Ray Ray The 2nd Smartest Defensive Player?

[BaltimoreBulldog]

Thank you for the general agreement, however, it's an insult to Ray Lewis' stature as the NFL's premier MLB to compare his knowlege of the game to Zack Thomas. Calling signals for an infrequently blitzing Chicago Bears defence and calling signals for a Baltimore Ravens defence is akin to comparing fractions to calculus. And that's no exaggeration.

Zach Thomas played for the Dolphins

[BaltimoreBulldog]

Not trying to make a case for Zach Thomas but this is why he was voted smartest:

In addition to being a seven-time All-Pro selection by the Associated Press and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Thomas earned the following awards and honors in his NFL career:

* NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (October 1996)

* All-Rookie selection by College & Pro Football Newsweekly, The Football News, Pro Football Weekly and Pro Football Writers of America (1996)

* AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996)

* Dolphins' 1996 Unsung Hero Award as selected by NFLPA

* Dolphins MVP and Newcomer of the Year by South Florida media (1996)

* Pro Bowl alternate (1996)

* AFC Defensive Player of the Month (September 1998)

* 2x NFL Alumni Association's Linebacker of the Year (1998, 2006)

* First-team All-Pro selection by the USA Today, College & Pro Football Newsweekly and Football Digest (1998)

* 1998 All-Madden Team (1998)

* 3x Dolphins' Leadership Award (1998, 1999, 2005)

* Weeks 1 & 16 2001 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (2001)

* Dolphins MVP by South Florida media and fans (2001)

* All-Iron Team as selected by CBS analyst Phil Simms (2001)

* PFWA Dolphins Chapter "Good Guy" Award (2001)

* First-team Pro Football Weekly All-AFC (2002)

* First-team Sports Illustrated All-Pro (2003)

* Second-team Football Digest All-Pro (2003)

* Week 14 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (2005)

* All-AFC selection by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America (2006)

* More tackles than any linebacker currently in the Hall of Fame

[BaltimoreBulldog]

And here is a summary of Ray's:

At the conclusion of the 2007 season, Lewis has career totals of 1,520 tackles, 1367 solo tackles[10], 11 forced fumbles, 90 passes defended, 83 tackles for loss, 30 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, 25 interceptions, and two touchdowns in 162 games[11][12]. Lewis has been selected to nine NFL Pro Bowl games in his twelve seasons and led the NFL in tackles five times (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2004). In 2003, Lewis led all linebackers with six interceptions, a total matching the all-time record for a middle linebacker in a single season. Lewis was named 1st team AP All-Pro in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004 and 2nd team All-Pro in 1997 and 1998.

If i had to guess i would say Ray Lewis will get into the HOF over Zach Thomas based on his reputation alone. Not to mention he has way more INT and Sacks and more pro bowls.

[RavensIQ]

The real question that needs to be asked is....who would you rather have starting MLB on your team? Zach Thomas or Ray Lewis.

Anyone that says Zach Thomas is either a lier, a foolish moron, or a dolphins fan (technically all 3)...and who really cares what a dolphin's fan thinks?

If a cowgirl's fan/cowpie's fan says Thomas well...that just shows how intellectually challenge they truly are. (which would be no surprise there either)

[BaltimoreBulldog]

The real question that needs to be asked is....who would you rather have starting MLB on your team? Zach Thomas or Ray Lewis.

Anyone that says Zach Thomas is either a lier, a foolish moron, or a dolphins fan (technically all 3)...and who really cares what a dolphin's fan thinks?

If a cowgirl's fan/cowpie's fan says Thomas well...that just shows how intellectually challenge they truly are. (which would be no surprise there either)

Well said.