As the days pass, it seems clearer that former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney could be the No. 1 overall pick in next month's NFL draft.

With that possibility, it's entirely appropriate to remember the former Rams/Chargers/Redskins defensive end, the man who invented the sack, one of the scariest defenders ever to play in the NFL: Deacon Jones.

Jones, who died in June 2013 at the age of 74, was nicknamed "The Secretary of Defense" after making eight Pro Bowls and earning five All-Pro honors while spending most of his 14-year career with the L.A. Rams. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980, and his legacy lives into today: he reportedly was the first to use the head slap in order to get a jump on the opposing offensive linemen.

Here is some of his finest work:

Watch out Dallas quarterback Don Meredith! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
Watch out Dallas quarterback Don Meredith! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
 Watch out New York quarterback Gary Wood! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
Watch out New York quarterback Gary Wood! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
 Watch out New York quarterback Bart Starr! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images) (USATSI)
Watch out Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
Watch out former Va. senator George Allen! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
Watch out former Va. senator George Allen! Deacon is after you. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones takes down Franco Harris in 1973. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones takes down Franco Harris in 1973. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones, in the words of the original caption, levels Ed Podolak in 1972. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones, in the words of the original caption, levels Ed Podolak in 1972. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones only has eyes for John Brodie in the late 1960s. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones only has eyes for John Brodie in the late 1960s. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones is double-teamed by Oakland in 1972. (Getty Images)
Jones is double-teamed by Oakland in 1972. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones goes up against Forrest Gregg. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones goes up against Forrest Gregg. (Getty Images)
Deacon Jones was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. (USATSI)
Deacon Jones was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. (USATSI)

And because why the hell not, here's Deacon Jones on the Brady Bunch. Who teaches all of us a good lesson.