Professional football loses a great one:David ‘Deacon’ Jones gone at age 74

They called him the original ‘sackmaster’….He was a member of the Los Angeles Rams famous ‘Fearsome Foursome’…..David ‘Deacon’ Jones has died and left us at age 74…I heard several radio interviews with ‘Deacon’ Jones over the years and he was a very entertaining character, who took his football business very seriously….Very quick and agile for a tall and strong defensive end and his end was near and now he has left us, but this giant of man will not be forgotten….He was loved by George Allen and the Allen family and big George was his coach first with the LA Rams and then later with the Washington Redskins….

*****David ‘Deacon’ Jones at one time was given credit for originating the term ‘sack’, for the tackle of the quarterback for a loss in the offensive backfield….Jones said on one of his radio interviews that the ‘sack’ tackle was like loading up the QB and putting him into a ‘sack’/grocery bag….*****

More on the life and death of David ‘Deacon’ Jones from www.wralsportsfan.com….

“Deacon Jones has been the most inspirational person in my football career,” said former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood.

Jones made the Pro Bowl every year from 1964-70 and played in eight overall. He combined with fellow Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy on a defensive line that at times was unblockable.

Olsen died in March 2010 at age 69 and Lundy died in February 2007 at 71. Grier, who is 80, is the only surviving member of the Fearsome Foursome.

George Allen, who coached the Fearsome Foursome, called Jones the “greatest defensive end of modern football.” The Allen family had Jones present George Allen for his Hall of Fame induction in 2002.