Throwdowns > Forfeited

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  • June 13, 2007 12:54 AM ET

Best Player in NFL History

Favrefan is Oden (226-83-14) vs Miami Giants (1-5-0)
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My vote is Jerry Rice. I know he had great QB's, but great QB's also had him. He has several records that will likely never be broken. For instance, his 22 touchdown catches.

This was achieved in a 12 game season.

Rings? He has three of them. He was a great leader, and very soft-spoken. That Montana-Rice and Young-Rice combo was unstoppable. What's more is he was undervalued out of college and had "slow" workout times, yet went on the achieve incredible things.


It is impossible to name one person the best player in NFL history. You have Walter Payton who lacked lit up defenses with a lower level OL. You have Barry Sanders who would have broken all the rushing records had he continued to play. There's Dan Marino who has just about every passing record. Peyton Manning who will own those records in the future. That's just on offense. On defense Lawerence Taylor created the sack. He would hold the record if sacks were a stat to begin his career.


If there was to be one single best player, who would it be? Please don't ruin what could be a good throwdown. Pick one of those guys you listed and argue for them. Rice has numerous records, but his untouchable ones are:
most consecutive games with a catch:274, or 5 and a half seasons more than second place

Most career catches: 1,549, or 448 more than second place

Most career recieiving touchdowns: 197, or 67 more than second place

Most career yards: 22,895, or 8000 more than second place.

And still produced into his 40s.


I'm not ruining a throwdown. But be more specific. Best WR? Most likely. But I do not think he is the best player by any stretch of the imagination. But you can't base it on stats. Rice was in a system that helped him, he didn't need speed. He had two consecutive HOF QB's. WRs need QBs more than than the other way around (Ex. Tom Brady... Reche Caldwell?). Cris Carter didn't get Moon until halfway through his Viking career. Don Hutson was from a day that embraced the fullback, not receiver.


Are you now arguing that Rice wasn't the best receiver? Sure things in football: Some team will win the Super Bowl, 10 yards is a first down, and Jerry Rice is the best receiver of all time. Still, it appears you won with your incredible argument, so good work.

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June 13, 2007  01:04 AM ET
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You cant name a guy the best in football like you can in basketball.
Maybe best at positions. Rice could be argued for best WR. Payton, Sanders, and Brown for HB. Elway and Montana for best QB. Etc.

June 13, 2007  01:07 AM ET
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But for the sake of argument, just try. If you had to name one.

June 13, 2007  01:10 AM ET
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And LT wouldn't have been the record holder for sacks. Deacon Jones would have been.

June 13, 2007  01:27 AM ET
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Taylor would hold the record for sacks?

The HELL!? He missed one bloody year wtih 9.5 sacks!

He'd still only have 140-something sacks!

June 13, 2007  01:36 AM ET
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Ok Favrefan12, I'd say Joe Montana.

June 13, 2007  01:42 AM ET
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Jim Kelly did lead the Bills to 4 straight Super Bowl appearances.

June 13, 2007  01:51 AM ET
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You can't name the best player. There are way too many great players to name just one.

June 13, 2007  03:01 AM ET
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To many to name.

June 13, 2007  03:11 AM ET
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Jim Brown was the single most dominant player to ever play. He could have rushed for 20,000 yards if he extended his career like Payton and Emmitt. He played half his career with 12 game seasons vs. the 16 today, and still finished with over 12,000 rushing yards in just 9 seasons.

He averaged like 105 yards per game rushing, his entire career. Emmitt and Walter averaged in the 80's. He even averaged more yards per carry and game than Barry Sanders, and unlike Barry, Brown won championships.

Rice benefited from having 2 Hall of Fame QB's featuring him in a West Coast offensive scheme. He never controlled games like Brown did his entire career.

June 13, 2007  04:08 AM ET
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JIM THORPE!!!

June 13, 2007  07:56 AM ET
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Can't vote for Miami Giants. No case has been made. You can pick the greatest player. I don't agree that it's Rice, but pick someone.

June 13, 2007  08:23 AM ET
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you cant say joe montana.......id say barry sanders, the guy was phenomenal, the player who kept his team together with a garbage o-line, if that guy would've had emmits line, and the love the cowboys ownership shows its players, he wouldve crushed all emmits records

June 13, 2007  08:42 AM ET
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Walter Payton.

June 13, 2007  08:55 AM ET
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Barry sanders. What if Barry played in Jim Brown's era? He was a ALOT stronger then Jim Brown. He would have racked up like 25,000 yards.

June 13, 2007  09:27 AM ET
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Rick Mirer

June 13, 2007  09:39 AM ET
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My vote is for Joey Harrington.

June 13, 2007  10:11 AM ET
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Untrue...Mirer was more wicked awesometastic than Harrington.

June 13, 2007  11:27 AM ET
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People get wary first thing you combine "best" and "ever" together.

June 13, 2007  01:05 PM ET
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Barry Sanders was STRONGER than Jim Brown....???????!!!! Jim Brown at 60 yrs. old was stronger than Barry Sanders in his prime!

Jim Brown was a power back with world class speed. He ran track in college and weighed around 230 which by today's standards would be more like 270 or 280 for a RB. Barry Sanders was a quick elusive runner who thrived on astro turf. He was very average on grass and had more negative yards rushing than any back in history.

 
June 13, 2007  01:42 PM ET
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AGain, not a throwdown.

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