Hall of Famers Warren Sapp and Bruce Smith, former head coach Dick Vermeil and Vice President of Communications of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Joe Horrigan were among those who joined NFL Network to reflect on the passing of Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. Provided below are transcripts and video links of their comments.
Tonight on NFL Total Access at 7:00 PM ET on NFL Network, there will be a tribute to the life and legacy of Deacon Jones.
At 8:00 PM ET, A Football Life: Fearsome Foursome will air, followed by Top 10 Pass Rushers at 9:00 PM ET.
Warren Sapp – NFL Network analyst; Hall of Fame defensive tackle
On Deacon Jones:
“Deacon Jones for me is an absolute institution. Growing up in Orlando, you heard about the stories of Deacon Jones from Eatonville, Florida running down running backs, running down wide receivers as a defensive lineman. And then you hear the stories of the head slap, helmets ringing inside of stadiums all the way to the top of them. Deacon Jones signified what it was to be a great warrior on the defensive line, up front, all day long. Pack a lunch if Deacon was coming because it was going to be an all-day affair and he was going to tell you about it too. I kind of patterned my game after him because if you can talk that talk and walk that walk, then you can stand beside Deacon. He was the best.”
To view Sapp’s remembrance of Deacon Jones, visit:
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Bruce Smith – Hall of Fame defensive end
On Deacon Jones’ legacy to football:
“Not only to coin the term ‘sack,’ but just his personality of being a defensive lineman; his charisma and his presence. When he walked into the room, he commanded respect, whether it was on the playing field or his choice of words. This is going to be a great loss for all of the football nation, the fans and particularly those who loved him dearly like myself.”
On his relationship with Deacon Jones:
“Deacon and I became very close friends during my time with the Buffalo Bills. There were some low points, or times in my career where I was missing a lot of sacks and I would give Deacon a call and pick his brain because that was the type of person that Deacon was. He was receptive; he was one that always wanted to help, to give advice and critique. Those were things I always appreciated the most about Deacon, just his personality within itself. I just find myself in a great deal of shock that we lost not only a legend, but a legendary person.”
On Deacon Jones’ place in football history:
“Deacon is right up there. I think there are three guys you put in a hat and just pick a name out. Those three guys would be Deacon, Reggie White and myself at the defensive end position. Certainly roles were of different circumstances when Deacon played. I really believe you take those three guys, put them in a hat and just pick one and feel comfortable with it.”
To view the entire interview with Smith, visit:
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Dick Vermeil – former NFL head coach
On his favorite memory of Deacon Jones:
“I have a lot of them; some of them take a little time to tell. He was such a vibrant personality, just a character, and obviously a great, great player; a trendsetter and a guy that actually formed the mold of what a great pass rusher was supposed to be and play like. But he was a character. He was not one of these guys that was a weight trainer. I can remember that Roman Gabriel used to challenge him to a bench press and Roman would beat him, and Roman was our quarterback. Deacon was not one of those offseason training guys; he would come to training camp and he would go to work, and he got himself in training camp like a lot of the old-timers did in the old days. But once he got there he would really go to work. He was a lot of fun to be around.”
On where he would place Deacon Jones on the all-time list of pass rushers:
“In those days, the offensive linemen couldn’t use the hands like they do today. So Deacon with his head slap and all of those kinds of things could get to their body and the side of their body and the side of their head much quicker. It was legal then; you can’t do that today, but the offensive linemen are using their hands stretching and keeping you away. Even with that, I would believe he would have to be considered the number one pass rusher of all-time. He was a relentless pass rusher and a relentless run defender when the ball went away from him.”
To view the entire interview with Vermeil, visit:
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Joe Horrigan – Vice President of Communications, Pro Football Hall of Fame
On Deacon Jones’ legacy:
“He is one of the all-time greats, not just as a defensive end, but one of the all-time greats as a football player and as a person. Here at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was one of our favorites, a member of the family sort of speak. He was the inspirational leader of our Hall of Famers. I emphasize that because every year he would talk to the new class of Hall of Famers coming in. He would talk about the obligation and what it meant to be a Hall of Famer. Deacon firmly believed in the role of a Hall of Famer off the field and it was something that was going to be lifelong. He used to tell them, ‘You are now a member of a team you can’t be cut from, you can’t be traded, and you can’t even quit. It is up to you to live the life of a Hall of Famer and make us proud of you.’ That was how he was in the intimate moments with his fellow Hall of Famers.”
On his favorite memory of Deacon Jones:
“My favorite memory is that every time you met Deacon, he gave you a new favorite memory because he was such a personality. The thing I liked about Deacon most was, he wasn’t just football – he lived and breathed football – but he had so much more to offer. Deacon was actually an entertainer, had a musical act that he did – first with the Fearsome Foursome – then he broke off on his own and a had a little nightclub act. He was pretty successful at it. He did a little writing. He did everything. He just enjoyed life. I think that is my favorite memory of him – how much he enjoyed life, how much he enjoyed people. He was a people person for sure.”
To view the entire interview with Horrigan, visit:
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