NFL Great Without a Ring You Feel the Worst For?

[Gary Najman]

Anthony Munoz and Bruce Smith should be on the list, both came close once.

[racepug]

Racepug, if you have never watched Dwight Stephenson play and want to, watch his game for the Dolphins against the 1985 Bears who were undefeated at the time on MNF. Stephenson was lifting and throwing William Perry around like a bag of wet leaves on the lawn. The best center I ever saw on TV but I liked Jim Ringo's quickness on NFL Films.

Y'know, it's funny - I never saw that game, live. Instead I took a nap (maybe because I didn't figure that MIA stood much of a chance in that game). So I never saw what you're describing. But I've read how good Dwight Stephenson was, seen comments (such as by Matt Millen who said that Dwight Stephenson was on a whole 'nother level even when compared to Mike Webster), and know that Dwight Stephenson made it to the P.F.H.o.F. despite playing only 7 years in the league AND that he's one of only 4 guys to be named to the NFL 100 team at C. So, yeah - I've gathered that he must've been pretty darn good!

[racepug]

Anthony Munoz and Bruce Smith should be on the list, both came close once.

Muñoz is tough, having to play against the Joe Montana-era 49ers twice (and both times giving the Niners just about all they could handle - unlike the other two teams that the 49ers beat in the S.B. during that era). Bruce Smith, too - I still remember him as one of my favorite players but few people seem to talk about him these days (maybe because of all the S.B. losses, maybe because he was overshadowed by Reggie White during his playing days. I'm not sure).

[Brian wolf]

With his quickness and strength, Stephenson moved people around the way Larry Allen did with the Cowboys. When he got injured, I think it affected the Dolphin offense even though Marino still had that great release. The offense just didnt have the same swagger.

[racepug]

With his quickness and strength, Stephenson moved people around the way Larry Allen did with the Cowboys. When he got injured, I think it affected the Dolphin offense even though Marino still had that great release. The offense just didnt have the same swagger.

And yet I've seen video from Larry Allen's rookie season (when he was at RT) showing Reggie White tossing him aside like a sack of potatoes in a game vs. the Packers (matter of fact I read that Larry Allen used that as motivation, vowing to never let it happen to him again).

[Ness]

Steve McNair is my favorite non-49ers quarterback to watch play. So it would have been nice to seen him get a ring with the Oilers/Titans. Definitely came close.

Fouts and Rivers were two other quarterbacks I liked. Chargers are essentially a second favorite team for me due to the location (San Diego) and uniforms. Strangely enough, Justin Herbert is coming up another typical Chargers season where they have the All Pro quarterback in place, but yet again can't make the playoffs due to a substandard defense. Would be nuts if the Chargers go through all 3 quarterbacks without reaching a Super Bowl. But Stan Humphries has been there. Mental.

[sheajets]

Homer pick. Wayne Chrebet. I still remember following him during pre season 1995. This scrappy little receiver wearing #3 making circus catches vs the Bengals at Riverfront. Remember immediately thinking...he's gonna make it. He can be a special player.

Jessie Tuggle. Was always a huge fan of his.

Jon Runyan. Warrior in the trenches. Almost never missed a game. Also the last active NFL player to have played with the Oilers.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

I'll toss in a vote for Don Meredith. Also Bert Jones. And Earl Campbell/Elvin Bethea/Robert Brazile from Bum's Oilers. Jack Youngblood would be another guy. Carl Eller/Alan Page. A lot of names come to mind. Did Charlie Joiner get a ring? I don't think he did off the top of my head -- I'd add him to the list, too.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

I gotta add Warren Moon to the list. He might be #1 for me on this list (no pun intended).

[Bryan]

I gotta add Warren Moon to the list. He might be #1 for me on this list (no pun intended).

I remember Moon making crucial mistakes in the postseason, but he really wasn't that bad. He did have some terrible luck. The Oilers routinely collapsed on defense, allowing long drives to the Broncos and Steelers, and going into a shell against Buffalo. The coaches Moon had were Glanville, Pardee & Dennis Green...not exactly a Mt Rushmore of postseason success. I did find it interesting to see who Moon faced off against in his postseason games...Don Strock, Bubby Brister, Ken O Brien, Frank Reich, Steve Walsh.