How could anything think any QB could be....THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER....? When all they can do is pass a football?Please do us all a favor and change the thread title to "best athlete that played football" or "player that could fill the most roles."
I'm out. Hopefully others will continue the conversation.How could anything think any QB could be....THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER....? When all they can do is pass a football?
Well that and run, recognize a defense, change the formation, change the play, control the pace of the game, adjust blocking assignments, control the clock, and manipulate what the defense does. But excluding that - yeah he throws the ball, often 20 yards downfield while running for his life into a tight window where only his player can catch it.Kids playing street ball, one of them is fast, he can catch, he can play defense, he can block. He stands out, ya see he's a football player. The kid playing QB can't do anything but throw a football.
You need how many guys who can throw a football on any team, what....three at most? How about run, jump, catch block, tackle?I'm out. Hopefully others will continue the conversation.
Now compare that to what Deion could do.Well that and run, recognize a defense, change the formation, change the play, control the pace of the game, adjust blocking assignments, control the clock, and manipulate what the defense does. But excluding that - yeah he throws the ball, often 20 yards downfield while running for his life into a tight window where only his player can catch it.
Run and catch? Defend a WR? You seemed to imply throwing the ball is all the QB does.Now compare that to what Deion could do.
Give me 22 Deion clones vs 22 Brady clones, who wins a football game?Run and catch? Defend a WR? You seemed to imply throwing the ball is all the QB does.
The Deion clones. But I thought we were looking for more than just who could run the fastest. Who's responsible for more of what goes on on the field?Give me 22 Deion clones vs 22 Brady clones, who wins a football game?
The QB.The Deion clones. But I thought we were looking for more than just who could run the fastest. Who's responsible for more of what goes on on the field?
He could be elected first ballot on the jack of all trades Hall of Fame.Bill Dudley
He rushed for over 2000 yards
Returned punts for over 1000 yards
Had about a 1000 yards passing
Had 1300 yards receiving
Had 23 INTs
Had a 38 yard punting avg
Had 1700 yards returning K0;s
Scoring 44 TD, 33 FG 121 PATs
Who was a better football player than that guy?
Or he could be The Greatest Football player of all time.He could be elected first ballot on the jack of all trades Hall of Fame.
I thought you listed TACKLING as a major attribute of your ficticous, non-QB, Greatest Football Player of all time.Give me 22 Deion clones vs 22 Brady clones, who wins a football game?
Sure you could put him in the mix - but he played in the 40's and 50's when they were part-time players. Not sure if the level of competition is the same as modern day NFL players. But who knows, maybe he could be the greatest if he played against the same competition.Or he could be The Greatest Football player of all time.
You never look at over era's with this THE GREATEST thing. You always go with the dominance of that era.Sure you could put him in the mix - but he played in the 40's and 50's when they were part-time players. Not sure if the level of competition is the same as modern day NFL players. But who knows, maybe he could be the greatest if he played against the same competition.
He can do all of those things. What are you talking about? He has run for first downs, caught passes from others, as well as blocked and tackled opponents to clear space for his running backs.Do you think Tom Brady is the greatest football player ever? Forget the fact he can't run, can;t catch, can't tackle. can't block.,,,but is the greatest...huh?
Come on man.He can do all of those things. What are you talking about? He has run for first downs, caught passes from others, as well as blocked and tackled opponents to clear space for his running backs.
fypYes, QB. The most important position infootballsports.By a longshot.
Payton could block, return kicks, run, catch, throw. That is the kind of guy it takes. someone multi talented.I can only go by players in my generation. Tough to argue about the old timers as it was a different game in many respects. The greatest football player I ever got a chance to see play was Walter Payton. The stats and all around game were there, as they are for every "great", but his durability at his position is the most amazing thing that really set him apart in my mind. 13 year career and missed one game at RB. That one game was his rookie year with a sprained ankle that he wanted to play and was pissed off when coach didn't let him. From that point on he never missed a game and played with fevers, knees filled with fluid, swollen elbows, hamstring pulls and a fractured rib. 186 consecutive games, especially with the way he played he RB, made him the greatest IMO.
Russel Wilson was a stud baseballer and a far better QB than Vick. While not as fast as Vick he is a more scarey run/pass threat because he can really pass.had an entire week of this debate last week with my buddies. apparently there was a ESPN special about 100 greatest athletes of all time and Jim Brown was depicted as the greatest "football player" of all time, which prompted the discussion. our conclusion at least was that in football it has to be positional. NBA in contrast could have a greatest player of all time, but it's easier for one athlete to play every position in basketball. baseball was the opposite extreme, even more so that football. so it's too subjective.
btw, greatest athlete to play QB has to be Vick. unless we're talking it has to be someone who actually won stuff, then Young still over Brady.
thought of Wilson when I wrote that and i don't disagree. Vick may not have been as accurate as Wilson, but the way he just flicked his wrist to throw 25+ yards on the run was just sick.Russel Wilson was a stud baseballer and a far better QB than Vick. While not as fast as Vick he is a more scarey run/pass threat because he can really pass.
+1thought of Wilson when I wrote that and i don't disagree. Vick may not have been as accurate as Wilson, but the way he just flicked his wrist to throw 25+ yards on the run was just sick.
Yes Vick was a freakish talent to be a QB. But as far as I know football was his only gig. I think of "athlete" as somebody who can do a multitude of things,thought of Wilson when I wrote that and i don't disagree. Vick may not have been as accurate as Wilson, but the way he just flicked his wrist to throw 25+ yards on the run was just sick.
Saw him in college, yep,a man vs boys (think Derrick Henry in HS) A real strong case can be made LT was the best defensive player ever.Lawrence Taylor.
if you saw him play, you know what I’m talking about.
if you didn’t, you won’t understand.
And, this is coming from a lifelong Cowboys fan.
Here is the trick to his greatness.using the clone scenario, the best football player is Usain Bolt.
There are TONS of......what if.The answer is Dwight Freeney he could play the safety pos. Lb pos. If he could have played during Dudley era he would have dominated. But he couldn't because he is black.
Yeah I'm out can't argue with this logic.There are TONS of......what if.
Bullet Bil Dudley
passed
rushed
caught the ball
blocked
tackled
intercepted
PAT
FG
kicked off
returned kickoffs
punted
returned punts
He is The Greatest Football Player in history.
No player ever played on every team a team has and was the main man
Both could play offense and defense but only Dudley could kick/return kicks......also.Yeah I'm out can't argue with this logic.
and he wasn't alivebucksoh said:The answer is Dwight Freeney he could play the safety pos. Lb pos. If he could have played during Dudley era he would have dominated. But he couldn't because he is black.
ericttspikes said:I can only go by players in my generation. Tough to argue about the old timers as it was a different game in many respects. The greatest football player I ever got a chance to see play was Walter Payton. The stats and all around game were there, as they are for every "great", but his durability at his position is the most amazing thing that really set him apart in my mind. 13 year career and missed one game at RB. That one game was his rookie year with a sprained ankle that he wanted to play and was pissed off when coach didn't let him. From that point on he never missed a game and played with fevers, knees filled with fluid, swollen elbows, hamstring pulls and a fractured rib. 186 consecutive games, especially with the way he played he RB, made him the greatest IMO.
Back on those old Oilers teams there was Billy Cannon, a 9.5 sprinter at LSU who returned kicks, ran, could catch (ended up a TE). He was a far better "football player" than George Blanda. Cannon a Heisman inner.Given the odd conversation here, I am surprised nobody has mentioned George Blanda. In 61, Blanda threw for 3330 yards, 36 TDs, made 64 XP, 16 FG (including 2 from 50+). He was a kicker, QB or both for 26 years in the NFL.
Would ya believe he had an older bro in the NFL?
You beat me to it. Not only Payton was one the best runners of all time, he was a very good pass catcher, could throw the ball.....and could have been CHI's punter or kicker.
But what impressed me the most was.... Payton never went out of bounds....ever. That dude would take it right to a linebacker or a cornerback and deliver the punishment before getting tackled. Might have had the best stiff arm that I have ever seen. Which made it even more impressive that he missed only one game in his career. Might have been the toughest 200-210 lb player ever. His conditioning workouts were legendary.
Couldn't imagine what Payton would have done if he ran behind Emmitt Smith's OL.
HUGE....Jim Brown fan here...HUGE. His "Jimmy Brown" rookie card one of more cherished possessions, but...............While it may be impossible to name a "best ever",if pressed to do so it's Jim Brown...next question.
"football player" is just weird random thing that you are the lone judge on so yes I agree Cannon was a better "football player".Back on those old Oilers teams there was Billy Cannon, a 9.5 sprinter at LSU who returned kicks, ran, could catch (ended up a TE). He was a far better "football player" than George Blanda. Cannon a Heisman inner.
In track we have sprinters, jumpers, throwers, then we have the decathlete who can do it all. No he can;t beat any of those athletes in their event but he can do all the events."football player" is just weird random thing that you are the lone judge on so yes I agree Cannon was a better "football player".
He was 5-10 and 180 pounds, he could barely play any modern football position. If you sent Derwin James or Saquon Barkley back to 1930 they could dominate at any position except maybe kicker or QB.In track we have sprinters, jumpers, throwers, then we have the decathlete who can do it all. No he can;t beat any of those athletes in their event but he can do all the events.
This is about that, that guy who is the best "football player" not QB, RB, TE....etc.
Bill Dudley is the only HOF player who played on every team on a football team. The guy could do it all, everything. Hehas to be the best football players since there was nothing he couldn't do on a football field.
You can't be serious.He was 5-10 and 180 pounds, he could barely play any modern football position. If you sent Derwin James or Saquon Barkley back to 1930 they could dominate at any position except maybe kicker or QB.