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Name the best (Non QB) player in each NFL teams history.


Dustin

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49ers- Jerry Rice

 

Bears- Walter Payton

 

Bengals- Anthony Munoz

 

Bills- OJ Simpson

 

Broncos- Terrell Davis

 

Browns- Jim Brown

 

Buccaneers- Warren Sapp

 

Cardinals- Fitzgerald

 

ChargersLadainian Tomlinson

 

Chiefs- Derrick Thomas 

 

Colts- Dwight Freeney

 

Cowboys- Emmitt Smith

 

Dolphins- Jason Taylor

 

Eagles- Reggie White

 

Falcons- Deion Sanders

 

Giants- Lawrence Taylor

 

Jaguars- Fred Taylor

 

Jets- Curtis Martin

 

Lions- Barry Sanders

 

Packers- Don Hutson

 

Panthers- Steve Smith

 

Patriots- John Hannah

 

Raiders- Marcus Allen

 

Rams- Marshal Faulk

 

Ravens- Jonathan Ogden

 

Redskins- Art Monk

 

Saints- Willie Roaf

 

Seahawks- Walter Jones

 

Steelers- Joe Greene

 

Texans- Andre Johnson

 

Titans- Eddie George

 

Vikings- Alan Page

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Perhaps but make no mistake when you say Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis comes to mind first.

 

As it is right now... if we're talking pure ability at their respective positions I think I'd probably take Ogden over Lewis.  Where Ray has the opportunity to pull ahead and potentially run away with it is the leadership factor and how much you buy into the idea that the team was very much centered around the man.  I suspect we'll find out just how big of an impact Ray Lewis made on that organization in the coming seasons.

 

From a pure production standpoint I don't know that Lewis stands out quite like Ogden does.  Ogden was pretty much peerless in his heyday, Lewis... well...

 

London-Flecher-Ray-Lewis-e1357153446252.

 

;)

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My choices are below in red...

 

49ers- Jerry Rice ..agreed

 

Bears- Walter Payton...Could add Dick Butkus or Mike Singletary as well

 

Bengals- Anthony Munoz..Cris Collisworth..(J/k) agreed

 

Bills- OJ Simpson...Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Cornelius Bennett also come to mind

 

Broncos- Terrell Davis...agreed, but Floyd Little deserves some mention as well..on D..Steve Atwater was a beast in the secondary, along with Randy Gradishar at LB both multiple Pro Bowlers

 

Browns- Jim Brown agreed

 

Buccaneers- Warren Sapp ...The Best Buc was Lee Roy Selmon...hands down

 

Cardinals- Fitzgerald..Ottis "OJ" Anderson..is my vote

 

ChargersLadainian Tomlinson... My vote would be Kellen Winslow....Lance Alworth and Chuck Muncie could be considered as well...

 

Chiefs- Derrick Thomas..My vote would be Tony Gonzalez...Could also add Otis Taylor and one of the few kickers in the Hall of Fame Jan Stenerud to the discussion.

 

Colts- Dwight Freeney..New School I'd go with Marvin, then Edge..Old School..too many to name..John Mackey, Lenny Moore, Tom Matte, the list goes on and on...

 

Cowboys- Emmitt Smith.. agreed, but could add Tony Dorsett, Randy White to the discussion..

 

Dolphins- Jason Taylor...Larry Csonka gets my vote, butNick Buoniconti..Larry Little could be added to the discussion

 

Eagles- Reggie White..agreed

 

Falcons- Deion Sanders..I'd go with Warrick Dunn over Sanders

 

Giants- Lawrence Taylor..no brainer here

 

Jaguars- Fred Taylor ...agreed

 

Jets- Curtis Martin..agreed

 

Lions- Barry Sanders..agreed..

 

Packers- Don Hutson...Ray Nitchske, Paul Hornung, and Jim Taylor are in the mix for that as well...any of these 4 deserve it

 

Panthers- Steve Smith..agreed

 

Patriots- John Hannah...Mike Haynes..

 

Raiders- Marcus Allen..My vote is for Fred Bilitnekoff...consider also Kim Otto, and Art Shell

 

Rams- Marshal Faulk... Eric Dickerson is my pick, but with Deacon Jones, Rosie Grier, Merlin Olsen, Jack Youngblood.getting consideration.

 

Ravens- Jonathan Ogden..Ray Lewis hands down..

 

Redskins- Art Monk..my vote is Darrell Green with John Riggins, Charlie Taylor, and Russ Grimm getting consideration

 

Saints- Willie Roaf agreed

 

Seahawks- Walter Jones my vote is Steve Largent with consideration to Curt Warner (no not the QB)

 

Steelers- Joe Greene..Jack Lambert would get my vote, but almost anyone on offense and defense from those Steeler teams are in the running..

 

Texans- Andre Johnson..agreed

 

Titans- Eddie George  since they were the Houston Oilers before they moved...Earl Campbell..hands down

 

Vikings- Alan Page,,..Carl Eller was the bookend and Jim Marshall and Chuck Foreman get some votes as well..

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Ray Lewis was the face of the franchise for sure; but Ogden was top 3 at the 2nd most important position on the team.

It's a hair-splitter....they're both all-time greats at their positions.

 

The complete insanity is that the Ravens got them in the same freaking draft.

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Oops. How could I possibly forget Dickerson, Deacon Jones, and Tony-G?

 

Its all good...this is a great topic btw...people are always going to have differing opinions on who's the best...you made me have to think, and I totally forgot about Ronnie Lott..But I'd still have to give the edge to rice..both to me were the best all-tie at their respective positions...

 

I'm fairly sure I missed a few as well..Willie Lanier for the Chiefs was an awesome player as well...he definitely deserves consideration..

 

But if you never saw him play...see if you can find some videos on Lee Roy Selmon...I think he was one of the greatest, if not the greatest DE I have ever seen...He just recently passed away in 2011 from a massive stroke..

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Redskins- Art Monk..my vote is Darrell Green with John Riggins, Charlie Taylor, and Russ Grimm getting consideration

 

Riggins is one of the most fondly remembered by a lot of people for his playoff performances during the '82 season but outside of that incredible stretch of games he was a curiously durable but otherwise unremarkable back.  Green is definitely the runaway candidate defensively but I'd also have to toss Joe Jacoby, Bobby Mitchell, and Gary Clark into the mix of guys who are worthy of consideration.  Our good offensive players always seemed to come in twos. :)

 

It's a hair-splitter....they're both all-time greats at their positions.

 

The complete insanity is that the Ravens got them in the same freaking draft.

 

The Ravens knocked it out of the park their first couple of years in Baltimore with their early picks.  In the first two rounds from '96 through '04 they grabbed Ogden, R. Lewis, Boulware, Sharper, McAlister, J. Lewis, Heap, Reed, and Suggs.  It's really no wonder they've been so good for so long.

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The Ravens knocked it out of the park their first couple of years in Baltimore with their early picks.  In the first two rounds from '96 through '04 they grabbed Ogden, R. Lewis, Boulware, Sharper, McAlister, J. Lewis, Heap, Reed, and Suggs.  It's really no wonder they've been so good for so long.

Ozzie know his stuff on draft day....that's for sure.

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49ers- Jerry Rice

 

Bears- Walter Payton

 

Bengals- Anthony Munoz

 

Bills- OJ Simpson

 

Broncos- Terrell Davis

 

Browns- Jim Brown

 

Buccaneers- Warren Sapp

 

Cardinals- Fitzgerald

 

ChargersLadainian Tomlinson

 

Chiefs- Derrick Thomas 

 

Colts- Dwight Freeney

 

Cowboys- Emmitt Smith

 

Dolphins- Jason Taylor

 

Eagles- Reggie White

 

Falcons- Deion Sanders

 

Giants- Lawrence Taylor

 

Jaguars- Fred Taylor

 

Jets- Curtis Martin

 

Lions- Barry Sanders

 

Packers- Don Hutson

 

Panthers- Steve Smith

 

Patriots- John Hannah

 

Raiders- Marcus Allen

 

Rams- Marshal Faulk

 

Ravens- Jonathan Ogden

 

Redskins- Art Monk

 

Saints- Willie Roaf

 

Seahawks- Walter Jones

 

Steelers- Joe Greene

 

Texans- Andre Johnson

 

Titans- Eddie George

 

Vikings- Alan Page

I could make a really good case against at least half of those picks.  To include the Colts.

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I could make a really good case against at least half of those picks.  To include the Colts.

I could make a really good case against at least half of those picks.  To include the Colts.

Feel free if you want. I love to hear differing opinions. Though to be fair to myself I did forget some guys when I was writing the list.

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I would definitely change Art Monk to Darrell Green.    Maybe Lester Hayes for the Raiders.   The Bill was Bruce Smith or OJ.  The Cowboys would be Deion Sanders.  I always thought E. Smith benefitted from that great Oline.  Chargers would be Winslow I think.

 

Good list.  I really don't differ too much.

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9ers- Joe Montana


Bears- Walter Payton


Bengals- Ken Anderson


Bills- OJ Simpson


Broncos- John Elway


Browns- Jim Brown


Buccaneers- LeRoy Selmon


Cardinals- Dick (Night train) Lane


Chargers-Lance Alworth


Chiefs- Len Dawson


Colts- John Unitas


Cowboys- Roger Staubach


Dolphins- Bob Griese


Eagles- Reggie White


Falcons- Deion Sanders


Giants- Lawrence Taylor


Jaguars- Fred Taylor


Jets- Joe Namath


Lions- Barry Sanders


Packers- Paul Hornung


Panthers- Steve Smith


Patriots- Andre Tippett


Raiders- Gene Upshaw


Rams- Merlin Olsen


Ravens- Jonathan Ogden


Redskins- Sammy Baugh


Saints- Willie Roaf


Seahawks- Steve Largent


Steelers- Jack Lambert


Texans- Andre Johnson


Titans / Oilers-Warren Moon / Earl Campbell


Vikings- Fran Tarkenton


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9ers- Joe Montana

Bears- Walter Payton

Bengals- Ken Anderson

Bills- OJ Simpson

Broncos- John Elway

Browns- Jim Brown

Buccaneers- LeRoy Selmon

Cardinals- Dick (Night train) Lane

Chargers-Lance Alworth

Chiefs- Len Dawson

Colts- John Unitas

Cowboys- Roger Staubach

Dolphins- Bob Griese

Eagles- Reggie White

Falcons- Deion Sanders

Giants- Lawrence Taylor

Jaguars- Fred Taylor

Jets- Joe Namath

Lions- Barry Sanders

Packers- Paul Hornung

Panthers- Steve Smith

Patriots- Andre Tippett

Raiders- Gene Upshaw

Rams- Merlin Olsen

Ravens- Jonathan Ogden

Redskins- Sammy Baugh

Saints- Willie Roaf

Seahawks- Steve Largent

Steelers- Jack Lambert

Texans- Andre Johnson

Titans / Oilers-Warren Moon / Earl Campbell

Vikings- Fran Tarkenton

No Qbs.

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Probably gonna catch some flack for putting Freeney above Harrison. haha

The bigger problem is that Freeney may not even be the best defensive end in Colts history, much less their best non-QB. I'm actually happy to say that there are so many good candidates that there will never be a consensus on the topic.

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Are you kidding me Dustin, Jason Taylor over Dan Marino?

 

That's the only thing that jumps out at you?

 

It's a non-QB list (re-read the thread title), but it sounds like you are OK with the exclusion of Manning/Unitas, Elway, Montana, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, :P

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The best was Marvin Harrison. The biggest?...

 

jared-lorenzen-2008-nfl-pro-football-hal

 

^ Jared "J.Load" Lorenzen who accidentally signed up as a QB (not really).

 

I know this is the off-season, but boy did T.Y. Hilton gain weight...If he's that big now, he'll definitely be the big receiver everyone is complaining about that the Colts don't have. :D

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Should be divided into eras (50s, 60s, etc) because way too many great players from those days got left off in favor of more recent players.  The old NFL played a lot harder and rougher so they deserve more credit.

 

 I just saw a show on ESPN where they voted the top 10 RB's of the 80's...They had Dickerson 1st and Walter Payton 2nd..Dickerson had a better 10 years during that time frame, but in no way better for their careers.  They also didn't include Earl Campbell and Franco Harris, because they were sort of split between the two eras. I don't know if your suggestion would really work, but you have a great point..the game and players nowadays are so much different than back in the  50's through 80's. Maybe do it 50's and 60's...70's and 80's and 90-present...But I guess there would still be a few that bridge those parameters.

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The best was Marvin Harrison. The biggest?...

 

jared-lorenzen-2008-nfl-pro-football-hal

 

^ Jared "J.Load" Lorenzen who accidentally signed up as a QB (not really).

 

That guy had the best nicknames I've ever heard.  The Hefty Lefty, J-Load, He Ate Me, The Pilsbury Throwboy... and there were more that I know I'm forgetting :D

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The bigger problem is that Freeney may not even be the best defensive end in Colts history, much less their best non-QB. I'm actually happy to say that there are so many good candidates that there will never be a consensus on the topic.

Yes see your point, Bubba was pretty BAD  A. IMO

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Yes see your point, Bubba was pretty BAD  A. IMO

You've got that right. Plus Gino Marchetti and maybe even John Dutton. Perhaps others should be in the conversation as well.

 

I love Dwight, understand that he was integral to the teams recent run of success, and hope that he makes it to the HOF. But just because he's fresh in everyone's minds doesn't mean that he was the "best". He's an insanely good pass rush specialist in a defense that let him "do his thing" on virtually every down. That doesn't mean that he was the better than the players mentioned (Marchetti was considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, and Smith - well based on when I started seriously watching - if I was starting a Colts defense I'd take Smith, Curtis and Hendricks quickly and worry about the rest later.)

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Then you must eliminate many of the best players in a team's history.  Even with that, my list would be far different than the original.

The point of eliminating QB's is that it's a "given" that for virtually every team, a QB would be their "best" player. Most of us know them off the top of our head.

 

Dustin was trying something more interesting. If you have a different list, post it. That's the ENTIRE reason for the existence of the thread.

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You've got that right. Plus Gino Marchetti and maybe even John Dutton. Perhaps others should be in the conversation as well.

 

I love Dwight, understand that he was integral to the teams recent run of success, and hope that he makes it to the HOF. But just because he's fresh in everyone's minds doesn't mean that he was the "best". He's an insanely good pass rush specialist in a defense that let him "do his thing" on virtually every down. That doesn't mean that he was the better than the players mentioned (Marchetti was considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, and Smith - well based on when I started seriously watching - if I was starting a Colts defense I'd take Smith, Curtis and Hendricks quickly and worry about the rest later.)

A thread like this in all honesty cant be fair,because a lot of people didnt have the opportunity to see some of the greats play

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