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Reaction: Jerry’s kids Who should have made the top eight pro football list
Posted: Wednesday August 11, 1999 04:02 PM
CNN/SI asked users to tell us who should made our top eight list of the Century's Best pro football players. Many of you voiced support for Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and John Elway - all worth candidates. Jerry Rice was Sports Illustrated's Peter King's No. 9 player on his Century's Best list. Sometimes the last cut is the toughest... Here's a sampling of some of your responses.
I am by no means a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, but how in the world could you leave Jerry Rice out of your top eight? Hasn't he broken every record Don Hutson ever held? I would have thought that Rice would have been an automatic on any list compiled by Peter King, a man who practically slobbers all over himself when it comes to Jerry Rice and the 49ers.
-- Mark Plotner , Yellowknife, N.W.T. , Canada
Forgive me for being sentimental, but where is John Elway? I don't know what your exact system is for making the list, but there is no other quarterback I would rather have on my team, especially in the clutch. No other quarterback has won as many games as Elway, period.
Mike Singletary. How many people in his position have played with his intensity, and commitment? People tried to stay away from him, but he still could run people down to make the tackle. We was feared and respected by all, not only for the quality of his play, but the quality of his person.
I was hoping that this would be the most interesting of the categories because of the number of great players at contrasting positions. It is instead one of the more poorly chosen categories thus far. Mr. King should ask himself, if the existence of the human race rested on the outcome of one football game, which players would he pick to play for "our" team? Don Hutson, or Jerry Rice? Jim Brown, or Barry Sanders? These choices for the top eight are atrocious and it seems as though all the SI people doing this are attempting to look more knowledgeable about their sports by picking obscure, older players, rather than more recent, and obviously, more talented ones. Don Hutson, the best Pro Football player ever? Please...
Terry Bradshaw. Four rings, toughness and one big arm.
The football voting is a joke. Most of the voters are probably young kids who don't even know the accomplishments of the great players pre-Montana. Give it to Montana for being on one of the most talented teams in NFL history and having the most support an NFL quarterback ever had and lets move on to college football where we can vote for another "brand name" player.
Don Hutson over Jerry Rice? Are you crazy?
Walter Payton, in my eyes and probably others, emerged as the NFL's greatest running back with a team that struggled most of his career. He is called, "Sweetness", because that was the way he ran. In other words, "He was the complete package!" He deserves to be mentioned just like he deserved the touchdown in the only Super Bowl he appeared in. Ditka gave the ball to the Fridge, and that is hard enough to swallow.
How could you not have George Blanda? He played several positions, scored a ton of points and his longevity was incredible. I really don't see how a one way player can be the century's greatest football player.
Earl Campbell is my pick. Yes many running backs gained more yards, others had more finesse and speed. Campbell, however, in his position personified the spirit of football. He took everything head on, with dominating power on every down; always going forward, relentless in his attack, seeking the goal line every time he touched the ball. That is what football is about.
I realize that I am much to young to know any better; however I feel a strong case could be made for Jim Thorpe. He transcended the era of which he played and maybe some of what he did has been romanticized but, wait 'till I tell my grandkids about Barry Sanders and Steve Young.
Leaving John Hannah, perhaps the greatest offensive lineman ever, off of the list is a shame. Just because the guards and tackles in the trenches don't play the glamorous positions doesn't mean that they weren't among the greatest players ever. Hannah was dominating and was even recognized on the cover of Sports Illustrated as being the greatest offensive lineman ever.
Bruce Smith. No down lineman is even close. The Bills for years have shifted the nose and three linebackers away from Bruce's side and counted on him to stop an entire side of the field. Name a dominant down lineman on a 3-4 defense who lasted more than a couple years? The only answer is Bruce Smith.
The best pure passer of all-time has been left off of the top eight picks which really saddens me! Dan Marino has independently broken every major passing record without a consistent running game and a stifling defense throughout his career. We're talking about the top pro football players here and as a statistical quarterback, he is second to none which deserves a spot on the top 8 list. I can vision Dan Marino's face with Sammy Baugh and Lawrence Taylor in that photo if he had Roger Craig, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Tom Rathman, John Taylor, Michael Carter. Need I go on?
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