That goes both ways.
How many OTs back then had the size and athleticism of prime years Tyron Smith?
Rayfield Wright was 1 generation before LT's time, but he was 6-6, 270.
- Tyler Smith is 6-6, 324 without any decrease in athleticism.
- Rayfield was the size of TE Rob Gronkowski...
Note: I don't dispute LT as the greatest player in NFL history.
agree, but the greats really transcend generations, because of their genetic gifts. Anybody that plays athletics knows some people are just both with it and they don’t need to work as hard in the weight room to dominate on the field. You can’t become Tyreke Hill by training track and field. People can shoot as many 3s in practice as Curry, but that doesn’t mean they have the spatial sense and hand eye coordination to be the greatest shooter in NBA history. Guys like MJ weren’t created just by hard work. The guys body size, length of limbs, size of hands, body control in the air, quickness all were blended into the perfect size to dominate any era. He could play with the Back to basket in a physical era, or outrun guards and do everything to necessary to stop on a dime and pop, or split defenders. That’s what made him unique.
Guys like LT, they had an instinct playing the game.
He wasn’t the only guy snorting Coke either. That was common in LTs era, not only in football but basketball as well.
Parsons also has the qualities to be great. But people need to consider the rules and era, as stats like sacks and pressure would naturally be inflated when you are passing over 30 times a game regularly instead of having the stop the run so much and rushing against 2 WR sets all the time. Also, wear and tear back then was completely different, as the rules of physicality were different.
Parsons is a beast, because his hard work, but Genetic gifts. The guy attacks like he us shot out if a cannon.
