Top-10 defenders of all-time list includes two Cowboys greats

[Super_Kazuya]

We get that Haley was a critical component of the Cowboy's 90's glory and he was a great player, however, it's very hard to compare Haley to Watt in any meaningful way:

NFL Defense Player of the Year: Watt: 3 (Most all time, I think), Charles Haley: 0
1st Team All Pro: Watt: 4, Charles Haley: 2
Sacks per season: Watt: 15, Charles Haley; 8

Obviously Watts only been in the league 5 years and his career totals won't be as good yet as a HOF calibre player like Haley who played 13, however, Watt is doing things we've never seen before, especially when you consider he is a 3-4 DE.

That also doesn't account for Watt being an iron man who has yet to miss a start and a face of franchise locker room leader, while Haley was missed an entire season's worth of games here and was less than 100% in many others and was a locker room cancer. You and I know this of course, and I doubt anyone outside of extreme SF/Dallas homers actually think Haley is better than Watt even if Watt retired tomorrow.

 

[tyke1doe]

I was thinking that I can't see Reggie White at number 1 because Erik Williams absolutely handled him. He pounded Reggie White every time they played. I can't remember any single player ever having LT's number like that. For that reason alone I'd have LT over White.

That's really not a fair comparison. Reggie White was a defensive end playing mostly against tackles. So he would have an opponent he consistently went up against, particularly an offensive lineman who weighed more than he did. Lawrence Taylor didn't consistently go up against offensive tackles like Reggie White did.

Having said that, it's a coin flip who I'd want most. But I would go with LT only because he was more versatile, i.e., he could rush the passer, drop back in coverage and was ultra fast for a linebacker. He was the one rush linebacker who could keep up with running backs. He was truly one of a kind.

 

[Bullflop]

Perhaps this thread is proof positive that lists like this one can't do justice to the many players it leaves off who deserve similar acclaim.

 

[TX Cowboy]

We get that Haley was a critical component of the Cowboy's 90's glory and he was a great player, however, it's very hard to compare Haley to Watt in any meaningful way:

No it's not Haley didn't need glorified stats to prove himself the fact he won 5 titles
between 2 different teams..plus induction into the football hall of fame is far more
impressive than stats that at the end of the day nobody is going to remember

 

[plasticman]

I hate his guts, but Deion Sanders is the best corner of all time, and it's not even close.

His presense on the field trumped anything the other DB's accomplished. When they refuse to throw on your side of the field what is left to prove?

 

[big dog cowboy]

No it's not Haley didn't need glorified stats to prove himself the fact he won 5 titles between 2 different teams..plus induction into the football hall of fame is far more
impressive than stats that at the end of the day nobody is going to remember

Watt had Schaub, Fitzpatrick and Hoyer as his QB's. Haley had Young and Aikman. Scrub QB's vs HOF'ers.

And those stats no one is going to remember, Watt is a 3 time DPOY after just 5 years. No one has more. No one. By the time he is done, he will be considered one of the best defensive players in the history of the league.

 

[TX Cowboy]

Watt had Schaub, Fitzpatrick and Hoyer as his QB's. Haley had Young and Aikman. Scrub QB's vs HOF'ers.

Haley had Montana and Aikman as his QB's this fact still doesn't help your case

And those stats no one is going to remember, Watt is a 3 time DPOY after just 5 years. No one has more. No one. By the time he is done, he will be considered one of the best defensive players in the history of the league.

That's right nobody is going to remember the defensive player of the years or stats, so why bring it up then?
the last thing I want is some mediocre superman who thinks he's going to be remembered at the end of the
day. Give me the team and a title with less stats and I'll show you one happy Dallas fan

 

[TheFinisher]

Like any of these all-time lists, I can't speak on the older generation guys.

Best I've seen in my lifetime are;

LT
Reggie White
Ray Lewis
Junior Seau

Those 4 in a group by themselves IMO.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Haley had Montana and Aikman as his QB's this fact still doesn't help your case



That's right nobody is going to remember the defensive player of the years or stats, so why bring it up then?
the last thing I want is some mediocre superman who thinks he's going to be remembered at the end of the
day. Give me the team and a title with less stats and I'll show you one happy Dallas fan

I don't know what's more laughable, the idea that Haley "won" 5 rings or the idea that adding Montana to any QB discussion doesn't help the case. Please stop embarrassing yourself, logic isn't your strong suit.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Haley had Montana and Aikman as his QB's this fact still doesn't help your case

In a QB driven league, having a HOFer over a scrub is a huge advantage. Haley's path to a championship was significantly easier than Watt's.

 

[DTown214]

JJ Watt being on the list isn't a problem for me. Look at his stats... as long as he doesn't have a catastrophic career ending injury then it makes sense. The real issue is no Deion Sanders...

 

[TX Cowboy]

I don't know what's more laughable, the idea that Haley "won" 5 rings or the idea that adding Montana to any QB discussion doesn't help the case. Please stop embarrassing yourself, logic isn't your strong suit.

I can think of something laughable, the fact you put mediocrity before all else, that YOU
believe his winning 5 rings is an 'idea' and that there is No way in Hell you could ever
be a fan of football let alone understand 1 aspect of this sport

In a QB driven league, having a HOFer over a scrub is a huge advantage. Haley's path to a championship was significantly easier than Watt's.

Lmao I swear this reminds me of the excuses people made when they attempted
to glorify Barry Sanders, face it some are bound for greatness, others are bound
to just wear a uniform, Watt does not belong in the same category as a all time
great such as Haley, to believe or say otherwise is just ignorant and untrue

so until Watt gets a ring let's end this discussion cause mediocrity just
ain't making your beliefs any more true

 

[John813]

Watt definitely is a freak of nature and will go down as one of the best defensive players as long as he doesn't suffer a terrible injury.

I don't like having active players on all time lists though.

Many of those player have their story written, while active players, such as Watt who is quite young, still have a way to go till the conclusion of their story.

Can't say I agree with the list, but with so many great players throughout the history of the NFL, it's almost impossible to have a list that is universally agreed upon

 

[Super_Kazuya]

I can think of something laughable, the fact you put mediocrity before all else, that YOU
believe his winning 5 rings is an 'idea' and that there is No way in Hell you could ever
be a fan of football let alone understand 1 aspect of this sport



Lmao I swear this reminds me of the excuses people made when they attempted
to glorify Barry Sanders, face it some are bound for greatness, others are bound
to just wear a uniform, Watt does not belong in the same category as a all time
great such as Haley, to believe or say otherwise is just ignorant and untrue

so until Watt gets a ring let's end this discussion cause mediocrity just
ain't making your beliefs any more true

Yes, please end this... you're embarrassing this board with your childish lack of football knowledge. Go back to Tecmo Bowl, because you've clearly never watched a single second of actual NFL action. What a laugh.

 

[TX Cowboy]

Yes, please end this... you're embarrassing this board with your childish lack of football knowledge. Go back to Tecmo Bowl, because you've clearly never watched a single second of actual NFL action. What a laugh.

This coming from a idiot who thinks DPOY and mediocrity is worth boasting about? let me guess you
jumped on the wagon during the 90's, gets drunk during games cheers loud and then comes on here
trying to pass himself off as a real fan of football

your not fooling anyone chump

 

[Super_Kazuya]

This coming from a idiot who thinks DPOY and mediocrity is worth boasting about? let me guess you
jumped on the wagon during the 90's, gets drunk during games cheers loud and then comes on here
trying to pass himself off as a real fan of football

your not fooling anyone chump

That sounds like the perfect description of anyone who would use JJ Watt and mediocrity in the same sentence. Back to Tecmo Bowl you go, bud.

 

[TX Cowboy]

That sounds like the perfect description of anyone who would use JJ Watt and mediocrity in the same sentence. Back to Tecmo Bowl you go, bud.

Can't even come up with anything original, like go back to playing Madden, No he has to use Tecmo bowl
which isn't even around anymore, lmao this guy's a joke, believes that defensive player of the year and his
sack total, which I might add comes against sorry opponents especially inside their very own division just
proves guy can't even be considered a fan of any team