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Know Your DB History: Aenas Wiliams

KNOW Your DB History: Aeneas Williams

There are DBs that got a lot of attention during their NFL careers and there are other great ones that seemed to get very little. Former Cardinal’s cornerback / free safety,  Aeneas Williams would fall into the latter category.

Williams was not a college football star at a top program who had a history of being in the spotlight before entering the NFL.  However, one thing Williams did have was a great knowledge of the game and a knack for knowing what the other team was going to do.

Williams took a non-traditional route to the league.  Williams entered popular historical black college Southern University based on his academic achievement in high school.  At Southern,  Williams focused on his studies and only took up football after he graduated his junior year.  As a graduate, Williams played his first ever football season.  In that, his first season,  Williams tied NCAA division I for the most interceptions. Williams put together such an impressive mini college football career that the then Phoenix Cardinals took a chance on him in the 3rd round of the 1991 NFL draft. The gamble certainly paid off.

In Williams’ rookie season he tied for the NFL lead in interceptions. Over the next 10 seasons for the Cardinals,  Williams would make it to six Pro Bowls from 1994-1999.  Williams would eventually end up playing for the St. Louis Rams where he would pick up two more pro bowl trips.

Over his career,  Williams would make eight pro bowls and amass 55 interceptions.  He would also score nine defensive touchdowns and be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2014.  Williams is not often talked about because he was not flashy but his intelligence and football IQ was second to none during his era.

Know Your DB History: Dick “Night Train” Lane

Yes swag-less you would say. Black high top cleats, no face mask and he played DB wearing #81. Be that as it may, Dick “Night Train” Lane is still the NFL record holder for INTs in a season with 14.
Some of you may or may not have known that Lane held the record and while 14 INTs is an amazing number it’s not the most amazing thing about Lane. That he even played professional football is an achievement in and of itself. Lane went to junior college out of high school for one year and then quit to join the service. After serving in the military, Lane was working at an aircraft factory and decided to try out for the LA Rams. He made the team but was quickly switched from WR to DB. In his rookie season in 1952, Lane set the NFL record with 14 INTs. What’s amazing is that not only did this come in his rookie season but in 1952, the NFL season was only 12 games long.

The original big corner at 6’1″ 195 lbs. the Texas native was not only a ball hawk but a big hitter. He ended his NFL career in 1965 with the Detroit Lions with 68 career INTs. Lane earned his nickname “night train” because his fear of flying led to him taking night trains to away games.

In 1974 he was enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame. Not bad for a guy who never played college football and was a converted WR playing DB. Despite NFL game schedules being expanded to 16-20 possible games, Lane’s record of 14 INTs in a season still stands. Sometimes the path to success is not a straight line but with a vision and perseverance you will find the way.

Know Your DB History: Darrell Green

CB Darrell Green: Green was a severely undersized 5’8″ 140 LB. athlete in high school that didn’t make his school’s varsity football team until his senior year. Blessed with outstanding speed, Green became an all city player but received zero scholarship offers. He walked on at Texas A&I University and enjoyed a very successful career.

In 1983, the Washington Redskins made Green their first round pick. For the next 20 seasons, Green would become one of the best defensive backs in Pro Football history. He would make the Pro Bowl 7 times, win 2 Super Bowls and be named first team All Pro 4 times. Green would play cornerback until age 42 for the Redskins and finish his career with 54 interceptions.

Many consider Green to be the fastest player to ever play in the NFL. On several occasions he ran down players with elite speed to prevent touchdowns. RBs like Tony Dorsett and Eric Dickerson were victims of a Darrell Green run down. Green won the NFL Fastest man competition four times and never lost the competition. Green ran a sub 4.2 forty yard dash. He had official times of 10.08 in the 100 meters, 20.48 in the 200 meters and 45.90 in the 400. Green defeated Olympic legend Carl Lewis in the 100m in college.

In 2008, Green was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From diminutive high school player to college football walk-on to Pro Football Hall of Famer. Darrell Green was a great one!

Know Your DB History: Kenny Easley

Know Your DB History: Kenny Easley

I know what you youngsters are thinking. You see this man wearing #45 and think “how good could he have been?” Long before there was a Seahawk named Kam Chancellor, there was one named Kenny Easley. The 6’3″ 206 lb. Virginia native hailed from Oscar Smith HS. He became the first Virginia HS football player to rush for and pass for 1,000 yards in a season.

Some 300+ schools recruited Easley and he ended up at UCLA in 1977 and became a starter his freshman year. At UCLA, Easley became the first player in history to make All Conference four consecutive years. Easley holds the UCLA career record for INTs with 19.

In 1981, the Seahawks chose Easley 4th overall. He became an immediate starter and went on to play seven seasons, all with Seattle. Easley was a 5 time Pro Bowler including NFL defensive player of the year in 1984 when he nabbed 10 INTs. Easley was a ferocious hitter but also ended his NFL career with 32 INTs.

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