Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

We've discussed the "Mount Rushmores" of each position and who might merit consideration as the best of the best (or however you wish to define the truly elite players).
Considering only those elite players, which team had the most all at the same time?

I can think of a few with three (Montana, Rice, Lott for the 80's 49ers and Unitas, Berry, Marchetti for the 50s Colts)... are there others?
A team with more than 3?

50s Browns: Graham and Motley and... ?

70s Steelers: Joe Greene and... maybe Lambert? idk...

20s Bears: Nagurski and Grange...

JuggernautJ wrote:We've discussed the "Mount Rushmores" of each position and who might merit consideration as the best of the best (or however you wish to define the truly elite players).
Considering only those elite players, which team had the most all at the same time?

I can think of a few with three (Montana, Rice, Lott for the 80's 49ers and Unitas, Berry, Marchetti for the 50s Colts)... are there others?
A team with more than 3?

50s Browns: Graham and Motley and... ?

70s Steelers: Joe Greene and... maybe Lambert? idk...

20s Bears: Nagurski and Grange...

70's Steelers you could argue for Webster, Ham, definitely Greene, Lambert

For "truly elite", would you be drawing from, say, the top 100 all time that we've been discussing, which is basically the NFL 75th Anniversary team plus the all time greats from 1994 to present. Or would it be, say top 50? First and Second team all time teams however you compile them?

Rupert Patrick wrote: For "truly elite", would you be drawing from, say, the top 100 all time that we've been discussing, which is basically the NFL 75th Anniversary team plus the all time greats from 1994 to present. Or would it be, say top 50? First and Second team all time teams however you compile them?

I want to leave a little room for individual opinion but would be comfortable with the 75th Anniversary Team plus a few newbies/others.
If someone wanted to include Luckman or Mackey I wouldn't argue.

Just thought of the Rams with Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen...
Butkus and Sayers with the late 60s Bears

I don't know if Motley belongs on the RB's Mt. Rushmore but Lou "The Toe" Groza certainly belongs on the kicker's peak.

JohnH19 wrote:I don't know if Motley belongs on the RB's Mt. Rushmore but Lou "The Toe" Groza certainly belongs on the kicker's peak.

Groza, Stenerud, and yes, I also have to include Vinatieri. I thought for much of his career he was an average kicker who was lucky to be in the right place at the right time, but he will probably retire with the career scoring mark if he makes it two more seasons, and he is as good as he has ever been in his mid 40's. At kicker, I would put him third best all time behind Groza and Stenerud.

JohnH19 wrote:I don't know if Motley belongs on the RB's Mt. Rushmore but Lou "The Toe" Groza certainly belongs on the kicker's peak.

Dr. Z convinced me!
(And Motley is on the 75th Anniversary Team: http://www.nfl.com/history/legends/75th )

That might then (depending on your opinion) give the 50's browns 3 (Graham, Groza and Motley (?) ).

1970's Dolphins: Csonka, Warfield, Langer

The 50's Colts: Unitas, Berry, Marchetti, but don't forget Jim Parker! He's definitely up there. I would listen to arguments for Lenny Moore as well.

The 60's Packers: Gregg, Nitschke, and Herbert Adderley. Willie Wood is arguable.

The 70's Steelers had Webster, Greene, Lambert, Ham, and Blount on the 75th Anniversary Team, and all are in the discussion for best ever at their position.

The 1970-71 Cowboys had at least five, all of them past their primes. Lilly, Gregg, Ditka, and Alworth all made the 75th Anniversary Team, and I think Herb Adderley is right up there as an elite of the elite CB's.
I consider Roger Staubach to be first in line behind the guys on Mt. Rushmore (the 4 on 75th Anniversary Team + Brady and Manning.) Depending on how far you stretch elite, you could make Captain Comeback #6 for Dallas.