Reggie White & Peyton Manning: 7th & 8th on "NFL’s Greatest 100 Players of All Time"

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Volosaurus rex

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#1
Although it was first aired, I believe, in 2010, I have been watching replays of the NFL Network 10-part series, "NFL’s Greatest 100 Players List of All Time." I don't know who precisely was involved in the selection process, although they describe it as a "blue-ribbon panel." In any event, I decided to see where Reggie White and Peyton were ranked and they were selected 7th and 8th, respectively. Here is their Top Ten:

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

As you can see, Reggie was the highest rated defensive lineman of all time and the only quarterbacks listed ahead of Peyton are Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas. For the sake of comparison, Brett Favre was ranked 20th and Tom Brady came in 21st.

For the full list, see NFL Top 100 - NFL's Greatest 100 Players List of All Time.

Peyton fans should find this useful information for those inevitable Manning-Brady debates.
 
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#4
#4
For decades, Don Hutson was the "Babe Ruth" of wide receivers. Consider the following facts:

"On his first-ever play, Hutson caught an 83-yard touchdown pass from Arnie Herber. It was the first of 99 receiving touchdowns, an NFL record that would stand for 44 years after his retirement. . . . Hutson's single season record of 18 touchdown receptions in 1942 stood for 42 years until broken by Mark Clayton in 1984, a year in which Miami's quarterback Dan Marino had more completions (362) than the entire 1942 Packers team's pass attempts (330).

Hutson held 18 major NFL records at the time of his retirement, several of which stood for decades; some have yet to be broken. . . . Hutson still holds the highest career average TDs per game (0.85) for a wide receiver." See
Don Hutson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
 
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#6
#6
There is no question that Barry was an extraordinary running back, with one-of-a-kind, broken-field running skills. He came in 17th incidentally. I have been watching football for roughly 45 years, however, and Jim Brown is still the best running back I've ever seen. He dominated the game to a greater degree than any subsequent back, in large measure because he was the first running back to truly combine the total package of size (6-2, 232), speed, and power. Remember that he was a contemporary of Johnny Majors but outweighed him by roughly 70 lbs. During Brown's NFL career, elite defensive tackles only weighed 260-270 lbs.

Brown had size and a bodytype comparable to Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker, who were, in my opinion, the best running backs to ever play in the SEC, but he was roughly 25 years ahead of their time. Take Brown's God-given genetics, put them in a 22-yd. old running back, coupled with today's training methodologies and nutrition, and he would still absolutely dominate.

P.S. Putting Brown's career in the context of his times, he played in four 12-game seasons and five 14-game seasons. Had he played in the era of 16-game seasons and stayed around for, say, 12 years, like Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton, people would still be chasing him statistically. Sanders came the closest, at 99.8 ypg, to Brown's 104.3 ypg average, but, to my knowledge, no other back in NFL history averaged over 100 ypg for his entire career.
 
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#7
#7
Volosaurus rex said:
There is no question that Barry was an extraordinary running back, with one-of-a-kind, broken-field running skills. He came in 17th incidentally. I have been watching football for roughly 45 years, however, and Jim Brown is still the best running back I've ever seen. He dominated the game to a greater degree than any subsequent back, in large measure because he was the first running back to truly combine the total package of size (6-2, 232), speed, and power. Remember that he was a contemporary of Johnny Majors but outweighed him by roughly 70 lbs. During Brown's NFL career, elite defensive tackles only weighed 260-270 lbs.

Brown had size and a bodytype comparable to Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker, who were, in my opinion, the best running backs to ever play in the SEC, but he was roughly 25 years ahead of their time. Take Brown's God-given genetics, put them in a 22-yd. old running back, coupled with today's training methodologies and nutrition, and he would still absolutely dominate.
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Good point...the reason I said that about jim brown was because he played aginst mostly slow white guys. Put him in todays game and I don't think he does any better than what eddie george done. However...could u imagine what barry sanders would have done if he could go back in time to j browns erra??...he would probably STILL hold an unbroken rushing record imo!!
 
#8
#8
Actually, the NFL was fully integrated at that point. Deacon Jones, who came in 15th on this list, was a contemporary of Brown's and revolutionized the defensive end position. Although sacks were not an official stat back then, Jones recorded 26 sacks in 1967 and 24 in '68, totals that would dwarf any modern single-season achievement in that category (see Deacon Jones - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). I will agree with you, however, that the level of conditioning for linemen in those days was subpar compared to today. Jim Brown also played in the golden age of great middle linebackers; he had some truly epic duels with the likes of Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, Sam Huff, Tommy Nobis, and others.
 
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#9
#9
Smoked Cheddar said:
Don hutson =9th? ALL time? C'MON
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I know right... I always love some of the old timers they put on these list. That guy would be lucky to make a roster in today's game.

Go look at SLAM magazine's 500 greatest NBA players of all time and see some of the goofy ass white guys from the 50s and 60s they claim are better than Lebron James.
 
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#10
#10
In the same sense, there are a lot of today's players who wouldn't even make a roster of an NFL team back then. Let's say you list the 100 greatest defensive players of an era. In the 1960's, there were 13 teams, which would mean each team would average out to have 8 or 9 of the top 100 D players on their team. Today, with 32 teams, each team would average out to have 3-4 of the greatest on their team. That alone should tell you comparatively, team defenses would be tougher in the 1960's because the best players weren't scattered about as much. And as for Don Hutson's credentials, his last 6 years with the Packers, he also played safety and had 30 interceptions. It's hard to compare one era to another because of diet, training, better equipment, etc. You can say the old guys couldn't play today, but in the same argument, if you take away all the benefits time has added for players and moved them back to the old days, would they have been as good as they were?
 
#11
#11
Pretty good list. I would probably flip-flop Brown and Rice. Remember, this is the "greatest" list not the "best" list. It's hard to compare different eras, but what Hutson, Brown, and Unitas did deserves the recognition. You could always make the claims that today's athletes are better, but imagine what Sam Snead could have done if he had Tiger Woods' equipment and training. IMO, no one ever accomplished what Jim Brown did, even though Johnny Unitas and Peyton Manning are my favorite players.
 
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#12
#12
Cdywolfe said:
I know right... I always love some of the old timers they put on these list. That guy would be lucky to make a roster in today's game.

Go look at SLAM magazine's 500 greatest NBA players of all time and see some of the goofy ass white guys from the 50s and 60s they claim are better than Lebron James.
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Racist, IMO.
 
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#13
#13
Where is Dan MArino on this list? Or Bruce Mathews? Ray Lewis? List is garbo
 
#14
#14
Doug Atkins should be on this list, atleast top 25 IMO if not higher. Also Willie Brown at 66 is complete BS! Many old schoolers feel he was possibly the best CB ever. Either him or Leon Sandcastle (Deon Sanders). The difference is that while Deon shut his side down in the passing game, he openly admitted on TV he didn't like to hit or tackle. Brown would pick six you, and he would knock your head of as well. Also Jack Tatum...along with arguably the most under rated player of modern times Brian Urlacher. But that's just my opinion.
 
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#15
#15
Cdywolfe said:
I know right... I always love some of the old timers they put on these list. That guy would be lucky to make a roster in today's game.

Go look at SLAM magazine's 500 greatest NBA players of all time and see some of the goofy ass white guys from the 50s and 60s they claim are better than Lebron James.
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Don't know about the NBA thing though suspect you may be right. Blacks brought things to the games their ethnic counterparts had never seen and couldn't do at the time. Same thing with baseball. But let's talk football.

Slow White boys? Maybe. But they were some hard hitting SOBs. You had guys who could drink you under the table then show up the next few hours for a game with a hellish hangover and perform. As someone mentioned, Jim Brown had epic battles with the top of the line LBs of his time. He knew what it was like to be tackled and hit hard. But he was not too easy to haul to the ground.

It wasn't simply because of his bullish strength. He said when hit, he'd drop a shoulder. Which shoulder, depending on where he was hit and use the momentum to stay up or continue forward. Added to that he had great balance. If he got up a head of steam, pity the guy who was taking him head on. But by no means were those "slow White boys" pansies. They actually knew how to tackle which a lot of modern players seem to not know. Too many today just launch themselves at you instead of tackling.

If I recall right, even as late as the 1967 Super Bowl, Max McGee, a backup receiver on the Packers showed up after drinking all night and technically, in no condition to play. But when the starting WR, Dowler, I think, was unable to take the field, McGee had to play. He was the main difference in the game that GB won. That was the type of players they had back then. I doubt the crybabies of today no matter what color could do what those guys did.

In summary, Jim Brown didn't have it exactly easy. But if he was in his prime today, he'd still run the ball down defenses throats if he had even a halfway decent OL. He had it all. He could be a bull, a jitterbug, or a Porsche with a Ferrari engine. Also offense strategy back then was simplistic compared to today. With the designed plays and blocking schemes of today, he'd probably do even better.
 
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#16
#16
Gruuden said:
Where is Dan MArino on this list? Or Bruce Mathews? Ray Lewis? List is garbo
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Lewis is #18, Marino #25, and Matthews #78.

No Brian Urlacher is the head scratcher. I can't remember a player being so unappreciated by fans and analysts. Class guy, born leader, brought a skillet to the LB position I'm not sure we've ever seen.
 
#18
#18
WoodsmanVol said:
Don't know about the NBA thing though suspect you may be right. Blacks brought things to the games their ethnic counterparts had never seen and couldn't do at the time. Same thing with baseball. But let's talk football.

Slow White boys? Maybe. But they were some hard hitting SOBs. You had guys who could drink you under the table then show up the next few hours for a game with a hellish hangover and perform. As someone mentioned, Jim Brown had epic battles with the top of the line LBs of his time. He knew what it was like to be tackled and hit hard. But he was not too easy to haul to the ground.

It wasn't simply because of his bullish strength. He said when hit, he'd drop a shoulder. Which shoulder, depending on where he was hit and use the momentum to stay up or continue forward. Added to that he had great balance. If he got up a head of steam, pity the guy who was taking him head on. But by no means were those "slow White boys" pansies. They actually knew how to tackle which a lot of modern players seem to not know. Too many today just launch themselves at you instead of tackling.

If I recall right, even as late as the 1967 Super Bowl, Max McGee, a backup receiver on the Packers showed up after drinking all night and technically, in no condition to play. But when the starting WR, Dowler, I think, was unable to take the field, McGee had to play. He was the main difference in the game that GB won. That was the type of players they had back then. I doubt the crybabies of today no matter what color could do what those guys did.

In summary, Jim Brown didn't have it exactly easy. But if he was in his prime today, he'd still run the ball down defenses throats if he had even a halfway decent OL. He had it all. He could be a bull, a jitterbug, or a Porsche with a Ferrari engine. Also offense strategy back then was simplistic compared to today. With the designed plays and blocking schemes of today, he'd probably do even better.
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Your comment about dudes being hung over brought back a memory. The movie Cocaine Cowboys where the ex-smuggler claimed Lynn Swann as well as a slew of Steelers purchased a bunch of blow from them, partied like hell all week end in Mia., and we're high as hell on coke when they won the Super Bowl.

On the flip side. The "slow white guys"... It's hard to compare those players to modern players. But I think if they had the sports medicine, work out supplements, etc. that they have today, some of those old schoolers would have been fine ball players to this very day.
 
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#19
#19
RichRollin said:
Lewis is #18, Marino #25, and Matthews #78.

No Brian Urlacher is the head scratcher. I can't remember a player being so unappreciated by fans and analysts. Class guy, born leader, brought a skillet to the LB position I'm not sure we've ever seen.
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Urlacher isn't the classiest guy around. He's actually a pretty big jerk from stories I've heard. (And I'm a Bears fan)
 
#21
#21
Those old-timers would have been even better if they could have benefited from today's coaching, techniques, conditioning and nutrition. Go back far enough and they played both sides of the ball. Also, today's players play against teams with diluted talent. There isn't really enough pro-level talent to be spread among 32 teams.
 
#22
#22
volfanngaytorland said:
Urlacher isn't the classiest guy around. He's actually a pretty big jerk from stories I've heard. (And I'm a Bears fan)
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Yeah I've heard stories too. But some of what I've heard have been about his public and/or media reaction to fans. Let's be honest, Bears fans are pretty damn obnoxious. He's not killing people, totin guns, or showboating. And I didn't know you were a Bears fan. That alone moves up to elite status in my eyes, LOL.
 
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#23
#23
RichRollin said:
Yeah I've heard stories too. But some of what I've heard have been about his public and/or media reaction to fans. Let's be honest, Bears fans are pretty damn obnoxious. He's not killing people, totin guns, or showboating.
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Yea a lot of what I've heard is he gets a little testy when alcohol is involved. That's not a huge deal and he could be doing a lot worse. Just a couple funny stories from friends witnessing stuff lol
 
#24
#24
volfanngaytorland said:
Yea a lot of what I've heard is he gets a little testy when alcohol is involved. That's not a huge deal and he could be doing a lot worse. Just a couple funny stories from friends witnessing stuff lol
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I just think he's undervalued as a player. I'm 100% convinced he could have thrived in a more aggressive system like Ray Lewis or Singletary played in which would have allowed him to rack up more gaudy stats in the tackle dept. Ironically, I'm not convinced some of these "all time greats" could have did what he did in the system he played in. In fact, I think some of them would be exposed playing MLB in the Tampa 2 and without a doubt wouldn't have racked up the #s in tackles, nor could they have covered the deep middle in such a fashion. Dude was the complete package.

Edit: yes I'm my opinion is obviously biased.
 
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#25
#25
Volosaurus rex said:
Although it was first aired, I believe, in 2010, I have been watching replays of the NFL Network 10-part series, "NFL’s Greatest 100 Players List of All Time." I don't know who precisely was involved in the selection process, although they describe it as a "blue-ribbon panel." In any event, I decided to see where Reggie White and Peyton were ranked and they were selected 7th and 8th, respectively. Here is their Top Ten:

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

As you can see, Reggie was the highest rated defensive lineman of all time and the only quarterbacks listed ahead of Peyton are Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas. For the sake of comparison, Brett Favre was ranked 20th and Tom Brady came in 21st.

For the full list, see NFL Top 100 - NFL's Greatest 100 Players List of All Time.

Peyton fans should find this useful information for those inevitable Manning-Brady debates.
Click to expand...

Sorry folks, but Jerry Rice as THE BEST to have ever put the uniform on in the NFL is a JOKE--he may have been in the top 2 or 3 best receivers, but he doesn't even belong in the top 10 on that list!

Just makes the list suspect....I love Reggie, but the fact that Joe Greene (even though I HATED the Steelers) is not even in the top 10 is laughable....
 
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