most underrated nfl players 2000s

No one plays guard expecting fame and accolades, least of all Wisniewski, who is worthy of all the gritty cliches you can sling at him. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. "No one was going to catch no ball.". But McCree did fumble. Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. Anderson is no Hall of Famerthe middle of his career is a morass of ordinary-at-best seasonsbut he was a pioneer and an innovator. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. The Colts accused Ryan of running up the score in the 27-0 championship rout of 1964. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. He then led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs in 1965. Many of those catches occurred down the field, with Anderson serving as a de facto possession receiver. Bottom line: Never mind guys such as Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. 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. Bowman is a four-time All-Pro and tremendous all-purpose linebacker who emerged as a stalwart leader for teams that otherwise might have packed it in before Labor Day. He led the Bengals to a pair of playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975, Joe Montana's high school senior and Notre Dame sophomore seasons. He began his career at the tail end of Jim Harbaugh's great defensive teams, but he has since battled both injuries and the incompetence of the Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly experiments. Only missed 14 games in 10 seasons and 2 of them were meaningless rest games before the playoffs/ Last game of the season. Johnny Robinson's credentials make you want to drive to Canton, kick down the Hall of Fame's door and clear a spot for his bust yourself. Debates about the greatest pass-rushers in the history of the NFL will conjure up mentions of players such as Bruce Smith, Michael Strahan, Reggie White and others. Player: Emmitt Smith. That may be unfair to players like Robinson, Jerry Kramer and L.C. 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. Born: (2007, 2009, 2012), NFL Special Teams Player of the Year (2009), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team . 5. 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. Anderson became a footnote to the Ditka era, but fans who saw him play know he was far more than that. Massive sports fan and soccer nerd. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. 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. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he didnt wow anyone physically. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. 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. There, he led a relentless Redskins pass rush in their Super Bowl XXVI ambush. 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. Is Jerry Rice not the greatest wide receiver in history because he played alongside Joe Montana and Steve Young? And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. Lofton could stretch the field with his speed, and he also had some of the best hands of his time. The lack of respect that Larry Fitzgerald has received from supposed football experts throughout his career boggles the mind. 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. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. He had to blanket a wide receiver in man coverage with no safety help on every play. 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. Teams: Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1986, 1987, 1992), Super Bowl championships: Two (1985, 1991). Ryan would blitz between five and eight defenders, plus some water boys and maybe a few boo birds from the 700 level of Veterans Stadium. Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. 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. 3. Andre Reed is an all-time great wide receiver who seemingly cannot escape lists of the most underrated football players in history. Years: 1990-2004. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. Mason also caught 49 postseason passes and was one of the game's best return men for a few years. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. But none accomplished more than Ryan while receiving less acclaim. Rivers had neither, but he possessed just about everything else. Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. He had 44 career sacks and as many as eight in a season on two occasions. It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. C'mon, who doesn't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert? Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. Seth Joyner is one of those athletes who is widely respected by fans of the team that he played for but who is also not always mentioned as being an underrated player. does not get the love that is handed to other running backs is something that could make you scratch your head. That voter meant every fanbase has a beloved old defender, renowned for his toughness and leadership, that they swear belongs in the Hall of Fame. 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. Membership on various All-1960s teams. The correct answer is Player A (Ken Stabler), and if youre Player B (Brodie), you have to wonder if one Super Bowl should make that much difference. No reasonable person is going to confuse Ottis Anderson for being one of the top-five running backs in the history of the NFL, but he is nevertheless grossly underrated by far too many who follow the NFL. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. (Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN. Overall, the total still ranks ninth at the position. 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. July 24, 2020July 24, 2020 Koby83 Carson Palmer, Football, Matt Schaub, NFL, Quarterbacks Underrated. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. The Rams eventually acquired Jim Everett and opened up their offense, transforming Ellard into one of the NFL's most dangerous deep threats. By the time Rivers is retired for five years, the "San Diego Chargers" will be as relevant as the Dayton Triangles, and Hall voters will be too busy rubber-stamping Tom Brady and Drew Brees to get to a guy from a lost city who couldn't win the big one. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. Neal Anderson replaced Walter Payton. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. WebKen Anderson is easily the most underrated quarterback of all time. His 42-yarder in the 1990 NFC championship game rates as one of the greatest clutch kicks in league history. 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. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. Today, most people know Mark Schlereth mostly as an He has been named to eight Pro Bowl squads. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. That's its own kind of recognition. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. Bottom line: In his 15th and final season, the 36-year-old Ken Riley had eight interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns, one of the most incredible performances by an old man ever. And then there is plain old forgotten. 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. One of the best players in the league during the 1980s, Monk is too often unappreciated in lists of all-time great wide receivers. Twenty years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the marquee organizations in professional sports, and Jimmy Smith was one of their brightest stars. No matter. One look at the logjam forming outside the entrance to Canton tells you Wisniewski isn't moving up the ladder anytime soon. And you're never going to guess who's No. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. No one else is even close. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. 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. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. The least glamorous position on the field, a so-so team, a franchise moveWisniewski pulled three lemons on the recognition slot machine. Ron McDole falls into that final category. He was an iron man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls while playing many of their home games in arctic conditions. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. Start with Adam Timmerman, who won Super Bowl rings with the Packers and Rams three years apart. Defensive Player of the Year awards? ), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl championships: Two (1974, 1975). But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. But so were teammates like Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Bobby Bell, Curley Culp and Jan Stenerud, all of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Mark Schlereth. Roberston is the guy getting head-butted in the sternum and knocked backward by Campbell before the running back's jersey gets torn off. 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. 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. Randall Cunningham is one of the most polarizing individuals regarding these types of discussions. If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong. Rote was the first quarterback who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his arm. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. Allen made a lot of plays. Cleveland sports will be the death of him. WebWe're a media page that has been highlighting an underrated player from every team in the NFL. The Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. Bahr converted 84 percent of his field-goal attempts (21 of 25), and 98 percent of his extra-point tries (40 of 41) when it counted most. Anderson does not get the credit he deserves for reasons that cannot be explained. He routinely beat defenders with quickness out of his breaks and clever change-of-pace moves, qualities that also served him well as a punt returner. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. Both players were Pro Bowlers the previous year. Far from it. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. Men such as Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor. And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. WebUnderrated 2000s players that don't get the respect they deserve today. 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. Norton made the key play of the game in the second period, when he stood up Buffalo Bills back Kenneth Davis mere inches from the goal line. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. From a couple of fairly well-known quarterbacks to the linemen who make a quarterback's job easier, we argue these 32 players deserve more recognition. Ground rules: A max of three Pro Bowl invitations. But what peak years they were: 14- and 13-win seasons, annual playoff appearances, routine 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons. 4,409 Rushing Attempts. Tomlinson is fifth all-time in rushing yards, and he is third all-time in regular season touchdowns scored for all players and not just for running backs. Thats been the real surprise. Dont let the numbers fool you Morgan wasnt a one-trick racehorse. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. Since Week 13, when he became the starter due to Jimmy Garoppolos broken foot, Purdy has the NFLs best passer rating (112.0), completing 68.3% of his passes for 8.1 yards per attempt, 13 touchdown passes, and just three interceptions. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). He intercepted 25 career regular-season passes and two more in the postseason. 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. His 65 interceptions are fifth most in NFL history. There have been many better quarterbacks than Ryan in NFL history. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. Exist for Steve Young intercepted 23 passes and was hell on wheels with the Steelers first two Super Bowl ambush... Julius Peppers with 227 of history Schaub, NFL, Quarterbacks underrated, Matt Schaub, NFL, Quarterbacks.... 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