ESPN: Who is the best defensive player in NFL history?

[YosemiteSam]

as much as I hate him, if you let me pick any player in their prime to start a franchise with on the defensive side Im probably taking Ray Lewis. I feel dirty.

why? im right with you, Ray lewis is a hell of a defensive player, it would be a coin toss between Ray Ray and LT to start my Defensive Franchise on

You guys must be to young to have watched LT.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Larry Brown, just kidding.

I'm going to be a homer and go with my fellow Baylor Bear Mike Singletary.

Next I'll say Randy White and Mel Renfro.

Followed by Lawrence Taylor and Joe Greene.

Rounded off by Bob Lilly and Bruce Smith.

You forgot Reggie White.

 

[Doomsday101]

You guys must be to young to have watched LT.

I agree. Ray Lewis is a very good ball player but LT was a monster

 

[YosemiteSam]

Lawrence Taylor in a runaway. The greatest defensive player ever, and 2nd only to Jerry Rice as the best ever period.

I'm on board with you. Question is, who is second?

 

[Hostile]

I'm on board with you. Question is, who is second?

Defensively? My money would be on Reggie White.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I agree. Ray Lewis is a very good ball player but LT was a monster

Have you ever watched that show about LT? Where he tells the tales of his football days. How opposing teams used to send prostitutes and drugs to his hotel room the night before big games in attempts to lower his level of play? Never worked though, he always dominated. Even after all the drugs and ... well, you know.

 

[Doomsday101]

Have you ever watched that show about LT? Where he tells the tales of his football days. How opposing teams used to send prostitutes and drugs to his hotel room the night before big games in attempts to lower his level of play? Never worked though, he always dominated. Even after all the drugs and ... well, you know.

I have heard LT talk about it.

 

[The Realist]

If I were building an All Time Defensive Team through the draft I'd take Reggie White #1, knowing who ever was picking #2 would take LT.

I'd be cool with that with thought I could grab Haley or Derrick Thomas in the second round.

 

[Aikbach]

Nice list but George Andrie was a DE. Bob Breunig was an MLB, he was the anchor of the defense after Jordan retired.

Also I would add Dave Edwards and Mike Hegman to your OLB list and Eugene Lockhart to the MLBs. How could you forget a guy whose nickname was "The Hittin Machine"?

It was late. Some of those men actually played multiple positions during their careers so i just stuck them in a category, I believe Andre and Renfro were the two most notable multiple position players on that list.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Defensively? My money would be on Reggie White.

I'm there also, how about offensively? Joe Montana, Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Brown (12k yards in 9 years with only 12 and 14 game seasons)

 

[Doomsday101]

Defensively? My money would be on Reggie White.

Things is I saw Reggie White dominated by Eric Williams but I never saw anyone dominate LT. I have never seen Reggie so upset as he would get when facing Williams.

 

[Hostile]

I'm there also, how about offensively? Joe Montana, Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Brown (12k yards in 9 years with only 12 and 14 game seasons)

Jim Brown for me, though in a couple of years if he keeps it up, LaDainian Tomlinson might be the pick.

 

[YosemiteSam]

If I were building an All Time Defensive Team through the draft I'd take Reggie White #1, knowing who ever was picking #2 would take LT.

I'd be cool with that with thought I could grab Haley or Derrick Thomas in the second round.

I would just draft Erik Williams to nullify your Reggie White pick.

 

[Hostile]

Things is I saw Reggie White dominated by Eric Williams but I never saw anyone dominate LT. I have never seen Reggie so upset as he would get when facing Williams.

The only player I ever saw frustrate LT was Anthony Munoz who I think is the greatest OT ever.

 

[Doomsday101]

Unfortunately stats like sacks were not counted until after his career but during his time Bob Lilly was one of the most dominating forces in the NFL. He constantly beat double teams and had cat like quickness to get after the QB.

 

[Doomsday101]

The only player I ever saw frustrate LT was Anthony Munoz who I think is the greatest OT ever.

I will agree that Anthony Munoz was great

 

[Aikbach]

I'm there also, how about offensively? Joe Montana, Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Brown (12k yards in 9 years with only 12 and 14 game seasons)

Best offensive player?

Jim Brown, Roger Staubach (Noone did what he did before he did it, including Montana and Elway), John Hannah, Jerry Rice, Patrick Crayton to name a few.

 

[Aikbach]

I will agree that Anthony Munoz was great

My All-Time OL has Rayfield Wright, Larry Allen, Dermonti Dawson, John Hannah and Anthony Munoz on it.

 

[Hostile]

My All-Time OL has Rayfield Wright, Larry Allen, Dermonti Dawson, John Hannah and Anthony Munoz on it.

No one would lay a glove on the QB.

 

[Colo]

Right there with ya bro.

Taylor is easily the best defensive player to ever step foot on the field. Ray Lewis even in his prime was not nearly as dominant as Taylor. Singletary, Deion, Lott, Ditka, etc.., dont even come close.

And Rice, as much as we hate him was clearly the best that ever played the game. There was never another player as dominant at his position, or on his side of the ball as Rice. Simply amazing.

HH31's post was just ignorant BTW.

Ditka was a tight end.

LT made playing with the Giants on Tecmo Bowl unfair. The only player that could possible out run him was Bo Jackson.