JACK YOUNGBLOOD

Jack Youngblood played 14 seasons for the L.A. Rams, and became one of the best defensive ends in the history of pro football. He was a first round draft pick in 1971, and played so well that the Rams were willing to trade Deacon Jones to make room for him. He played in 7 consecutive Pro Bowls, and during the Rams playoff run in 1979, he played with a broken leg in the NFC title game and Super Bowl. He was known for his determination and durability in setting a team record of 201 consecutive starts. He was selected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001.

JEROME BETTIS

Though he will be remembered more for his career as "The Bus" with the Pittsburgh Steelers, running back Jerome Bettis was drafted by the L.A. Rams in 1993. He ran for over 1,400 yards that year and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Known as The Battering Ram, he quickly established himself as a hard runner with plenty of power. He was traded to the Steelers after the 1995 season and retired after winning the 2006 Super Bowl, finishing his career as the 5th leading rusher in NFL history.

OLLIE MATSON

Ollie Matson was an outstanding NFL player during his 14 year career, and played for the L.A. Rams from 1959-1962. He was a running back known for his speed and agility. Selected to 6 Pro Bowls, he was described by one defensive coach as "the greatest athlete I've ever seen." Not only did he play pro football, he was also a silver and bronze medal winner as a sprinter in the 1952 Olympics. He was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1972. Matson passed away last month at the age of 80.

LES RICHTER

Shortly after Les Richter was drafted out of college in 1952, the Los Angeles Rams traded 11 players - ELEVEN - to bring him to L.A. He played 9 seasons for the Rams at linebacker, and was selected to 8 straight Pro Bowls. This is another one of those guys that my dad used to praise for his hard-nosed style of play. In addition to his defensive skills, he was also a kicker for a couple of seasons, when he actually led the Rams in scoring! The only sad note to this story is that he passed away in June of last year at the age of 79, before being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2011.