Jim Parker dead, sad day

[general counsel]

Big Jim Parker is dead. Truly a stud offensive tackle and guard, he protected unitas and opened the holes for lenny moore for 10 years. first full time offensive lineman to make the HOF. College star at ohio state. RIP, truly a great representative of what the NFL is all about.

ramming speed to jim and his family,

general counsel

[RealRam]

...Truly a great representative of what the NFL is all about. --GC

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3770328

Well said, GC. I remember the well respected Jim Parker in some tremendous battles that the Rams and the Colts fought in '66 and '67 (Parker's last season).

A gentle giant, you can see him in a couple of NFL Films; once where he recalls Johnny Unitas being badly hit as a result of Parker being beat by the defender he was on. Unitas' nose was bleeding uncontrollably -- they even tried stuffing it with mud but he would not come out of the game.

Parker recalls how, in the huddle, he couldn't bear to see Unitas in the eye; he just felt too guilty. Unitas tells him: "that's okay, we'll get 'em next time". Next play, everyone on the OL does his job: Unitas throws a long pass that wins the game.

Jim Parker. He died a little too early at 71.

Thanks, GC, for bringing this note to ClanRam.