I just read where the NFL Network is running a list of the 100 greatest players ever…The final ten won’t be released until early November so i thought i’d let you know there should be no discussion here, absolutely none…argue willie mays, babe ruth, hank aaron in basbeall…bill russell, wilt chamberlain, michael jordan, larry, magic in basketball…bobby orr, wayne gretzky, gordie howe in hockey but when it comes to football it’s one name and everyone else…the fact that he stopped playing 45 years ago is irrelevant…i know that leaves out most of pro football fans of today but let me add, not only was he the best football player ever, he’s the best athlete EVER….that would be Jimmy Brown…most years leading the league in attempts, most years leading the league in yards, most consecutive years leading the league and the highest average per rush of all time, a mark that’s held up for nearly half a century…how’d you like a guy for your fantasy league team that averaged 5.2 yards every time he touched the ball?…And in case you didn’t know, he walked away from football at the age of 29, having just completed a season with 17 touchdowns, 1544 yards and an average of 5.3 in 14 games!…
Brown is generally regarded as the greatest lacrosse player ever produced in the United States as well….and oh yes, he averaged 15 points a game for the Syracuse basketball team as a sophomore and there are those who think he could have been the heavyweight boxing champion of the world if he’d wanted to…At 6 feet 2 inches and 232 pounds Brown was Syracuse’s best high jumper, discus and javelin thrower…
You can wait till November to find out who the NFL Network thinks is number one…or you can tell em you read it here first….
7 Comments
Chris posted on October 13, 2010 at 10:59 pm
I mean, I was going to go with Tiki Barber, but sure, I guess your pick makes sense…
Chris posted on October 13, 2010 at 10:59 pm
You know who’s NOT the best player in NFL history? Anyone from St. Louis. Ever.
frank posted on October 14, 2010 at 8:06 am
i think you have a bias there chris!
Adam Silvers posted on October 14, 2010 at 11:58 am
Jerry Rice, all-time leader in every major statistical category for wide receivers, selected to the pro-bowl 13 times and named all pro 10 times in 20 seasons played. Three rings to Brown’s none and most super bowl touchdowns in history.
Responsible for greatest blowout in super bowl history (7 passes for 148 yds in the game for Rice in a 55-10 drubbing of the Denver Broncos)
And while we can say Brown retired prematurely and maybe that’s why he didn’t get any rings, Rice’s partner in crime, Joe Montana, was forced to retire with a back injury.
Defining moment:
Super Bowl 1995: 49ers return to the big game and Rice, who was sick the night before, caught 10 passes for 149 yds and 3 TD’s as his team won a record 5th super bowl against the San Diego Chargers.
Emily posted on October 14, 2010 at 2:59 pm
uhh, michael phelps.
Ben posted on October 14, 2010 at 4:07 pm
First to clear something up. Jim Brown played from 1957-65. That was before the merger, the first superbowl wasn’t played until 1967. Brown did win an NFL championship in 1964, and went there again in 65. Who knows if he would have won had he not feuded with Art Modell.
I agree that Jim Brown should be 1 on the list. But, I think Johnny Unitas should give him a good run at the top spot. Its hard to compare Quarterbacks from different eras, but from everything I heard, Unitas changed the way football was played. In the era of run football, Unitas retired with the records in passed attmepted/completed, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He called the plays. 2 time NFL champion, 1 time superbowl champion. 3-time NFL MVP.
Also, my concern is that defensive players will be undervalued on this list. I’m sure it will be primarily stacked with Recievers, Runningbacks and Quarterbacks with the odd linebacker and defensive end sneaking in. If this list doesn’t have Lawrence Taylor in the top 10, and Joe Greene and Reggie White in the top 20 it loses all credibility in my eyes. Hopefully Deacon Jones and Dick Butkus both crack the top 20 too
My top ten:
1) Jim Brown
2) Johnny Unitas
3) Jerry Rice
4) Walter Payton
5) Joe Montana
6) Lawrence Taylor
7) Barry Sanders
8) John Elway
9) Emmitt Smith
10) Reggie White
(and for Chris, honorable mention to Tiki Barber…)
Ben posted on October 14, 2010 at 4:08 pm
And apparently, there are smilies! Why weren’t we told about this! 🙂