Jim in Anchorage Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Been thinking about this and right now would go with Dick Butkus. Why? Watched some old games and it looked like the stretcher crew never got to sit down when he was in. All clean hits. At 6 3 245 I think he could play today. You're pick? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxR9qYSHt8U Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Man that's a lot of guys plus there is a difference between inside and outside guys. That said I would go Lawrence Taylor outside, inside .... so many ... Tommy Nobis, Jack Lambert, Mike Singletary. I don't think Butkis would be great today because I don't think he has the range but he still was one of the all time bests. Oh and Ray Lewis, what was I thinking ( thinking about Butkis made me think of older players) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Man that's a lot of guys plus there is a difference between inside and outside guys. That said I would go Lawrence Taylor outside, inside .... so many ... Tommy Nobis, Jack Lambert, Mike Singletary. I don't think Butkis would be great today because I don't think he has the range but he still was one of the all time bests. Oh and Ray Lewis, what was I thinking ( thinking about Butkis made me think of older players) Well I don't think the player's he went up against where hobbled, he still had to go side line to side line..Lambert and Singletary where hardly pass defenders either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I know you're question was overall in the league, but if you asked who was the best Buffalo Bill LB, it's clear to me it was Spiderman (Daryl Talley). Not even close in my eyes. One ugly dude, but man he was in every play for all of those years, and seemed like he was niver hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 I know you're question was overall in the league, but if you asked who was the best Buffalo Bill LB, it's clear to me it was Spiderman (Daryl Talley). Not even close in my eyes. One ugly dude, but man he was in every play for all of those years, and seemed like he was niver hurt. Yeah I loved Talley[ was he not the "we're going to the show! Or was that Smith?] But all time NFL? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prickly Pete Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 (edited) I know you're question was overall in the league, but if you asked who was the best Buffalo Bill LB, it's clear to me it was Spiderman (Daryl Talley). Not even close in my eyes. One ugly dude, but man he was in every play for all of those years, and seemed like he was niver hurt. I love Talley too, but he is a bit overrated by Bills fans because they loved his attitude. Cornelius Bennett was better than Talley. Takeo Spikes was better too. Bryce Paup had a great season. I think it's between Bennett and Spikes. Edited May 2, 2013 by Marauder'sMicro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homey D. Clown Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 for a career body of work, you probably have to go with Singletary, he played at a high level for so many years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Ray Lewis, no doubt in my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FleaMoulds80 Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Lawrence Taylor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Ray Lewis, no doubt in my mind. No doubt in my mind either. I'm 38, so growing up, singletary and LT were the best in my childhood. One could make a case for either of them, but Lewis reigns supreme in my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksilver Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Lawrence Taylor. It's got to be LT. Joe Gibbs invented the H-back as a way to slow him down. No other linebacker had a position invented to stop them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Been thinking about this and right now would go with Dick Butkus. Why? Watched some old games and it looked like the stretcher crew never got to sit down when he was in. All clean hits. At 6 3 245 I think he could play today. You're pick? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxR9qYSHt8U The number of plays where he completely stood up/drove back a RB moving forward are pretty damn impressive. 6'3" 245 was huge for his day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrags Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I think Butkus is great but in today's NFL I don't think he would be great. Good, but not great. I know the players in that video said he was amazingly fast but I just Didnt see it. He seemed slow at times to me there. I know it's a different world back then without all the roids but I don't think you can compare them. Also, I think if Butkus played today, he would have been suspended in about 3 quarters and probably kicked out of the league the first game he got back. The LBs today have to play by different rules and that has an effect in how they play IMO. A guy like Suh (different position, I know) would have been one of the best ever had he played in those times. With all that said, I'm going to go with LT, or Singletary, or Ray Lewis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owf71 Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Brandon Spoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaattMaann Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 my vote certainly goes to Ray Lewis - LT is second because he "Revolutionized" the position Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobu Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Ray Nitschke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yungmack Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 First off, there is no "all time best" at any position. Each player is limited and/or elevated by the players around him, the teams in his division, the coaching, the era in which he competed and so on. That said, there are a number of LBs who by any standard are in the pantheon. And what each and every one of them share is an ability to dominate and implant fear in opponents. They also share a love of, not just hitting hard, but of hitting hard enough to hurt. Not only do they take pleasure in the violence of the game, they revel in it. They border on the psychotic. And one of the problems with the Bills is that they haven't had any of those kinds of guys in a very long time. Which is why I am enthusiastic about Alonso and Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennesseeboy Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 boy...Butkus, LT and Ray Lewis...in a tier by themselves and you can make the case for any one of them. Second tier...Huff, Nobis, Nitschke, Singletary.... Third tier...you might find Talley Paup and some bills in this rather large group IMHOP....by the way this group would be a list of really terrific linebackers as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EasternOHBillsFan Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 CORNELIUS BENNETT... there is no doubt to me, and I'm biased and I know it. Early Biscuit: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VirginiaMike Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I love Talley too, but he is a bit overrated by Bills fans because they loved his attitude. Cornelius Bennett was better than Talley. Takeo Spikes was better too. Bryce Paup had a great season. I think it's between Bennett and Spikes. I have to go old school on this one and go with Mike Stratton, form back in the 60's. He was a punisher (what older Bills fan doesn't remember the hit on Keith Lincoln in the championship game! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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