The Game Before the Money Podcast took a look at Eddie Meador’s dangerous collision with Paul Hornung in Episode 6.
Playing Behind the “Fearsome Foursome”
The “Fearsome Foursome” was the Rams defensive line in the 1960s, featuring Lamar Lundy at defensive end with Deacon Jones. The Rams then drafted defensive tackle, Merlin Olsen, out of Utah State in 1962. In 1963, Los Angelese acquired Rosey Grier from the New York Giants.
In the late 1960s, Roger Brown became part of that group coming over from the Detroit Lions as a defensive tackle after Rosey Grier retired. To this day, that defensive line is still recognized as one of the greatest defensive lines in NFL history.
Eddie Meador tells us what it was like to play behind that defensive line, as well as a pretty solid set of linebackers.
“I think it certainly helped the secondary because of the pressure that those guys put on the quarterback. It was just a pleasure to play behind those guys. And of course, the linebackers that we had with Jack Pardee, Les Richter, Maxie Baughan, and guys like that, too. With those seven guys, the pressure on the quarterback was tremendous and made it, I think, a little bit easier on us defensive backs.”
A Defensive Playmaker
Commentators and reporters covering today’s NFL would you use terms such as “ball hawk” and “playmaker” to describe Eddie Meador‘s play. According to the USA Today, Eddie not only holds the Rams team record in interceptions but also fumble recoveries and blocked kicks. In fact, the USA Today credits him with 10 career blocked kicks.
“Maybe I had a little bit of a nose for the football. I just tried my best to turn the ball over some way to our offense.”
Violent Collision With Paul Hornung
Having a nose for the football often put Eddie in the thick of the action. In the world of pro football, it can also be dangerous. Eddie tells us about a violent collision he had with Packers running back Paul Hornung.
“He came through the line of scrimmage and hit me with his knee. I guess (the knee hit) the left side of my helmet and cracked that thing all the way to the top.”
The Rams discarded Eddie’s cracked helmet, gave him a new one, and he played the rest of the game.
“And I didn’t remember a whole lot in that ballgame, at least for 30 or 40 minutes I didn’t. Back then they would break smelling salts in front of you and say, “Get back in there son, and play.”
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