which super bowl story line do you dread most

[rawaction]

Ray Lewis is the 3rd or 4th best defensive player ever after Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, and/or Reggie White.

 

I think you are over glorifying the LB position by a country mile. Also, 30-40 years ago it was much more important than it has been the past decade. Defensive backs and pass rushers have been more important in the modern era.

 

Agree. But what DB or pass rusher in the last 10 years could make a claim to be better than Ray Lewis? Not a year at a time, but body of work. Revis has been the best player at times. JJ Watt this year. Nobody has been consistently elite at those position the way Ray was from the start of his career to about 4-5 years ago.

 

Not really a fair question since the shelf life of a defensive back or pass rusher is likely much shorter than a typical middle linebacker. But since you asked, how about Ed Reed?

 

How is it not a fair question? It's kind of the point, and what those guys I listed have over every defensive player ever. They were great for a very long time.

 

As for Reed, he would definitely have an argument.

[sneakypower]

Ray Lewis is the 3rd or 4th best defensive player ever after Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, and/or Reggie White.

 

I think you are over glorifying the LB position by a country mile. Also, 30-40 years ago it was much more important than it has been the past decade. Defensive backs and pass rushers have been more important in the modern era.

 

Agree. But what DB or pass rusher in the last 10 years could make a claim to be better than Ray Lewis? Not a year at a time, but body of work. Revis has been the best player at times. JJ Watt this year. Nobody has been consistently elite at those position the way Ray was from the start of his career to about 4-5 years ago.

he was an elite player as recently as last year:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/23/pff-afc-pro-bowl-squad/

[rawaction]

Ray Lewis is the 3rd or 4th best defensive player ever after Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, and/or Reggie White.

 

I think you are over glorifying the LB position by a country mile. Also, 30-40 years ago it was much more important than it has been the past decade. Defensive backs and pass rushers have been more important in the modern era.

 

Agree. But what DB or pass rusher in the last 10 years could make a claim to be better than Ray Lewis? Not a year at a time, but body of work. Revis has been the best player at times. JJ Watt this year. Nobody has been consistently elite at those position the way Ray was from the start of his career to about 4-5 years ago.

he was an elite player as recently as last year:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/23/pff-afc-pro-bowl-squad/

 

Still there were 2 better players at his position than Lewis. For a while, there were 0 players at his position better than him. Though admittedly, Urlacher probably was better for a few years around 05-08.

[biittner77]

Ray Lewis is the 3rd or 4th best defensive player ever after Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, and/or Reggie White.

 

I think you are over glorifying the LB position by a country mile. Also, 30-40 years ago it was much more important than it has been the past decade. Defensive backs and pass rushers have been more important in the modern era.

 

Agree. But what DB or pass rusher in the last 10 years could make a claim to be better than Ray Lewis? Not a year at a time, but body of work. Revis has been the best player at times. JJ Watt this year. Nobody has been consistently elite at those position the way Ray was from the start of his career to about 4-5 years ago.

 

Not really a fair question since the shelf life of a defensive back or pass rusher is likely much shorter than a typical middle linebacker. But since you asked, how about Ed Reed?

 

How is it not a fair question? It's kind of the point, and what those guys I listed have over every defensive player ever. They were great for a very long time.

 

As for Reed, he would definitely have an argument.

 

It's much easier to have longevity at LB than DB. It's like trying to compare a RB to a QB. The average RB lasts about 3 seasons but a QB can last forever in some cases