Greatest you have seen

Defense
Joe Green
Jack Lambert
James Harrison or Jack Hamm.
Mel Blount
Troy Palumalu
Steelers have had some really great defensive players over the years.

 

Lawrence Taylor. Dick Butkus. Ronnie Lott. Peyton Manning. Joe Montana. Walter Payton. Barry Sanders.

But the greatest I ever saw with my own eyes....Gale Sayers.

 

I'm surprised that the GOAT Head Coach hasn't been mentioned.

Let the pissing contests begin . . .

 

Technically I was around for Lombardi...but I was too young to make any kind of serious judgment.

Vote here for Hoodie.

 

Come on now, Belichick and everyone else. It’s never been harder to win than it is right now. Consistent duration of greatness is even more impressive than all the Lombardies BB has.

 

If consistent duration of greatness is your criteria, then maybe you should read up on George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Don Shula, Tom Landry and others.

 

In leagues and in times when there weren’t as many teams or as much parity. It’s harder to stay on top for long stretches than it ever has been and that’s my point. Football from a century ago almost isn’t even the same sport it is today.

 

Shula, Landry, Walsh, Gibbs, Noll are on my personal short-list.

 

I think this is a solid argument and pretty impossible to look past, Matty.

But I would counter with this - In a league that is full of parity, no other division has been consistently as weak as the AFC East for over a decade's worth of some really shitty football.

 

TE: Gonzales I know some people will say I have to go Gronk but they are wrong because A) My opinion does not have to mirror your opinion B) 2nd all time in receptions C) Energized\revolutionized the position (without Gonzales Gronk probably never lines up at the position)

Return Man: Devin Hester honorable mention to Mel Gray, and Brian Mitchell

SS: Troy Polamalu
FS: Ronnie Lott

 

I think Bill Parcell's often gets overlooked, but I'm a 'personnel guy' so maybe it's because of how impressed I find myself in regards to Bill's ability to put together winning rosters with some pretty shitty football players.

I mean, we're talking about a playoff Cowboys team with Quincy Carter.

Seriously, Quincy freakin' Carter.

 

If I have to pick just one offensive lineman to build my team around, I'll take Bruce Matthews.

 

Barry could make a run for a 1 yard loss look exciting

 

If Tecmo Bowl is invovled doesnt that make Bo Jackson the GOAT

 

Bruce would be on my list as well also throw in Joe Thomas on my line too.
When your in your 11th season before you miss a single play at a position that takes a pounding you're on the list.

 

I think the lack of success in the AFCE is largely a result of the Patriots. These teams seem so focused on ‘beating the Pats next year’ they don’t build solid teams for the long term. Sexy Rexy had his 9 minutes of fame and had something brewing for the Jets but he seemed so focused on NE I think that negatively affected their team.
Another reason for AFCE suckiness is the probable 2 losses they’re about to receive every season from NE. I don’t want to sound like a pompous dickhead Bostonian but the Pats essentially make those teams start the year 0-2.

 

That's possible, but I think the more probable answer would be "All three other teams made really shitty management, coaching and player decisions that resulted in constantly making changes that were equally as shitty, thus, completing the full circle on the shit wheel.".

 

I wonder what would happen if you took the Patriots out of the East and replaced them with the Browns. Would one team eventually rise tot he top or would they all continue to exist in mediocrity?

 

If we are talking Tecmo Bowl Bo is the goat no matter the position. But you'd be unstoppable more than you already are if you put him on the same roster as Jerry Rice and "QB Eagles".

 

Hard to argue against that.
I like the shit wheel, really good nickname for the AFCE.