Best NFL players, regardless of position
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by user Shrubbery
Dukeboy999 got me thinking; who are the all-time best players in NFL history? Everyone loves to make these lists and a few names pop up EVERY TIME a discussion of the best ever to suit up in the NFL. So, by my estimation there are eight names that are part of everybody's pantheon of football deities...the usual suspects are...
- Jim Brown
- Barry Sanders
- Jerry Rice
- Lawrence Taylor
- Dick Butkus
- Ronnie Lott
- Reggie White
- Deacon Jones
The reason these men were chosen is they were head and shoulders above the rest at their position and dominated the game with stunning ease. As much as I admire and revere John Elway, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas, they aren't that much better than Dan Marino, Roger Staubach, or Steve Young. What seperates the guys I listed is the degree to which their talent eclipsed others at their respective positions. The only running back close to Brown and Sanders is Gale Sayers; no one is nearly as good as Lott, Rice, Reggie White, Deacon Jones, LT, or Butkus.
Some will say Deion Sanders was a transcendent player but he was not the complete corner that Rod Woodson or Willie Brown were.
The one name that may warrant inclusion on this list is Anthony Munoz. But again, Eric Williams was as dominant and others like Gary Zimmerman, Willie Roaf, and Orlando Pace were almost on par with Munoz. You may differ with this contention and I probably wouldn't quible. Munoz was the best ever at left tackle.
So, let the debate rage on...feel free to ad names you feel were eroneously omitted.
Date
Sat 08/12/06, 6:14 am EST
