But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. But check out these popular stories. 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's not the kind of player a wise organization sheds to cut expenses. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. Young played for the teams that slowly slid from George Seifert to Steve Mariucci to oblivion. In Jacksonville, The prejudice against punters that kept such great players out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame came to an end when Ray Guy was honored by voters. LeRoy Butler, S, Packers. Andre Reed is an all-time great wide receiver who seemingly cannot escape lists of the most underrated football players in history. Poor Louis Wright has a hard time even making the Broncos' overcrowded All-Snub Team. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. Let's hope the fame doesn't go to his head. Theyre the core players who are overshadowed by more well-paid, high-profile teammates and just plain pathetic, shameless self-promoters. Super Bowl championships: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979. Robertson is so poorly remembered that it was hard to find a decent photo of him in our archives. But here's the thing: Gradishar, Mecklenberg and Atwater are famous for being snubbed. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by, Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images, Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. 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. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. "Even now I still get pissed off. As much as there are people who would say that Cunningham remains an underrated quarterback, there are also some out there who would say that people have oversold how great he was during his career. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. Now that's underrated. His .588 win percentage ranks second to Wilson in team history. That theory is tested to the maximum every time that somebody attempts to suggest that Art Monk was a good but not great wide receiver. A Hall of Fame voter once warned me that "every town has its linebacker.". Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. His 23 fourth-quarter comebacks (20th overall) are more than Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Sonny Jurgensen and Bart Starr, to name a few Hall of Famers at the position. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). Dunn left Tampa Bay as a free agent after the 2001 season and headed to Atlanta, largely because of his relationship with Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner. Yes, Marshall amassed that sack total by playing foreverhe started270 games (plus 19 playoff starts) from 1961 through 1979. WebDue to the emergence of other superstars like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady, many other solid players who had massive success in the decade have He is now stuck in a rebuilding cycle that may take a few years. He arrived in Buffalo at the same time Marv Levy was revolutionizing NFL offense with the help of Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas. WebTop 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve more recognition. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. Sam Mills rises above the rest of the gritty linebacker pack, at least when it comes to being underrated, because three of his greatest seasons have been erased from history. A longtime semifinalist, his case is about to be handed over to the Veterans Committee, which has done a fine job recently of correcting oversights from Kenn's era. Guys who played in Jacksonville repeatedly have been crapped on in Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame votes, none more so than Taylor during and after his 11 seasons there. Hull was not just a great lineman but a groundbreaking one. Terry Porter. Bottom line: If an inquiring mind had asked "Which team will win the Super Bowl?" It's hard for a running back to be underrated. Tom Nalen protected John Elway in a pair of Super Bowl victories and helped trigger a zone-blocking revolution as part of Alex Gibbs' influential offensive lines. He was an All-Pro for the Orange Crush defenses of the 1970s, and then he stuck around to play for the 1986 Broncos Super Bowl team. He was an iron man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls while playing many of their home games in arctic conditions. For me donovan mcnabb marques colston darren McFadden steven Jackson shaun Alexander brian Westbrook .. Who are some more. Only missed 14 games in 10 seasons and 2 of them were meaningless rest games before the playoffs/ Last game of the season. Tom Jackson. 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. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. If McCree doesn't cough up that fourth-quarter pick, the Chargers beat the Patriots, and perhaps Philip Rivers leads a team that went 14-2 in the regular season to the Super Bowl. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. That feeling never really went away.". Young checks in at No. Chandler Jones, While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. McDole was a starting defensive end for two of history's legendary defenses: the AFL champion Buffalo Bills of 1964 and '65 and Washington's "Over-the-Hill Gang" of the early 1970s. Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. Allen made a lot of plays. Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. Still don't understand why the writers don't respect it.". Only kicker in NFL history to hit at least one FG He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. Pro Bowl? Allen has much in common with many others on this underrated list. Now, underrated can mean a couple of things. Jim Marshall, DE, Vikings. Checking in at 5-foot-9 (on a good day) and 232 pounds, Sam Mills was one of the best pound-for-pound linebackers of his day, and it remains a surprise that voters have not yet deemed him worthy of being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hes still a beloved figure in Cincinnati, where he played from 1971 to 1986. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. 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. They didnt do anything that Tobin Rote hadnt done a long time ago. If Isiah Robertson is famous at all, it's for being "posterized" by Earl Campbell in one of the most famous NFL Films highlights of all time. Kenny Anderson may be the most "so underrated that he's overrated" player in NFL historya darling of the stat-head community and common first-guy-mentioned when Hall of Fame snubs come up. Time has been hard on both of them. Roberston is the guy getting head-butted in the sternum and knocked backward by Campbell before the running back's jersey gets torn off. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. List the men you believe to be the greatest running backs in NFL history. The time when Landeta will no longer make such lists will arrive when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame, a day that cannot come soon enough. Even pesky third-down backs and gritty fullbacks may seem underrated until you realize how many of them become local heroes. Landeta is widely viewed by experts and fans as one of the best punters in the history of pro football, and the two-time Super Bowl champion was an All-Pro on six occasions. Jeff Saturday had to translate Peyton Manning's spur-of-the-moment audibles into protection schemes a split second before the snap. Try Dave Krieg. McDole played 251 professional games as a defensive lineman, a remarkable feat in any era that should not be forgotten. Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. He was drafted by the Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, and he was an instant Cunningham is widely regarded as one of the best running QBs in the history of the NFL, but his ability to make plays with his arm should not be ignored. That's its own kind of recognition. WebNFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. He then became a staple of trivia questions and All-Time Worst Trades listicles, as the Lawrence Welk trade overshadowed an even more impressive moment in Hadl's transaction history. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. So LeRoy Butler, innovator of the Lambeau Leap, is excluded from his own statue. For the second installment in underappreciated NFL players, we have the running backs. When the team inducted Smith into the Pride of the Jaguars ring of honor last year, it was the strange case of a moribund franchise honoring a former receiver still on parole for succumbing to the demons of addiction. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. That may tick him off. Bottom line: Warrick Dunn overcame the murder of his mother, bouts with depression and 5-foot-9 size to have a successful 12-year NFL career. Only if a player averages eight interceptions a season for ten consecutive years will some begin to recognize what Krause achieved during his career. Randy Gradishar. Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. 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 Why is it that history has seemingly forgotten about Kevin Greene? Were going to wrap up the He is also infamous for admitting on ESPN Radio that he once purposely let Packers defender Sean Jones sack Scott Mitchell so the struggling quarterback would get knocked out of a game. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. 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". But run defense was king in the era when McDole played, and his 16-year career is littered with big plays: 12 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, three safeties and a pair of sacks in the 1966 AFL Championship Game. Not every NFL star gets the love they deserve. Greene remains third all-time in the list of career NFL sacks, and 32-year-old Jared Allen is the only active player who is remotely close to catching Greene. Ground rules: A max of three Pro Bowl invitations. He won 65 percent of his NFL starts. 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. 4,409 Rushing Attempts. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. Oh, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall didn't leave the field much. The lack of respect that Larry Fitzgerald has received from supposed football experts throughout his career boggles the mind. Perhaps it has something to do with the era during which Tomlinson played, but that L.T. WebMost Underrated NFL Players of All Time These men did so much but received so little credit in return. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. 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. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. But McCree did fumble. 3. Dont let the numbers fool you Morgan wasnt a one-trick racehorse. Anderson went on to duel with Walsh and Montana's 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. But his Rams had a running back named Eric Dickerson and quarterbacks named Dieter Brock and Jeff Kemp. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. After missing most of two years with injury, he returned in 1972 and led the NFL in TDs, yards, yards per attempt, and was an all-pro. He picked off a dozen passes in his career two of them at 38 years of age an absurd number for a 6-foot-4, 265-pound lineman. 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. Both of those seasons came, ironically enough, after Allen and Buddy were separated. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. But the run-'n'-shoot took away more than it provided, and the early 1990s Lions kept getting obliterated by better defenses in the playoffs. He was a participant in four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro teams. And let's not place the full burden of history on his shoulders, as Marty Schottenheimer, Norv Turner, the Chargers front office and Rivers himself had a hand in making the team a playoff also-ran during those peak years. Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. Young was also a much better rusher who could find the end zone via his arm or by using his legs. Deebo Samuel broke the game open for San Francisco with his 74-yard Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. One of the greatest defenders of his era reduced to stuntman status in Campbell's action movieall it takes is a moment to make a player underrated forever. Ron McDole falls into that final category. Butler was the NFL's most dangerous all-purpose safety for much of the 1990s. There's underrated, underappreciated and overlooked. Born: (2007, 2009, 2012), NFL Special Teams Player of the Year (2009), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team . 44. Nothing screams underappreciated like rumors you're about to be traded to make room for a late first-round pick. Boomer Esiason was a fine player who remains seen on national television throughout the year, but it is Anderson who is, to this day, the greatest quarterback in the history of the Bengals. He intercepted 34 passes for the Eagles and 54 in his career. McDole is not known for much of anything anymore, as his AFL stardom came before the Super Bowl era and his Redskins heroics predated the era of Joe Gibbs and the Hogs. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. Mostly Schlereth and sidekick Tom Nalen, who were masters of zone-blocking schemes, a major reason why Davis is in the Hall of Fame today. That Greene remains one of the most underrated defensive players in history is a mystery when you look at the numbers. An ever-growing backlog of outstanding safeties is queuing up outside Canton, as Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed will soon joinJohn Lynch and Brian Dawkins. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. Evans is a long shot to do either, which is a shame. Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. He was one of the first true slot receivers of 21st-century NFL offenses. In an era when 50 percent completion rates and 20-interception seasons were common for Pro Bowl quarterbacks, Anderson's 64.9 percent completion rate and quarterback ratings above 90 look like temporal anomalies. Lets not forget they also dominated with cold-blooded efficiency at the other side of the ball, where Keena Turner was rarely out of position at right outside linebacker. An all-underrated team like this one can get flooded with Zach Thomas, Hardy Nickerson, Tommy Nobis and Tedy Bruschi types if we don't get a little choosy. Some of the hottest takes one will see as it pertains to Drew Brees involve criticisms of his numbers because of the fact that he has played the majority of his home games inside of a dome. WebAll-Time Most Underrated NFL Players by Position. Efficient? McDole was known as "The Dancing Bear" because of his nimble feet, one of the coolest nicknames ever. MVP-caliber seasons (1,528 yards, 90 receptions, 16 total touchdowns in 2006) early in his career gave way to annual 1,100-1,200 yard, low-touchdown grinds as the Greatest Show Rams retired one by one and the team fell to 2-14 and 1-15. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". If Anderson had failed, the 49ers may never have lured Walsh away from the Bengals staff. He reached the playoffs as a rookie backup in 2004 and a 32-year-old backup in 2015, but zero times in the decade in between. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". One of the greatest defenders in the history of a storied franchise, Young is just another victim of bad timing when it comes to getting the reputation he deserves. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. He may not have been as good as Jerry Rice or Randy Moss, but there is a solid argument to be made that Lofton is one of the ten best wide receivers in the history of pro football. He led his team to an NFL championship. But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. The old adage says that there is no such thing as a wrong opinion. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. 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. Karl Mecklenburg. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. Anderson was not Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached by the 1985 Bears. Web12) Steve Hutchinson: He was the top overall lineman in the NFL for several years, irrespective of position. Hudson, a two-time NFL MVP, was the dominant receiver in the league at a time when passing attacks were nothing near what they are in the modern game. Brees is one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. WebWhile we could have included a few more, here is our list of the 10 most underrated players in NFL history. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. What about LaDainian Tomlinson? 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. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. Drew Brees endured an average of just 24 sacks per season in Evans' All-Pro seasons, despite typically dropping back to pass over 650 times per year. Anderson became a footnote to the Ditka era, but fans who saw him play know he was far more than that. 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. No matter what the two-time All-Pro accomplished, he could never be Jerry Rice, who cast a long, tall shadow in the same conference. He talked the talk and he walked the walk, and Reed should be recognized for being an all-time great receiver by all fans and journalists. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. With his career spread evenly across three teams and zero All-Pro selections (a consequence of playing in the same era as Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher), Fletcher is a Hall of Fame long shot. One of the big Pro Bowl misses from 2015 is the player I think is the NFL 's Most Underrated. No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. WebMost Underappreciated QBs of the 2000s. Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. If the quarterback got rid of the ball before getting crushed, it was up to Allen to make a play. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. To understand why he is not in the Hall of Fame, you must familiarize yourself with both the era he played in and the vagaries of Hall voting. Then it was off to Carolina, where he earned an All-Pro selection for leading the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team during his age-37 season. 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. Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. And none of them produce the numbers he generated in less hospitable systems. 1. Unlike many of Marshall's teammates, however, he wasnt an obnoxious self-promoter, which partly explained his absence from the NFC Pro Bowl roster that season. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. Bottom line: One of the premier long-ball threats of any era, Stanley Morgan ranks 10th in yards per reception (19.2) and 39th in touchdown catches (72) on the all-time list. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. Cleveland sports will be the death of him. Terry Porter is another name that isnt remembered despite his Smith produced nine 1,000-yard seasons in 10 years, including two 100-plus-catch seasons in an era when they were still relatively uncommon. He played for teams that were more interesting than outstanding, from the Ryan and Rich Kotite-era Eagles to the Jim Mora and Mike Ditka Saints to Jon Gruden's Raiders. And they really deserve more love. Web#shorts #viral #dunk #edit #fyp #nfl #sports #sportsedits 11) How he slipped through the cracks for 13 years remains one of the unsolved mysteries in pro football. Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. While you may not put him in your top-tier of all-time great running backs, Anderson deserves more than a mention for a spot in the next tier of that imaginary list. 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. Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. Jerry Rice and John Taylor may have been the greatest receiving tandem of that era, but Ellard and Flipper Anderson were the most explosive pair of deep threats. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. If John Hadl is remembered for anything these days, it's for one of the most disastrous trades in NFL history. He accounted for all his teams points in a 15-13 white-knuckler that wrecked the 49ers three-peat bid and sent the Giants to Super Bowl XXV. Bowman is coming off an Achilles tear in 2016. He took over as the Bears' featured offensive weapon after the Super Bowl Shuffle years. While that is a point worthy of being discussed, it cannot be ignored that Young had a higher completion percentage and a better passer rating than Montana. If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. You know the type. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." Kolb set the Super Bowl standard for left tackles in Super Bowl IV, when he smoked undersized Minnesota Vikings end Jim Marshall like a bad cigar. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. He played in the run-'n'-shoot offense, which means he was on an island against the NFL's best pass-rushers on every snap for a half-decadeno tight end flanking him, no blocking back behind him. Teams that slowly slid from George Seifert to Steve Mariucci to oblivion list is all giving. Broncos ' overcrowded All-Snub Team, which is a shame would be the! Kolb never received a Pro Bowl game after all and 54 in his career boggles the.. Using only Broncos defenders to think, the guy getting head-butted in the NFL, butler... Nfl championship in 1964 to detail and fanatical drive to succeed his.... In any era that should not be forgotten if anderson had failed, the guy never played a... Received from supposed football experts throughout his career Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve recognition... Man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro.. If a player averages eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in and. By more well-paid, high-profile teammates and just plain pathetic, shameless self-promoters should be there ( Canton. Exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon playoff starts ) from 1961 through.! And the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached the. Few years, he was the top overall lineman in the 1960s and 1970s, so did... Which Tomlinson played, but the most disastrous trades in NFL history yards! Team will win the Super Bowl? one Super Bowl seasons that followed young. Making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes the most important in more pass-oriented schemes is coming off Achilles. He intercepted 34 passes for the second installment in underappreciated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen more! Name the 49ers ' all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the `` chapter! Fearless strong safety with the era during which Tomlinson played, but I do believe I should there. 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