The Greatest of all Time

After weeks of counting down the NFL Network revealed their top 10 players of all-time Thursday night. The order was determined by 85 voters. Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, NFL owners, GM's and head coaches cast the ballots. I've had a chance to see 9 of the top 10 play in person. Here are my memories of the greatest players in the NFL's 90 year history.

10. Dick Butkus

He made Mean Joe Greene look like an altar boy. Butkus played with rage and intimidation. There's wasn't a better player between the tackles. He couldn't go sideline to sideline like a Ray Lewis but nobody hit harder or enjoyed inflicting pain more than Dick Butkus.

9. Don Hutson

The only top 10 guy I didn't see. He retired in 1945 and the Packers wide receiver was about 50 years ahead of his time. He retired with an NFL best 488 career catches, that was  200 more than 2nd place at that time. It took Steve Largent 40 years to pass his 99 career touchdowns. He's been retired for 65 years but Bear Bryant's former college teamate is still in the top 10 in career TD's for receivers.

8. Peyton Manning

The only active player in the top 10. Four  MVP's and in the hunt for his 5th this year. The only QB who still calls his own game. With another Super Bowl win could become the greatest at his position.

7. Reggie White

My first glimpse of Reggie came when he was with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL. He gets my vote as the greatest defensive player ever. He could play inside or outside and was equally devastating against the pass or run. In 1987 he had 21 sacks in 12 games. I was at Lambeau Field in 1993 and will never forget Reggie's victory lap following a classic finish. It was his first year in Green Bay and with the Packers up 30-27 John Elway was putting together a game winning drive. He was until Reggie White sacked him on the final two plays of the game.  He's my Minister of Defense!

6. John Unitas

The Golden Arm was number 2 on my list. The Babe Ruth of football, he basically invented the 2-minute offense and put the NFL on the map with his surgical work in "The Greatest Game Ever Played", the 1958 title game. His record 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass is crazy great. Talk to those who played with John and they seldom bring up his records and championships they love to talk about one of the toughest guys to ever play the game.

5. Walter Payton

Sweetness, unless you were on the tackling end of Walter Payton. The ultimate football soldier loved by Bears fans who watched his greatness Sunday's at Soldier Field. He retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher and might have been the best blocking running back in NFL history.

4. Joe Montana

I had Unitas in front of Montana but it's hard to argue with this pick. I was in the Silverdome for Super Bowl XVI when young Joe won his first Super Bowl edging the Bengals. He was just scratching the surface. Montana's 49ers won 4 Super Bowl's, he was Super Bowl MVP 3 times. His Super Bowl line....68% completion, 11 touchdowns, NO  interceptions and a QB rating of  128.

3. Lawrence Taylor

The greatest defensive player in the history of the game, that's the honor that goes to L.T. His blinding speed and tenacity off the edge changed the game. Linebacker was no longer a read and react position, L.T. attacked from snap to whistle, intimated opponents and kept offensive coaches up till the wee hours. He's one of only two defensive players to be named NFL MVP.

2. Jim Brown

In my opinion the greatest NFL player ever. His combination of speed, power and smarts unmatched then and now. He's the only player to ever average over 100 yards rushing a game and his 5.2 yards a carry average is the best ever. He played 9 years and led the league in rushing 8. His 6 games with at least 4 TD's is an NFL record. He went out in style when he was only 29, his last game was a 3 touchdown effort in the Pro Bowl.

1. Jerry Rice

Like Jim Brown at running back Jerry Rice is the automatic answer when you ask, who's the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. It's hard to split hairs on greatness but Rice has it on Brown when you consider longevity.  Rice's resume shows a 20-year career with 3 Super Bowl rings and every record listed under wide receiver. Sure, he had Bill Walsh and HOF quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young but he had as much to do with their success as they did his.  Rice didn't break records he smashed them. His work ethic was unparalleled and he missed only 10 games in 20 years (7 in one season).

Agree or disagree with the rankings we owe the NFL Network a thank you for a terrific history lesson. Your thoughts welcome.