1981 NFL Draft broadcast by ESPN

[Sonny9]

I didnt stutter ... Lott had more impact than LT ... you can research all you want. I watched both play and while LT was a great pass rusher who could make plays everywhere, Lott did everything and could have been a great linebacker if the coaches put him there. He is the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

I don't think 6 foot 200 pound linebackers last long

[Raptorfan]

I didnt stutter ... Lott had more impact than LT ... you can research all you want. I watched both play and while LT was a great pass rusher who could make plays everywhere, Lott did everything and could have been a great linebacker if the coaches put him there. He is the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

Is this the PF RESEARCHERS Association or the PF Feels&Vibes Association?

Is Ronnie Lott in the room with you now?

[SeahawkFever]

I didnt stutter ... Lott had more impact than LT ... you can research all you want. I watched both play and while LT was a great pass rusher who could make plays everywhere, Lott did everything and could have been a great linebacker if the coaches put him there. He is the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

Uh, Lott was good, but he was overrated because of the SF on his helmet just like a lot of his teammates were. I actually believe that Reggie White may be the best defensive player in NFL history. GB would have been playoff pretenders in the 90's without him.

I don't know how misrated I'd call Ronnie Lott, but I would take Reggie White over him; probably LT too though.

One thing I will say for Ronnie Lott though: He's arguably the greatest defensive player who never won a Defensive Player of the Year award and was only top five in the voting twice.

[Brian wolf]

I didnt stutter ... Lott had more impact than LT ... you can research all you want. I watched both play and while LT was a great pass rusher who could make plays everywhere, Lott did everything and could have been a great linebacker if the coaches put him there. He is the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

Uh, Lott was good, but he was overrated because of the SF on his helmet just like a lot of his teammates were. I actually believe that Reggie White may be the best defensive player in NFL history. GB would have been playoff pretenders in the 90's without him.

Overrated, while helping the 49ers win it all as a rookie? Whatever you say ... at the end of that season, no defender in the league was playing better. And yes, Lott would have been fine playing as a 200 lb linebacker. White and LT were great but I stand by my points. Its also hard to win a DPOY award in the 80s or 90s as a DB. Its a fun debate because Butkus, Dick Lane* Bobby Bell, Joe Schmidt, Bruce Smith, Ray Lewis, Jack Ham and others could also be considered.

*Edited ... mispelled Dick "Nighttrain" Lane

[7DnBrnc53]

Overrated, while helping the 49ers win it all as a rookie? Whatever you say ... at the end of that season, no defender in the league was playing better. And yes, Lott would have been fine playing as a 200 lb linebacker. White and LT were great but I stand by my points. Its also hard to win a DPOY award in the 80s or 90s as a DB. Its a fun debate because Butkus, Dick Layne, Bobby Bell, Joe Schmidt, Bruce Smith, Ray Lewis, Jack Ham and others could also be considered.

Lott did well as a rookie, but there were others who had a lot to do with the 49er turnaround. They also added two other rookies (Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson) that made an impact, and I also think that Fred Dean was the most important addition that they made that year. Without him, they probably don't win a Super Bowl.

[SeahawkFever]

Overrated, while helping the 49ers win it all as a rookie? Whatever you say ... at the end of that season, no defender in the league was playing better. And yes, Lott would have been fine playing as a 200 lb linebacker. White and LT were great but I stand by my points. Its also hard to win a DPOY award in the 80s or 90s as a DB. Its a fun debate because Butkus, Dick Layne, Bobby Bell, Joe Schmidt, Bruce Smith, Ray Lewis, Jack Ham and others could also be considered.

Lott did well as a rookie, but there were others who had a lot to do with the 49er turnaround. They also added two other rookies (Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson) that made an impact, and I also think that Fred Dean was the most important addition that they made that year. Without him, they probably don't win a Super Bowl.

Conversely, if San Diego re-signs Fred Dean, do they have more of a shot of making a Super Bowl in 81 with him?

He alone wouldn't fix everything on defense, but they did fall eight places and allowed another four points per game than in 1980?

[Brian wolf]

Everybody on the planet knows that, 7D ... but after watching Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott thrash my Cowboys over-and-over, I started to admire them, and collected as many 49ers games as I could and it was frickin amazing how many times Lott would come up with a big hit, tackle, interception, forced fumble, whatever, that would turn a game around, regardless of what Montana or the offence did.

This happened alot even before Rice joined the team and continued to happen before Lott was let go by the team. His only achilles heal, was his tendency to deliver the big hit and knock himself--and teammates--out of games.

Being a true captain, leader and enforcer on the field, Lott also wasnt going to take unprepared or bullshit attitudes and play from teammates during games, even getting in Charles Haley or Keena Turner's faces. I would have loved to have seen how he would have handled a Terrell Owens had they played together. Of course Rice saved alot of his diva antics till after Ronnie had left, but Lott always respected and admired his ability and competiveness.

[Halas Hall]

The Packers selecting Rich Campbell from Cal over Ronnie Lott set them back many years.

[Brian wolf]

The 49ers wanted to select Kenny Easley, thinking that Lott would go before their pick but got him. Had Easley not had injuries, they might have made the HOF together. Todd Bell, Dennis Smith and Williamson were also great picks. Thumpers that would be outlawed today ... haha

[Raptorfan]

Bavaro’s backpack.

Great player for sure. Greatest defensive player ever? Gotta be out of your mind.