Whether testifying against his fellow NFL owners on behalf of the USFL or insisting on throwing the ball downfield at a time many still believed "real" football was three yards and a cloud of dust, Davis never followed convention. His death Saturday at age 82 means the NFL has lost one of its truly unique individuals.
Though many young fans know Davis only as a fragile man in poor health, his contributions over the course of five decades in professional football should not be overlooked.
