Greatest NFL Player Tournament - (16) Barry Sanders vs. (17) Ray Lewis

[iowajerms]

This week

16th seed - RB Barry Sanders vs 17th seed - LB Ray Lewis
24th seed - DL Bob Lilly vs 9th seed - WR Don Hudson

Since there is not much voting on the Greatest Professional Teams threads, I decided not to do that one anymore. So, I decided to start a new one with the NFL.

Seeds are based on a ranking from NFL.com. I did not include the two offensive linemen that are in the top 24.

This will be double elimination. Allowed to change votes until deadline. Higher seed advances in case of a tie.

Bracket

 

[iowajerms]

Even though I would agree that Ray Lewis is among the best linebackers in history, I don't see him in the argument as being the best.

Barry Sanders is brought up in every Best RB debate, along with Jim Brown and Walter Payton.

 

[Rock Strongo]

barry

ray was a starting piece on a nasty baltimore defense...but barry literally carried those lions teams on his back...with garbage lines in a run and shoot system.

 

[SomeGuy]

Ray - Barry Sanders gets a lot of due credit for his running ability but he has a lot of negative yard carries as well due to the same running ability. Also, since he retired early, we will never know how good he would have been (total yards, etc). Sanders also didn't make much of his game against the Bucs in the 97 playoffs. Loved watching him play though, as long as it wasn't against the Bucs.

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

This is a tough one barry was just so fun to watch and is arguably the greatest rb of all time and Ray Lewis is arguably the greatest MLB in NFL history. I think barry retiring early does hurt him since we will never know how great he could have been.

 

[iowajerms]

I understand that Barry Sanders ran for a lot of negative yards. I think it was Steve Sabol that said something like, "If you took out the positive yards, no RB has more negative yards than Barry Sanders. If you took out the negative yards, no RB would have as many yards as Barry Sanders."

 

[DHoey]

I think that with Barry, the legend will grow more and more as time goes on. With saying that, I voted for him.

 

[DHoey]

barry

ray was a starting piece on a nasty baltimore defense...but barry literally carried those lions teams on his back...with garbage lines in a run and shoot system.

I agree. If you put Ray Lewis on a shitty D and what do you get? You put Barry on a shitty team and we know what we got .02

 

[iowajerms]

I agree. If you put Ray Lewis on a shitty D and what do you get? You put Barry on a shitty team and we know what we got .02

I think Ray would have done great. Just like the other LBs on the bracket. They were part of great defenses, but nobody would question their ability if they were on a crappy D.

 

[DHoey]

I think Ray would have done great. Just like the other LBs on the bracket. They were part of great defenses, but nobody would question their ability if they were on a crappy D.

Maybe he would have done great, but would he be in the conversation as one of the best ever? Ranking defensive players is kinda tough.

 

[iowajerms]

 

[Bunkamania]

Had to go with Barry because he was so good at a skill position. I almost went with Ray because I am a Raven homer and Barry didn't really show up in the playoffs.