NFL's Top 100 Greatest Players 61-70

[hawkprey]

The Pats went 11-5 without Brady, so there's a good argument that he's not even top 100-worthy. He might have just been graced with a great situation with a great coach. Great QB? Yes, but how much of his wins can we attribute to only him?

Ray on the other hand MADE coaches, and the personnel around him has changed constantly. But with Ray as the focal point for a decade and a half, the Ravens D has never really budged from that high-ranked spot.

As far as Peyton Manning goes, he's basically Ray on the other side of the field. The anti-Ray-Ray.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1287771485' post='516513']
I think Marvin Lewis could be presenting Ray. They have a tight bond.
[/quote]

Awwww that's really awesome if that's the way it is. They won a SB together, ya know

[berad]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1287772060' post='516520']
Awwww that's really awesome if that's the way it is. They won a SB together, ya know
[/quote]

I do know! They go way back. Marvin was the one who set Ray on the course he's on now. Great player/coach combination.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1287772536' post='516525']
I do know! They go way back. Marvin was the one who set Ray on the course he's on now. Great player/coach combination.
[/quote]


Yeah...even though he is one of the Enemy now.

[Ed_Reed20]

I have a feeling it'll be Marvin. I remember him using the words [i]uncoiled[/i], [i]snake[/i] and [i]explosion[/i] in the promo so it wouldn't surprise me if he's talking Ray.

[XxSizzleXx]

That's who it is, Marvin talks about him how he is like a Cobra with his quick strike and explosiveness.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287773617' post='516545']
I have a feeling it'll be Marvin. I remember him using the words [i]uncoiled[/i], [i]snake[/i] and [i]explosion[/i] in the promo so it wouldn't surprise me if he's talking Ray.
[/quote]


Nice! I remember the really cool stuff he had to say in the Coaching Tree filming.

[Ed_Reed20]

Here are the Ed and J.O. segments:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SETbGN8v8aM&feature=related[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmIdCeO6WLY&feature=related[/media]

[theFRANCHISE]

When it comes to their respective positions, Tom Brady and Ray Lewis are as accomplished and decorated as it gets. However, the argument I'd make for Ray Lewis' placement above Tom Brady is that Ray innovated at his position. Not to downplay Brady's phenomenal accomplishments, but his records can be broken and his career can eventually be matched. Ray had a larger impact on the game in that he redefined what the middle linebacker position was, carrying the torch of his predecessors before him and creating a brand-new legacy to the position. You can point to Patrick Willis, Jon Beason, Kirk Morrison, and other star MLBs in today's game and see how they all fit the profile that Ray Lewis created of the ideal MLB, both in physical build and skill-set. Heck, Patrick Willis and Kirk Morrison both wear the #52 as a direct tribute to Ray Lewis, with Morrison having kept a Ray Lewis jersey in his locker as inspiration in college.

[Bltravens]

Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Ray Lewis are the only 2 times DPOY award winners ever and one of 7 defensive players ever to win a super bowl MVP and only the 2nd LB ever. Brady has more super bowl wins, but thats about it that he has on Lewis. Lewis is also the lynchpin of the greatest single season defense ever.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287789443' post='516724']
Here are the Ed and J.O. segments:
[/quote]

I've got JO's permanently bookmarked. Can't even tell you how many times I've watched it since it was released.

[JonM229]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1287831947' post='516914']
I've got JO's permanently bookmarked. Can't even tell you how many times I've watched it since it was released.
[/quote]
I said it earlier, but Michael Strahan really makes that video.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='JonM229' timestamp='1287846814' post='516964']
I said it earlier, but Michael Strahan really makes that video.
[/quote]


Totally! He was so funny!

[XxSizzleXx]

"Jonathan would rip your limbs off and wave it in front of you and be like, hey you, you want this back?" Best quote of the video.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1287862596' post='517090']
"Jonathan would rip your limbs off and wave it in front of you and be like, hey you, you want this back?" Best quote of the video.
[/quote]

You see my favorite line in my sig!

Oh and every time I see JO now, all I can hear is Strahan, "Plain and simple, I've never seen a guy with a head as big as Jonathan Ogden's."

[XxSizzleXx]

Players ranked between 11 and 20 will air tonight on at 9 eastern. We will see Ray Lewis in this one, I also have a feeling we will see Manning. Hopefully Ray is higher than Butkus.

[Bltravens]

Fingers crossed best MLB of all time fingers crossed!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288300922' post='523057']
Fingers crossed best MLB of all time fingers crossed!
[/quote]

How sweet would it be if he isn't on the list tonight though?

[XxSizzleXx]

I'd be so jacked up I'd probably punch someone, a friendly punch of pure joy.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288302192' post='523076']
How sweet would it be if he isn't on the list tonight though?
[/quote]
lol it would be pretty damn sweet.

[Bltravens]

"Am I just trying to get there to make a play? Or am I trying to get there to break your will?"


The mentality of a beast.

[Bltravens]

PS, did anyone see that picture of Bronco Nagurski's biceps? 1930s zero weight training, and naturally that jacked...what the hell lol

[Bltravens]

BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL he's behind Butkus. Total bull

[Ed_Reed20]

I'm not happy he's behind Butkus. I'm also not happy that when he referenced L.T. and Butkus in the video, they showed highlights of them. Those guys are going to get their highlight package! Why stop showing highlights of Ray just to reinforce a point he made?!

Regardless, it was nice to see some(if only a few) highlights you rarely see in highlight videos like him bringing Rich Gannon for his first NFL sack in his first game and chasing down Priest Holmes.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288315280' post='523162']
I'm not happy he's behind Butkus. I'm also not happy that when he referenced L.T. and Butkus in the video, they showed highlights of them. Those guys are going to get their highlight package! Why take airplay from Ray just reinforce a point he made?!

Regardless, it was nice to see some(if only a few) highlights you rarely see in highlight videos like him bringing Rich Gannon for his first NFL sack in his first game and chasing down Priest Holmes.
[/quote]
I read an article once that compared all the MLBs across the board with not just individual play. And it said that Butkus was never on a top tier defense for his entire career. How Lewis is behind him ill never know.

Here it is.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=3320

Excerpt: The Bears never made the playoffs during Butkus' career, and they only finished with a winning record twice (one of which was a 7-6-1 record in 1967). They never finished as the league's top-ranked defense - either against the run, the pass, or overall. They finished in the bottom half of the NFL's defenses five out of nine seasons. They were pretty good against the run at times, but other times they got steamrolled.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288315606' post='523166']
I read an article once that compared all the MLBs across the board with not just individual play. And it said that Butkus was never on a top 5 defense for his entire career. How Lewis is behind him ill never know.
[/quote]

Old sports writers will say that's a reason to respect Butkus even more because he shined so brightly despite not being surrounded by much talent.

I don't care what anyone says though--Ray is the superior player.

[1/28/01]

Billy B just compared Sammy Baugh to Ed Reed when Baugh was on the defensive side of the ball......he LOVES Reed so much! Its hilarious!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1288316615' post='523172']
Billy B just compared Sammy Baugh to Ed Reed when Baugh was on the defensive side of the ball......he LOVES Reed so much! Its hilarious!
[/quote]

Yeah, I noticed that too.

[img]http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/8/5/128939467771636066.jpg[/img]

[img]http://multimedia.heraldinteractive.com/images/8534095a22_reed11292007.jpg[/img]

[Ed_Reed20]

Here are a few more of my favorite segments:

Barry Sanders ([url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF-5hLU7YNs"]Link[/url])

John Hannah ([url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MitzoZIh-jw"]Link[/url])

Willie Lanier ([url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBCgagl3e6A"]Link[/url])

[Alexir]

Dick Butkus might not even make the list.....

here are 7 names that haven't come up yet and will definitely make it.

Johnny Unitas
Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Peyton Manning
Joe Montana
Jerry Rice
LT

A guy like Curly Lambeau COULD make it because he was the first player/coach. Doubt it though....

I guess I can't think of 3 more locks.

EDIT: Yeah, Dick is probably in there....as long as he's number 10 im content with that. Stupid fed ex commercials.