So Kenn basically had three careers. The 2023 wide receiver class is one of the worst in recent memory, but there are some solid options on Day 2 for teams searching for complementary players. Randall Cunningham is one of the most polarizing individuals regarding these types of discussions. Also, the field was often a block of ice. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. 'Nuff said, right? Jeff Saturday had to translate Peyton Manning's spur-of-the-moment audibles into protection schemes a split second before the snap. The unfunny joke that has been Isaac Bruce not being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is one that is going to end soon. Perhaps Fitzgerald would get more love from the public if he mouthed off as do many diva wide receivers in the NFL. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. Ryan needed surgery and was in constant pain for the rest of his career. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. Pro Bowl? If Morgan had played in a pass-happy offense with a Pro Bowl quarterback and hands-off rules, you would find him in Canton right now. He also had some of the clutch gene. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. He finished his career by doing something almost impossible: signing with the Patriots as a veteran role player during one of the few years they didn't reach the Super Bowl. Ken Griffey Jr.? He had to blanket a wide receiver in man coverage with no safety help on every play. His .588 win percentage ranks second to Wilson in team history. Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). Many of those catches occurred down the field, with Anderson serving as a de facto possession receiver. Mills and Reggie White were the USFL's two greatest defenders ever. Mills was a USFL All-Star in all three seasons of the league's existence, and he led the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars' Doghouse Defense (coached by Jim Mora) to a pair of league titles. But his Hall of Fame candidacy has been stuck in semifinalist limbo. It was rival 49ers tackle Bryant Young who the Rams were most concerned about before the 1999 season, when they signed Timmerman as a free agent. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. No current player is even close to notching 81 career picks, and that record may never be broken. The Hall of Fame eluded Ellard for several reasons: comparisons to Rice, the Rams' move to St. Louis (it takes hometown writers and buzz to mount a campaign) and those five early seasons in a ground-and-pound offense. The Jaguars, meanwhile, slowly descended to their current status as the NFL's punching bag. Slot specialists such as Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the modern passing game. It doesn't matter: If you are a Broncos defender, you might as well forget about a bust in Canton. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. He has over 12,000 career receiving yards to date, and Fitzgerald could retire with over 100 total regular season receiving touchdowns before all is said and done. Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. WebMen such as Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Those who have knowledge of National Football League history are well aware of the more famous individuals who made their The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. Both players were Pro Bowlers the previous year. Super Bowl championships: Two (1996, 1999). That "something" was throwing for more than 29,000 yards and going to four AFL All-Star Games and a Pro Bowl with the Chargers and then leading the Rams to a 12-2 record in 1973. The 6'2" Wright was renowned as a run-stuffing cornerbackthat's him tackling Walter Payton in the photobut he also intercepted 26 career passes, even though opposing quarterbacks spent much of his career avoiding him. Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. Hes on the short list of running back leaders in yards per rush (4.6, 17th), touches (2,824, 25th) and yards from scrimmage (14,079, 35th) in NFL history. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion Giants. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. WebWhile every fan base is sure to have two or three names they feel are undervalued and worthy of this list, here are my current top ten underrated players in the NFL. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. Ken Anderson, QB, Bengals. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. 5. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Old-timers call it the Lawrence Welk trade after a television bandleader of the era who would begin songs by counting off "A one, and a two, and a three". You will find some familiar Hall of Fame snubs on this list (like Jim Marshall, pictured above), but also plenty of players who were even snubbed from the Hall of Fame snubs, plus some current players who aren't getting their due. Ryan made three Pro Bowls, but All-Pro status was blocked by a couple of guys named Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr. For years, the team couldn't even harken back to its glory days properly, as Smith's Pride of the Jaguars induction was delayed until he was sober and no longer under house arrest. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. Bottom line: After eight seasons in Buffalo, where he had been a mainstay with the best defense in AFL history, Ron McDole took his two-bar helmet to Washington. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). "I wasnt the fastest guy, but I didnt mind having the defender at my hip," Ellard said per Yahoo Sports. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. When London Fletcher retired after the 2014 season, Robert Klemko of The MMQBasked him if he was motivated by feeling underappreciated for most of his career. Overall, the total still ranks ninth at the position. He had the speed to get to the edge and beat defenders down the sideline, the power to plow through tackles, the elusiveness to make things happen in the open field and receiving chops to rival contemporaries Roger Craig or Thurman Thomas. Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. Hadl signed with the Chargers instead, and Sid Gilman built him into the trigger man for an offense from which all modern offenses descended. One of the best players in the league during the 1980s, Monk is too often unappreciated in lists of all-time great wide receivers. McDole, nicknamed "The Dancing Bear" because of his boogie on the dance floor rather than his on-field footwork, was known as more of a run defender than a pass-rusher. He is, however, most remembered, for being a wide receiver who was decades ahead of his time. Because he is one of the NFL's best defensive players, for one thing. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success. Years: 1990-2004. Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). In Jahri Evans' four All-Pro seasons (2009-12), the Saints ranked first, sixth, first and second in the NFL in total yards. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. He found the end zone in three different decades. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. Robertson was one of the NFL's fastest linebackers in the 1970s. Robertson's Rams made a habit of reaching the playoffs every year and losing to the Vikings or Cowboys. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. WebMost Underappreciated QBs of the 2000s. 25 of 25. Through the 2018 season, Vinatieri checked in at 81 (56 of 69) and 99 (70 of 71), respectively. And no Hall of Famers allowed. The Adventures of Grim Reaper J is a Reminder to Do What You Love style | Charlie Kolbrener Johnnie Walker Collaborates With VANDYTHEPINK and 88Rising to Release Special Blue Label Bottle nft | ONE37pm Editors Joyner, who was beloved by supporters of the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of the NFL 20/20 club for interceptions and sacks. Eric Allen's job in Buddy Ryan's 46 defense was simple. WebTaylors 2000s career included him playing with Jacksonville (2000-2008) and New England (2009), and he had some great all-around years as an NFL running back. He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). The best teams in the AFL proved to be NFL-caliber, but the bottom of the league was populated with a nearly bankrupt franchise or two, so the best players clumped on the best teams and stood out from the crowd. 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Maybe he wasn't the best defender on the field for any one play, but he stayed on that field for an entire generation. Those who have knowledge of National Football League history are well aware of the more famous individuals who made their names and fame playing pro football. Smith wasnt a no-show on third-and-long, either. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. To make our list, a player must contribute to a winning effort while putting up bad stats, misunderstood stats or no stats. These ideas that Marvin Harrison cannot be considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of the NFL all because he played with Peyton Manning need to be put to bed forever. Do people not recognize Rob Gronkowski as a great tight end just because he has had Tom Brady as his quarterback? No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. One has to wonder if those QBs will ever receive the respect they truly deserve. WebIts weird to say that a player as celebrated as Jonathan Taylor could be one of the most underrated college football players of all time. The Lions drafted him as a running back. Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. This includes a wide receiver that some younger fans may have never before heard of, and also multiple quarterbacks who are still playing in the NFL as of the posting of this piece. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. Member PFWA. There would not be another exchange of current Pro Bowlers in the NFL until the Broncos and Redskins exchanged Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis in 2004. But things were different in the long-ago 1990s, when the sports universe belonged to teal-emblazoned expansion franchises and a youngish Tom Coughlin received a binder full of press clippings from the mother of a wide receiver ready to call it quits after injuries derailed his Cowboys career. Not bad for a guy who might as well have played in a straight jacket for 14 seasons. Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. Bruce found the end zone over 90 times in regular season play during his career, and he is one of five players in the history of the NFL to go for over 15,000 total receiving yards. The list of players who are in that club includes Ray Lewis, Rodney Harrison, Brian Dawkins, LeRoy Butler and Ronde Barber. Butler was the NFL's most dangerous all-purpose safety for much of the 1990s. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? Hull started his professional career with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, where he helped Herschel Walker rush for 2,411 yards in one 18-game season. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. The lack of respect that Larry Fitzgerald has received from supposed football experts throughout his career boggles the mind. The best we can offer is a little bit of credit where a lot is due. Today, most people know Mark Schlereth mostly as an Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. June 19, 2020 Koby83 Football, Michael Turner, NFL, Running Backs, Sports Underrated. Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. Deebo Samuel broke the game open for San Francisco with his 74-yard But he didn't play for the legendary 49ers teams. That is a trend that needs to come to an end. It is difficult to rank Ken Anderson in this list if only because he is constantly referenced as being an underrated player. These are the most underrated college football players of all time. Anderson went on to duel with Walsh and Montana's 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. The admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he didnt wow anyone physically. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Krause is undeniably one of the best defensive players to ever play pro football, but his name nevertheless rarely pops up whenever such discussions arise among fans and even among analysts. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. No matter. WebThe highest-rated quarterbacks, wide receivers, edge rushers, running backs, cornerbacks, and defensive linemen were fine, as were the 99 club member additions and overall team The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. James Lofton is one of many cases of players being in the Hall of Fame and nevertheless being vastly underrated when compared with others who played the position. He must either play for teams so good that they overshadow his accomplishments, or teams so bad that he had to do it all by himself. WebNFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History. Anderson was not Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached by the 1985 Bears. They would rank first in the NFL in yardage four other times while Evans was a starter. Evans, the best pass-protecting guard of his era, was charged with making sure pass-rushers didn't get close enough to Brees to bat his passes down, let alone sack him. Allen has much in common with many others on this underrated list. Efficient? WebMay 12, 2022. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. But his Rams had a running back named Eric Dickerson and quarterbacks named Dieter Brock and Jeff Kemp. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. Put Ellard in another era or even the AFC with an accomplished quarterback, and his legacy as The Best Wideout Not Named Jerry Rice would be that much greater. Allen made a lot of plays. 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