Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 10 offensive linemen of all time

By Aaron Tan

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 27: Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to a play while sitting on the bench during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 27, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 27-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 27: Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to a play while sitting on the bench during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 27, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 27-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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8 Sep 1996: Offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a game against the St. Louis Rams at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game, 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
8 Sep 1996: Offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a game against the St. Louis Rams at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game, 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

No. 4: Jesse Sapolu

The single most important aspect that a football player should have is toughness.

Jesse Sapolu certainly did not lack that attribute.

The 6-foot-4 and 278 pound two-time Pro Bowler spent a staggering 15 years on San Francisco, winning four Super Bowl rings along the way.

During that stretch, Sapolu played with an enlarged heart, a serious condition that could have killed him any time.

This is the definition of toughness — Sapolu deserves to be in the same discussion as all the other 49ers legends.