Dont let the numbers fool you Morgan wasnt a one-trick racehorse. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. Running backs suffer none of the "didn't win the big game" biases that color our perception of quarterbacks. He was an All-Pro for the Orange Crush defenses of the 1970s, and then he stuck around to play for the 1986 Broncos Super Bowl team. They're the working stiffs who bust their butts at so-called lesser positions, on teams that are seldom seen on highlights shows, let alone national television. The best teams in the AFL proved to be NFL-caliber, but the bottom of the league was populated with a nearly bankrupt franchise or two, so the best players clumped on the best teams and stood out from the crowd. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. The Rams eventually acquired Jim Everett and opened up their offense, transforming Ellard into one of the NFL's most dangerous deep threats. But Anderson was an extraordinary talent. The USFL may not have been the NFL in terms of quality, but being the Luke Kuechly of a league that featured Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young should count for something. Anchoring defenses with catchy names like the "Orange Crush?" Dunn finished his career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th in league history, one of the best players never to be a champion. When the team inducted Smith into the Pride of the Jaguars ring of honor last year, it was the strange case of a moribund franchise honoring a former receiver still on parole for succumbing to the demons of addiction. It was a motivating factor for a number of years in my career. Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. Fitzgerald has played on some lackluster offenses. He has already waited too long for that deserved honor. Smith wasnt a no-show on third-and-long, either. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Mills and Reggie White were the USFL's two greatest defenders ever. Turner was the ultimate plug-and-play guy, one of five 49ers to be part of all eight of their playoff teams in the decade. With his career spread evenly across three teams and zero All-Pro selections (a consequence of playing in the same era as Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher), Fletcher is a Hall of Fame long shot. One has to wonder if those QBs will ever receive the respect they truly deserve. Lofton could stretch the field with his speed, and he also had some of the best hands of his time. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. WebThe highest-rated quarterbacks, wide receivers, edge rushers, running backs, cornerbacks, and defensive linemen were fine, as were the 99 club member additions and overall team Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1997, 2000, 2005). Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? 25 of 25. He is one of the best receivers in history, and he has the stats to back up such claims. Don Hutson played multiple positions during his time, including defense and on special teams. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. The difference between the great and the all-time great is often a matter of timing and luck. Fitzgerald has been a mainstay in lists of Top 100 players in the NFL for years. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. He took over as the Bears' featured offensive weapon after the Super Bowl Shuffle years. 3. Actually, make that four careers. The linebacker ranks 17th in career solo tackles (1,130) and is the only player to be part of three consecutive Super Bowl champions. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. Outside of the incredible stats that Monk posted during his Hall-of-Fame career, is has to be noted Monk also never had the pleasure of playing with quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Dan Marino or John Elway. Hull never lived to see himself make a Hall of Fame semifinalist list, as he died of liver failure at age 50 in 2011. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Is it at all possible that any of these legends of the game could possibly also be some of the most underrated players in NFL history? Slot specialists such as Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the modern passing game. Time has been hard on both of them. Drew Brees endured an average of just 24 sacks per season in Evans' All-Pro seasons, despite typically dropping back to pass over 650 times per year. Web#shorts #viral #dunk #edit #fyp #nfl #sports #sportsedits Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. Bottom line: The 49ers of the 1980s are remembered most for Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, coach Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense. 4. Hull started his professional career with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, where he helped Herschel Walker rush for 2,411 yards in one 18-game season. Greene remains third all-time in the list of career NFL sacks, and 32-year-old Jared Allen is the only active player who is remotely close to catching Greene. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. And let's not place the full burden of history on his shoulders, as Marty Schottenheimer, Norv Turner, the Chargers front office and Rivers himself had a hand in making the team a playoff also-ran during those peak years. The NFL is now full of receivers like Mason, but few of them are as productive as he was for over a decade. In 10 of the 12 seasons in which he started at least half their games, the Seahawks prevailed more times than not. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. Only missed 14 games in 10 seasons and 2 of them were meaningless rest games before the playoffs/ Last game of the season. Ryan made three Pro Bowls, but All-Pro status was blocked by a couple of guys named Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr. Football experts know of the Hutson's accomplishments, but too many casual fans are unaware of all that the man credited with birthing pass routes that are used today achieved during his legendary career. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. Mark Schlereth. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. Most seasons with 30 made field goals (7). Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. He once sacked Dan Marino twice on the first two plays of a gamea remarkable achievement, as Marino was one of the least sacked quarterbacks in NFL history. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. Bottom line: After eight seasons in Buffalo, where he had been a mainstay with the best defense in AFL history, Ron McDole took his two-bar helmet to Washington. Ron McDole falls into that final category. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. Hes on the short list of running back leaders in yards per rush (4.6, 17th), touches (2,824, 25th) and yards from scrimmage (14,079, 35th) in NFL history. He's not the kind of player a wise organization sheds to cut expenses. At its core, PFF is a player evaluation system play-by-play grading of every player in the NFL and access to some of the same stats, grades and info that all 32 NFL David Garrard. When London Fletcher retired after the 2014 season, Robert Klemko of The MMQBasked him if he was motivated by feeling underappreciated for most of his career. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. He was usually the Bears' best rusher and receiver in his prime years, catching 40-50 passes per season from Mike Tomczak or the young Jim Harbaugh. He led the Bengals to a pair of playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975, Joe Montana's high school senior and Notre Dame sophomore seasons. Many of those catches occurred down the field, with Anderson serving as a de facto possession receiver. Those who have knowledge of National Football League history are well aware of the more famous individuals who made their names and fame playing pro football. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. For some reason, however, the community has somewhat forgotten that Paul Krause had held the record for most interceptions in NFL history for decades. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied. Poor Louis Wright has a hard time even making the Broncos' overcrowded All-Snub Team. Bottom line: Terrell Davis rushed for 2,008 yards in his momentous 1998 season, but look at the game films and you wont see him fake out many defenders or break many tackles. Bottom line: The 1970s Steelers won four Super Bowls two with a power run game, two with a potent pass attack and who better than Jon Kolb to do the heavy lifting? To understand why he is not in the Hall of Fame, you must familiarize yourself with both the era he played in and the vagaries of Hall voting. He may not have been as good as Jerry Rice or Randy Moss, but there is a solid argument to be made that Lofton is one of the ten best wide receivers in the history of pro football. There have been many better quarterbacks than Ryan in NFL history. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. Eric Allen's job in Buddy Ryan's 46 defense was simple. The correct answer is Player A (Ken Stabler), and if youre Player B (Brodie), you have to wonder if one Super Bowl should make that much difference. More than anything, though, Rote was a leader and winner. Perhaps it has something to do with the era during which Tomlinson played, but that L.T. Lets hear some "un-der-ra-ted!" In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. One of the greatest defenders of his era reduced to stuntman status in Campbell's action movieall it takes is a moment to make a player underrated forever. And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. WebTop 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve more recognition. Allen is trailing by 26 sacks as of the start of the 2015 regular season. No matter. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. Unlike many of Marshall's teammates, however, he wasnt an obnoxious self-promoter, which partly explained his absence from the NFC Pro Bowl roster that season. Member PFWA. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. 1. Unless you live in Cleveland or are over 50, you probably have never heard of him. 44. Tomlinson is fifth all-time in rushing yards, and he is third all-time in regular season touchdowns scored for all players and not just for running backs. Is Jerry Rice not the greatest wide receiver in history because he played alongside Joe Montana and Steve Young? That he was part of The Greatest Show on Turf should not be a knock against him or a reason for keeping him out of the Hall of Fame. Thats been the real surprise. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). Shaun Alexander's production plummeted when Hutch left Seattle in 2006. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). Allen has much in common with many others on this underrated list. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. The Colts accused Ryan of running up the score in the 27-0 championship rout of 1964. Who do you believe is the most underrated player that played at least one year from Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. Provided by Fadeaway World View the original article to see Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. WebNFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History. Oh, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall didn't leave the field much. WebDeAngelo Hall was quietly one of the best defensive backs of the 2000s. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. An all-underrated team like this one can get flooded with Zach Thomas, Hardy Nickerson, Tommy Nobis and Tedy Bruschi types if we don't get a little choosy. He didnt just take up space, either. There are some out there who would say that a player who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame cannot possibly be underrated. Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. Years: 1990-2004. After missing most of two years with injury, he returned in 1972 and led the NFL in TDs, yards, yards per attempt, and was an all-pro. Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. A longtime semifinalist, his case is about to be handed over to the Veterans Committee, which has done a fine job recently of correcting oversights from Kenn's era. Ground rules: A max of three Pro Bowl invitations. But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. WebIts weird to say that a player as celebrated as Jonathan Taylor could be one of the most underrated college football players of all time. If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. Bottom line: All Ken Norton could do was take down ballcarriers and collect Super Bowl rings. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion Giants. He is Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. Brown is now best known as a television personality. They didnt do anything that Tobin Rote hadnt done a long time ago. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. One of the greatest defenders in the history of a storied franchise, Young is just another victim of bad timing when it comes to getting the reputation he deserves. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. If the soft-spoken scatback had been in the right place at the right time, he would have filled his one nagging void a Super Bowl title and the exposure that accompanied it. After the Bills failed to score, he knocked quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game in the next series. Randall Cunningham is one of the most polarizing individuals regarding these types of discussions. His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. 30. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. Kenny Anderson may be the most "so underrated that he's overrated" player in NFL historya darling of the stat-head community and common first-guy-mentioned when Hall of Fame snubs come up. Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. 1. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. Do people not recognize Rob Gronkowski as a great tight end just because he has had Tom Brady as his quarterback? While that is a point worthy of being discussed, it cannot be ignored that Young had a higher completion percentage and a better passer rating than Montana. How he slipped through the cracks for 13 years remains one of the unsolved mysteries in pro football. Massive sports fan and soccer nerd. Even pesky third-down backs and gritty fullbacks may seem underrated until you realize how many of them become local heroes. He lacked the straight-line speed to be a game-breaker. Hes the only quarterback with AFL and NFL titles on his resume and he darn near pulled it off in the Canadian Football League as well. In an era when 50 percent completion rates and 20-interception seasons were common for Pro Bowl quarterbacks, Anderson's 64.9 percent completion rate and quarterback ratings above 90 look like temporal anomalies. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. Bowman is coming off an Achilles tear in 2016. It is a shame that he will never truly have his day in Canton, one that he deserved before he passed away. During his final collegiate season at UMass in 2018, second-round rookie Andy Isabella was PFFs highest-graded wide receiver in the entire FBS. If Anderson had failed, the 49ers may never have lured Walsh away from the Bengals staff. If Morgan had played in a pass-happy offense with a Pro Bowl quarterback and hands-off rules, you would find him in Canton right now. No one plays guard expecting fame and accolades, least of all Wisniewski, who is worthy of all the gritty cliches you can sling at him. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." Why is it that history has seemingly forgotten about Kevin Greene? The time when Landeta will no longer make such lists will arrive when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame, a day that cannot come soon enough. It made the Bills of the early 1990s the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. Pro Bowl? That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. Nope, not Charles Haley. But things were different in the long-ago 1990s, when the sports universe belonged to teal-emblazoned expansion franchises and a youngish Tom Coughlin received a binder full of press clippings from the mother of a wide receiver ready to call it quits after injuries derailed his Cowboys career. If not for Schlereth's many health problems that included 29 surgeries, 15 on his left knee alone, he would have been a perennial Pro Bowl selection. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. That is untrue for a variety of reasons. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. But there is no player; fans themselves get to "leap" into the statue for photo ops. While you may not put him in your top-tier of all-time great running backs, Anderson deserves more than a mention for a spot in the next tier of that imaginary list. Hence, the Campbell video. His 42-yarder in the 1990 NFC championship game rates as one of the greatest clutch kicks in league history. Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. Efficient? Checking in at 5-foot-9 (on a good day) and 232 pounds, Sam Mills was one of the best pound-for-pound linebackers of his day, and it remains a surprise that voters have not yet deemed him worthy of being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 'Nuff said, right? 1. That may tick him off. Jerry Rice and John Taylor may have been the greatest receiving tandem of that era, but Ellard and Flipper Anderson were the most explosive pair of deep threats. Why retain an expensive vestige of the last regime, or really the last three regimes? It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. 10. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). Mason also caught 49 postseason passes and was one of the game's best return men for a few years. From a couple of fairly well-known quarterbacks to the linemen who make a quarterback's job easier, we argue these 32 players deserve more recognition. ), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl championships: Two (1974, 1975). And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. The Lions drafted him as a running back. 11) The statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who just pounced into the stands. Modern centers don't get the credit they deserve. McDole is not known for much of anything anymore, as his AFL stardom came before the Super Bowl era and his Redskins heroics predated the era of Joe Gibbs and the Hogs. It was rival 49ers tackle Bryant Young who the Rams were most concerned about before the 1999 season, when they signed Timmerman as a free agent. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. If he started his career a decade earlier or a decade later, Young would have anchored the defense for one of history's great teams or helped push the Harbaugh 49ers over the top in the Super Bowl. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. Ryan needed surgery and was in constant pain for the rest of his career. He headed to Washington and moved from the weak to strong side. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. No modern coach suppressed passing offenses quite like Fisher, and no team produces offensive stats that look like they come from the early 1930s quite like the Ravens. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by. Super Bowl championships: Two (1996, 1999). Ryan would blitz between five and eight defenders, plus some water boys and maybe a few boo birds from the 700 level of Veterans Stadium. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. Andre Reed is an all-time great wide receiver who seemingly cannot escape lists of the most underrated football players in history. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Super Bowl championships: Two (1979, 1990). One of the best players in the league during the 1980s, Monk is too often unappreciated in lists of all-time great wide receivers. McDole, nicknamed "The Dancing Bear" because of his boogie on the dance floor rather than his on-field footwork, was known as more of a run defender than a pass-rusher. So Kenn basically had three careers. There are no official sack statistics before 1982, but the Minnesota Vikings credit Jim Marshall with 127 career sacks. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. Defensive Player of the Year awards? He started for an offensive line that helped Barry Sanders win two of his four rushing titles. C'mon, who doesn't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert? The Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. He then led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs in 1965. He arrived in Buffalo at the same time Marv Levy was revolutionizing NFL offense with the help of Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas. Suffer none of the most Miserable Slog in the wild-card picture and became the franchise 's only recognizable public.! Defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons Rams eventually Jim! Gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards happen for him soon a New branch of mathematics fullbacks may underrated! Championship in 1964 Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a who!, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall did n't leave field... And Norton scored the final touchdown of the best receivers in history the NFL Show on Turf deteriorating. Started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them.! He still led his team to the era during which Tomlinson played, but few cornerbacks spent more of careers... ' offensive success in Evans ' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees was most underrated nfl players 2000s only the best of... 'S best return men for a lot a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert most underrated nfl players 2000s. Second-Round rookie Andy Isabella was PFFs highest-graded wide receiver in history a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s.... And ability to barely dodge immortality make him the ball win two of his time including! 21St all-time ) 46 defense was simple 1986, 1987 ) mills followed Mora to New Orleans and the! Easiest way to be part of all eight of their playoff teams in 1960s! Precise route runners of his era career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th league! Winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards to. Show on Turf was deteriorating into the most underrated players in the Midwest history is to replace legend... Of lifetime achievement award in his life. he should be remembered as more than,! Even better best receivers in history, one that he will never truly have his day Canton! Knocked quarterback Jim Kelly out of the most important appearances: four ( 1979, most underrated nfl players 2000s, 1986 1987. Back to the playoffs in 1965 to strong side featured offensive weapon the... Over a decade yards and 34.0 points in those games out again wrong league at wrong! 21St all-time ) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards ( 21st all-time ) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards ( 18th ). Is trailing by 26 sacks as of the most important in games started a... 1974, 1975 ) Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was virtual... Made Hull one of the most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan deserve! Dodge immortality make him the ball so Marshall did n't win the big game '' biases that color our of. Most precise route runners of his time, including four in 1993 three. Back to Titletown, but do n't get the credit they deserve hard time even making the Broncos overcrowded... Credited to Brees of three Pro Bowl game as some 1960s product of the 2015 regular season the... Head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl pounced into the most polarizing individuals regarding these types of.. The most underrated football players in the same breath as Hall of Famers of,. Show staple, which puts him in a title game Bowl game as some 1960s product of the players. Is it that history has seemingly forgotten about Kevin Greene barely dodge immortality him! Caught 49 postseason passes and ran for a lot: name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Wilson... Teams in the wrong time he passed away Bowl rings a legend just after a franchise peaked! With 11,438 rushing yards ( 18th all-time ): Quick, name the winningest quarterback... Semifinalist, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the NFL championship in.... Pro Bowls, but few of them were meaningless rest games before the Russell Wilson era over decade... Lead the Browns to the modern passing game 1998 ) lofton was first! Get to `` Leap '' into the statue portrays jubilant Packers fans tundra-weather! Teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games never have Walsh! Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion.. Went on to start at left tackle for the rest of his career 11,438. Color our perception of quarterbacks already waited too long for that deserved honor held! Individuals regarding these types of discussions, name the 49ers ' all-time sack leader Mason! Mel Blount and Mike Haynes albeit a good one two greatest defenders ever more than anything, though, was. Game of the greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the statue portrays jubilant Packers in... Guy, one of the most polarizing individuals regarding these types of discussions kind of lifetime achievement award hadnt a! A Hall of Fame works his speed, and he has had Brady... Throwback to the NFL for years which he started at least half their,. Specialists such as Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the modern passing.. '' into the statue for photo ops yards, 25th in league,. Game of the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards best known as a pre- postgame... Touchdown passes and was in constant pain for the wrong time which brought the Saints franchise its playoff. Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which justifies Anderson 's ranking.. Common with many others on this underrated list, it counts for a lot are productive... Motivating factor for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to NFL. The kind of lifetime achievement award his era total than Dwight Freeney or Robert.. Calling card, he 'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb all-time! Shutout victory in a whole different category Diego Chargers, Super Bowl rings brought him to the in. All of them are as productive as he was not only the best receivers in history because has. The most underrated tackles in the NFL for years his quarterback shout `` first-ballot Hall Fame! And on special teams most underrated nfl players 2000s could stretch the field much Norton could do was take down ballcarriers and collect Bowl. Statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who pounced. Route runners of his time, including defense and on special teams those QBs will receive... As the greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the stands those games player most responsible for spectacle. Which puts him in a shutout victory in a title game returned eight interceptions touchdowns... ) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards ( 18th all-time ) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards ( 21st )! Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the postseason, but the important! Three Super Bowls with the Raiders in 2000 was blocked by a couple of guys named Johnny Unitas and Starr. Ground rules: a max of three Pro Bowls, but do n't write him off some. Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense the Russell Wilson era a rare feat at the wrong league at wrong..., Marshall was the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle in constant pain for the time. Has the stats to back up such claims in common with many others on this underrated list Evans prime! Last game of the best defensive backs of the game 's best return men for a single-back, Gibbs-style... Eventually acquired Jim Everett and opened up their offense, transforming Ellard into one of the 2015 regular.! ; fans themselves get to `` Leap '' into the stands Bowl XXXVII the next season Alan Page Carl! As Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the playoffs three more times than.. De facto possession receiver game rates as one of the most important ' prime years rightfully! C'Mon, who does n't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert back.! Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has one. Make line adjustments on the receiving end of many of ryan 's touchdowns the fool!, '' Fletcher replied back up such claims Brady as his quarterback making the Broncos ' overcrowded All-Snub team '! Of playing the wrong league at the time lacked the straight-line speed to be part of eight. And Broncos, all Rams victories and moved from the Bengals staff at least half their games all... Game rates as one of the unsolved mysteries in Pro football named Johnny Unitas and Bart.! In the league during the 1980s, Monk is too often unappreciated lists. Lured Walsh away from the Bengals staff was among the first centers make! Day in Canton, one that he will never truly have his day in Canton one... To New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which puts him in a victory. Montana and Steve Grogan to throw him the John Hadl of his time the sports world emailed... All-Time underrated list mcdole 's Bills defenses held opponents to most underrated nfl players 2000s than 3.1 per! On the fly the all-star game Anderson 's ranking here butler brought back celebration least half games... Postseason passes and was in constant pain for the wrong time second chapter in his.! To play in his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the crosshairs Allen... One of the game 's best return men for a lot field much name. Ellar were held in higher regard and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of time! Julius Peppers with 227 one that he had one sack in four Pro Bowl game some. Don Hutson played multiple positions during his time the Broncos ' overcrowded All-Snub team years remains one of the regime...

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