For some reason, ESPN took on the impossible task of creating an all-time NFL starting lineup. I am guessing that reason was just to make all the sports internet trols angry so they’d be forced to share with all of their troll friends just how stupid the list is, but I could be wrong. (I doubt it though.
)As anyone with even a modicum of sports knowledge knows, meaning anyone who works at ESPN, creating an all-time list of just about anything is fraught with the liklihood of being sharply criticized.
However, as wise sage Eric Bischoff once proclaimed, “Controversy creates cash.”
Which is why, I assume, ESPN is going all in on its attempt to trigger as many sports internet trolls as it can of late.
That’s fine though. We’ll play along, because that’s part of what makes being a sports fan so entertaining.
ESPN Senior Writer Jeff Legwold, a former president of Pro Football Writers of America, is the leading culprity in this particular case, as he tweeted on Wednesday, “Many months ago I floated the idea to a coach who is a friend about picking an all-time NFL team — starters only. He said ‘are you f@#$cking nuts?’ Well, maybe.”
— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) August 21, 2019
Legwold says he surveyed more than 250 people, including players, coaches, scouts, general managers, Hall of Famers and Hall of Fame voters, in creating his list.
Here’s his starting 22, plus special teams and head coach…
(Read all of his reasons why for each selection here.)
Coach: Bill Belichick
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Jim Brown
RB: Walter Payton
WR: Jerry Rice
WR: Don Hutson
LT: Anthony Munoz
G: John Hannah
C: Jim Otto
G: Jim Parker
RT: Forrest Gregg
TE Tony Gonzalez
DE: Reggie White
DT: Joe Greene
DT: Merlin Olsen
DE: Deacon Jones
LB: Lawrence Taylor
LB: Dick Butkus
LB: Bobby Bell
CB: Deion Sanders
CB: Rod Woodson
S: Ken Houston
S: Ronnie Lott
K: Adam Vinatieri
P: Ray Guy
KR: Gale Sayers
Here's who made @Jeff_Legwold's list: pic.twitter.com/MoW5Pv7juw
— ESPN (@espn) August 22, 2019
You got a problem with any of that? Get in line.
@espn @Jeff_Legwold No Ray Lewis or Ed Reed? I'm out.
@espn @Jeff_Legwold Love Gale Sayers but anyone other than Devin Hester is wrong.
@espn @Jeff_Legwold I’m sorry, Barry Sanders and Randy Moss gotta be on this list
@espn @Jeff_Legwold Give me Larry Allen over Parker at RG
@espn @Jeff_Legwold No @charlewoodson21 ? Who’s playing with espn’s twitter handle?
@Jeff_Legwold Montana over Brady. Brady has lost the big game and cheated in in the big game . Montana undefeated N… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@Jeff_Legwold Overall quite atrocious. Merlin Olsen and Joe Greene over Sapp, Lilly Selmon, Ngata, Donald, etc? B… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@espn @Jeff_Legwold Where is Bruce Matthews?
@Jeff_Legwold Troy Polamalu should be on this list for safety, for sure. Certainly ahead of Kenny Easley. And Mel… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@Jeff_Legwold Why isn’t Paul Krause on the list? The game has transitioned to a lot more passing but he is still th… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@espn @Jeff_Legwold I'm going to go ahead and swap in Bruce Smith for you.
@espn @Jeff_Legwold Really gonna leave out Derrick Thomas?
@espn @ESPNNFL @Jeff_Legwold How is Justin tucker not the kicker on this list
Did they miss any positions?
