Who is the greatest football player ever?

[KillerKat]

Nothing like having your hip ripped out of it's socket. Oh, and then go on to steal bases playing MLB.

What he did in MLB has nothing to do with what he did in the NFL

[faultlessjoint]

rice is the only player who is the undisputed greatest at his position (except adam vinateiri ) so ill have to go with him

I would have to go with Rice for this reason as well. He is the only UNDISPUTED best at any position on the field.

Also, surprised there hasn't been more love for defense, Butkus or LT anyone?

[Matt Foley]

One could argue that Julius Peppers would have made the Pro Bowl at three or four different positions on the field. DE, LB, TE, WR (okay that's a stretch)

[Pimpdaddy]

I don't care that you attached the offense/defense requirement... Payton was the greatest football player ever...

Wrong, again,... Jim Brown....

[Jangler]

through evolution, today's humans are clearly better physical specimens than those even 50 years ago...

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

I would have to go with Rice for this reason as well. He is the only UNDISPUTED best at any position on the field.

Also, surprised there hasn't been more love for defense, Butkus or LT anyone?

I was thinking Lawrence Taylor too.

[panthersphan]

Jim Brown.

Barry Sanders.

Jerry Rice.

[Phillips86]

How can it be anyone but Jim brown? He was a man playing with boys back then. No one could stop him.

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

Chris Weinke

:bigear:

[Bigdaddy8523]

Barry Barry Barry Sanders

[Panther_Fan]

Todays athletes are far more superior in what they can do. But in no way can they handle the punsihment like the old days. Otherwise they wouldnt be a need for all the whimp rule changes.

LOL at Johnny U.

Quoted from an article. "As long as the Colts have Unitas, they could put nine or 10 girls on the field and still win."

My response "Colts couldnt put a real football team around Johnny and stop Famous Joe's guarantee."

Barry Sanders is my pick. Its just sad he was on a poor team. Could you imagine his closing speed as a saftey or a corner coming in for a blitz.

[beasonfanclub]

butkus

payton

j brown

[mountainpantherfan]

The question isn't who is the greatest athelet? Or the best at a position? The question is "Who is the greatest football player of all time?" Since this crosses positional lines using stats is useless. And athletic superiority alone means nothing in terms of playing football.

So for me one of the easiest ways to look at this question is to look at championships.

My answer: Otto Graham.

In just ten season, all with the Cleveland Browns, Graham was a 5 time pro-bowler, 9 time All-Pro, 3 time league MVP, played in 10 championship games and won 7 championships...all before Jim Brown joined the Browns. He has the highest winning percentage of any QB ever and also won an NBA championship in only one season playing professional basketball.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

First guy I thought of was Barry Sanders. Anyone that can make Detroit a relevant franchise must have some kind of superpowers.