QCity Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) Quote You know you’re a big deal when Dennis Hopper huffs the insoles of your dirty shoes. Quote Smith was an eight-time All-Pro and named to 11 Pro Bowls. He was Defensive Player of the Year twice. The Pro Football Hall of Fame voted him to its All-Decade teams for the 1980s and 1990s. Over his 19 seasons, Smith amassed 200 sacks, two more than contemporary Reggie White. Sacks weren’t official until 1982, but when Pro Football Focus recently published its findings of unofficial sack records, Smith still stood at the top. Deacon Jones was credited with 173.5 sacks. Quote “You can look at his sacks, but it’s bigger than that,” seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Richmond Webb said. “Those pass-rush specialists get to rest on first and sometimes second down and come in fresh. “This guy didn’t leave the field until it was time to punt. He was out there for 10 or 12 plays straight. That’s what is so rare.” https://theathletic.com/2773179/2021/08/20/nfl-100-at-no-20-the-relentless-bruce-smith-dominated-blockers-to-record-levels-of-production/ Edited August 20, 2021 by QCity 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushypeaches Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 I'll be interested to see exactly how many defensive players they have ranked ahead of Bruce. I've been following the list a bit (Athletic subscription is well worth the $), but here's who I think is still to come: Dick Butkus Lawrence Taylor Reggie White Ray Lewis Ronnie Lott Ray Nitschke There's probably a couple more that I'm missing but it's a very small list of folks who debatably played defense better than our beloved BRUUUUUCE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiotAct Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Have to pay? I’m out. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royale with Cheese Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 What do you guys think about this list? https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/best-nfl-player-by-number-graphic-mitchell-and-ness 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Suffering Fan Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) I think it is ridiculous that he is not higher....and I don't think that is homer bias. - Not only did he set the sack record. - He did it while playing in a 3-4. - And while playing in a defense that often rushed three and rarely rushed more than 4 (I don't count it as a blitz unless the rush includes more than 4). Blitzing lessens double teams, collapses the pocket, and increases sack numbers for everyone because of clean up sacks. - And was dominant against the run. Sack numbers are supposedly the gold standard for DEs in this league, yet many with high sacks are not complete players. Leading in sack numbers while defending the run, in a non-pass rush friendly offense, maintaining containment, sniffing out screens....How is he not in the top 2-3 defensive players? Edited August 20, 2021 by Long Suffering Fan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 1 hour ago, RiotAct said: Have to pay? I’m out. I left my wallet in the car 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsherd Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 31 minutes ago, HOUSE said: I left my wallet in the car Again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, mushypeaches said: I'll be interested to see exactly how many defensive players they have ranked ahead of Bruce. I've been following the list a bit (Athletic subscription is well worth the $), but here's who I think is still to come: Dick Butkus Lawrence Taylor Reggie White Ray Lewis Ronnie Lott Ray Nitschke There's probably a couple more that I'm missing but it's a very small list of folks who debatably played defense better than our beloved BRUUUUUCE! Im too young for Butkus and Nitschke. So I can’t talk to where those guys land in relation to Bruce. I will say Bruce is the all time sack leader and a payed DE in a 3-4. Is unprecedented. I am tempted to give the edge to Bruce there because of it. But no way I put Ray Lewis over Bruce. Not in a million years. Ronnie Lott was great, maybe the GOAT safety, but I take a DE over a DB all day in any era. Reggie White, LT, Bruce? All three were so different in the same era. We’re splitting hairs. Edited August 20, 2021 by Mango Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paup 1995MVP Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Reggie White, LT, Bruce and Ray Lewis. The modern NFL defensive Mt Rushmore. And we can squeeze Ronnie Lott on the lower tier of the mountain. Safety used to be such a position of violence. Wow, remember Lott, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, David Fulcher, Kenny Easley, Brian Dawkins, etc. Good grief receivers used to have it rough. Just goes to show how great Jerry Rice was putting up the numbers he did in the era he played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4_kidd_4 Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 3 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said: What do you guys think about this list? https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/best-nfl-player-by-number-graphic-mitchell-and-ness They have the wrong font for Kent Hull’s name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeGOATski Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Best DE ever and best Bills player ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, Long Suffering Fan said: I think it is ridiculous that he is not higher....and I don't think that is homer bias. - Not only did he set the sack record. - He did it while playing in a 3-4. - And while playing in a defense that often rushed three and rarely rushed more than 4 (I don't count it as a blitz unless the rush includes more than 4). Blitzing lessens double teams, collapses the pocket, and increases sack numbers for everyone because of clean up sacks. - And was dominant against the run. Sack numbers are supposedly the gold standard for DEs in this league, yet many with high sacks are not complete players. Leading in sack numbers while defending the run, in a non-pass rush friendly offense, maintaining containment, sniffing out screens....How is he not in the top 2-3 defensive players? Yeah but it's not like Bruce was kicked inside all the time On passing Downs Bruce Rushed from the edge a bunch... He was a 34 end in the base front Edited August 20, 2021 by Buffalo716 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobChalmers Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 7 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said: What do you guys think about this list? https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/best-nfl-player-by-number-graphic-mitchell-and-ness I'd already put Aaron Donald ahead of Sapp for number 99. Rivers won't last long with number 17! 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) Bruce Smith is arguably the best #1 pick of all time with Peyton Manning Dominated the game in 2 different decades All time sack leader No reason he isn't top 10 maybe 15 The only other end close is Reggie White , and the only defensive player more ferocious LT He's absolutely top 10 15 of all time Edited August 20, 2021 by Buffalo716 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 LT is the only player I place over Bruuuce, with Lott as a close third. Minister was great, but he didn’t play in a traditional 3-4. If Bruce was in a 4-3, he would’ve been the unprecedented beat defensive Player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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