TOP 25 OF THE USA TODAY ERA (1982-2007)

[poptart]

To commemorate USA TODAY's 25th anniversary, a panel of USA TODAY's NFL reporters and editors produced an anthology of the 25 best NFL players of the past 25 years.


1 Joe Montana

2 Jerry Rice

3 Walter Payton

4 Lawrence Taylor

5 Reggie White

6 John Elway

7 Emmitt Smith

8 Ronnie Lott

9 Tom Brady

10 Barry Sanders

11 Dan Marino

12 Peyton Manning

13 Anthony Munoz

14 Brett Favre

15 Bruce Smith

16 Deion Sanders

17 Mike Singletary

18 Ray Lewis

19 Marshall Faulk

20 Troy Aikman

21 LaDainian Tomlinson

22 Rod Woodson

23 Terry Bradshaw

24 Steve Young

25 Eric Dickerson

-------------------------------

Quick thoughts at first glance ........

- Ghosty crapped his pants.

- Terry Bradshaw??
Ummmm .....
I really don't know how many panelists Huck sucked off to get on this list, but that is just totally absurd.
Kick his dumb ass OFF the list and slide Howie in instead.
Now we're talkin'.

- Marshall Faulk is below Deion??
2 MVP's out front should have told 'em that this is bullsheet.

- Steve Young is below Troy Aikman??
Hmmmmmm ..........
Troy needs to leave and Marvin Harrison needs to be on the list.

- I think Rice dominated his position more so than any other player, and I'd have him at #1.

[Goober McTuber]

Bradshaw? Maybe if you went back 35 years. 1982 he played in 9 games (strike season), and in 1983 he played in one game. He threw for a grand total of 1,845 yards in the past 25 years.

[RumpleForeskin]

Elway is #1 in my book.


No freaking way Bradshaw should be on that list.

You know what really pisses me off is that there is only one SS on that list (Lott).

I'd replace Eric Dickerson with Darrell Green on that list. Dude was nails for a better part of 20 years and collected 2 rings over that time period.

[DallasFanatic]

- Steve Young is below Troy Aikman??
Hmmmmmm ..........
Troy needs to leave and Marvin Harrison needs to be on the list.

Well 3 superbowl trophies versus 1 superbowl trophy out front should have told you this statement is crap.

[poptart]

I'm not here to knock Troy, but Young was a better player.

Look at the numbers.
Much better passing numbers, and he RAN for 3,000 more yds than Aikman.

I know, I know .... the Super Bowls.
To Aikman's credit, for sure.

Troy was a loser in his last 3 playoff games, and he looked BAD in the process.
Reason?
The team surrounding him had crumbled some.

Aikman was his era's Bob Griese.
He'd make all the solid plays, play smart, lead the team well, and wouldn't get ya beat.
Outstanding player.

Young could do more with less, IMO, and it'd be a no-brainer to take him to lead a team over Aikman.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Well 3 superbowl trophies versus 1 superbowl trophy out front should have told you this statement is crap.

Why is Charles Haley not on this list then? 5 SB wins... What about Matt Millen? 3 separate SB winning franchises


Your myopia is duly noted. Dallas fans are notoriously ignorant when it comes to the other 31 teams in the league. Have you ever submitted an objective post in this forum? Run along now, DickInMyAssFanatic... people with honest opinions may be clogging up this thread and stuff.

[DallasFanatic]

Fuck UCant, you are a dipshit. I was more poking at tarts logic of the "2 MVP's out front should have told....". I am very subjective when it comes to giving my comments. Of course there's a little myopia every now and again but I have no problem bashing the Boys when necessary.

[RumpleForeskin]

I call BULLSHIT! Living in Houston all my life, I run across more Dallas fans than I want to and I'd say about 98% of them are guilty of myopia. They think they are the best and deserve all the attention ESPN throws at them. They haven't done shit for more than 10 years now yet fans still think they deserve all the fucking media coverage the Cowfags get.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

I was more poking at tarts logic of the "2 MVP's out front should have told....".

Apples to oranges retorts are always very convincing.... to dumbassed myopic Dallas fans.

[DallasFanatic]

Look guys, I can only speak for myself. I would agree that some Cowboy fans are pretty damn myopic, but all fans of their teams display myopia at one time or another. So get off your soap boxes bitches and lets get ready for some football.

Cowboys 19-0 this year!!!

[Dinsdale]

The two most overrated players in history get #5 and #6.

John Fagway was a fucking choke artist. Save your "4th quarter comebacks" bullshit. The faggot had a losing record in the Big One, and had the fucking gall to take credit when his team won despite his choking. His SB stats are fucking laughable, and he led his team to the worst beating in Super Bowl history.


And you could open a new wing of the HoF for the players Reggie White lined up next to. Gee, tough to bust moves and rack up sacks when the guys around you are getting doube and triple teams, eh? Put him on an average line, and he becomes an average-to-decent player. But he never really had to play on an average line, so now he annointed himself great.

Fuck I HATE guys who think they're great because they say so. Faggot Fucking Elway sold this crap so well to the idiot Donkfans, that he decided to keep the ball rolling and peddle used cars on them...do you know how fucking funny that is to non-tards, Donkfan?


The correct response after Denver winning the Bowl would have been for Elway to show some humility(he doesn't know the meaning of the word), and said "I'm glad we came out ahead today, THANKS TO MY TEAMMATES, since I fucking SUCKED."

But instead, he took yet another opportunity to tell us how great he was.


And Marshall Marshall Marshall, who spent his career with teams I hated and still earned my adulation, should be WAY higher up that list. Possibly the most underrated player in the modern era.

[Dinsdale]

1 Joe Montana

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

2 Jerry Rice

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

3 Walter Payton

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

4 Lawrence Taylor

Who?

5 Reggie White

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

6 John Elway

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

7 Emmitt Smith

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

8 Ronnie Lott

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

9 Tom Brady

LT hates that guy, he doesn't belong

10 Barry Sanders

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

11 Dan Marino

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

12 Peyton Manning

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

13 Anthony Munoz

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

14 Brett Favre

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

15 Bruce Smith

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

16 Deion Sanders

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

17 Mike Singletary

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

18 Ray Lewis

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

19 Marshall Faulk

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

20 Troy Aikman

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

21 LaDainian Tomlinson

SEE! I TOLD YOU!!!!

22 Rod Woodson

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

23 Terry Bradshaw

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

24 Steve Young

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

25 Eric Dickerson

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?



Sin,
Chargertard

[RumpleForeskin]

Screw that, Dins. Give Elway Montana's or Manning's receiving core and he would have racked up more rings. Tell me one solid receiver he got to work with during his first 4 SB apperances? Zero. If that guy had a Rice, Taylor, Irvin, Harper, or anyone else for that matter, then Elway would have had a better shot at winning. Dude did have to do it on his own a lot on the offensive side of the ball.

[Mikey]

1 Joe Montana

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

2 Jerry Rice

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

3 Walter Payton

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

4 Lawrence Taylor

Who?

5 Reggie White

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

6 John Elway

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

7 Emmitt Smith

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

8 Ronnie Lott

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

9 Tom Brady

LT hates that guy, he doesn't belong

10 Barry Sanders

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

11 Dan Marino

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

12 Peyton Manning

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

13 Anthony Munoz

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

14 Brett Favre

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

15 Bruce Smith

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

16 Deion Sanders

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

17 Mike Singletary

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

18 Ray Lewis

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

19 Marshall Faulk

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

20 Troy Aikman

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

21 LaDainian Tomlinson

SEE! I TOLD YOU!!!!

22 Rod Woodson

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

23 Terry Bradshaw

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

24 Steve Young

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?

25 Eric Dickerson

They're talking about Ladainian Tomlinson, right?



Sin,
Chargertard

I think you need to get a life sized picture of Tomlinson, beat off on it, and move on.

Otherwise try STFU. You're worse than tedious.

(BTW, they do need to reverse the order of LTs in that list)

[Mike the Lab Rat]

(BTW, they do need to reverse the order of LTs in that list)

Until LaDainian gets into the HOF and has the same pile of records as the real LT....umm....no.

[Risa]

Dinsdale's LT post was funny. Yeah, I laughed out loud. Fuck y'all.

Ray Lewis shouldn't be on that list because he helped kill somebody (the OJ hater rule).

Eric Dickerson being 25 and Steve Young being 24 perturbs me for some reason.

Marshall Faulk is underrated.

Deon Sanders being on that list is bullshit. All he did was try to run from team to team who would best give him that Superbowl; dude was like some dork dumping all his low selling stock to buy whatever is riding hot -- and he got the same ass results. Worse part was that the Mailman (a bonafide great player in his league) caught his bug. If Deon were all that, he could go to a middling team and make it capital-B better. Deon only got his shot in the highlight reels with his running like a bitch, arms out, ball out, ass because Bo Jackson was forced to retire entirely too early.

Emmitt Smith being lower than John Elway is bullshit. John Elway was comeback king......... but Emmitt delivered more so you wouldn't have to be in that position in the first place.

Brett Favre being lower than John Elway is also bullshit.

I'd rank Walter Payton higher just because of his personality. He was a goodwill ambassador for the game of life.

I see no black quarterbacks. Y'all have to name off the field goal kickers on the list, cuz I don't recognize any names. I don't know the game. Kickers deserve a place, though. The games rest with them. Kickers win or lose games.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

4 Lawrence Taylor

Who?


Sin,
Chargertard

Well played.

[Dinsdale]

Ray Lewis shouldn't be on that list because he helped kill somebody (the OJ hater rule).

As trendy as it is to bash RayRay, he did no such thing.

Not sure where people get that.

He chose to remain silent when his buddies were in deep shit. In his situation, most people would have done the same thing. But when his buddies left him hanging to rot in jail, he rethought his stance.

If I'm not mistaken, his criminal record has since been expunged, due to his eventual cooporation with the prosecution, and for his outstanding record for being charitable in the community.

All he did was try to run from team to team who would best give him that Superbowl; dude was like some dork dumping all his low selling stock to buy whatever is riding hot

After Deion's original team was going in the shitter, it was time to move on. Then, he wasn't chasing rings -- he was chasing paychecks. FACT. Just so happens that...oddly enough... it was the contenders that wanted to pay the big bucks in the very short term for his superlative ability to cover against the deep ball(while getting run over by anyone who cared to break into the backfield. Best pass coverage corner ever, worst run stopper who ever humiliated the defensive side of the ball).


Hate the dude, but let's portray his career accurately, shall we?

Emmitt Smith being lower than John Elway is bullshit.

Nah. Both grossly overrated, both products of excellent teammates. At least Emmitt gave his teammates some credit, though.

I'd rank Walter Payton higher just because of his personality.

I'd rank him higher because of him showing up for work every day with his gameface on like no other player in history(although there's been a couple of crazy-assed ironmen over the years...the name Matthews come to mind).

I see no black quarterbacks.

Like who?

Who belongs?

Or should they just be there because they're balck?

Douggy had about one great year. One year doesn't a "greatest of an era" make.

Air is one of my favorite players ever, and when that dude hangs it up, we can truly use the cliche "he left it all on the field." BUT... he's come up short in his bid for the promised land. I blame Fischer more than Air or Eddie, but life isn't fair.

Y'all have to name off the field goal kickers on the list, cuz I don't recognize any names.

There's only one who would even get consideration. Adam Vinatieri. But there's the catch with kickers -- unless they knock one 60+ yards for the win, all they did was do their job. There are no "extraordinary plays" from a kicker -- it's an either/or.

I don't know the game.

Which begs the question -- how the hell did Marcus Allen get left off the list?

[Dog]

Dallas fans are notoriously ignorant when it comes to the other 31 teams in the league.

No shit. I'm glad other people are finally catching on to this fact.

[Dog]

I'd still take Ray Lewis off the list. Obviously Terry Bradshaw doesn't deserve the list because of the time frame. Other than those two, I have no real problems with it. Sure, I'd tweak it some here and there, but overall.....okay.

[Dinsdale]

I'd still take Ray Lewis off the list.

Out of curiosity, is this because of his off-field problems?

If not, his credentials are absolutely staggering, and is a no-brainer HoFer.

[Dog]

I'd still take Ray Lewis off the list.

Out of curiosity, is this because of his off-field problems?

If not, his credentials are absolutely staggering, and is a no-brainer HoFer.

Certainly his off-field problems could influence my decision, but its difficult for a middle linebacker to rack up "absolutely staggering credentials". Last year he had his career high in QB sacks (5). Throw in a couple of forced fumbles every year, a handful of interceptions, and a bunch of tackles and you have yourself a decent MLB. Statistically, he really doesn't have staggering stats. Although there is really no way to measure his stats vs. a Joe Montana or Jerry Rice or any of the offensive position players.

What Ray Lewis offers on the field is intangible and cannot be measured by stats. He is always on the ball, near the ball, chasing the ball, etc. A defense is better simply by having him line up in the middle. As for stats, his stats are better than Mike Singletary's, but I wouldn't dare take Singletary off the list.

So maybe I'm biased because I prefer football of the 80's and 90's over todays' game.

Or maybe I just don't like that asshat Ray Lewis and you called me on it.

Either way, I'd still take him off my list.

[Felix]

Elway is #1 in my book.

obviously a poster of above average intelligence and tremendous insight

[RumpleForeskin]

Remember a couple of years ago in that Monday night game against the Cheifs where Willy Roaf absolutely pwned Ray Lewis when Lewis was trying to stop the run. That was because he had no decent defensive tackle. In fact, he got hurt that year b/c the o-line on the opposing teams were getting to the LBs early and often on running plays. I think a GREAT MLB can be measured just like a great QB depending on the weapons he has around him. Look how good Urlacher was when he had Tank Johnson and Harris controlling the middle of that Bears d-line last year. That makes Zach Johnson that much more of a freak when it comes to the MLB position. Dude had good DLTs getting him free, but never great.

[Dog]

Remember a couple of years ago in that Monday night game against the Cheifs where Willy Roaf absolutely pwned Ray Lewis when Lewis was trying to stop the run. That was because he had no decent defensive tackle. In fact, he got hurt that year b/c the o-line on the opposing teams were getting to the LBs early and often on running plays. I think a GREAT MLB can be measured just like a great QB depending on the weapons he has around him. Look how good Urlacher was when he had Tank Johnson and Harris controlling the middle of that Bears d-line last year. That makes Zach Johnson that much more of a freak when it comes to the MLB position. Dude had good DLTs getting him free, but never great.

No offense, Rumps, but I stopped listening to your sports takes about two years ago when you bet your message board life that Houston Texans would finish the season 8-8 after starting out 2-6. Or when you picked the Astros this year. Or any other time you mention anything about a Texas franchise, it just seems to sound like the annoying little buzz from the fly in your windshield that you try to get rid of. No matter how hard you try, how many times you roll down your window while driving 95 mph on the freeway, that damn little bugga just won't fly away. You can try to shoe it out the window, but all you ever get is bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

So forgive me, but I kind of tuned out the bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz long time ago.

[RumpleForeskin]

Hey Dog, the way I remember it was that I said they would play .500 ball the rest of the way after being 2-6 which they did by finishing 6-10 (4-4 the rest of the way). I may be wrong, but I NEVER said the Texans would finish the season 8-8 after they started 2-6. Also, if you look at their home games they played against Tennessee and Buffalo, they had both those games won, but lost on the final plays of both those games. So, I was just a play or 2 away from being right on with my 8-8 prediction in the "Call Your Shot" thread that mih started back in April of '06.

As far as the Astros go....I don't have anything to say except I am very disappointed that they haven't competed all year long. Berkman is batting 40 points below is normal average and Luke Scott and Morgan Ensberg have been major disappointments as well. I was wrong.

If you go by the principles of writing a poster off because their predictions are off, then maybe you shouldn't read any sports forums from now on.

[Dog]

Nah, I just write-off the myopic ones.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

No offense, Rumps, but I stopped listening to your sports takes about two years ago when you bet your message board life that Houston Texans would finish the season 8-8 after starting out 2-6.

Epic trolling efforts can ensue after losing Death Penalty Nic Bets on the fortunes of Houston's sports teams. Like a Cards fan betting against the 87.5% probability of the Stroh's not sweeping the Gnats in a meaningless 3 game series in April.


Or... so I hear. RACK THE 314!

[RumpleForeskin]

Epic trolling efforts can ensue after losing Death Penalty Nic Bets on the fortunes of Houston's sports teams.

If Dog would go read the thread again at SN, I never did take the death penalty bet; although, I would have won.

[Dog]

Epic trolling efforts can ensue after losing Death Penalty Nic Bets on the fortunes of Houston's sports teams.

If Dog would go read the thread again at SN, I never did take the death penalty bet; although, I would have won.

Obsess much?

[Dog]

Why don't you go bump it for me and save me the trouble of a search.

tia

[RumpleForeskin]

Obsess much?

When I am misquoted on another board about the matter, you damn right I'll obsess about it. I know I am part of the board bitch squad over here, but don't make it worse for me by insinuating that I backed out on a bet.

[Dog]

Not to quibble over semantics, but you did back out of the bet. You made a statement, I offered a wager on your statement, you backed out.

By definition, I would say that is exactly what "backing out on a bet" is.

[PSUFAN]

I dislike seeing Payton Manning so high on that list. I don't see how he can be ahead of Steve Young - or Tom Brady, for that matter.

Ray Lewis had a great few years...but he's fallen off quite a bit.

[RumpleForeskin]

Okay, lets be lawyers about this situation. Backing out on a bet can be defined as 2 different things. You defined it as one thing, but I will go ahead and define it as taking a bet and then not paying on the bet which is "backing out" too. Would you agree?

[RumpleForeskin]

Does ANYONE agree with me that Darrell Green should be on that list?

[Goober McTuber]

I know I am part of the board bitch squad over here, but don't make it worse for me by insinuating that I backed out on a bet.

You’d never back out on a bet? Well, that might explain this:

[RumpleForeskin]

Damn you, Goobs. Don't bring that shit in here. Save that shit for the CdS.

[DallasFanatic]

Don't bring that shit in here.

The first logical thing you've ever said

[War Wagon]

Remember a couple of years ago in that Monday night game against the Chiefs where Willy Roaf absolutely pwned Ray Lewis...

Yeah, I remember that quite well.

RayRay was miked up and on the sidelines when you hear him crying "They're double teaming me, I can't believe they're double teaming me."



I'd put Junior Seau on that list before Ray Lewis, and I fucking hate Seau, being a division rival.