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Lions 75th anniversary team: Offensive Linemen

Offensive linemen are seldom noticed unless they make a mistake.

Their names aren't usually mentioned until they get beaten for a sack, are called for holding or happen to jump before the football is snapped. They labor in anonymity unless one of their teammates who play the skill positions step up on the linemen's behalf.

The two offensive tackles chosen for the Lions' 75th anniversary team -- Lou Creekmur and Lomas Brown -- had teammates like that in quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Barry Sanders.

When the Lions were winning three NFL championships during the 1950s, Layne made sure that the offensive line received the credit it was due.

"He sure did," Creekmur said in an interview with longtime Detroit News sports writer Jerry Green. "The treatment off the field he gave us couldn't have been better. He realized that without the guys blocking for him, he wouldn't have had much."

Creekmur went on to say that he and the rest of the offensive line got satisfaction when Layne threw a touchdown pass or Doak Walker broke off a long run. "I don't think we ever dwelled (on the lack of recognition)," Creekmur said.

"We knew that we got it from Aldo Forte, our offensive line coach, and from Buddy Parker, from Bobby Layne and our backfield. We were just as proud as could be when a guy like (Bob) Hoernschemeyer or Doak Walker scored, knowing that we helped him get over that goal line."

Creekmur, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, started his pro career as a guard and made the all-NFL team at that position in 1951 and 1952. He then shifted to left tackle and remained there for the rest of his 10-season NFL career except for the 1955 season when he was an emergency replacement at middle guard on defense.

Playing defense was nothing new to Creekmur because he was used in short-yardage situations throughout his career.

Like most of the best offensive tackles to play for Detroit, Creekmur was extremely durable. During his first nine seasons with the Lions he never missed a game -- preseason, regular season or postseason -- and had a string of 165 consecutive appearances.

As good as he was -- Creekmur played in eight Pro Bowl games -- the former William and Mary standout was flagged for his share of holding penalties.

When he retired for the first time in 1958, he admitted that "I probably held on every other play."