";s:4:"text";s:2552:" He was 6’2 and 210 pounds in his peak physical shape, with great speed and incredible instincts.Lane also perfected an arm tackle applied to the receiver’s neck that became known as the “Clothesline Tackle” or the “Night Train Necktie” and was later banned in large part because of how effectively he was able to utilize it.In his rookie season, Lane set an NFL single season record for interceptions with 14, which stands to this day even though the length of the season at the time was only 12 games. Lane proved adept at tackling as well as pass coverage.He retired in 1965.
Overall, he picked off 68 passes, five for touchdowns, with 1,207 return yards. He wanted to coach in the NFL, but the Lions did little to help him. In addition to being a great receiver, Fears was a lover of music and a great teammate. Unhappy with that occupation, he walked onto a Los Angeles Rams practice field and made the team. Lane said, according to Cantu: "I'm screaming and yelling so hard, some people yelled over the back fence, 'Ella, what are you doin' to that boy?' I'm sure they thought I was being murdered." At some point, Fears matched the song title to Lane and thus was born one of the most enduring (and phonically pleasing) nicknames in sports history.Dick Lane was Dick “Night Train” Lane to his Rams teammates. He was particularly adept that day against Redskins running back Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice. This “rip” often had receivers more concerned about their well-being than the football. He grew to be a strong, muscular man, and spent four years in the United States Army in the years between World War II and the Korean War. The league too often treats the past like a worn pair of shoulder pads."Lane, who had originally objected to his nickname, finally took to liking it, especially when he saw a headline in 1954 after his Chicago Cardinals dominated the Washington Redskins, 38-16. At various times during the game, Night Train would bolt from his defensive position and run past the receiver he was assigned to defend, taking a direct route toward the quarterback.