Poll} The Greatest Defensive Player In History ?...

[Ricky Roma]

I should have been more clear, outside LB.

Even Still how many of them could do what Brooks Did? None. Yet Brooks could do what they did, not as well but not as bad as if Ray Lewis tried to Cover WRs... Or Butkus, that would have been funny...

The ONLY reason Brooks is not listed is his Assignment was moving backwards not forwards. Because he was the only one who could. As Moving Backwards is Infinitely Harder in Football.

No Other LB could cover and stop the run as well as Derrick Brooks. None.

Jack Ham could, did, and did it better than Derrick Brooks.

 

[PatsFan2003]

I went with Reggie White but my heart goes with Dick Butkis.

If Butkis had lived in the era of decent knee surgery, it would have been no-contest.

 

[GNG]

Reggie White is the greatest and it's not even close.

 

[GNG]

I went with Reggie White but my heart goes with Dick Butkis.

If Butkis had lived in the era of decent knee surgery, it would have been no-contest.

Butkus was a beast but Reggie was almost superhuman.

 

[rmilia1]

Deion Sanders shouldn't even be on the list unless you're talking about flag football. What a puss.

Deion didn't need to take Klein because no one ever threw the ball to the guy he was covering. If you accidently did it was going the other way. If you're talking gahe changers he took away an entire side of the field just by being out there. There were literally months that went by between his passes defended.

 

[USCDoom]

Jack Ham could, did, and did it better than Derrick Brooks.

You are Delusional.

 

[Ricky Roma]

You are Delusional.

Uh huh....Jack Ham: More first team all pro selections than Brooks, more interceptions (in an era where they passed far less) than Brooks, the NFL DPOY for 1975, a member of the all decade team of the 1970's and a member of the all time 75 year anniversary team.

Sure...completely delusional......to a Tampa Bay Buc fan.

 

[tducey]

Reggie White.

 

[GNG]

Deion didn't need to take Klein because no one ever threw the ball to the guy he was covering. If you accidently did it was going the other way. If you're talking gahe changers he took away an entire side of the field just by being out there. There were literally months that went by between his passes defended.

Deion would qualify as the best self-promoter in NFL history.

 

[rmilia1]

Deion would qualify as the best self-promoter in NFL history.

There's never been a better pure cover corner than Sanders. I don't think he's the best defender ever but he belongs on the list just for how he impacted the game

 

[GNG]

There's never been a better pure cover corner than Sanders. I don't think he's the best defender ever but he belongs on the list just for how he impacted the game

He was a decent defender but couldn't tackle worth a lick.

 

[darken65]

He was a decent defender but couldn't tackle worth a lick.

Did he ever need to?

 

[rmilia1]

He was a decent defender but couldn't tackle worth a lick.

And Deacon Jones didn't have many interceptions and LT couldnt cover wide receivers and Ronnie Lott couldn't play DL. The fact is the greatest defenders all excelled in a particular area. Sanders shut down half of an opposing teams passing plays and took away their most dangerous WR better than anyone ever.

 

[GNG]

Did he ever need to?

Ask his teammates.

 

[GNG]

And Deacon Jones didn't have many interceptions and LT couldnt cover wide receivers and Ronnie Lott couldn't play DL. The fact is the greatest defenders all excelled in a particular area. Sanders shut down half of an opposing teams passing plays and took away their most dangerous WR better than anyone ever.

Try to be objective instead of always sounding like a homer.

 

[rmilia1]

Try to be objective instead of always sounding like a homer.

Ummmm calling Deion the best cover corner ever isn't homer. It's pretty universally accepted as fact. If a Bulls fan says Jordan is the best basketball player ever are they a homer? I mean come on.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

There's never been a better pure cover corner than Sanders. I don't think he's the best defender ever but he belongs on the list just for how he impacted the game

I'd put Mike Haynes against any player for pure cover ability. He could also tackle and blitz at a very high level.

 

[darken65]

Ask his teammates.

any proof?

 

[rmilia1]

I'd put Mike Haynes against any player for pure cover ability. He could also tackle and blitz at a very high level.

Haynes was great but he played in an Era where you could use your hands a lot more and the PI rules were far more lax. That's why these debates are fun. Game is different in every era.

 

[GNG]

Ummmm calling Deion the best cover corner ever isn't homer. It's pretty universally accepted as fact. If a Bulls fan says Jordan is the best basketball player ever are they a homer? I mean come on.

He's in the top 10 but not the best in my opinion.