Brandon wants out,” “Brandon wants to sit up straight.”
Best thing about this article, I didn’t need to write anything myself as it’s pretty much in line with my thoughts anyway, as everybody knows. However, if McD and Marshall work it out, I would go with the flow, but I rather go without the soap opera specially if we can get fair value for him, like a 1st and a third or fourth.
He also said Brandstater didn’t impress the staff running the scout team offense…maybe we draft a QB?
That’s what Bowlen said.