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Best Ever Players in NFL History (Per Franchise)

PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
in Sports Talk
In watching Monday Night Football, I've noticed that they've brought back some of the legends of the teams involved. So, it got me to thinking... Who would be the best ever player for each team, regardless of position or era? I'll make my picks. You can argue. I broke up some of the teams that have been in two places for a long time. I can, because I made my own rules.

Atlanta Falcons - Claude Humphrey
Arizona/Phoenix Cardinals - Aeneas Williams
Baltimore Colts - John Unitas
Baltimore Ravens - Ray Lewis
Buffalo Bills - OJ Simpson
Carolina Panthers - Steve Smith
Chicago Bears - Dick Butkus/Walter Payton - geez.... how do you pick? Payton won a title, so Payton
Chicago Cardinals - Ollie Matson
Cincinnati Bengals - Anthony Munoz
Cleveland Browns - Jim Brown
Dallas Cowboys - Emmitt Smith
Denver Broncos - John Elway
Detroit Lions - Barry Sanders
Green Bay Packers - Bart Starr (so tough with this franchise...)
Houston Oilers - Earl Campbell
Houston Texans - Andre Johnson
Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning
Jacksonville Jaguars - Fred Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs - Bobby Bell
Los Angeles Rams - Deacon Jones
Miami Dolphins - Dan Marino
Minnesota Vikings - Alan Page
New England Patriots - Tom Brady
New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees
New York Giants - Lawrence Taylor
New York Jets - Don Maynard
Oakland/LA/Oakland Raiders - Art Shell
Philadelphia Eagles - Steve Van Buren
Pittsburgh Steelers - Jack Ham
Saint Louis Cardinals - Roger Wehrli
Saint Louis Rams - Issac Bruce
San Diego Chargers - Lance Alworth
San Francisco 49ers - Joe Montana
Seattle Seahawks - Steve Largent
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Lee Roy Selmon
Tennessee Titans - Steve McNair
Washington Redskins - Sammy Baugh
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Comments

  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,034 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Philadelphia Eagles - Steve Van Buren

    Good call - I agree with ya. image
  • 57loaded57loaded Posts: 4,967 ✭✭✭
    i may argue Ken Stabler or Jim Otto for the Raiders

    also Jerry Rice for 49ers
  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,064 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think you could make a case for Walter Jones over Steve Largent for the Seahawks.

    Tabe
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Of course Jerry Rice makes perfect sense. I had a hard time with that one.
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  • SportsamericaSportsamerica Posts: 990 ✭✭
    Steelers -- I would go Mean Joe over Ham, before he got there they were nothing...
    Cory
    ----------------------
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  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great list but with any NFL all time list there is hard decisions especially about era, notably Lance Allworth over Tomlinson.
  • augustamanaugustaman Posts: 584 ✭✭
    It may just be personal but I don't like OJ Simpson
    on any "best" list. How about Jim Kelly or even Thurman
    Thomas - he had more rushing yards than Simpson.
    Bill
    wpkoughan@yahoo.com
    Collecting 1970-1979 PSA 9 & 10 Baseball Cards
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭


    << <i>New York Jets - Don Maynard >>



    Although, IMO, in the top 5, I still have to put Joe Namath at the top of the list. Second could be quite a few guys ... Maynard, Winston Hill, Joe Klecko, Curtis Martin, Mark (people hate me more than Namath) Gastineau. I'm sure there are a few more. IMO it's too soon to include Reevis.
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,119 ✭✭✭✭✭
    To keep things symetrical, someone should come up with a list (Per Franchise) of the Worst Ever Players in NFL History.

    Compiling the Worst Ever list would probably be more time consuming and labor intensive than compiling the Best Ever list.
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭


    << <i>To keep things symetrical, someone should come up with a list (Per Franchise) of the Worst Ever Players in NFL History.
    Compiling the Worst Ever list would probably be more time consuming and labor intensive than compiling the Best Ever list. >>



    I think that would be tough. Although very debatable, in my lifetime (born 1958) I would have to say Ryan Leaf at quarterback. I did see the stats of a QB who played in the 40's ... Bud Schwenk. His lifetime passes completed percentage was about 50%, and in his 662 lifetime passing attempts, he threw 50 interceptions.
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,034 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<< Worst Ever Players in NFL History >>>

    For the Eagles it's easy...Kevin Allen...about as big a waste of a top ten first round pick as possible, not due to injury.
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Gary Keithley has to win for the St. Louis Cardinals. His performance in December of 1973 was something that Ryan Leaf could never have achieved. While Ryan Leaf had a zero QB rating in one game, Keithley did it in back to back games.
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  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭


    << <i>To keep things symetrical, someone should come up with a list (Per Franchise) of the Worst Ever Players in NFL History.

    Compiling the Worst Ever list would probably be more time consuming and labor intensive than compiling the Best Ever list. >>




    I don't think a Lions fan could compile such a list in a single lifetime.
  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,847 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>To keep things symetrical, someone should come up with a list (Per Franchise) of the Worst Ever Players in NFL History.

    Compiling the Worst Ever list would probably be more time consuming and labor intensive than compiling the Best Ever list. >>




    I don't think a Lions fan could compile such a list in a single lifetime. >>



    Two lifetimes.

    Signed a Lions Fan............MJ
    Walker Proof Digital Album
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  • DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,315 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>It may just be personal but I don't like OJ Simpson
    on any "best" list. How about Jim Kelly or even Thurman
    Thomas - he had more rushing yards than Simpson. >>



    As much as I detest OJ Simpson as a person, I have to agree that he was the best Buffalo Bill.
    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

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  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,335 ✭✭✭✭
    One thing that isn't debatable: The Lions best player was better than the Cowboys best player . . .

    image
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭


    << <i>One thing that isn't debatable: The Lions best player was better than the Cowboys best player . . .

    image >>



    Agreed. I take Sanders over Dorsett any day.
  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 11,804 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Loved Alan Page, his quickness and ability to shed blockers was unbelievable. Fran Tarkenton seems to be a forgotten man on these boards. He was also an unbelievable offensive player, held most of the all-time quarterback records before Marino and Farve broke them.

    Joe
    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • bigreddogbigreddog Posts: 1,156
    Atlanta Falcons - Tommy Nobis
    Dallas Cowboys - You guys know how I love Emmitt, But Roger Staubach and Bob Lilly are top dogs here.
    Chicago Bears - Gale Sayers definately contends here.
    Miami Dolphins - Marino is the obvious choice but he is on my "Most overated list" Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for me
    Minnesota Vikngs- Thats a tough one. That front four goes as a group. Eller,Page, Larsen, Marshall
    New York Jets - Maynard? Really? There's only one right answer here. I think we all know that answer.
    Oakland Raiders- Lamonica, Biletnikoff and Stabler are the correct choices here.
    Pittsburgh Steelers - Jack Ham? Ive have to respectfulyy disagree with that. Franco, Bradshaw, Swann, Stallworth, Mel blount, Mean Joe, Lambert,
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,335 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>One thing that isn't debatable: The Lions best player was better than the Cowboys best player . . .

    image >>



    Agreed. I take Sanders over Dorsett any day. >>



    Well played sir.
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>One thing that isn't debatable: The Lions best player was better than the Cowboys best player . . .

    image >>



    Agreed. I take Sanders over Dorsett any day. >>



    Well played sir. >>



    Ha! I knew you'd dig that. BTW, it's time to stock up on drinking water and bring any plants you care about inside, because if the Lions go to 7-2 we're going to be besieged by locusts and all Michigan rivers are going to turn to blood.
  • FavreFan1971FavreFan1971 Posts: 3,103 ✭✭✭
    Thought I would chime in with the tough choices.

    Atlanta Falcons - Claude Humphrey - Jeff Van Note - Tommy Nobis
    Arizona/Phoenix Cardinals - Aeneas Williams,
    Baltimore Colts - John Unitas (no argument)
    Baltimore Ravens - Ray Lewis (no argument)
    Buffalo Bills - OJ Simpson - Jim Kelly
    Carolina Panthers - Steve Smith (no argument)
    Chicago Bears - Dick Butkus/Walter Payton - geez.... how do you pick? Payton won a title, so Payton -- It IT Payton
    Chicago Cardinals - Ollie Matson (no argument)
    Cincinnati Bengals - Anthony Munoz (no argument)
    Cleveland Browns - Jim Brown (no argument)
    Dallas Cowboys - Emmitt Smith this has to be Bob Lilly
    Denver Broncos - John Elway (no argument)
    Detroit Lions - Barry Sanders (no argument)
    Green Bay Packers - Bart Starr (so tough with this franchise...) (no argument)
    Houston Oilers - Earl Campbell, Warren Moon
    Houston Texans - Andre Johnson (no argument)
    Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning (no argument)
    Jacksonville Jaguars - Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith
    Kansas City Chiefs - Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Tony Gonzalez
    Los Angeles Rams - Deacon Jones, Eric Dickerson but it has to be Merlin Olsen
    Miami Dolphins - Dan Marino (no argument)
    Minnesota Vikings - Alan Page (no argument)
    New England Patriots - Tom Brady (no argument)
    New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees (no argument)
    New York Giants - Lawrence Taylor (no argument)
    New York Jets - Don Maynard - has to be namath
    Oakland/LA/Oakland Raiders - Art Shell, too tough to call. Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw
    Philadelphia Eagles - Steve Van Buren - Dead On!
    Pittsburgh Steelers - Jack Ham, Very tough, Mean Joe is my guy.
    Saint Louis Cardinals - Roger Wehrli, I really like Otis Anderson here.
    Saint Louis Rams - Issac Bruce, I like Norm Van Brocklin
    San Diego Chargers - Lance Alworth (no argument)
    San Francisco 49ers - Joe Montana, Jerry Rice
    Seattle Seahawks - Steve Largent, Walter Jones
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Lee Roy Selmon (no argument)
    Tennessee Titans - Steve McNair, Eddie George
    Washington Redskins - Sammy Baugh (no argument)
  • CNoteCNote Posts: 2,070 ✭


    << <i>I think you could make a case for Walter Jones over Steve Largent for the Seahawks.

    Tabe >>



    Very true. Up until Rice, Largent was one of the best receivers in NFL history. Jones is, IMO, the greatest tackle the game has seen to this point.
  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,064 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>To keep things symetrical, someone should come up with a list (Per Franchise) of the Worst Ever Players in NFL History.

    Compiling the Worst Ever list would probably be more time consuming and labor intensive than compiling the Best Ever list. >>




    I don't think a Lions fan could compile such a list in a single lifetime. >>


    Geez, we'd be there forever just building the list of QBs.

    - Rusty Hilger
    - Mike McMahon
    - Drew Henson
    - Daunte Culpepper (at least in his time with Detroit)

    and so on.

    Tabe
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,335 ✭✭✭✭
    <<Ha! I knew you'd dig that. BTW, it's time to stock up on drinking water and bring any plants you care about inside, because if the Lions go to 7-2 we're going to be besieged by locusts and all Michigan rivers are going to turn to blood. >>

    And people will still be whining about the Lions on the sports call in shows . . .
  • lanemyer85lanemyer85 Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭
    image
  • DarinDarin Posts: 7,095 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Len Dawson for the Chiefs, he sat on the bench for Pittsburgh and Cleveland the first four or five years of his career and still became a hall of famer.

    Chiefs worst player ever, Todd Blackledge.
  • SDavidSDavid Posts: 1,584 ✭✭
    If you mean best at their respective position, I'd go with Larry Allen for Dallas. For many years, he dominated everybody.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,114 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would suggest changing this alittle

    Perhaps using time frames and giving each club two

    Its just too problematic to select one- example- Jim Brown was great and is well deserving but what about Otto Graham?

    For Oakland- I was think Fred Biletinikoff

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • recbballrecbball Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭
    Great idea for conversation.
    I got to the second team on ther list, Cardinals and think if you include their time in Chicago you would pick a diffrent player.
    You would have Ernie Nevers, Chalie Trippi and Ollie Matson to chose from, I would go with Nevers.

    Edit: I went further down the list and saw you had the Chicago Cardinals listed separate, so disregard the post.
  • recbballrecbball Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭
    Here's an interesting take on the question.
    Pro Football Reference.com puts an approximate value on every player. If you click on the link and look under the AV column you will see the player with the highest approximate value for his team.


    Pro Football Refrence.com
  • recbballrecbball Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭
    My list is close to the OPs

    Atlanta Falcons - DEION SANDERS (between him and nightrain for best ever at db)
    Arizona/Phoenix Cardinals - LARRY FITZGERALD
    Baltimore Colts - John Unitas (no argument)
    Baltimore Ravens - Ray Lewis (no argument)
    Buffalo Bills - OJ Simpson
    Carolina Panthers - Steve Smith (no argument)
    Chicago Bears - Walter Payton (no argument)
    Chicago Cardinals - Ernie Nevers (The Red Grange of the Cardinals)
    Cincinnati Bengals - Anthony Munoz (no argument)
    Cleveland Browns - Jim Brown (no argument)
    Dallas Cowboys - Roger Staubach (A childhood favorite, could have gone with a couple of others)
    Denver Broncos - John Elway (no argument)
    Detroit Lions - Bobby Layne (Was QB for Detroit in the 50's when the franchise was at it's best)
    Green Bay Packers - Bart Starr (so tough with this franchise...) (no argument)
    Houston Oilers - Earl Campbell
    Houston Texans - Andre Johnson (no argument)
    Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning (no argument)
    Jacksonville Jaguars - Fred Taylor
    Kansas City Chiefs - Bobby Bell (tough choice, alot of others)
    Los Angeles Rams - Merlin Olsen (tough choice, alot of others)
    Miami Dolphins - Dan Marino (no argument)
    Minnesota Vikings - Alan Page (no argument)
    New England Patriots - Tom Brady (no argument)
    New Orleans Saints - Drew Brees (no argument)
    New York Giants - Mel Hein (I always thought LT was a little overrated)
    New York Jets - Joe Namath
    Oakland/LA/Oakland Raiders - Jim Otto
    Philadelphia Eagles - Chuck Bednarick
    Pittsburgh Steelers - Joe Greene
    Saint Louis Cardinals - Larry Wilson
    Saint Louis Rams - Marshall Faulk
    San Diego Chargers - Lance Alworth (no argument)
    San Francisco 49ers - Jerry Rice
    Seattle Seahawks - Steve Largent
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Lee Roy Selmon
    Tennessee Titans - Steve McNair
    Washington Redskins - Sammy Baugh (no argument)

  • AhmanfanAhmanfan Posts: 4,389 ✭✭✭✭
    I wanted to argue Keith Bulluck instead of McNair, but I will agree with McNair.

    Although I will say Jim Otto is the choice for Oakland.
    for the Rams- I think Holt was pretty good too. Bruce is a good choice, though. What about Jack Youngblood?
    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    I had a separate section for the LA Rams. I picked Deacon and quite a few mentioned Merlin Olsen. Hard to go wrong with either of those. Although Youngblood was amazing, somehow I have him below those guys. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's just how I feel. Deacon would be the All-Time sacks leader if the stat had been kept in his day. Olsen was a 14 time Pro-Bowler. Those are some heavy hitters there.
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  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Considering Tomlinson had more catches than Allworth Im suprised nobody thinks he deserves mention for the Chargers
  • fiveninerfiveniner Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭
    Steve Van Buren was a fine player but I will have to put #60 Chuck Bednarik as best Eagle.
    Tony(AN ANGEL WATCHES OVER ME)
  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 12,864 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton
    *For Sale on BST* *For Sale on Ebay*
  • larryallen73larryallen73 Posts: 6,061 ✭✭✭
    I would take Larry Allen over Emmett Smith. Without LA Emmett would not have so many yards! Ok, maybe I am bias being one of the few Larry Allen fans. image
  • VikingDudeVikingDude Posts: 1,346 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Here's an interesting take on the question.
    Pro Football Reference.com puts an approximate value on every player. If you click on the link and look under the AV column you will see the player with the highest approximate value for his team.


    Pro Football Refrence.com >>



    Thanks for the link!
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