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Merlin Olsen -- 1940-2010

Because he was a TV actor, the obituaries for Merlin Olsen, who died of cancer at age 69 are going to unintentionally slight his football career. As an actor, Olsen was a pleasant TV second banana. As a football player, he was Olivier.

All that needs to be said about Olsen as a player is this. Back in the '60s, Olsen's contemporaries, players, fans, etc., rated him as the best individual defensive lineman in the Rams' Fearsome Foursome. That was a line that had Deacon Jones on it, history's best pass rusher, on it, too.

There are no social classes in Halls of Fame. But if for some unforeseen reason they had to cut down in Canton, Ohio, lay off 9o percent of the immortals and remove their plaques, Olsen makes the cut with ease.

posted by Michael Gee @ 5:55 PM