Law probably was the better tackler, but I think Madison was the better coverage guy. It's real difficult to compare CBs on different teams and with different schemes. Madison did make two All Pro teams in 1999 and 2000. I'm not sure how many Law made (I know he did in 1998); I'd guess he made two as well.
Again, I think most people who have watched a lot of AFC East games would say that Law is better both tackling and in coverage. But you're entitled to your opinion, of course.Not sure how many times Law has been an All Pro off the top of my head, but I do know he's been the NFL's Defensive Back of the Year twice, which more than covers Madison's two All Pro selections.
Law made All Pro twice - 1998 & 2003Consider the All Pro selections just within 1995-2005, which spans Law's career:
Deion Sanders - 1996, 1997, 1998 (plus 3 other years before that)
Aeneas Williams - 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001
Ronde Barber - 2001, 2004, 2005
Sam Madison - 1999, 2000
Champ Bailey - 2004, 2005
Eric Davis - 2005
Ashley Ambrose - 1996
Charles Woodson - 1999
Samari Rolle - 2000
Patrick Surtain - 2002
Troy Vincent - 2002
Chris McAllister - 2003
Clearly Sanders is in, along with Woodson and Darrell Green. There is no doubt that Aeneas Williams deserves it more than Law, unless Law adds a lot to his resume between now & retirement:
Williams:
-
All Pro 4 times as a CB
-
Pro Bowler 8 times (7 at CB, 1 at S)
- Selected for
1990s All Decade team
-
55 career interceptions, currently #17 all time
-
794 tackles
- 3 sacks
-
12 forced fumbles
-
23 fumble recoveries
-
168 passes defensed
-
12 defensive TDs, including 9 interception returns (tied for #2 all-time)
- Postseason record 2 interceptions returned for TDs in 1 game (vs. Green Bay 1/20/02)
- Played in
183 consecutive games, including 180 consecutive starts
-
211 games total
- Played in one Super Bowl, which his team lost
Law:
- All Pro 2 times as a CB
- Pro Bowler 4 times
- 46 career interceptions
- 700 tackles
-
4 sacks
- 3 forced fumbles
- 5 fumble recoveries
- 140 passes defensed
- 7 defensive TDs, all interception returns
- 157 games
- Played in
4 Super Bowls; his team went 3-1
The only thing Law has over Williams is one sack and the Super Bowls. I can't see the Super Bowls being enough to overcome the big edge Williams has everywhere else.
Now consider that there are only 9 cornerbacks in the HOF:
#### (Night Train) Lane (CB) 1952-1965
Herb Adderley (CB) 1961-1972
Jimmy Johnson (CB) 1961-1976
Mel Renfro (S-CB) 1964-1977
Lem Barney (CB) 1967-1977
Willie Brown (CB) 1963-1978
Mel Blount (CB) 1970-1983
Mike Haynes (CB) 1976-1989
Ronnie Lott (CB-S) 1981-1994
Only one whose career ended in the 1990s, and only two others whose career ended since 1978. Given Sanders, Woodson, and Darrell Green are locks IMO, that might even keep Williams out. So I just can't see it for Law.
EDIT: Forgot to ask, is it even clear that Law is next after Aeneas?