When the NFL announced that, as a part of the league's centennial celebration, a blue-ribbon panel would select an NFL 100 All-Time Team, you knew it was going to be the subject of massive debate. They even had an entire hour-long postgame show on NFL Network after the latest members of the team were announced each week dedicated to that very topic. And, I've gotta say, some of the criticism is justified. Because I have no idea how they came up with some of the players on the All-Time Team!
Don't get me wrong. They're all Hall of Famers, and they're all worthy of having their busts in Canton. But I really question some of the selections as the "greatest of all-time" at their particular positions. The NFL has been around for 100 years. This team was designed to honor the best of the best. For the most part, they did a good job. But, beyond the obvious selections, some of the choices definitely left people scratching their heads.
For starters, there are only three active players on the list (Tom Brady, Adam Vinatieri, Larry Fitzgerald). Rob Gronkowski was still active when they voted, so, for all intents and purposes, he counts as an "active" player too. There wasn't a single active defensive player who made the team. So, according to the experts on the panel, none of the 39 greatest defensive players in history is currently playing in the NFL!
There also isn't a single running back who's played an NFL snap at any point in the last 15 years on the team. I understand the modern NFL is built around the passing game, but you're telling me that none of the great running backs of the 2000s belongs on the team?! Those seem like two big misses! Also, how was there no place for Jim Thorpe?!
LaDainian Tomlinson, who was a finalist but not selected, was the first to bring up the running back issue on the very first reaction show. They then had Peter King as a guest on one of the reaction shows, and he offered a theory as to why there were so few active players on the list. The NFL told them to encompass the entire 100 years. As a result, he thinks almost too much emphasis was put on players from the early days, and the current players were the ones who suffered.
Another voter who appeared on the reaction show one week suggested another possible reason why there were so few current players on the final team. Their career arc isn't complete, which makes it difficult to judge them compared to those whose careers have been over for years. To an extent, she has a point. Antonio Brown was her example. When they voted two years ago, AB was arguably on a Hall of Fame trajectory. We all know what's happened since! (She also made a passionate case for TO to be on the team, though, so I'm beginning to wonder what her criteria for an "all-time great" is.)
With all that in mind (and with no offense to the blue-ribbon panel), I'd like to offer some suggestions for players who should've been named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team instead, as well as the players they'd be replacing...
Quarterback: Drew Brees and Terry Bradshaw for John Elway and Dan Marino
I started off 7-for-7 on the quarterbacks, which got me feeling pretty good. Then I missed the last three. I had Bart Starr instead of Roger Staubach, but I had Staubach 11th, so that selection doesn't bother me. Why are John Elway and Dan Marino on the All-Time Team, though? I can kinda understand Marino since he set a lot of records, but what did Elway do that makes him one of the best of all-time? Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, which is tied with Joe Montana for second-most all-time. Elway and Marino went a combined 2-4 in Super Bowls. And who broke all of Marino's records? Oh, that's right...Drew Brees!
Running Back: Marshall Faulk for Earl Campbell
Running back might've been the most competitive position of them all for the voters. They only had 12 spots, and there are a number of worthy names who didn't make the cut. Which is really what makes the selection of Earl Campbell so glaring. And, I agree with LaDainian Tomlinson that the lack of running backs from the 2000s isn't a good look. Which is why Marshall Faulk, the best two-way running back in NFL history, is my selection to replace Campbell on the All-Time Team. I'd also move Gale Sayers to kick returner, if only to open up a spot for Jim Thorpe, Red Grange or Bronko Nagurski (the only player on the 75th anniversary not on the 100th).
Wide Receiver: Cris Carter for Paul Warfield
First off, why were there only 10 wide receivers? It seems like there should've been at least as many wide receivers as running backs. Wide receiver also must've been a tough position for the voters because of how prominent the passing game has become in the modern NFL, thus skewing the all-time receiving numbers towards recent players. I still think Cris Carter is one of the 10 greatest receivers ever, though. He's certainly ahead of Paul Warfield. So is Lynn Swann, but I'm not sure who else I'd take off. As for TO, I'm not even sure he's in my top 15.
Offensive Tackle: Jackie Slater for Walter Jones
Jackie Slater's omission was perhaps the most surprising of any. Especially since Walter Jones made the squad. No offense to Walter Jones, but he was no Jackie Slater. He wasn't a Joe Thomas, either. Which actually gets me thinking...where's Joe Thomas?
Defensive End: Michael Strahan and J.J. Watt for Bill Hewitt and Lee Roy Selmon
Defensive end is one position where the voters really missed the mark. That's where the emphasis on historical players over recent ones really stands out. Because J.J. Watt (the active player Peter King was really advocating) is definitely one of the greatest defensive players in history and should be on this team! So should Michael Strahan, and not just because he played for the Giants!
Defensive Tackle: Warren Sapp for John Randle
Remember how good that Bucs defense of the early 2000s was? Apparently the voters didn't! Because I can't fathom how Warren Sapp, the best player on that defense and one of the most dominant defensive tackles ever was left off! Especially because they put John Randle on it, even though Randle and Sapp played at the same time and Sapp was better.
Linebacker: Ray Nitschke for Bobby Bell
It was surprising that Dick Butkus was the only Bears middle linebacker selected. I couldn't think of who I would take off to include Mike Singletary, though. However, I would make one change. We don't need both Chiefs linebackers from the 60s on there. Not when Ray Nitschke is missing. There's a shockingly small number of Lombardi Packers on the All-Time Team. And nobody says Lombardi Packers more than Ray Nitschke.
Safety: Troy Polamalu for Jack Christiansen
Another example where the historical player got the nod over the more recent player. And with only six choices, those slights become even more glaring. But, then again, safety is one of the most underrepresented positions in Canton, so that shouldn't be a surprise. After the obvious choices (Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Larry Wilson), there were only three spots left. One of them should've gone to Troy Polamalu. Also, a question about Polamalu...How long will it take the sculptor to get his hair right on his Hall of Fame bust? Have they already started working on it? It's only eight months until Polamalu's induction, after all.
This was an impossible task for this selection committee. I'm sure they were honored to be asked to serve on the panel, then they get jokers like me telling them where they got it wrong. But, you'd have to think, if this was an NFL 150, there would've been room for both the players who made it and some of the deserving guys they omitted...and there'd still be plenty of controversy and debate over the selections!
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