Top 25 NFL players of the past 25 years

[hekawi]

USA Today ranks the top 25 NFL players since 1982.
see if you agree/disagree with their picks:
(link removed)

i'm ok with it generally, although i can't see Reggie White going that high (ahead of Emmett Smith and John Elway...i think not)

 

[furrfurrfurr]

As long as Walter's in the top 3, I'm ok.

RIP Walter #34

 

[James Lutz]

I can see the merit in all of those named, but I do somewhat question Aikman and Bradshaw. Both those Q-backs had injury issues, and both were really surrounded by extremely talented offenses. Great recievers, tight ends, lines and backs. They just really mananged the offense. Someone like Montana, Young, Elway, Favre all had to use the arm to get it done and while they at times had lots of tools at their disposal, it seems that more often than not they had to carry the team on their backs. I just didn't see that with Aikman and Bradshaw. And for the record, I really liked both those guys too.

 

[James Lutz]

As long as Walter's in the top 3, I'm ok.

RIP Walter #34

I absolutely agree with that. And I am a life-long, born and raised Packer fan. Plus I'm older, so I'm talking watching the Lombardi Packers every Sunday. During the 'dark ages' of the Packers, the years between Lombardi and Holmgren, the hated Bears were our scourge. But Walter was so respected and deservedly so. A REAL football player. Never EVER took the step out of bounds, ALWAYS hit the defender, punishing the defender for making the tackle. Tough as nails for such a small guy. And even as a Packer fan, it sucked to see his one Superbowl appearance go without a TD. That was a travesty. Putting the freakin' Fridge in for a TD and not Walter. That really sucked.

I wish the NFL cultivated more real ballers today, instead of these rapper punks.

 

[tazzboy]

Cool Joe Montana got number 1.

 

[Darrell]

Yes, but in a recent interview they asked Earl Campbell, who is now confined to a wheel chair, if he would have done anything differently. He said "run out of bounds more".

If this would have been the last 30 years...Earl would be in there.

 

[Skully]

I was very happy to see Joe Montana and Jerry Rice at the top of the list.

 

[holndav]

looks pretty good to me but...

they are missing Darrell Green, Mike Singletary, and Art Monk (who is still not in the hall of fame...)

Glad to see Barry Sanders and Marshall Faulk in there

Although they should be in some sort of list, I think Peyton and Tomlinson are still too new to be on this list...I think both will inveitably be legends in time though. (As soon as Peyton wins #2 and LT wins one, they can be added imho).

It's really hard to make these types of lists for this very reason.

Oh, and Bradshaw does belong. You don't lead a team to that many championships without being very special.

David

 

[The Bone]

I'd have

Bo Jackson in there, myself.

 

[TelecasterBlooz]

Don't be dissin Reggie! Reggie White is the only reason I got on the Packer bandwagon. Reggie had a unique talent and was absolutely feared by offensive linemen. Maybe you don't remember the game between the Pack and the Vikings back in the day....They stuck a wide reciever in the backfield to "chip" Reggie so the Viking QB would have a chance at throwing the ball. Reggie picked up the wide reciever, carried him about 8 yards and THREW him into the QB for a sack...They all got up and laughed after the whistle blew as they had all played together in Philly..I can't remember who they Vikings were but I sure wish when they play a highlight reel of Reggie, they show that one play..that and the three sacks he had in Superbowl 31... Reggie White was a unique talent and we will NEVER see his like again...RIP Rev. White...

 

[hekawi]

Don't be dissin Reggie! Reggie White is the only reason I got on the Packer bandwagon. Reggie had a unique talent and was absolutely feared by offensive linemen. Maybe you don't remember the game between the Pack and the Vikings back in the day....They stuck a wide reciever in the backfield to "chip" Reggie so the Viking QB would have a chance at throwing the ball. Reggie picked up the wide reciever, carried him about 8 yards and THREW him into the QB for a sack...They all got up and laughed after the whistle blew as they had all played together in Philly..I can't remember who they Vikings were but I sure wish when they play a highlight reel of Reggie, they show that one play..that and the three sacks he had in Superbowl 31... Reggie White was a unique talent and we will NEVER see his like again...RIP Rev. White...

no disrespect intended...i would've still put him in my top ten, i'd just squeeze Emmett and Elway in ahead of him. i loved watching the "Minister of Defense" play. with Reggie coming at them, quarterbacks didn't have a prayer.

 

[dolfan19]

As long as Walter's in the top 3, I'm ok.

RIP Walter #34

Sorry, as sad as I was about his passing, I really never felt he was a dominating runner. Stuck on awful teams most of his career, true, and I'd never question his heart, but I think Sanders and Tomlinson were/are better.

 

[fltpkr]

As long as Walter's in the top 3, I'm ok.

RIP Walter #34

"the best football player ever, period" - Mike Ditka

 

[tele12]

they are missing ...... Mike Singletary,

Singletary is at #17.

 

[dolfan19]

"the best football player ever, period" - Mike Ditka

I guess Ditka never heard of Jim Brown, who averaged over 100 yds/game for his CAREER!

 

[tele12]

"The list covers the past 25 seasons. Instructions to panelists stated that if a player competed in any one of those seasons, then the player's entire career could be considered for the rankings."

I don't buy this rule...at least most of the high points of a players career should have been in the last 25 years. Bradshaw won Superbowls in '75,'76,'79 and '80. Doesn't qualify as a top player in the last 25 years to me.

 

[getbent]

I guess Ditka never heard of Jim Brown, who averaged over 100 yds/game for his CAREER!

Ditka played against Jim Brown. His opinion is based on being a peer of one (Brown) and a coach of the other (Payton)

 

[dolfan19]

Well, it is all opinion

 

[bowlfreshener]

I just do not see how Lawrence Taylor ranked so high on the list. I'm not saying he shouldn't be in the list, but I don't think he is deserving of the top 5...Unless of course they are including his brief stint in the WWF when he pinned Bam Bam Bigelow (RIP), then maybe...

 

[dolfan19]

LT was definitely that good. Every pass rushing OLB (and a lot of DE's) copied and built upon what LT did. It's because of him that Left Tackles became so important...just to stop HIM. If it weren't for LT, Left Tackles would be just another position on the line.