NFL Network Top 100 Players

[white is right]

It's not surprising that Krause isn't on the list. It took many years of eligibility for him to get in. Whether he deserved to get in quicker is another story...

 

[sport historian]

It's not surprising that Krause isn't on the list. It took many years of eligibility for him to get in. Whether he deserved to get in quicker is another story...

Of Krause, it was written in a 1977 preview book: "Gets his picture taken a lot-standing up, looking down at a pile of bodies."

I've seen him turn to the side and let a running back go right over him for a TD.Edited by: sport historian

 

[Cassiodorus]

Shouldn't Paul Krause be listed in the top 100?
Retired as history's all-time interception leader with 81. Played in eight Pro Bowls. . .All-NFL four times. . .All-Eastern Conference 1964, 1965. . .All-NFC five times. . . Started at free safety in four Super Bowls, five NFL/NFC championship games.
C'mon the all time interception leader and he's not in the top 100, what's a guy got to do to be noticed? More interceptions than anyone in the history of the NFL, ....Hello?

One of the biggest secrets in NFL lore. The fact he did this in an era of reduced games and much less passing and his record still stands is incredible.

He deserved HOF, and should have gotten it much sooner, as far as I'm concerned. He was team tackle leader often.

 

[sport historian]

On Thursday night at 9pm ET, the NFL Network will have #1-10. Immediately following the finale, Steve Sabol hosts a special one-hour roundtable featuring "blue-ribbon panelists" Michael Lombardi, Ernie Accorsi, Peter King, and Jarrett Bell to discuss the entire countdown.

As previously mentioned, it looks like the final group will be made up of Jim Brown, John Unitas, Dick Butkus, Peyton Manning, Lawrence Taylor, Don Hutson, Joe Montana, Reggie White, Walter Payton, and Jerry Rice.

 

[sport historian]

The NFL Network is making a 3-hour production of it. The first hour has the hosts making nonsensical comments. They still think Deion Sanders is too low at #34.

 

[sport historian]

The top 10 are:

1. Jerry Rice
2. Jim Brown
3. Lawrence Taylor
4. Joe Montana
5. Walter Payton
6. Johnny Unitas
7. Reggie White
8. Peyton Manning
9. Don Hutson
10. Dick Butkus

 

[white is right]

I saw the talk on the guys who missed the cut. Jerry Kramer was talked about but Steve Largent was never mentioned.......

 

[bigunreal]

The whole concept of determining who is the "greatest" NFL player is seriously flawed. Perhaps one can compare players from different generations, who played the same position, but how does one establish whether a particular great center was "greater" than a particular great safety, for instance?

Despite this, the players were ranked very, very predictably. Those left off were, of course, white. Obviously, any "greatest" list that leaves out a WR like Largent, or the NFL's all-time interception leader in Krause, is bogus. As noted, Krause wasn't admitted to the HOF for a very long time, despite holding such a significant record. Shockingly, Sport Historian takes a nasty jab at him here, much as he demeaned the great Jerry Smith in another thread (while defending the pedestrian Charlie Sanders' unjust election to the HOF). SH's comment about how "he once saw" Krause let someone go right by him is Drunk White Fan 101 talk. No need for stats, when someone tells you "I know" or "I saw," right? A TE like Jerry Smith, with more TD receptions than any TE in history until recent ones like Sharpe, Gonzalez and Gates, doesn't qualify for the HOF according to Sport Historian, so I'm curious as to whether or not he thinks Paul Krause, the NFL's all-time interception leader, should be in the Hall of Fame?

Reggie White is incredibly overrated, and his #7 all time rating reflects that. Lawrence "Statutory" Taylor is not the 3rd greatest player ever, no matter how you measure such a thing. That's completely ridiculous. Even though the QB position is undeniably the most important one, and thus any list of "greatest" players would probably have to be dominated by them, this politically correct project managed to come up with a top 3 of Rice, Brown and Taylor. Should we have expected anything different from the NFL Network?

I don't think I could name with certainty the "greatest" single NFL player, unlike in hockey, for example, where I think Wayne Gretzky pretty much is a runaway choice, and baseball, where I believe Babe Ruth is the clear cut best of all time. This television program reflected the biases of those who did the voting.Edited by: bigunreal

 

[white is right]

No doubt the PC crowd reflects this voting and the list from 99' too. I agree that if you don't have a qb as number one, the list isn't too realistic. If Baugh could dominate as a qb, db and even a punter he has to be number 1, he beats Jim Thorpe by one position.....

Edited by: white is right

 

[sport historian]

The whole concept of determining who is the "greatest" NFL player is seriously flawed. Perhaps one can compare players from different generations, who played the same position, but how does one establish whether a particular great center was "greater" than a particular great safety, for instance?

Despite this, the players were ranked very, very predictably. Those left off were, of course, white. Obviously, any "greatest" list that leaves out a WR like Largent, or the NFL's all-time interception leader in Krause, is bogus. As noted, Krause wasn't admitted to the HOF for a very long time, despite holding such a significant record. Shockingly, Sport Historian takes a nasty jab at him here, much as he demeaned the great Jerry Smith in another thread (while defending the pedestrian Charlie Sanders' unjust election to the HOF). SH's comment about how "he once saw" Krause let someone go right by him is Drunk White Fan 101 talk. No need for stats, when someone tells you "I know" or "I saw," right? A TE like Jerry Smith, with more TD receptions than any TE in history until recent ones like Sharpe, Gonzalez and Gates, doesn't qualify for the HOF according to Sport Historian, so I'm curious as to whether or not he thinks Paul Krause, the NFL's all-time interception leader, should be in the Hall of Fame?

Reggie White is incredibly overrated, and his #7 all time rating reflects that. Lawrence "Statutory" Taylor is not the 3rd greatest player ever, no matter how you measure such a thing. That's completely ridiculous. Even though the QB position is undeniably the most important one, and thus any list of "greatest" players would probably have to be dominated by them, this politically correct project managed to come up with a top 3 of Rice, Brown and Taylor. Should we have expected anything different from the NFL Network?

I don't think I could name with certainty the "greatest" single NFL player, unlike in hockey, for example, where I think Wayne Gretzky pretty much is a runaway choice, and baseball, where I believe Babe Ruth is the clear cut best of all time. This television program reflected the biases of those who did the voting.

Largent was iffy, could have been on the list. His team never having won probably kept him off as they said the selectors used that criteria in a close call.

The running back I saw go over Paul Krause was the Rams Lawrence McCutcheon in the 3rd quarter of the 1976 NFC Championship game. The Rams had a first and goal on the Viking 10. McCutcheon went through a big hole and ran over Viking strong safety Jeff Wright. Krause was right there but turned sideways and brushed McCutcheon who scored standing up to make the score 17-6. The Vikings held on to win 24-13.

Krause did deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because of the interception record. I saw him break the record late in the 1979 season against the Rams. Vince Ferragamo threw one up for grabs on the last play of the first half and it went straight to Krause. No Rams were in the vicinity.

The Hall of Fame selectors never have liked safeties. They consider them someone not good enough for the corner.

I agree with bigunreal that you can't really pick one player as the NFL's all-time greatest.

 

[white is right]

If this poll had more honesty then a qb would have been 1 and the best non qb would have been 1a. If qb's are the most important position in football then nobody can be greater than the greatest qb.

 

[white is right]

How does Largent drop about 55+plus places in ten years? I assume the same "experts" were chosen for this panel. It's a bit of joke that he is off the list. Until the recent wave of receivers you could legitimately argue he might have been the 3rd greatest receiver after Rice and Hutson. Edited by: white is right

 

[sport historian]

How does Largent drop about 55+plus places in ten years? I assume the same "experts" were chosen for this panel. It's a bit of joke that he is off the list. Until the recent wave of receivers you could legitimately argue he might have been the 3rd greatest receiver after Rice and Hutson.

This NFL Films-NFL Network production had a different panel with more people involved. The 1999 Sporting News list was made up of editors and writers from The Sporting News. The latest was from a "Blue Ribbon Panel" of media types, football people, so-called football experts, and former players.

 

[white is right]

Another notable omission but not as large as Largent IMO is Franco Harris. I noticed that when Payton was presented Jim Brown took two thinly veiled jabs at Harris and called him a pansy in code. Brown won't let sleeping dogs lie....Edited by: white is right

 

[Kaptain]

How does Largent drop about 55+plus places in ten years? I assume the same "experts" were chosen for this panel. It's a bit of joke that he is off the list. Until the recent wave of receivers you could legitimately argue he might have been the 3rd greatest receiver after Rice and Hutson.

This NFL Films-NFL Network production had a different panel with more people involved. The 1999 Sporting News list was made up of editors and writers from The Sporting News. The latest was from a "Blue Ribbon Panel" of media types, football people, so-called football experts, and former players.

In other words, they upped the number of Jewish "media types" making decisions and slapped a blue ribbon on an ugly heifer.

 

[Kaptain]

Where is John Riggins on this sh*tty list? I looked for him on the complete list and he was nowhere to be found. He retired with the most TDs I'm pretty sure, and I believe he owns the record for most post-season rushing yards. His TD in the super bowl he was MVP in is considered by some to be the greatest super bowl moment of all time, and was ranked in the top ten by NFL network. 10,000yd rusher too, even though every defender knew he was going to get the ball.

Riggins didn't retire with the most TDs and he doesn't hold the record for most post-season rushing yards. Riggins' biggest feat was his performance in Super Bowl XVII.

Riggins retired with the 2nd most rushing touchdowns, right behind Jim Brown with 104 to Brown's 106. He also retired with the most 100 yard playoff games with 6, and he did it in 9 games. Smith has 7 in 17 games, only Terrell Davis had had more in around the same amount of games, which was 7 out of 8. Also is 3rd with postseason tds with 12, of course that is also in only 9 games. The guys ahead of him had closer to 20 playoff games, he is tied with Terrell Davis who did it in 8.

Riggins did retire with the most total NFL tds regular season and post season combined. For the purposes of this arguement (all time greatest) it's accurate to say he retired as the NFL leader. Traditionally when people speak of stats they only include regular season stats, but this thread should include all. As has been mentioned before (Steve Largent "iffy") post season accomplishments carry even more weight. Jim Brown had only a single post season TD while John Riggins had 12! I believe Brown is #2 on the list and Riggins didn't make the cut. Hey, does that make Jim Brown "iffy?"

 

[Kaptain]

Largent was iffy, could have been on the list. His team never having won probably kept him off as they said the selectors used that criteria in a close call.

The running back I saw go over Paul Krause was the Rams Lawrence McCutcheon in the 3rd quarter of the 1976 NFC Championship game. The Rams had a first and goal on the Viking 10. McCutcheon went through a big hole and ran over Viking strong safety Jeff Wright. Krause was right there but turned sideways and brushed McCutcheon who scored standing up to make the score 17-6. The Vikings held on to win 24-13.

Krause did deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because of the interception record. I saw him break the record late in the 1979 season against the Rams. Vince Ferragamo threw one up for grabs on the last play of the first half and it went straight to Krause. No Rams were in the vicinity.

The Hall of Fame selectors never have liked safeties. They consider them someone not good enough for the corner.

I agree with bigunreal that you can't really pick one player as the NFL's all-time greatest.

I don't know about the Mclutcheon run, but tackling was not what Krause was known for - although I guess he actually lead the Vikings in tackles in his first year with the Vikes. Jerry Burns, the Vikings offensive coordinator, was quoted as saying that he never saw Krause miss an open field tackle. I'm guessing the rub on Krause being a bad tackler is just classic caste speak that was blown-up more so after his career than during it in order to marginalize his lofty career accomplishments. I think he should be in top 100. He didn't put on many great hits that produce more ohhs and ahhs than wins, or have a cool nick-name like "night train", but he is still the all time leader in the most important stat for free safety.

Sports Historian, maybe I'm misreading this but are you implying that Krause was "gifted" the record? I've only seen poor quality video of the interception and there were a couple of recievers in the general vicinity as well as about 3 other Viking defenders. Did it appear fake to you? It might have been. Nevertheless, he got another interception later in the game that couldn't have been a set-up as he already had the record. Edited by: Kaptain Poop

 

[whiteathlete33]

My number one player of all time is Steve Young. Since the media and DWF's are searching for the "Ultimate Quarterback" , he's it. He could run, was an extremely efficient passer, and very intelligent. Manning would be number 2.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

The top 10 are:

1. Jerry Rice
2. Jim Brown
3. Lawrence Taylor
4. Joe Montana
5. Walter Payton
6. Johnny Unitas
7. Reggie White
8. Peyton Manning
9. Don Hutson
10. Dick Butkus

No way is Rice #1....nor should LT in the top 5. IMO...

1) Montana
2) Unitas
3) Butkus
4) Brown
5) Hutson
6) Rice
7) Manning
8) Payton
9) Taylor
10)Young



Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[sport historian]

Largent was iffy, could have been on the list. His team never having won probably kept him off as they said the selectors used that criteria in a close call.

The running back I saw go over Paul Krause was the Rams Lawrence McCutcheon in the 3rd quarter of the 1976 NFC Championship game. The Rams had a first and goal on the Viking 10. McCutcheon went through a big hole and ran over Viking strong safety Jeff Wright. Krause was right there but turned sideways and brushed McCutcheon who scored standing up to make the score 17-6. The Vikings held on to win 24-13.

Krause did deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because of the interception record. I saw him break the record late in the 1979 season against the Rams. Vince Ferragamo threw one up for grabs on the last play of the first half and it went straight to Krause. No Rams were in the vicinity.

The Hall of Fame selectors never have liked safeties. They consider them someone not good enough for the corner.

I agree with bigunreal that you can't really pick one player as the NFL's all-time greatest.

I don't know about the Mclutcheon run, but tackling was not what Krause was known for - although I guess he actually lead the Vikings in tackles in his first year with the Vikes. Jerry Burns, the Vikings offensive coordinator, was quoted as saying that he never saw Krause miss and open field tackle. I'm guessing the rub on Krause being a bad tackler is just classic caste speak that was blown-up more so after his career than during it in order to marginalize his lofty career accomplishments. I think he should be in top 100. He didn't put on many great hits that produce more ohhs and ahhs than wins, or have a cool nick-name like "night train", but he is still the all time leader in the most important stat for free safety.

Sports Historian, maybe I'm misreading this but are you implying that Krause was "gifted" the record? I've only seen poor quality video of the interception and there were a couple of recievers in the general vicinity as well as about 3 other Viking defenders. Did it appear fake to you? It might have been. Nevertheless, he got another interception later in the game that couldn't have been a set-up as he already had the record.

The first half and some of the third quarter of this game is now on youtube. I saw it a few days ago for the first time in 31 years. Krause was standing with 2 teammates who stood back and let him catch it. I didn't see any Rams nearby. The play, and the breaking of the record, was completely legitimate.

The other interception took place in the part of the game that isn't on youtube. Hopefully the rest of the game will be posted. My recollection is that Krause made a good play on the other interception. Edited by: sport historian

 

[sport historian]

Where is John Riggins on this sh*tty list? I looked for him on the complete list and he was nowhere to be found. He retired with the most TDs I'm pretty sure, and I believe he owns the record for most post-season rushing yards. His TD in the super bowl he was MVP in is considered by some to be the greatest super bowl moment of all time, and was ranked in the top ten by NFL network. 10,000yd rusher too, even though every defender knew he was going to get the ball.

Riggins didn't retire with the most TDs and he doesn't hold the record for most post-season rushing yards. Riggins' biggest feat was his performance in Super Bowl XVII.

Riggins retired with the 2nd most rushing touchdowns, right behind Jim Brown with 104 to Brown's 106. He also retired with the most 100 yard playoff games with 6, and he did it in 9 games. Smith has 7 in 17 games, only Terrell Davis had had more in around the same amount of games, which was 7 out of 8. Also is 3rd with postseason tds with 12, of course that is also in only 9 games. The guys ahead of him had closer to 20 playoff games, he is tied with Terrell Davis who did it in 8.

Riggins did retire with the most total NFL tds regular season and post season combined. For the purposes of this arguement (all time greatest) it's accurate to say he retired as the NFL leader. Traditionally when people speak of stats they only include regular season stats, but this thread should include all. As has been mentioned before (Steve Largent "iffy") post season accomplishments carry even more weight. Jim Brown had only a single post season TD while John Riggins had 12! I believe Brown is #2 on the list and Riggins didn't make he cut. Hey, does that make Jim Brown "iffy?"

Joe Perry and Franco Harris didn't make the list either. Perry was the all-time pro football rushing leader for several years before Brown passed him. Harris was a Super Bowl MVP and played on 4 championship teams.