Yale Lary crafted a Hall of Fame career for the Detroit Lions at a time when circumstances and style were different from the current era but performance was still what separated the stars from the rest of the players in any era.
Lary was a star defensive back on Lions teams that won three championships in the 1950s. He was a standout safety, punter and return man when smaller roster sizes demanded position versatility, and he gave championship performances on teams that had championship aspirations every year.
Lary, who played all 11 of his Hall of Fame seasons with the Lions in a 13-year span from 1952-64, died Friday at the age of 86.