Post by Night Train Lane on Nov 30, 2011 15:42:29 GMT -5
My player is molded after Dick Lane. About 90% of this story is the story of Dick Lane's life which I researched for this biography. Read this and learn something! ;D
______________________________________________________________________
Personal:
Name: Richard “Dick” Lane
Nickname: “Night Train”
Position: Cornerback
Place of Birth: Austin, Texas
Measurables:
Height: 6’6
Weight: 250
Age: 84
Number(s): 81 and 47
Dick Lane didn’t exactly have a great childhood. Sure, it was difficult being black in the “Jim Crow South,” but even from birth, Dick Lane was behind the 8-ball. After being born in Austin, Texas, he was subsequently abandoned and found by a widow named Ella Lane. On her way to her job, she found an Richard lying in a dumpster. She took a liking to Dick (lol), and eventually legally adopted him three months later. It is unknown how long Lane was left in the dumpster, but it has been confirmed that his mother was a prostitute, and his father was a pimp.
Lane’s interest in football started early on during his childhood in Austin, Texas. He often started football games with kids from around his neighborhood. Many marveled at his natural athletic abilities, often drawing quite a crowd during pick-up football games. What made Lane special wasn’t necessarily his physicality, size, agility or speed; it was the combination of those four things. His quickness combined with his aggressive mentality caused him to be the greatest “ball hawk” of all-time.
Lane went on to graduate from high school, and attended Scottsbluff Junior College in Nebraska. This college is now known as Western Nebraska Community College. He attended Scottsbluff for one year, but disinterest in studies caused him to drop out and serve four years in the U.S. Army.
After coming back from serving with the U.S. Army, Lane eventually found work in an aircraft factory milling and sorting steel. Lane’s competitive nature was bored with the endless monotonous work, and began searching for a different job. One day while going by the Los Angeles Rams facility, he decided to walk inside and ask for a tryout. He brought a scrapbook of various high-school, and junior college accolades in an effort to get the attention of the Rams, who at this point had a line forming outside of their offices from people applying for tryouts. Lane passed the eye test, and was granted a tryout.
He tried out as a wide receiver and an offensive lineman, but the Rams were stacked at wide receiver and the Rams were impressed by his speed. Coach Joe Stydahar decided to move him to defense, and eventually became the starter at cornerback on opening day of the 1952 season – his rookie season. By the dust had settled on the ’52 season, Dick Lane had 14 interceptions in a 12 game season – a record that still stands.
After his rookie season he had become well-known around the league, and he was often thrown away from. Even though opposing quarterbacks threw the ball in the opposite direction, Lane continued to be a factor. He is known for a tackling style he used known as the “Night Train neck tie” where he would either clothesline, or tackle the ball carrier by his neck. He is also one of the first during this time period to launch his helmet into the receivers he was covering, making him one of the earliest headhunters in NFL history.
By the time he left the NFL, he had 68 interceptions (3rd all-time) and in 1969 was voted the best cornerback in the first 50 years of the NFL. He was a seven time Pro Bowl selection, six time All-Pro selection, four time second-team All-Pro selection, the NFL’s 75th anniversary All-Time team, 1950’s All-Decade team, and was ranked in the top 20 on The Sporting News’ list of the greatest NFL players. He was the highest rated defensive back.
“Night Train” had a massive heart attack, and died on January 29th, 2002. It seemed obvious that Dick would never play again, but Lane’s son, Richard Walker, found the fountain of youth and sprinkled it on his fathers’ grave. Lane rose from his grave in playing shape, but had a side effect of bleached skin. Lane signed with the Reno Predators as a rookie free agent.
[img src=""]
Physicality – Lane is already one of the strongest defensive backs in the league, and has indicated that he only a shell of his former self. He believes he will continue to improve, and if that is true, he could regain his status as a head hunting cornerback.
Agility – Lane’s ability to stay with his receiver through his cuts makes him a tough option to ignore. UFSL scouts raved at Lane’s ability to cut, noting that he had the best agility in the league. At this point, receivers in the UFSL are very slow out of their cuts. The combination of Lane’s physicality and his ability to stay in the receivers pocket makes him a tough draw for any receiver.
Awareness- Seeing the entire field is an important strength of a defensive back, and Lane is no exception. Since Lane stands at 6’6”, he can see the ball immediately out of the quarterback’s hand. Combined with his agility and physicality, his awareness becomes even more important, earning two deflections in the Predators preseason win over the Griffins.
Acceleration –Lane is only average at getting to top speed, and is susceptible to being exposed on a deep route. He does not explode through ball carriers on contact and is not good at c
______________________________________________________________________
Personal:
Name: Richard “Dick” Lane
Nickname: “Night Train”
Position: Cornerback
Place of Birth: Austin, Texas
Measurables:
Height: 6’6
Weight: 250
Age: 84
Number(s): 81 and 47
Early Life
Dick Lane didn’t exactly have a great childhood. Sure, it was difficult being black in the “Jim Crow South,” but even from birth, Dick Lane was behind the 8-ball. After being born in Austin, Texas, he was subsequently abandoned and found by a widow named Ella Lane. On her way to her job, she found an Richard lying in a dumpster. She took a liking to Dick (lol), and eventually legally adopted him three months later. It is unknown how long Lane was left in the dumpster, but it has been confirmed that his mother was a prostitute, and his father was a pimp.
Lane’s interest in football started early on during his childhood in Austin, Texas. He often started football games with kids from around his neighborhood. Many marveled at his natural athletic abilities, often drawing quite a crowd during pick-up football games. What made Lane special wasn’t necessarily his physicality, size, agility or speed; it was the combination of those four things. His quickness combined with his aggressive mentality caused him to be the greatest “ball hawk” of all-time.
College and Military
[/b]Lane went on to graduate from high school, and attended Scottsbluff Junior College in Nebraska. This college is now known as Western Nebraska Community College. He attended Scottsbluff for one year, but disinterest in studies caused him to drop out and serve four years in the U.S. Army.
After coming back from serving with the U.S. Army, Lane eventually found work in an aircraft factory milling and sorting steel. Lane’s competitive nature was bored with the endless monotonous work, and began searching for a different job. One day while going by the Los Angeles Rams facility, he decided to walk inside and ask for a tryout. He brought a scrapbook of various high-school, and junior college accolades in an effort to get the attention of the Rams, who at this point had a line forming outside of their offices from people applying for tryouts. Lane passed the eye test, and was granted a tryout.
Professional Career
[/b]He tried out as a wide receiver and an offensive lineman, but the Rams were stacked at wide receiver and the Rams were impressed by his speed. Coach Joe Stydahar decided to move him to defense, and eventually became the starter at cornerback on opening day of the 1952 season – his rookie season. By the dust had settled on the ’52 season, Dick Lane had 14 interceptions in a 12 game season – a record that still stands.
After his rookie season he had become well-known around the league, and he was often thrown away from. Even though opposing quarterbacks threw the ball in the opposite direction, Lane continued to be a factor. He is known for a tackling style he used known as the “Night Train neck tie” where he would either clothesline, or tackle the ball carrier by his neck. He is also one of the first during this time period to launch his helmet into the receivers he was covering, making him one of the earliest headhunters in NFL history.
By the time he left the NFL, he had 68 interceptions (3rd all-time) and in 1969 was voted the best cornerback in the first 50 years of the NFL. He was a seven time Pro Bowl selection, six time All-Pro selection, four time second-team All-Pro selection, the NFL’s 75th anniversary All-Time team, 1950’s All-Decade team, and was ranked in the top 20 on The Sporting News’ list of the greatest NFL players. He was the highest rated defensive back.
“Night Train” had a massive heart attack, and died on January 29th, 2002. It seemed obvious that Dick would never play again, but Lane’s son, Richard Walker, found the fountain of youth and sprinkled it on his fathers’ grave. Lane rose from his grave in playing shape, but had a side effect of bleached skin. Lane signed with the Reno Predators as a rookie free agent.
[img src=""]
Scouting Report
[/b]Pros:
Physicality – Lane is already one of the strongest defensive backs in the league, and has indicated that he only a shell of his former self. He believes he will continue to improve, and if that is true, he could regain his status as a head hunting cornerback.
Agility – Lane’s ability to stay with his receiver through his cuts makes him a tough option to ignore. UFSL scouts raved at Lane’s ability to cut, noting that he had the best agility in the league. At this point, receivers in the UFSL are very slow out of their cuts. The combination of Lane’s physicality and his ability to stay in the receivers pocket makes him a tough draw for any receiver.
Awareness- Seeing the entire field is an important strength of a defensive back, and Lane is no exception. Since Lane stands at 6’6”, he can see the ball immediately out of the quarterback’s hand. Combined with his agility and physicality, his awareness becomes even more important, earning two deflections in the Predators preseason win over the Griffins.
Cons:
Acceleration –Lane is only average at getting to top speed, and is susceptible to being exposed on a deep route. He does not explode through ball carriers on contact and is not good at c
