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Jim Nance. You'd see him hit the line. A huge pile would form at the point of the tackle--and then the pile would slowly move three or four yards more.
It may be tough for present-day fans who weren't around then to get the significance of a 240-lb. runner in those days. At that time, there were many defensive linemen who weighed 240-245 pounds; three of the four men on the famous Vikings "Purple Gang" were no bigger than Nance. His effect on a game was roughly that of having a 290-lb runner today. Of course with present workout regimens, he probably would have muscled up to something between 270 and 290 pounds.
The closest thing the present generation of football fans has seen to Jim Nance was Jerome Bettis, who retired just a couple of years ago from the Steelers. At about 255 pounds, Bettis would move the pile in similar fashion.
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Ben, I say, Ben!
