Alright football heads, time for a little debatin'!
It's 1:30am. You've just had your beer refreshed and one of your boys throws out, “OK. Name the four players that would make up each NFL team's Mount Rushmore.” A perfect way to navigate your way to last call.
“Just players? Or are coaches and owners eligible.”
“Just players. What do we care about the suits? Just give me the best players in each franchise's history.”
“Can we have two players that played the same position but in different eras?”
“Dude. I said THE FOUR FACESOF EACH FRANCHISE! I don't care what position they played or when they played.”
This actually happened to me the other night, and within minutes several other bar patrons jumped in to throw in their two cents, and it dawned on me that it might make a good column and argument starter. It's my list, so I don't feel the need to actually spending time defending each selection (and I'm too lazy too). But hey, if you want to call me out, I'm open for a little email tête-a-tête.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals: Jim Hart, Dan Dierdorf, Conrad Dobler, Jim Bakken. I considered my favorite player from when I was about 9-years-old, Terry Metcalf, but alas, he didn't make it.
Atlanta Falcons: Steve Bartkowski, Deion Sanders, Brett Favre, Tommy Nobis, Jeff Van Note.
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Matt Stover, Jonathan Ogden.
Buffalo Bills: Jim Kelly, O.J Simpson, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas (narrowly edging out Joe DeLamielleure).
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Greene, John Kasay.
Chicago Bears: Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary. And yes, I did consider “Red” Grange.
Cincinnati Bengals: Anthony Munoz, Boomer Esiason, Cris Collinsworth, Ken Anderson.
Cleveland Browns: Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome, Lou Groza.
Dallas Cowboys: Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith, Bob Lilly, Randy White. I know you Cows fans think that your Mt. Rushmore should have ten heads, but we have to keep things even. I decided to only take one QB, so no Troy.
Denver Broncos: John Elway, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater.
Detroit Lions: Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Billy Sims.
Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg.
Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts: Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, John Mackey.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Brunell, Tony Boselli, Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor.
Kansas City Chiefs: Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, Larry Little, Nick Buoniconti.
Minnesota Vikings: Alan Page, Fran Tarkenton, Brett Favre, Paul Krause, Cris Carter.
New England Patriots: John Hannah, Tom Brady, Adam Vinatieri, Sam Cunningham.
New Orleans Saints: Archie Manning, Sam Mills, Ricky Jackson, Drew Brees.
New York Giants: Sam Huff, Y.A. Tittle, Frank Gifford, Lawrence Taylor.
New York Jets: Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Brett Favre, Mark Gastineau, Curtis Martin.
Oakland/L.A. Raiders: Marcus Allen, Art Shell, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda. Honestly, the Raiders were the toughest team to narrow to four players – they have a truckload of Hall of Famers and memorable characters.
Philadelphia Eagles: Reggie White, Chuck Bednarik, Donovan McNabb, Tommy McDonald.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann.
St. Louis/L.A. Rams: Eric Dickerson, Kurt Warner, Jackie Slater, Deacon Jones.
San Diego Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson, Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Lance Alworth.
San Francisco 49ers: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Hugh McElhenny.
Seattle Seahwks: Jim Zorn, Steve Largent, Walter Jones, Cortez Kennedy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lee Roy Selmon, Mike Alstott, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks.
Washington Redskins: Sammy Baugh, Art Monk, Joe Theismann, Darrell Green.
So there you have it. A little NFL talk while we anxiously wait for the season to start never hurts. Let me know if I left anyone out or if you have an argument against any of my selections – we can discuss it over a few beers sometime.
It's 1:30am. You've just had your beer refreshed and one of your boys throws out, “OK. Name the four players that would make up each NFL team's Mount Rushmore.” A perfect way to navigate your way to last call.
“Just players? Or are coaches and owners eligible.”
“Just players. What do we care about the suits? Just give me the best players in each franchise's history.”
“Can we have two players that played the same position but in different eras?”
“Dude. I said THE FOUR FACESOF EACH FRANCHISE! I don't care what position they played or when they played.”
This actually happened to me the other night, and within minutes several other bar patrons jumped in to throw in their two cents, and it dawned on me that it might make a good column and argument starter. It's my list, so I don't feel the need to actually spending time defending each selection (and I'm too lazy too). But hey, if you want to call me out, I'm open for a little email tête-a-tête.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals: Jim Hart, Dan Dierdorf, Conrad Dobler, Jim Bakken. I considered my favorite player from when I was about 9-years-old, Terry Metcalf, but alas, he didn't make it.
Atlanta Falcons: Steve Bartkowski, Deion Sanders, Brett Favre, Tommy Nobis, Jeff Van Note.
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Matt Stover, Jonathan Ogden.
Buffalo Bills: Jim Kelly, O.J Simpson, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas (narrowly edging out Joe DeLamielleure).
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Greene, John Kasay.
Chicago Bears: Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary. And yes, I did consider “Red” Grange.
Cincinnati Bengals: Anthony Munoz, Boomer Esiason, Cris Collinsworth, Ken Anderson.
Cleveland Browns: Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome, Lou Groza.
Dallas Cowboys: Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith, Bob Lilly, Randy White. I know you Cows fans think that your Mt. Rushmore should have ten heads, but we have to keep things even. I decided to only take one QB, so no Troy.
Denver Broncos: John Elway, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater.
Detroit Lions: Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Billy Sims.
Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg.
Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts: Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, John Mackey.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Brunell, Tony Boselli, Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor.
Kansas City Chiefs: Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, Larry Little, Nick Buoniconti.
Minnesota Vikings: Alan Page, Fran Tarkenton, Brett Favre, Paul Krause, Cris Carter.
New England Patriots: John Hannah, Tom Brady, Adam Vinatieri, Sam Cunningham.
New Orleans Saints: Archie Manning, Sam Mills, Ricky Jackson, Drew Brees.
New York Giants: Sam Huff, Y.A. Tittle, Frank Gifford, Lawrence Taylor.
New York Jets: Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Brett Favre, Mark Gastineau, Curtis Martin.
Oakland/L.A. Raiders: Marcus Allen, Art Shell, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda. Honestly, the Raiders were the toughest team to narrow to four players – they have a truckload of Hall of Famers and memorable characters.
Philadelphia Eagles: Reggie White, Chuck Bednarik, Donovan McNabb, Tommy McDonald.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann.
St. Louis/L.A. Rams: Eric Dickerson, Kurt Warner, Jackie Slater, Deacon Jones.
San Diego Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson, Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Lance Alworth.
San Francisco 49ers: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Hugh McElhenny.
Seattle Seahwks: Jim Zorn, Steve Largent, Walter Jones, Cortez Kennedy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lee Roy Selmon, Mike Alstott, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks.
Washington Redskins: Sammy Baugh, Art Monk, Joe Theismann, Darrell Green.
So there you have it. A little NFL talk while we anxiously wait for the season to start never hurts. Let me know if I left anyone out or if you have an argument against any of my selections – we can discuss it over a few beers sometime.
