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100 Years of Greatness: ESPN's Starting Lineup of the NFL's Best of the Best
QB Tom Brady
WR Jerry Rice
WR Don Hutson
RB Jim Brown
RB Walter Payton
LT Anthony Munoz
G John Hannah
C Jim Otto
G Jim Parker
G Forrest Gregg
TE Tony Gonzalez
DE Reggie White
DE Deacon Jones
DT Joe Greene
DT Merlin Olsen
LB Lawrence Taylor
LB **** Butkus
LB Bobby Bell
CB Deion Sanders
CB Rod Woodson
S Ken Houston
S Ronnie Lott
K Adam Vinatieri
P Ray Guy
Special Team/Returner Gale Sayers
Coach Bill Belichick
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...e-montana-choosing-nfl-greatest-ever-position
By Jeff Legwold
As the NFL's 100th season is set to begin, we start the ultimate debate: Who would be a part of the all-time best starting lineup? That means a player for every position on the field and special teams.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Or nearly impossible.
To put the task another way, a longtime NFL coach I've known for more than 20 years said: "Are you f---ing nuts?"
Knowing there aren't any totally right answers but separating 100 years of Hall of Famers and elevating the truly elite takes some work.
Honestly, this is a project more than 30 years in the making. The research includes surveying more than 250 people through those years, including players, coaches, scouts, general managers, Hall of Famers and Hall of Fame voters.
Who's the best they ever saw, best they ever played with, best they ever faced, best they ever heard about? I asked those questions, evaluated the statistical data available, then did what longtime scout C.O. Brocato told me oh so long ago: I trusted my eyes.
Then I picked a team with a strongside and weakside presence on offense and defense.
So there is a left tackle and a right tackle, a weakside linebacker and a strongside linebacker, a free safety and a strong safety.
Although this team spans decades, lack of video and a statistical disadvantage limits players from the game's formative years. I gave a shout out to those players, who were great in an era without the benefit of groundskeepers, trainers, medical staffs, personal chefs or, in many cases, anything resembling equipment that would provide much more protection than the average jersey.
The arguments are coming, so have at it.
Here's the team. It is filled with the best the game has ever seen and a ridiculously enormous list of those left off.
QB Tom Brady
WR Jerry Rice
WR Don Hutson
RB Jim Brown
RB Walter Payton
LT Anthony Munoz
G John Hannah
C Jim Otto
G Jim Parker
G Forrest Gregg
TE Tony Gonzalez
DE Reggie White
DE Deacon Jones
DT Joe Greene
DT Merlin Olsen
LB Lawrence Taylor
LB **** Butkus
LB Bobby Bell
CB Deion Sanders
CB Rod Woodson
S Ken Houston
S Ronnie Lott
K Adam Vinatieri
P Ray Guy
Special Team/Returner Gale Sayers
Coach Bill Belichick
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...e-montana-choosing-nfl-greatest-ever-position
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