Underrated players in NFL history (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

I'll start with Jeff Blake.

In a career which spanned 14 years, almost all of which with HORRIBLE teams, Blake posted a remarkable 134-99 TD-INT ratio, and had over 2,000 career rushing yards. He only made one Pro Bowl. If he had been fortunate enough to play for some good teams in the prime of his career, we'd be looking at him much differently from a historical perspective.

 

[jaisonline]

I'll start with Jeff Blake.

In a career which spanned 14 years, almost all of which with HORRIBLE teams, Blake posted a remarkable 134-99 TD-INT ratio, and had over 2,000 career rushing yards. He only made one Pro Bowl. If he had been fortunate enough to play for some good teams in the prime of his career, we'd be looking at him much differently from a historical perspective.

that's an easy one. mike mamulahonestly, i go with mike quick

 

[Ack88]

Erik Williams, OT, Dallas Cowboys- The only player I've seen play Reggie White to a draw with minimal double-teaming. The best OT in football before his knee injury. His span of dominance was short, but unforgetable.

 

[jaisonline]

how about roger craig?

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Carnell Lake

 

[Buffaloes]

Floyd Little

 

[travdogg]

James Brooks

 

[Native]

I thought John Offerdahl was the best MLB's in football in the 80's. He was always banged up, but when healthy he was terrific. That said, he was voted to several Pro Bowls so I dont know how underrated he actually was.

 

[Tong Po]

How about Isaac Bruce?

Averaging 1,000 yards receiving per season over a 14 year career with 90 touchdowns.

All while missing 4 or more games 4 different seasons.

Now he made the Pro Bowl 4 times... but how does he NOT make the Pro Bowl in 1995?

119 catches, 1781 yards and 13 touchdowns? That's sick.

Always thought he was overshadowed by Torry Holt throughout much of his career.

Here we are in 2008, playing for a new team with an unsettled QB situation at best...

and at age 36.... he' sitting on 6 touchdowns, and almost 700 yards through 12 games.

 

[r0llin_game]

I'mma do me a couple of some different positions so I'll be giving some QB's here first.

 

[rotohuff]

Charlie Garner

 

[r0llin_game]

Aaron Brooks- 8 years with New Orleans

As bad as some people know he was, he actually threw in a couple solid seasons.

Career- 56.5 completion percentage, 20,261 yards, 123/98 TD:INT. Ran for 1534 yards with 13 TD

Best season-2003

306/518 3546 yards, 24TD 8INT. Forgettable part of the season: Losing 11 of 14 fumbles.

Although his team was 7-9, Brooks was definitely one of the bright spots in the losing season.

Best game: 45-7 W v. NYG 26/35 296 5TD

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Chris Chandler- 17 years with Indy, TB, Pho, LA Rams, Hou, Atl, Chi, StL

Help lead Atlanta to their first Super Bowl in Franchise history in 1999.

Career- 58.1 %, 28,484 yards, 170/146.

 

[FUBAR]

I loved Chris Spielman when he was a Lion.

Larry Centers

 

[The Man with the Plan]

Shane Lechler's pretty underrated. He's one of the best punters ever but it's tough to notice since he plays on those awful Raiders teams.

 

[Banger]

Warrick Dunn.

 

[r0llin_game]

I'll get more in depth later, hopefully....

Garrison Hearst, and Ricky Watters

 

[Ghost Rider]

Terrell Davis - Far too many people have devalued what he did because of the fact that Denver's running game has continued to thrive since he got hurt and eventually retired (even though no one has come close to doing what he did).

 

[Buffaloes]

Shane Lechler's pretty underrated. He's one of the best punters ever but it's tough to notice since he plays on those awful Raiders teams. he's a punter

fixed.

 

[r0llin_game]

Jimmy Smith, Ed McCaffery, Rod Smith

 

[Despyzer]

James Brooks

I like this answer. The guy finished his career in the top twenty for career rushing yards. Of the guys that are ahead of him on that 1992 top 20 list, pretty much all of them are in the HoF. Career YPC of 4.7 and twice led the league in total yards.

 

[allnight33]

James Brooks

I like this answer. The guy finished his career in the top twenty for career rushing yards. Of the guys that are ahead of him on that 1992 top 20 list, pretty much all of them are in the HoF. Career YPC of 4.7 and twice led the league in total yards.

Clay Mathews

 

[The_Man]

Henry Ellard

 

[Buffaloes]

Randall Cunningham

 

[whhwalker]

Fred Taylor. Top 15 rusher of all time and only 1 Pro Bowl (and even then as an injury replacement).

 

[gkza]

ED REED

 

[Sea Bass]

Ray Berry

 

[monessen]

Dermontti Dawson

Louis Lipps

Gary Anderson

 

[gman74]

Jason Hanson 2 probowls

 

[Jayrod]

Warren Sapp

 

[hostile]

Fred Taylor. Top 15 rusher of all time and only 1 Pro Bowl (and even then as an injury replacement).

Agreed!I'm going to say Joe Jurevicius is underrated.

Not a HoF WR, but the dude can take on nearly any LB in run-blocking. Look at what losing Joe going over the middle and digging out LB's has done to CLE's running game this year. Football isnt always about the stats.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Thurman Thomas - wasn't all that far behind Emmitt and Barry while they were all playing, but rarely gets included in "all-time great" RB discussions today, despite being a HOFer.

 

[Despyzer]

Thurman Thomas - wasn't all that far behind Emmitt and Barry while they were all playing, but rarely gets included in "all-time great" RB discussions today, despite being a HOFer.

Good point. I can even remember quite a few discussions about who was the better RB while all three were in their prime that didn't even include Emmitt.

 

[pats3in4]

James Brooks

I like this answer. The guy finished his career in the top twenty for career rushing yards. Of the guys that are ahead of him on that 1992 top 20 list, pretty much all of them are in the HoF. Career YPC of 4.7 and twice led the league in total yards.

He probably gets forgotten amongst the best RBs because he's built like a scatback, but he was a dangerous runner and receiver. Fast as hell and a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.I'm trying to think who today comes closest to Brooks in build/style. Perhaps Reggie Bush if he was a better runner. Westbrook is probably too big to make a good comparison.Adding to the list:Chris Collinsworth was one hell of a receiver, as was Al Toon. Ditto Stanley Morgan and Anthony Carter. Carl Banks was an outstanding bookend OLB to LT. Chris Doleman was an excellent pass-rushing DE.

 

[Avery]

ED REED

Who's underrating this guy?He's regularly mentioned with some of the best safeties in NFL history.

 

[Avery]

I'll throw my homer pick of Harry Carson.

Took him way too long to get into the Hall of Fame because he played in the shadow of LT.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Pat Fischer - Harold Carmichael said Fischer was tougher on him than any other DB ever. Fischer was only 5'8 and 170 lbs. Carmichael was 6'7""

Patrick Fischer (born January 2, 1940 in St. Edward, Nebraska) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins from 1968 to 1977.

Fischer attended Westside High School in Omaha and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Fischer joined the NFL as the 17th-round draft choice of St. Louis in the 1961 NFL Draft. He then signed with Washington as a free agent in 1968. He was a 1969 Pro Bowler. Fischer then helped lead the Redskins to Super Bowl VII in 1972. He finished his 17-year career with 56 interceptions, and ranks seventh all-time in Redskins career interceptions with 27 and fourth all-time with 412 career interception return yards. At the time of his retirement Pat Fischer had played in 213 NFL games, then a record for a cornerback.

In the late 1980s, NFL Films named Fischer as the Redskins All-Time Neutralizer sponsored by Tums. After retiring from the Redskins, Fischer worked as a stockbroker and owned a successful real estate business.

 

[Bankerguy]

Moose Johnson

 

[bcr8f]

The undrafted Priest Holmes.

 

[TidesofWar]

Bill Ring

Walt Garrison

Gary Fencik

Earl Morrall

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Bill Ring

Walt Garrison

Gary Fencik

Earl Morrall - I agree, but he may have been part of a plot to give the Jets Super Bowl III. Not only did Bubba Smith say the game was fixed, but if you look a the tape where Jimmy Orr is standing in the EndZone waiving his arms, and Morrall looked right at him with plenty of time to throw, but instead threw the ball over the middle where Johnny Sample intercepted it.

 

[Irish]

Mike Merriweather

 

[TidesofWar]

Bill Ring

Walt Garrison

Gary Fencik

Earl Morrall - I agree, but he may have been part of a plot to give the Jets Super Bowl III. Not only did Bubba Smith say the game was fixed, but if you look a the tape where Jimmy Orr is standing in the EndZone waiving his arms, and Morrall looked right at him with plenty of time to throw, but instead threw the ball over the middle where Johnny Sample intercepted it.

Sounds like somebody had the Colts

 

[Die]

If there's one player in the Patriots run that is underrated, I'd say its Kevin Faulk. He fills a niche for the team, but really excels at that niche. He is very productive in what the team asks him to do. Even this year he's been outstanding. Among all RBs with less than 100 carries this season, he is the most productive RB by far. Not only does he add a dynamic weapon to pass to out of the backfield, but he's putting up 6.1 yards per carry. As a team, the Patriots are quite highly ranked as a rushing offense, and he's a big part of it.

He's almost like a poor-man's Marcus Allen. What's interesting about that is Marcus Allen is one of those rare RBs that was productive until age 37. Kevin Faulk is 32 and putting up one of his best years.

 

[Borat]

I would say that fewer than half of the players listed in this thread were actually underrated.

 

[Tornacl]

Jack Ham - with all of the other big-name studs on that defense, his is rarely one of the first three mentioned, but he is one of the best to ever play his position. He was recognized for his outstanding play at the time (with 8 or 9 pro bowls), yet most people seem to bring up Lambert, Mean Joe Greene, Greenwood, and Blount.

 

[TidesofWar]

I would say that fewer than half of the players listed in this thread were actually underrated.

I would also say that Borat is over-rated

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Jack Ham - with all of the other big-name studs on that defense, his is rarely one of the first three mentioned, but he is one of the best to ever play his position. He was recognized for his outstanding play at the time (with 8 or 9 pro bowls), yet most people seem to bring up Lambert, Mean Joe Greene, Greenwood, and Blount.

Sorry, but Ham was hardly underrated, even if you use his teammates to overshadow him.

 

[Raider Nation]

If there's one player in the Patriots run that is underrated, I'd say its Kevin Faulk. He's almost like a poor-man's Marcus Allen.

He's not even a dead man's Marcus Allen. Faulk is a nice little player, but let's not get nuts here.

 

[Koya]

Thurman Thomas - wasn't all that far behind Emmitt and Barry while they were all playing, but rarely gets included in "all-time great" RB discussions today, despite being a HOFer.

Good point. I can even remember quite a few discussions about who was the better RB while all three were in their prime that didn't even include Emmitt.

Thurman was a better back than Emmitt imo.

 

[Koya]

I'll throw my homer pick of Harry Carson.

Took him way too long to get into the Hall of Fame because he played in the shadow of LT.

Definately. Now, its hard for me to say since I am a huge Giants fan, but I fail to see much difference between Carson and Singletary. The guy was the glue of that defense, and truly one of the all time greats at his position. Just did his job, didnt do it flashy, got overlooked - and even so got into the hall.But overlooked none the less.

Granted, his whining to get in the hall doesnt help his cause, but that has nothing to do with how good he was a player.