Best Ever Thread

[dcfanatic]

I am basing my list on guys I saw play for the most part. If they are from another era I have seen plenty of highlight film on them.

Offense
QB...Joe Montana - He won the big games. And in no way was he any kind of great athlete, nor did he have a cannon for an arm.
RB...Jim Brown. He defined an era and made it possible for bigger guys to play skill positions.
FB...Mike Allstott. I love Moose, but Alstott was a little more versatile.
TE...Shannon Sharpe. A monster who could block a LB and catch a 40 yard TD.
WR...Rice. He's the best WR to ever play the game.
WR...Irvin. You need 7, he gets you 8. You need 10, he gets you 11. He did that all the time.
LT...Anthony Munoz. He was the first lineman I remember getting noticed because he was so dominant in the 80's.
LG...Mike Munchak. I chose him because I saw him play. Did not get to see guys like Hannah and Gregg play all that much.
C...Jeff Saturday. He's going to be in the best ever conversations at some point.
RG...Larry Allen. You know I got LG's back on this one.
RT...Jackie Slater. The man was in the Pro Bowl every single season and the Rams always had a great running game.

Defense
LDE...Reggie. He threw lineman around like rag dolls.
DT...Randy White. The manster was feared by all.
DT...Mr. Cowboy. I saw enough highlight video to know he could not be stopped by one lineman.
RDE...Bruce Smith. He was a beast for a long time.
OLB...Derrick Thomas. A step below LT.
MLB...Mike Singletary. He led the greatest 'one season' defense of all time.
OLB...LT. Can you imagine if you were an Offensive Coordinator game planning for Ware and LT coming off the edges? lol.
CB...Darrell Green. I really hate putting a Skin on this list, but this guy was just so good for so long I had to do it.
SS...Lott. He was Joe Montana on defense for those 49ers championsip teams in the 80's.
FS...Rod Woodson. Maybe you had him at CB, but he was a great DB no matter if it was at CB or Safety.
CB...Neon Deion. He cut the field in half and when you challenged him you lost just about 8 out of 10 times.

I think Ware and Witten have a great chance to replace Thomas and Sharpe on this list one day if they continue to play at the level they are at right now.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I was born in the mid 80's so alot of these guys are based on what i saw growing up. There's a few that are just legends though.

QB-Troy Aikman
RB-Barry Sanders
FB-Daryl Johnston
WR-Jerry Rice
WR-Larry Fitzgerald
TE-Jason Witten
C-Bruce Matthews
RG-Larry Allen
LG-Alan Faneca
RT-Jackie Slater(only because his last name is so legit)
LT-Jonathon Ogden(rarely committed a penalty)

LDE-Reggie White
RDE-Bruce Smith
DT-Warren Sapp
DT-Randy White(BEAST!)
OLB-Junior Seau
MLB-Ray Lewis
OLB-LT
CB-Rod Woodson
FS-Ed Reed
SS-Ronnie Lott
CB-Deion baby!

 

[burmafrd]

Eric Williams pre crash is the only RT that embarrased Reggie White So I have to go with him. Montana over Staubach by a hair due to the fact that Montana won his first SB with less talent. Elway won jack until Terrel Davis.
Payton and Brown in the backfield. Winslow at TE. Warfield at the other WR since you need a burner and Biletnikoff was SLOW.

Have to go with Ham at the other OLB. Cannot leave either Butkus or LT off of any all time team. Hollywood could have made this list if he had been able to avoid the drugs.


Agree with all the rest of the picks.

 

[zrinkill]

QB...John Elway or Joe Montana
RB...Emmitt Smith or Bo Jackson
FB...Larry Centers
TE...Jason Witten (sorry thats how I really feel)
WR...Jerry Rice (not even close)
WR...Michael Irvin (I think he was the hardest receiver to stop of all time)
LT...Anthony Munoz
LG...John Hannah
C...Mike Webster
RG...Larry Allen
RT...Eric Williams (pre Car Accident)


DE...Reggie White
DT...Alan Page
DT...Joe Green
DE...Bruce Smith
OLB...Demarcus Ware (I do not care what you think)
MLB...Mike Singletary
MLB...Dick Butkus or Ray Lewis
OLB...Lawrence Taylor
CB...Mel Blount
SS...Ronnie Lott
FS...Jack Tatum
CB...Deion Sanders or Darrell Green (Deion talent wise but there is no way I would pick him on my team over Green)

 

[JackMagist]

Jack Lambert was a MLB not an OLB. I don't argue with him being on the list but you have him out of position. Move him inside behind Butkus and make room for Chuck Howley at OLB.

Jim Brown (who you mention as RB runner-up) was actually a FB and should go on the list after Czonka (or ahead of him IMO) and Emmitt should get the consideration that you gave Brown.

I'd take Cliff Harris as FS too.

I'd take that team in a heartbeat though I'm not sure that some of the old school guys (like Dierdorf) would hold up in todays NFL...280 is small for a tackle these days. And Bedneric was a better linebacker than he was Center...he was way too small for a Center today. Give that to Webster (steroids and all).

 

[Teague31]

give me captain comeback at an and erik wiiliams at rt. Take away that car wreck and he is the best rt ever

 

[Hostile]

I do know Lambert was a MLB, but I had to have him on this team.

 

[JJB500]

This is a list of players I respect. There isn't a Kicker who fits that criteria.

I got a punter you probably would respect, Sammy Baugh.

 

[Clove]

I'd put Montana as my QB
Barry Sanders at RB
My second WR would be Moss.

 

[THUMPER]

OK, I usually put together a TEAM that I feel would play well together and fit the style I would use, but I'll go strictly with who I believe was the BEST at their position:

QB: Otto Graham The best QB ever to play the game IMO. Johnny Unitas would be my 2nd choice.
RB: Emmitt Smith Could do it all and was money when you needed him. Tough to pick him over Payton but I've made a lot of comparisons over the years and Emmitt comes out on top.
FB: Jim Brown Not the best blocker but was a beast running the ball. Could have gone with Jim Taylor
WR: Jerry Rice The obvious choice.
WR: Paul Warfield Best deep threat ever IMO. Considered Don Hutson here.
TE: Kellen Winslow A couple I could have picked here but Winslow dominated the game.
OT: Anthony Munoz Easy pick.
OT: Jim Parker Wanted to go with Erik Williams but he didn't play long enough IMO.
OG: Larry Allen Another easy pick.
OG: John Hannah No brainer.
C: Jeff Van Note The guy was outstanding for a LONG time but he played on some lousy Falcons teams. Could have gone with Webster but he played on a good team with other good players, Jeff didn't.
P: Sammy Baugh I can't have a team without Baugh and his punting records STILL stand today.
K: Morten Andersen Could have gone with Gary Anderson and been OK but I liked Morten.

DT: Bob Lilly The best there ever was, bar none!
DT: Merlin Olsen No question about it. Wanted to have Randy White or Ernie Stautner but couldn't pick them over Olsen.
DE: Deacon Jones Defined the sack and was just a beast. Could have gone with Gino Marchetti though.
DE: Reggie White This one was tough because I couldn't stand him but facts are facts and Wedgie was the best.
OLB: Lawrence Taylor Another no brainer.
OLB Bobby Bell Tough choice but amazingly, there aren't that many great OLBs. Lots of MLBs though. Thought about going with Howley here.
MLB: Dick Butkus Bill George, Singletary, or Bednarik would have worked here but Butkus was the best ever.
S: Ronnie Lott Just too dominant to not have him here.
S: Emlen Tunnell People that never saw him missed a great player.
CB: Mike Haynes IMO the best CB ever. Could do it all and was a TRUE shut-down corner. He could cover short or deep and could tackle as well.
CB: Dick "Night Train" Lane Lots of guys I could have gone with here but he had an intimidation factor that the others didn't have plus he was a great cover guy on top of it. He still holds the record for INTs in a season set as a rookie in 1952!

Keep in mind, this is NOT a team I would put together to play, just who I believe were the best ever to play their positions.

 

[Big Country]

Some of the comments about Deion being the best CB ever got me to thinking. What's your best Offense and Defense ever player by player.


Offense

QB...John Elway. I just think he is the mold for the QB you want.
RB...Walter Payton. This is the hardest one for me. Jim Brown?
FB...Larry Csonka. Would fight you.
TE...Tony Gonzalez. Re-defined TE role.
WR...Jerry Rice. The best football player I have ever seen.
WR...Fred Biletnikoff. Greatest hands ever.
LT...Anthony Munoz. I believe he is in the top 3 players ever.
LG...John Hannah. His wars with Randy White are the best football I have ever seen.
C...Chuck Bednarik. Concrete Charlie may be the toughest SOB to ever play. I respect that.
RG...Larry Allen. The most powerful player ever.
RT...Dan Dierdorf. One of the most underrated guys ever because he was a Cardinal.


Defense

LDE...Reggie White. The Minister of Defense was a terror.
DT...Randy White. Half man. Half monster. All around awesome.
DT...Bob Lilly. He was simply unstoppable without a double or triple team.
RDE...Deacon Jones. The center piece fo the Fearsome Foursome and the guy peopel really did fear.
OLB...Jack Lambert. If you needed a big stop, this guy made it.
MLB...Dick Butkus. He defined nasty and he could destroy an Offense.
OLB...Lawrence Taylor. Only Jerry Rice was a better football player IMO.
CB...Darrell Green. I always admired the way he played.
SS...Ronnie Lott. Oh my gosh what a game changer.
FS...Emlen Tunnell. A fearless leader who played with passion and anger.
CB...Deion Sanders. The only true "Shut Down Corner" I have ever seen.

Nice selection for your defensive tackles!!

I got to see Elway for 10 years while living in Denver. great arm - but I would put Montana and Stauback ahead of him.

Would not have had a SB ring except for his team getting a RB to save his butt from people believing him a winner. I give the credit to TD 90% and Elway 10%, for the 2 Denver SB rings.

Give some of that credit to Shanny... he was an offensive genius and Elway was a great executioner of his O. Elway was also throwing credible balls to R Smith, McCaffrey, and one of the best TEs to play the game S. Sharpe.

 

[YosemiteSam]

If I was building a team, I put Randy Moss opposite Rice. Not because he is better than everyone else. I just think Moss and Rice complement each other to the point it would be freaking scary. Throwing in Gonzo at TE and Payton out of the backfield, and Elway or or Marino manning the QB position and you would score 70+ every game. That offence would literally be an avalanche heading towards the end zone on every possession.

 

[CATCH17]

i'm lazy right now so i'll just play off yours and make some changes.

qb - Troy Aiman
Rb - Emmitt Smith
WR - Jerry Rice, Randy Moss
DT - Randy White,Warren Sapp
RDE - Sir Charles or Michael Strahan
MLB - Ray Lewis
FS - Ed Reed

Agreed.

I think Ed Reed is one of the top 2 safeties of all time.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Team of the 90s - This decade might have been one of the best ever. In a futuristic computer world I'd love to simulate a 90s team with all of these stars in their prime versus the 70s team.

QB: John Elway, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre/Steve Young (tie)
RB: Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas/Terrell Davis (tie)
WR: Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Michael Irvin, Herman Moore/Tim Brown (tie)
TE: Shannon Sharp, Ben Coats
T: Willy Roaf, Zimmerman, Tony Bosseli
G: Larry Allen, Bruce Matthews
C: Dawson, Stepnowski

DE: Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Neil Smith
DT: Warren Sapp, John Randle, Bryant Young
LB: Derrick Thomas, Levon Kirkland, Hardy Nickerson, Junior Seau, Kevin Green
CB: Deion Sanders, Rod Wooson, Darrell Green, Aneus Williams
Safety: Ronnie Lott, Darren Woodson, Steve Atwater, Leroy Butler
Punter: Sean Landetta
Kicker: Morton Anderson
KR: Desmond Howard
PR: Deion Sanders

Bold denotes best ever

 

[Teague31]

With all due respect, bob Hayes was the best deep threat ever.

OK, I usually put together a TEAM that I feel would play well together and fit the style I would use, but I'll go strictly with who I believe was the BEST at their position:

QB: Otto Graham The best QB ever to play the game IMO. Johnny Unitas would be my 2nd choice.
RB: Emmitt Smith Could do it all and was money when you needed him. Tough to pick him over Payton but I've made a lot of comparisons over the years and Emmitt comes out on top.
FB: Jim Brown Not the best blocker but was a beast running the ball. Could have gone with Jim Taylor
WR: Jerry Rice The obvious choice.
WR: Paul Warfield Best deep threat ever IMO. Considered Don Hutson here.
TE: Kellen Winslow A couple I could have picked here but Winslow dominated the game.
OT: Anthony Munoz Easy pick.
OT: Jim Parker Wanted to go with Erik Williams but he didn't play long enough IMO.
OG: Larry Allen Another easy pick.
OG: John Hannah No brainer.
C: Jeff Van Note The guy was outstanding for a LONG time but he played on some lousy Falcons teams. Could have gone with Webster but he played on a good team with other good players, Jeff didn't.
P: Sammy Baugh I can't have a team without Baugh and his punting records STILL stand today.
K: Morten Andersen Could have gone with Gary Anderson and been OK but I liked Morten.

DT: Bob Lilly The best there ever was, bar none!
DT: Merlin Olsen No question about it. Wanted to have Randy White or Ernie Stautner but couldn't pick them over Olsen.
DE: Deacon Jones Defined the sack and was just a beast. Could have gone with Gino Marchetti though.
DE: Reggie White This one was tough because I couldn't stand him but facts are facts and Wedgie was the best.
OLB: Lawrence Taylor Another no brainer.
OLB Bobby Bell Tough choice but amazingly, there aren't that many great OLBs. Lots of MLBs though. Thought about going with Howley here.
MLB: Dick Butkus Bill George, Singletary, or Bednarik would have worked here but Butkus was the best ever.
S: Ronnie Lott Just too dominant to not have him here.
S: Emlen Tunnell People that never saw him missed a great player.
CB: Mike Haynes IMO the best CB ever. Could do it all and was a TRUE shut-down corner. He could cover short or deep and could tackle as well.
CB: Dick "Night Train" Lane Lots of guys I could have gone with here but he had an intimidation factor that the others didn't have plus he was a great cover guy on top of it. He still holds the record for INTs in a season set as a rookie in 1952!

Keep in mind, this is NOT a team I would put together to play, just who I believe were the best ever to play their positions.

 

[THUMPER]

With all due respect, bob Hayes was the best deep threat ever.

I don't think Hayes had the hands that Warfield did.

 

[adamknite]

QB...John Elway. I just think he is the mold for the QB you want.

100% agree. Plus he's my favorite non-Cowboy player of all time. There were a couple of occasions where I had to tell people I wasn't a Broncos fan, just an Elway fan.

Personally, I think Emmitt was the best RB ever, and I'm probably somewhat biased, but I think he was the best all around back ever. Then again, it's hard to argue against Payton and Jim Brown.

And I'd put Hutson over Warfield, other than that I can't find anything wrong with your list.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Offense

QB...Roger Staubach... nobody else could have had the career he put together after a long layoff and a Vietnam tour.
RB...Jim Brown. The best football player ever, unless it's Jerry Rice
FB...Marion Motley. Just based on the clips I've seen.
TE...Kellen Winslow. Grates on me, but a great player.
WR...Jerry Rice. The best football player I have ever seen unless it's Jim Brown.
WR...Michael Irvin, for what he brought to a dynasty.
LT...Anthony Munoz. Dominant.
LG...John Hannah. Dominant.
C...Chuck Bednarik. Second Hos' observations.
RG...Larry Allen. Smashmouth.
RT...Forrest Gregg. Great Packer under Lombardi


Defense

LDE...Reggie White. Greatest combination of strength and speed.
DT...Alan Page. So quick.
DT...Bob Lilly. Among the top five or six players at any position.
RDE...Doug Atkins. Pure power and anger.
OLB...Dave Wilcox. A great strongside linebacker.
MLB...Dick Butkus. Second Hos' comments.
OLB...Lawrence Taylor. Terrifying.
CB...Mel Renfro. Nobody challenged him.
SS...Ronnie Lott. Could be spotted at any position in the secondary.
FS...Ken Houston. Ugh... Commanders.
CB...Deion Sanders. Took away half the field.

P...Sammy Baugh. Check the stats.
K...Adam Viniteiri. With this team, all I need is a guy who makes the money kicks.

 

[Big Country]

DE...Reggie White
DT...Alan Page
DT...Joe Green
DE...Bruce Smith
OLB...Demarcus Ware (I do not care what you think)
MLB...Mike Singletary
MLB...Dick Butkus or Ray Lewis
OLB...Lawrence Taylor
CB...Mel Blount
SS...Ronnie Lott
FS...Jack Tatum
CB...Deion Sanders or Darrell Green (Deion talent wise but there is no way I would pick him on my team over Green)

FLAG! Twelve men on the field...

 

[fan62]

Offense

QB...Roger Staubach... nobody else could have had the career he put together after a long layoff and a Vietnam tour.

exactly - if Staubach had not had to serve the military as he did, his career numbers would have bypassed any of the previously mentioned QB's. He was tons better than Elway ever thought about being, but I rate Staubach and Montana close together. I would even put Steve Young ahead of Elway.