Here’s my tribute to what I believe are the greatest offensive pro football players of all time.
As part of the NFL’s 100th anniversary, a team of 26 committee members selected the NFL All-Time team. I think the committee did an admirable job overall, and I agreed with roughly 80% of the selections. For the sake of debate, here are my offensive picks.
Centers
I’m going to select five instead of four.
I’m going with Jim Langer instead of Dwight Stephenson.
My top three are Jim Otto, Mike Webster, and Mel Hein, followed by Jim Langer and Dermonti Dawson.
Guards
Larry Little (photo, Miami Dolphins)
I’ll go along with six out of the seven chosen by the committee. Larry Little 1967-1980 is a glaring omission! Little was a six-time All-Pro and a three-time NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year. In my estimation, Little was the best pulling guard I’ve ever seen. To make room for Little, I’m leaving Dan Fortmann off my team even though I’m probably not selecting enough players from his era– the 1930s and the 1940s. The problem? Many of those players didn’t have long careers (Fortmann only played eight seasons).
My top three are John Hannah, Jim Parker, and Larry Little, followed by Gene Upshaw, Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel, and Bruce Matthews.
Offensive Tackles
I agree with six out of the seven chosen by the committee. I’m not going to include Cal Hubbard on my time. The reason? I’m running out of spots (the offensive and defensive picks can only number 100 players.)
My top three are Forrest Gregg, Anthony Munoz, and Roosevelt Brown.
Tight Ends
I’m going with five tight ends, and that means I’m not including Rob Gronkowski. As good as he was, he was often injured and played only nine seasons. His replacement is Jackie Smith 1963-1978. Smith was named All-Pro four times, and he played in five pro bowls. In 1967, he caught 56 passes for 1,205 yards–a record for tight ends at the time.
My top three are John Mackey, Mike Ditka, and Kellen Winslow, followed by Tony Gonzalez and Jackie Smith.
Wide Receivers
I agree with nine of the ten chosen. While Randy Moss was a gifted and talented receiver, his attitude was a problem. I’m replacing him with Charley Taylor, whom I believe is another glaring omission.
Charley Taylor played from 1964-1977 and was a four-time All-Pro. He also played in eight Pro Bowls and was the NFL reception leader twice.
My top three are Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth, and Don Hutson, followed by Steve Largent, Raymond Berry, Paul Warfield, Marvin Harrison, Charley Taylor, Larry Fitzgerald, and Elroy “crazy legs” Hirsch.
Quarterbacks
The great Bart Starr (photo, Ernest Anheuser)
I agree with all ten who were selected, and I’m adding one more. Bart Starr has to be in this group! Starr played from 1956-1971 and led the NFL in passer rating five times. Bart was the 1966 NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl MVP. He won five NFL championships and was named All-Pro three times. He played in four Pro Bowls. What more could you ask?
My top three are Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and Sammy Baugh, followed by Tom Brady, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Roger Staubach, Otto Graham, Bart Starr, John Elway, and Brett Favre.
Running Backs
I’ve chosen twelve, and I agree with nine of the 12 selected. I’ve eliminated Lenny Moore, arguably the most versatile running back ever, but a player that never had a 1,000-yard season rushing or receiving. I’d replace him with OJ Simpson, who was one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever seen, but you know why I can’t include Simpson in such an august group. So, instead of Moore or Simpson, I’m going with Bronco Nagurski 1930-1937 & 1943 (after a 5-year retirement). Bronco was a six-time All-Pro and led the league in rushing in 1932. A member of the NFL 75th anniversary team, he was one of the most feared players in NFL history.
The ‘Immaculate Reception’: Franco Harris scores winning TD, eluding Jimmy Warren’s last effort to bring him down (photo, Bleacher Report)
Two other glaring omissions, in my opinion, are Tony Dorsett 1977-1988 and Franco Harris 1972-1984. If not for a strike-shortened season in 1982, Dorsett would have had nine seasons in a row of rushing for over 1,000 yards. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he retired as the third all-time leading rusher–and is still #10 on the all-time list even after having retired over three decades ago. Harris had eight seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing and was a nine-time Pro Bowl player. He retired as the second all-time leading rusher and the all-time leader in post-season rushing yardage (he’s now second behind Emmitt Smith).
My top three are Walter Payton, Jim Brown, and Emmitt Smith, followed by Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris, Gale Sayers, Steve Van Buren, Earl Campbell, Bronco Nagurski, and Marion Motley.
Special Teams
I have only four spots left for special team players. My punter is Ray Guy. My return man is Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. For placekickers, Jan Stenurud is my first choice, but I had a hard time deciding between Adam Venatarri and Morten Anderson.
I gave the edge to Morten Anderson 1982-2007 because he retired as the all-time scoring leader in NFL history. A six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl player, Anderson is in pro football’s HOF.
Coaches
I agree with all ten of the coaches that were picked. The only tough decision for me was whether to go with Joe Gibbs or Bill Parcells. In the end, I went with Gibbs. Although Parcells turned four losing teams into winners, Gibbs did have a higher winning percentage. He also had three Super Bowl wins compared to two for Parcells.
My top three are Vince Lombardi, Bill Belichek, and Tom Landry, followed by Don Shula, George Halas, Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll, Paul Brown, Curly Lambeau, and Joe Gibbs
Now that I’m finished, who are your picks?
