All-Time NFL Icons: A Top Ten list

[deep throat]

There is no right or wrong here. Who represents your top 10 ICONS (All-Time) in the NFL.

1. Jim Thorpe -Canton Bulldogs, considered by some to be the best athlete of the 20th century.
2. Vince Lombardi- The greatest motivator in the history of the NFL.
3. George Halas- Instrumental in establishing the NFL with key signing of Red Grange. Was also a damn good player, famous play where he stripped Thorpe and ran it back 98 yds for a TD.
4. Paul Brown-The creator of the modern offense. Dominated while a Browns Coach, later became coach/owner of Bengals.
5. Curly Lambeau-You know the story
6. Jim Brown-Widely considered the best RB of all-time. Almost unstopable in his day.
7. Dick Butkus-Some consider him the best defensive player of all-time. Along with Nitschke (honorable mention) they represent the tough-dirty-grind it out in your face football many of us love.
8. Don Hutson- Most would pick Rice over Hutson as all-time greatest, but he was so dominant in his day. Held just about every receiving record there was when he retired (18 of them).
9. Bill Walsh- Pioneer of the West Coast offense. The Coaches he spawned off his coaching tree seems endless.
10. Joe Montana- Not the most talented, but suregeon like ability to work in the offense (the meaning of the phrase "field general"). Class person and one of the most recognized figures in the NFL from the 80's -to- today.

[bigkurty]

So you have to be dead or at least retired to make the list I guess. I would think that in 10 years you will find Favre on this list. He may not have won as many championships or have been as surgical but he is a "Man's" quarterback more than any other QB I can think. Most of the other guys on this list were know as old time tough guys and to me I do not think of Montana as a Man's Man nearly as much as I would Favre. You look at his toughness, his battles through adversity, durability, longevity, his consistent winning, cold weather domination, etc., etc., etc.

[deep throat]

So you have to be dead or at least retired to make the list I guess. I would think that in 10 years you will find Favre on this list. He may not have won as many championships or have been as surgical but he is a "Man's" quarterback more than any other QB I can think. Most of the other guys on this list were know as old time tough guys and to me I do not think of Montana as a Man's Man nearly as much as I would Favre. You look at his toughness, his battles through adversity, durability, longevity, his consistent winning, cold weather domination, etc., etc., etc.

It's "my" list as I said -there's no wrong or right. If you want Favre on your list put him there. The people I put on my list were pioneers and legends. I don't think may people would argue with anyone there.

Favre is an iron man. He won a Super Bowl, has set records, and is a throw back. I think it's a nice pick.

I didn't make this a tough guy list (as you elude), but a NFL Icons list. I think it's reasonable #10 selection for the reasons I mentioned. You could make a case for Favre, Unitas, Elway, Namath, Etc.

[xTitan]

So you have to be dead or at least retired to make the list I guess. I would think that in 10 years you will find Favre on this list. He may not have won as many championships or have been as surgical but he is a "Man's" quarterback more than any other QB I can think. Most of the other guys on this list were know as old time tough guys and to me I do not think of Montana as a Man's Man nearly as much as I would Favre. You look at his toughness, his battles through adversity, durability, longevity, his consistent winning, cold weather domination, etc., etc., etc.

I am sorry but Favre will never surpass Montana its about the rings...just won't happen....I think as history goes on Favre will be cast in the shadow of John Elway...who I believe is the best QB of this ERA...he took a number of HORRIBLE Denver teams to the superbowl and also thrived under 2 distinctly different offensive systems...not sure you can say that about any other QB. Elway was also reinvented himself toward the end of his career, he put away his gunslinging ways and became a game manager which allowed him 2 get 2 rings.

[El Duderino]

Tony Dorsett was my favorite football player when i watched football as a kid

While i hated the Oilers back then,i also loved how Earl Campbell ran the ball

[ReddManBogieMan]

1. Vince Lombardi
2. Bill Walsh
3. Jerry Rice
4. Walter Payton
5. Reggie White
6. Brett Favre
7. Barry Sanders
8. Lawrence Taylor
9. Deion Sanders
10.Emmitt Smith

[ReddManBogieMan]

-= original quote snipped =-



I am sorry but Favre will never surpass Montana its about the rings...just won't happen....I think as history goes on Favre will be cast in the shadow of John Elway...who I believe is the best QB of this ERA...he took a number of HORRIBLE Denver teams to the superbowl and also thrived under 2 distinctly different offensive systems...not sure you can say that about any other QB. Elway was also reinvented himself toward the end of his career, he put away his gunslinging ways and became a game manager which allowed him 2 get 2 rings.

John Elway stole his first Super Bowl win from Brett Favre, it still pisses me off to this day that they lost that Super Bowl. Anyways Favre is the best all around QB ever in his prime, not right now. Plus it kind of sucks for Favre that his coach and mentor Mike Holmgren split on him in his prime, who was replaced by an idiotic Coach and a Horrific GM named Mike Sherman, who flushed some of Favre's greatest years down the toilet:cry: Granted I think that if they don't lose to Denver, Holmgren would have never left but that's just speculation on my part.
I also think that Joey Harrington could have won a Super Bowl as Denver's QB 97-98 all they had to do is hand off to Terrell Davis, or throw a short pass to Shannon Sharpe.

So basically I'm saying John Elway's 2 rings don't put him ahead of Favre, and if Favre had a good team with a good coach the last ten years, He would have Joe Montana like Super Bowls wins. I know that's alot of what if's but that's my opinion.

[El Duderino]

John Elway stole his first Super Bowl win from Brett Favre, it still pisses me off to this day that they lost that Super Bowl.

The Denver offensive line won that Super Bowl,they gashed our defense via the running game from start to finish.The images of Reggie and Gilbert Brown gasping for air as they kept picking themselves off the ground with forever be ingrained in my mind.

Holmgren screwed up also.We were running the ball very well and Denver wasn't a great run stuffing team,but Holmgren got pass happy.

[deep throat]

1. Vince Lombardi
2. Bill Walsh
3. Jerry Rice
4. Walter Payton
5. Reggie White
6. Brett Favre
7. Barry Sanders
8. Lawrence Taylor
9. Deion Sanders
10.Emmitt Smith

That's a good modern era list. Rice widely considered the best WR, Sanders the most talented CB (but didn't like to tackle), Payton-great, but better then Brown?, Reggie -maybe the best DE ever-ran a 4.7@295 with incredible strength, and LT-started the pass rushing OLB popularity.

[paulpressey25]

I don't have a top ten list but a few possible guys to consider....

Tom Landry.....no one remembers him now, but he was the face of NFL football for 15-years.....Don Shula as well.

Roger Staubach....he probably doesn't belong in any top-ten list but is a forgotten icon.....but if you consider Stabauch, then Terry Bradshaw has to be there as well....outside of the one he didn't get for his thumb, he led the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles....

I was also sad that Bill Walsh didn't get the cover of Sports Illustrated when he passed away.....I think today's fast paced, short-term, internet society doesn't allow for the proper recognition for a guy like that. He was every bit as big as Lombardi.

[deep throat]

I don't have a top ten list but a few possible guys to consider....

Tom Landry.....no one remembers him now, but he was the face of NFL football for 15-years.....Don Shula as well.

Roger Staubach....he probably doesn't belong in any top-ten list but is a forgotten icon.....but if you consider Stabauch, then Terry Bradshaw has to be there as well....outside of the one he didn't get for his thumb, he led the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles....

I was also sad that Bill Walsh didn't get the cover of Sports Illustrated when he passed away.....I think today's fast paced, short-term, internet society doesn't allow for the proper recognition for a guy like that. He was every bit as big as Lombardi.

Some good ones. Dan Reeves is a Hall of Fame player, and took two different teams to the SUper Bowl-also Chuck Knoll with the Steelers.

QB-Marino, Elway, Otto Graham, Blanda, ....

[InsideOut]

My list is made up of the guys who pop into my mind when asked...

Best coach...Vince Lombardi

Best QB....Montana. I put him ahead of Favre and the others because he just never goofed up. In all the years I watched him I never can remeber him throwing the game away. I never caught myself saying "what in the world was he thinking". I also never remember him whining or complaining. He was and is a class act. I could see some puttinh Unitas here.

Best RB...Jim Brown.

Best WR...Rice

Best on D...Dick Butkus, White and LT.

Fathers of the game...George Halas and Curly Lambeau.

Changed the game forever...Walsh.

I don't ever see Favre being on this list. He had a great 5 year run but I just watched him throw away so many playoff games. He won a lot of games as well put I don't recall Montana having the 3, 4, 5 and 6 INT games that Favre had that killed the Packers playoff hopes over the past 10 years.

[deep throat]

My list is made up of the guys who pop into my mind when asked...

Best coach...Vince Lombardi

Best QB....Montana. I put him ahead of Favre and the others because he just never goofed up. In all the years I watched him I never can remeber him throwing the game away. I never caught myself saying "what in the world was he thinking". I also never remember him whining or complaining. He was and is a class act. I could see some puttinh Unitas here.

Best RB...Jim Brown.

Best WR...Rice

Best on D...Dick Butkus, White and LT.

Fathers of the game...George Halas and Curly Lambeau.

Changed the game forever...Walsh.

I don't ever see Favre being on this list. He had a great 5 year run but I just watched him throw away so many playoff games. He won a lot of games as well put I don't recall Montana having the 3, 4, 5 and 6 INT games that Favre had that killed the Packers playoff hopes over the past 10 years.

nice post-

I agree Walsh changed the game, but look up some info on Paul Brown. Most here probably don't know much about him, he transformed the game.

I don't think Favre will make a National list, GB fan list sure (top 5). He's not far off because he is the IRON man in a day and age when players aren't as tough as they once were.

Montana won every Super Bowl game he started -4 for 4. He was the picture of concistency 5 times he had the highest QB rating in the NFC. 31 come frombehind wins-was known as "Joe Comeback" for his multiple late comebacks at Notre Dame.

[ReasonablySober]

1 - Joe Montana
2 - Jim Brown
3 - Vince Lombardi
4 - Jerry Rice
5 - John Elway
6 - Bill Walsh
7 - Lawrence Taylor
8 - Johny Unitas
9 - Paul Brown
10 - Dick Butkus

[Joe Jackson]

This is too hard and unscientific to begin with.
It requires at least two lists.

Coaches and Mgmt.
Players

Here are candidates.
Chosen for achievement, impact, longevity and notoriety. and my opinion from what I have seen and read.

Coaches & owners:
George Halas
Curly Lambeau
Wellington Mara
Lamar Hunt
Paul Brown
Vince Lombardi
Sid Gilman
Tom Landry
Al Davis
Bill Walsh
* Mr Rooney from the Steelers should also be mentioned.

Players:

Red Grange
Jim Thorpe
Don Hutson
Jerry Rice
Johnny Unitas
Jim Brown
Bronko Nagurski
Dick Butkus
Otto Graham
Joe Namath

[deep throat]

This is too hard and unscientific to begin with.
It requires at least two lists.

Coaches and Mgmt.
Players

Here are candidates.
Chosen for achievement, impact, longevity and notoriety. and my opinion from what I have seen and read.

Coaches & owners:
George Halas
Curly Lambeau
Wellington Mara
Lamar Hunt
Paul Brown
Vince Lombardi
Sid Gilman
Tom Landry
Al Davis
Bill Walsh
* Mr Rooney from the Steelers should also be mentioned.

Players:

Red Grange
Jim Thorpe
Don Hutson
Jerry Rice
Johnny Unitas
Jim Brown
Bronko Nagurski
Dick Butkus
Otto Graham
Joe Namath

Excellent list
Probably add Elwayand Marino- I had thought about Nagurski-good one