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ESPN's NFL Top 20 "Any Era" Team

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Hmm, I get the intention of the list, but really... As everyone has stated Tebow is a definite flaw in this list. Dawkins is an obvious omission. I'd include someone like Haloti Ngata, but they already have too many Ravens.

Take Tom "Oh no, someone scuffed my shoes, throw a flag!" Brady. He'd never make it in a era with no roughing the passer. Someone like Ronnie Lott or Laurence Taylor would have sent that baby home crying after one hit, especially when he realized a ref wasn't going to hold his hand. Put Vince Wilfork in there if you need a current Patriot.

I can see the idea behind taking Hines Ward over some of the flashier receivers right now since he can take a hit over the middle like few now a days would be willing to. No defenseless receiver rule, no 5 yd bump rule, no helmet to helmet rule. Yeah, most of the prima donna today wouldn't cut it if that was the case (looking at you Randy Moss). I still think someone like Fitz, Andre Johnson or Megatron would be fine even with the 70's rules, but if you want someone who's tough and can grind it out, I don't know if Hines would be my first choice. I might go for Boldin or Wes Welker. Both of them make their money over the middle and are tough as hell. Steve Smith (Panthers) is another one I would pick for a tough over the middle receiver.

Honestly, they should be grabbing most of the current tight ends. Where's Gonzalez, Gates, Gronk, Witten, Miller, Pitta, Davis, Cooley and Clark. You can make the "flashy, but doesn't want to get hit" argument for WR, but not tight ends. I can't imaging someone from the past saying they don't want a Jimmy Graham on their team because they aren't tough enough. That would make no sense.

For that reason, and the inclusion of Tebow where he doesn't belong, this list sucks.
 
i read the list three times to find "barry sanders" somewhere on there.

found tebow.

this list is complete bullshit.
 
dainthomas said:
What does "Any Era" mean? Most people think it would mean "all time". Title should be modified to clarify this.
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Just realized, I think it means "these current players would be successful even if you sent them back in time to any past era of football."

So Hines Ward is listed not because he's a flashy receiver but because he's big and tough and would be able to succeed even before the 1978 rule changes that protected receivers more.
 
AstroManLuca said:
Just realized, I think it means "these current players would be successful even if you sent them back in time to any past era of football."

So Hines Ward is listed not because he's a flashy receiver but because he's big and tough and would be able to succeed even before the 1978 rule changes that protected receivers more.
Click to expand...

That makes a lot more sense. Tebow would have been an elite player in the leather helmet days. Peyton Manning, probably not.
 
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AstroManLuca said:
Just realized, I think it means "these current players would be successful even if you sent them back in time to any past era of football."

So Hines Ward is listed not because he's a flashy receiver but because he's big and tough and would be able to succeed even before the 1978 rule changes that protected receivers more.
Click to expand...

You could make an argument that in his prime, Ward was the toughest WR in the NFL - he'd do well in any era. There was a stretch of a few seasons where the opposing defense wasn't willing to go near him because he'd break someone's jaw run blocking or something.

There are bigger guys out there, but I don't think the Ravens' D was ever legitimately scared of an opposing WR outside of Ward. That's saying something, and I'm not even a Steelers fan being a homer.
 
sjwaste said:
You could make an argument that in his prime, Ward was the toughest WR in the NFL - he'd do well in any era. There was a stretch of a few seasons where the opposing defense wasn't willing to go near him because he'd break someone's jaw run blocking or something.

There are bigger guys out there, but I don't think the Ravens' D was ever legitimately scared of an opposing WR outside of Ward. That's saying something, and I'm not even a Steelers fan being a homer.
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Yeah, I think Ward should be on the list... maybe not top 10 though. I'd actually put Tony Gonzalez on there ahead of Ward. Guy has played even longer than Ray Lewis, 12 time Pro Bowler, has only missed one game in his career, and has pretty much every tight end record imaginable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Gonzalez_(American_football)#Records
 
slayer202 said:
to be fair, a running quarterback like tebow(I'd take cam newton or vick over him) would have dominated the older game
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LAWL. In the old game the defense was allowed to hit the offense and knock the fuck out of them.

There wouldn't be any crying about concussions and QBs couldn't slide to not get hit. Someone like LT or Ronnie Lott would have ended that fuckers career the 1st game he tried that college ball shit.
 
sjwaste said:
You could make an argument that in his prime, Ward was the toughest WR in the NFL - he'd do well in any era. There was a stretch of a few seasons where the opposing defense wasn't willing to go near him because he'd break someone's jaw run blocking or something.

There are bigger guys out there, but I don't think the Ravens' D was ever legitimately scared of an opposing WR outside of Ward. That's saying something, and I'm not even a Steelers fan being a homer.
Click to expand...

I agree wtih that, but if that is their aim, where are all the super stud TEs playing today that are far tougher, and much better blockers than Hines Ward?
 
Nintendesert said:
LAWL. In the old game the defense was allowed to hit the offense and knock the fuck out of them.

There wouldn't be any crying about concussions and QBs couldn't slide to not get hit. Someone like LT or Ronnie Lott would have ended that fuckers career the 1st game he tried that college ball shit.
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nah. LT would be too busy snorting crack and bedding underage girls.

Lott...yeah, probably.
 
Where is Barry? Where is Walter?
/facepalm
This list proves that after the game head injuries cause former NFL players to make bad choices. The NFLPA now has undeniable proof needed to help fund ex players and their medical bills.
 
Sentrosi2121 said:
Where is Barry? Where is Walter?
/facepalm
This list proves that after the game head injuries cause former NFL players to make bad choices. The NFLPA now has undeniable proof needed to help fund ex players and their medical bills.
Click to expand...

yes, I know. No one clicks on the link, or reads the thread. And yes, the title of this "poll" is horridly misleading but, well....sigh.
 
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