Wide receiver Tom Fears of the Los Angeles Rams poses for a picture in 1948. After Rams coaches switched him to offense from a defensive back, Fears went on to lead the league in receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons. He improved his total each year, setting a new league record with 77 catches in 1949 and then smashing his own mark with 84 in 1950. His career marks include 400 receptions for 5,397 yards and 38 touchdowns. (Photo by Vic Stein/NFL)

Hall of Fame punter, punt returner, defensive back and running back Yale Lary of the Detroit Lions was a fixture at right safety throughout his career. He was named to the All-NFL team five times and played in nine Pro Bowls. His career mark showed 50 interceptions and he might well have had many more had not opposition quarterbacks avoided throwing in his area. His career average of 44.3 yards on 503 punts places him among the best ever. He won three NFL punting titles, as well. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

Jack Butler, a 4-time Pro Bowler, played cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was selected as one of the 33 greatest Steelers of all time. He was also selected to the First Team All-Pro three times. He played throughout the 1950's, returning 52 interceptions for 827 yards in 103 games, a record which ranks second in Steeler's history. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Dick Barwegan played guard for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Colts of the AAFC, then moved to the Chicago Bears for the first three seasons of the 1950's, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl all three seasons. He then returned to the Colts to finish out his career in 1953-54. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Offensive lineman Dick Stanfel was picked in the second round of the 1951 Draft by the Detroit Lions where he would play until being traded to the Redskins in 1956. He has been named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins and was a 5-time Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selection. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Bobby Walston, an end and place-kicker, spent 12 seasons with the Eagles, setting a club career record of 881 points. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1961 and 1962. Walston's best overall season was in 1954, when he caught 11 touchdown passes and kicked 36 extra points and 4 field goals, giving him an Eagles single-season record of 114 points. That record stood for 30 seasons until Paul McFadden, a place-kicker, surpassed it by 2 points in 1984. Walston's 365 points after touchdowns are also a club career record. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Fullback Alan Ameche of the Baltimore Colts avoids linebacker Clay Matthews of the San Francisco 49ers in 1955. Ameche may be best remembered for his role in the 1958 NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium, often cited as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Ameche scored the winning touchdown for the Colts on a one-yard run in overtime as the Colts beat the Giants, 23-17. It was his second touchdown of the day as he also scored a TD on a 2 yard run in the second quarter. Ameche finished a six-season NFL career with 4,045 rushing yards, 101 receptions for 733 yards and 44 touchdowns. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

Linebacker Bill George of the Chicago Bears chases down a runner in San Francisco on October 23, 1955. George was the first to star at the middle linebacker position. During the 1950's and early 1960's, the Bears were known for their outstanding defensive teams and George was a major part reason for their fame. A ferocious all-out player, he was named All-NFL choice eight times � seven consecutive seasons (1955-1961) and then an eighth in 1963. He was also selected to play in eight consecutive Pro Bowls, 1955-1962. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

San Francisco 49ers tackle Bob St. Clair. At 6-9 and 265 pounds, St. Clair's mere presence on the football field tended to intimidate many opponents. Particularly early in his career, he was used on defense in goal line situations. He also excelled on the special teams. In 1956, he was credited with an amazing 10 blocked field goals. St. Clair served as the 49ers' team captain in 1957, 1958 and 1959. He was named first- or second-team All-NFL nine times and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

Bobby Layne of the Detroit Lions in a 1956 game against the Chicago Bears. Layne, during his 15 pro football seasons, was a free-spirited All-NFL caliber quarterback who did well statistically but was exceptional in the intangibles � leadership, determination, competitiveness, and guts. Layne's Lions won divisional crowns in 1952, 1953, and 1954, and NFL titles in 1952, 1953 and 1957. In the 1953 game Bobby enjoyed his greatest and certainly most famous afternoon. The Browns held a 16-10 advantage with 4:10 left to play. Layne coolly directed the team on an 80-yard touchdown drive that combined with Doak Walker�s extra point kick, gave the Lions a 17-16 win. (Photo by George Gellatly/NFL)

Philadelphia Eagles center-linebacker Chuck Bednarik, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1967, during a 19-14 loss to the New York Giants. Bedarik was selected first overall in the 1949 NFL Draft as the Eagles' bonus draft choice and earned a starter's spot as a center on offense and linebacker on defense. Although he frequently played both offense and defense right up through the 1956 season, it was as a bone-jarring linebacker that he drew the most attention. He was named All-NFL as a linebacker 1951 through 1957 and again in 1960. (Photo by NFL/NFL)
» Video: Chuck Bednarik retrospective

Hall of Fame defensive back Dick "Night Train" Lane of the Chicago Cardinals, where he played for six years starting in 1954. Starting his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952, "Night Train" set the NFL on fire as a rookie. He intercepted a record 14 passes in the 12-game season. Besides being a constant threat to steal passes, Lane also became known as a devastating tackler. He was then traded and was named first- or second-team All-NFL every year from 1954 through 1963. Named to seven Pro Bowls, Night Train intercepted 68 passes for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns during his Hall of Fame career. (Photo by NFL/NFL)
» Video: Dick 'Night Train' Lane retrospective

Hall of Fame wide receiver Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch of the Los Angeles Rams. Hirsch established a new league record at the time of 1,495 yards receiving. It wasn' t just the number of long-gainers but the way he did the job that set Hirsch apart from all others. "Crazylegs" had a unique running style that made him famous. When running downfield, his muscular legs seemed to gyrate in six different directions at once. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

Safety Emlen Tunnell (45) of the New York Giants knocks down a pass intended for halfback Ray Matthews (15) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a 17-14 Giants victory on November 4, 1956, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tunnell, when he retired, was the career leader in several categories, including interceptions with 79. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1967. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

At 6-1 and 230 pounds, Ernie Stautner was smaller than most defensive linemen of the 1950s. Still, the Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to take a chance and drafted him in the second-round of the 1950 Draft. Blessed with excellent mobility and burning desire, the Boston College star went on to excel. For the next 14 years, Stautner was a fixture at defensive tackle, and a major factor in the Pittsburgh defense, one of the most punishing in the NFL at the time. His outstanding play earned him first- or second-team All-NFL honors nine times. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Frank Gifford poses for a photo during New York Giants training camp in the 1960s. Gifford could run, pass, catch, play defensive back, and return punts and kicks. In 1953, he even played two ways in an era of one-platoon specialists, averaging almost 50 minutes every game. In 1956, he was the NFL's MVP as he paced the Giants to a league championship. Six times he was named first- or second-team All-NFL. Then in 1960, a severe head injury put him on the sidelines. But in 1962 he returned and was switched from halfback to flanker to take advantage of his great pass-catching skills. Gifford attained star status once again. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times at three different positions � first as a defensive back, then as an offensive halfback; and last as a flanker in 1964. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

Hall of Fame defensive end Gino Marchetti (89) of the Baltimore Colts in action during a 1957 game against the 49ers. One of the game's greatest and most feared defensive ends, Marchetti, who played 13 seasons with the Baltimore Colts after one season with the Dallas Texans, was a brilliant all-around defender. He was adept at stopping the running play, but best known for his vicious pass rushing techniques. He was known for clean, but very hard play and he was a particular terror on third-down, obvious passing situations. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

A first-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers in 1952, Hugh McElhenny made an immediate impression as a rookie, recording the season's longest run from scrimmage (89 yards), the longest punt return (94 yards), and the top rushing average (7.0 yards per carry). Not surprisingly, he was a unanimous choice for the league's Rookie of the Year honors. When he retired after the 1964 season, McElhenny was one of only three players to have gained more than 11,000 all-purpose yards. Altogether, on rushing, receiving, kickoff returns, punt returns, and fumble returns, he totaled 11,375 yards � or more than six miles. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

Detroit Lions Hall of Fame safety Jack Christiansen intercepts a pass to Hall of Fame wide receiver Darryl Brewster in a 56-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a League Championship game on December 26, 1954 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Christiansen led the league in interceptions in 1953 and tied for the league lead in 1957. He played played eight seasons with the Lions from 1951-58 and was named All-Pro six consecutive years (1952-1957) and played in five consecutive Pro Bowls (1954-1958).(Photo by Tim Culek/NFL)

Jim Parker #77 of the Baltimore Colts divided his career almost evenly between left tackle and left guard. Each job had its distinct set of responsibilities. As a tackle, he went head-to-head against the faster, more agile defensive ends. At guard, his daily foes were the bigger and stronger defensive tackles. At left tackle he earned All-Pro honors four straight times from 1958 to 1961. In the middle of the 1962 season he was moved to left guard and at year�s end was named All-Pro at both tackle and guard. He then followed up with three straight seasons of earning All-Pro accolades at guard (1963 to 1965). During this period Parker played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls. (Photo by NFL Photos/Getty Images)

As a linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1955 through 1966, Joe Fortunato made the Pro Bowl 5 times and was named first-team All-Pro three times. He recovered 22 fumbles in his career. (Photo by NFL Photos/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame fullback Joe Perry (34), runs during a game in 1954. Perry, at 6-0 and 200 pounds was small for an NFL fullback. He combined his power with his quickness and deceptive elusiveness to slash through opposing defenses. It was an awesomely effective style, as he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, a feat he accomplished in 1953 and 1954. A veteran of three Pro Bowls, Perry was All-AAFC in 1949 and All-NFL in 1953 and 1954. In 16 seasons of outstanding play, "The Jet" amassed a total of 9,723 rushing yards and averaged an amazing 4.9 yards per carry. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

Hall of fame linebacker Joe Schmidt of the Detroit Lions. Schmidt joined the Lions in 1953 from the Univ. of Pittsburgh. He made an immediate impact as a starter on the Lions championship teams and was selected to play in nine Pro Bowls (1955-63). He retired in 1965. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

Hall of Fame wide receiver Lenny Moore (24) of the Baltimore Colts runs past the San Francisco 49ers in 1960. For almost a decade starting in the late 1950s, the Baltimore Colts were one of the NFL's premier teams. Flanker/halfback Lenny Moore was a major reason for the team�s successes. A Penn State product, Moore was a first-round draft pick of the Colts in 1956 and was named Rookie of the Year. When Moore retired following the 1967 season, he left behind 12,451 combined net yards, 5174 yards rushing, 363 pass receptions, and 113 touchdowns. (Photo by Frank Rippon/NFL)

Lou Groza of the Cleveland Browns retired as the last remaining member of the original 1946 Browns team. The big offensive tackle and placekicking artist played 21 years, more than any other pro player up to that time. Groza was the first specialist who became so proficient that the Browns started thinking of making field goals when the going was rough and time was short. He was also one of the finest offensive tackles, particularly in the middle years of his long tenure. Groza was named first- or second-team all-league eight times during his career. In 1954, he was The Sporting News' NFL Player of the Year. He was named to the Pro Bowl nine times, and as a starting tackle six times. (Photo by Herbert Weitman/NFL)

Norm Van Brocklin (11) was a standout quarterback for 12 seasons in the NFL, the first nine with the Los Angeles Rams. Then he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958 and, within three years, the "Dutchman" had guided the Eagles to the NFL championship, becoming the only quarterback to defeat a Lombardi-coached Green Bay team in championship game play. His greatest day as a passer came in 1951 when he threw for a record 554 yards against the New York Yanks. It was also in 1951 that Van Brocklin led the teams to the only NFL title the Rams had won since moving to Los Angeles.(Photo by Darryl Norenberg/NFL)
» Video: Norm Van Brocklin retrospective

Hall of Fame running back Ollie Matson of the Philadelphia Eagles during a game on November 6, 1966 against the Dallas Cowboys. Matson began his career as a Cardinal in 1952 after winning an Olympic Track medal, but was traded to the Rams for 9 players. He eventually ended up at the Eagles from 1964-66. Altogether, he gained 12,844 yards on rushing, receptions, and returns. He scored 40 touchdowns running, 23 on receptions, 9 on kick returns, and one on a fumble recovery. During his 14 pro seasons Ollie earned first- or second-team All-NFL honors six times and was selected to play in six Pro Bowls. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Baltimore Hall of Fame wide reciever Raymond Berry (82) catches a pass in the Colts 35-3 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Playoff Bowl on January 9, 1966 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. In a formidable pass-catch tandem with Johnny Unitas, for three straight years Raymond led the league in receptions and caught a then-record 631 passes for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns in his 13-year career. A first- or second-team All-Pro choice in 1957 through 1961 and again in 1965, he was selected to play in six Pro Bowl games during his career. A sure-handed receiver, Raymond fumbled only once in 13 years. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

Offensive tackle Roosevelt Brown of the New York Giants was a classic pass blocker and, on running plays, he could make the blocks that opened gaping holes in the enemy ranks. And he could do something few tackles are called upon to do � pull and lead on wide ground plays such as a pitchout to the halfback. For eight straight years, he was a virtually unanimous All-NFL choice and was named to nine Pro Bowls. In the 1956 NFL Championship Game, Brown was awarded Lineman of the Game honors. In 1975, he became only the second player to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the merits of his offensive line play alone. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

Linebacker Sam Huff #70 of the New York Giants was named All-NFL three times, picked as the NFL's top linebacker in 1959 and selected for five Pro Bowls, four of them while he was with the Giants. The relatively new middle linebacker's job called for someone big enough to handle the power runners, fast enough to overhaul swift halfbacks and agile enough to protect against the passer. His 30 pass steals attest to that facet of his game. (Photo by Vernon Biever /NFL Photos/Getty Images)