No Ricky Bell?
Falcons (no particular order):
Terrence Mathis
Alfred Jenkins
William Andrews
Claude Humphrey
Steve Bartkowski
Matt Ryan
Michael Vick
Deion Sanders
Mike Kenn
Jeff Van Note
Hey Airman,
Don’t know if you caught it, but the NFL network went through their top 10 Steelers of all time.
I don’t mean to brag, but they agreed with me on Bradshaw being number 2. Greene was their number 1. So, I got the top 2 correct. And Mel Blount was a part of their list also, so I did well to include him.
Their list:
Greene
Bradshaw
unsure of order of 3-10, but it’s sort of close.
Harris
Polamalu
Lambert
Woodson
Blount
Bettis
Swann
Ward
The last 8 are not in the correct order, I just pulled them from memory.
Interesting ommissions
Webster
Stallworth
Stautner
Dawson
Ham
etc, etc, etc.
The team has had more than its share of fantastic players.
I did pretty damn good. I got 8-10 players, and the top two correct. My ommissions from my list was Woodson, and I had Webster in his place. As well as swapping Stallworth for Swann.
I should work for the NFL Network! I think I found my calling!
Yeah, I saw it.
How do you omit Webster in favor of Woodson? Yeah, he put up a great career with Pittsburgh, but he played another seven elsewhere after Pittsburgh gave up on him, including a few spectacular seasons with the hated Ratbirds. He is as much a Raven as a Steeler, if not more so because he helped them win a ring. Not on my list for that very reason.
Webster did his entire career sans that last ill-fated year in KC with the Steelers. As the greatest center of all time, if he doesn’t make that list no center ever will. Talk about a glaring omission…
As for Bradshaw, good call. I still maintain he doesn’t deserve to be rated that high, but apparently that’s just me. I also maintain that Stallworth was better than Swann (as do you), but Swann has the reputation thanks to some truly spectacular catches.
I agree with you completely regarding Woodson. The fact that Webster was completely omitted from the list is a huge mistake IMO, but Woodson’s inclusion is just as fascinating to me.
Woodson is an interesting study. I agree with you that he is as much, if not more, a Raven. I realize that he spent most of his career in Pittsburgh, but 7 years is a long time to be gone before retiring. He was in San Francisco, Baltimore and Oakland in those 7 years. He spent 9 (I think) in Pittsburgh
Woodson himself almost completely ignores his career away from Pittsburgh. He always refers to himself as a Steeler, was inducted into the HoF as a Steeler, and unless someone pins him down about the Ravens, never really brings it up. I’ve seen him on the NFL network and he never discusses anything away from Pittsburgh except the Super Bowl. I think it’s because Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are thought of when that Raven defense is remembered. Hell, I sometimes forget that Woodson won a ring with the Ravens.
Finally, I admit something here that will probably get my NFL Fan card revoked for life. I’ve never understood the absolute love for Woodson. Was he a great player? Yes. Was he 75th anniversary great? I never saw it. I still can’t see it.
When I think of great Steelers, he rarely crosses my mind immediately. I was shocked when he popped into the NFL’s top 10 list.
For the Packers I would take out Sharpe or Lofton and put in Driver.
I’d add (not thinking the Oilers were as suck-tastic as you do):
- Ernest Givins
- Elvin Bethea
- Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
- Mel Renfro
- Robert Brazile
I’m unfamiliar with John Smith. I’d add: Irving Fryar, Bruce Armstrong, maybe Kevin Faulk. BTW, it’s Tedy Bruschi