Bottom Line: Pat Swilling was part of perhaps the finest assembly of linebackers in NFL history the New Orleans Saints' famous "Dome Patrol" of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won 65 percent of his NFL starts. That's nearly 83 percent of his field goals during the previous decade. A year removed from a torn ACL and having to deal with being the guy with Von Miller injured, Chubb went on to earn a 79.4 pass-rush grade in 2020, which ranked 13th at the position. He didnt just take up space, either. Mills was a USFL All-Star in all three seasons of the league's existence, and he led the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars' Doghouse Defense (coached by Jim Mora) to a pair of league titles. Johnny Hekker has been one of the NFL's best punters for the last decade, is a six-time NFL All-Pro, owns the best single-season average for punts with 44.23 yards and has the longest punt in Super Bowl history with a 65-yarder against the New England Patriots. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. After they confirm it on Google. After the incredible run, they lose just one player: Michael Forrest. But Wright never posted massive interception totals, and his teams ended up on the receiving end of a pair of Super Bowl beatings. With the Tennessee Titans owning the No. That's its own kind of recognition. Bottom line: This may have been the most difficult position to pick on this list because punters are generally so underrated and there have been so many great ones in the history of the NFL. He finished his career in 2015 with 136 sacks. Through the 2018 season, Vinatieri checked in at 81 (56 of 69) and 99 (70 of 71), respectively. Not every NFL star gets the love they deserve. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. shares.
The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. Hull never lived to see himself make a Hall of Fame semifinalist list, as he died of liver failure at age 50 in 2011. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan, right, battles for According to Pro Football Reference, he was flagged for 14 accepted holding penalties in 187 career games, little more than one per season. No modern coach suppressed passing offenses quite like Fisher, and no team produces offensive stats that look like they come from the early 1930s quite like the Ravens. Nope, not Charles Haley. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. Wisniewski reached eight Pro Bowls and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade team for the 1990s, so he's not exactly obscure. Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. He played the run with authority (721 career solo tackles). But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. Hadl signed with the Chargers instead, and Sid Gilman built him into the trigger man for an offense from which all modern offenses descended. Bottom Line: John Abraham played his last NFL game in 2014, but it feels like his dominant career as a pass rusher is being lost to history. 3 career leading rusher and watch their esteem of you as a sports fan grow before your eyes. Born: Jan. 6, 1946 (Hattiesburg, Mississippi), Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1968, 1973-77), Philadelphia Eagles (1969-72), New England Patriots (1978-81, 1987), Minnesota Vikings (1982), Seattle Seahawks (1983), Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (1972, 1973, 1977), five-time Pro Bowl (1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977). Actually, make that four careers. Is he the greatest return specialist of all time? Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson probably helped you win a fantasy title or two, but he would be remembered for so much more if he wasn't always on the wrong team at the wrong time. Most seasons with 30 made field goals (7). It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. Watters was an undisputed winner at every level, winning a national championship at Notre Dame and a Super Bowl with the 49ers. Bottom line: After Steve Bisciotti became a multimillionaire via his staffing company, Aerotek, he purchased 49 percent of the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 for $275 million, then purchased the rest of the team for $375 million in 2004 a combined $600 million for the franchise. As much as he means to FAU, that is the only player FAU is scheduled to lose. WebNFL Network's Willie McGinest, Shaun O'Hara and LaDainian Tomlinson highlight three underrated players in the NFL. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). 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. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success. Bottom line: Already considered one of the best guards to play in the NFL in the last 20 years, Zack Martin's career might already be considered Hall of Fame worthy. He was an iron man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls while playing many of their home games in arctic conditions. He hit two big free throws with six seconds left to give FAU a three-point lead in the Elite Eight. Teams: Dallas Cowboys (2003-17, 2019), Las Vegas Raiders (2020), Career highlights: Four-time NFL All-Pro (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012), 11-time Pro Bowl (2004-10, 2012-14, 2017), Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2012). We hope so. Barry Sanders. Forrest is a leader for FAU. 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. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. Born: June 27, 1990 (Los Angeles, California), Teams: Seattle Seahawks (2012-21), Los Angeles Rams (2022-present), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2013), eight-time NFL All-Pro (2014-21), eight-time Pro Bowl (2014-21), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2012), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. 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. Check out the top 12 below and be on the lookout for players 13 through 24 later this week. In 10 of the 12 seasons in which he started at least half their games, the Seahawks prevailed more times than not. NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4; NFL Career: Cincinnati Bengals (2000-2004), Seattle Seahawks (2005) After the Bills failed to score, he knocked quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game in the next series. Some of the biggest stars of the 2000s such as Patrick Roy, Mark Recchi and Doug Weight have all had (or currently have) a coaching spot in the big leagues, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman are currently NHL GMs, and the likes of Mario Lemieux (owner) and Brendan Shanahan (president) have other prominent roles in the hockey world that keep In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). Born: Nov. 22, 1965 (San Diego, California), Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1988-94), New Orleans Saints (1995-97), Oakland Raiders (1998-2001), Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (1989, 1991, 1993), six-time Pro Bowl (1989, 1991-95), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1988), Eagles 75th Anniversary Team. After being named SEC Player of the Year at the University of Georgia in 1968 as a junior, he left school early to go play in the Canadian Football League for one season before heading to the NFL in 1970. Greenwood, but there are dozens of other great old players clamoring for their chance who didn't enjoy the glory of playing for a "team of the decade.". Bottom line: Dick Schafrath was one of the more unique individuals to ever play in the NFL, known as much for his talents on the offensive line as for his personality away from the field in a series of bizarre publicity stunts. The Jaguars upset John Elway's Broncos and reached the AFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team and then went on to three more playoff berths, culminating in a 14-2 season. His 217 receiving yards in his first NFL game is still a record. During that stretch, he made the Pro Bowl five times and was named to the NFL All-Pro Team three times. He never played in a conference championship game or a Super Bowl. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). He's a seven-time NFL All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team. Born: Oct. 15, 1953 (Chester, Pennsylvania), Teams: New York Jets (1977-87), Indianapolis Colts (1988), Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981), three-time NFL All-Pro (1981, 1983, 1985), four-time Pro Bowl (1981, 1983-85), New York Jets Ring of Honor. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. Teams: Montreal Alouettes (1973-77), Kansas City Chiefs (1978-82), Buffalo Bills (1986-97), Career highlights: Four-time AFC champion (1990-93), two-time Grey Cup champion (1974, 1977), Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year (1988), two-time UPI NFL Coach of the Year (1988, 1993), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. WebThe Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000s Hide 11. The Top 10 Most Improved Players of the 2023 NBA Season. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. By James Bassil April 5, 2023 8:59 am. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader.
The NFL's superstars Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. 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. No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. The Hall of Fame has turned up its nose on all of them. Bottom line: OK, kids, lets play Name That Hall of Famer. Riley, who died in 2020 at 72 years old, was the head football coach at Florida A&M for 12 seasons before becoming the school's athletic director until his retirement. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1993, 1995, 1997), Super Bowl championships: Three (1992, 1993, 1994). Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. WebMost underrated player on all 32 NFL teams. WebHe made 6 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1977-82 yet was only an All-Pro once in 1980. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. Born: Aug. 25, 1965 (Birmingham, Alabama), Teams: Buffalo Bills (1987-95), Atlanta Falcons (1996-98), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2000), Career highlights: Two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1988, 1991), five-time Pro Bowl (1988, 1990-93), three-time All-Pro (1988, 1991, 1992), AFC Defensive Team of the Decade (2000s). That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. 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. 72 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, we decided to take a look back at the last two decades-plus of the history of selections in that spot. He had 2 Pro Bowl appearances in the 2000s, and that didnt even include his best season. Robertson was one of the NFL's fastest linebackers in the 1970s. Poor Louis Wright has a hard time even making the Broncos' overcrowded All-Snub Team. Karl Mecklenburg. Born: March 17, 1991 (Rock Hill, South Carolina), College: Hutchinson Community College/Tennessee, Teams: Minnesota Vikings (2013-16), Oakland Raiders (2017), New England Patriots (2018), Chicago Bears (2019-20), Atlanta Falcons (2021-present), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2019), seven-time NFL All-Pro (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018-20), four-time Pro Bowl (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2013), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. The Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. Robinson was one of those players. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. Tom Jackson. Nothing screams underappreciated like rumors you're about to be traded to make room for a late first-round pick. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. He led the NFL in receptions in 1958 despite never having caught a pass in a game before, and had his best season in 1965 with 66 receptions for 10 touchdowns on the way to being named NFL Player of the Year. Butler, a Louisiana Tech University product, entered the league as the 30th overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft. WebBesides the ones I mentioned, Ahman Green, Clinton Portis, Fred Taylor, Tiki Barber, Rudi Johnson, Curtis Martin, Jamal Lewis, Deuce McCallister were all very good players. In that stretch he was also the head coach at the University of New Mexico, Cal-Berkeley and William & Mary before making the move to the pros where he actually won a championship with the Montreal Alouettes, winning two Grey Cups in 1974 and 1977. So Anderson cranked out a few 1,000-yard seasons and played in some Pro Bowls, and that was that. 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.
One of the top seven rated signees for CU in the 2000s, Lynn Katoa was all-everything coming out of Cottonwood High School in Utah in 2008. "I wasnt the fastest guy, but I didnt mind having the defender at my hip," Ellard said per Yahoo Sports. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. They didnt allow a sack in 84 pass attempts. 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. With the Tennessee Titans owning the No. Robertson is so poorly remembered that it was hard to find a decent photo of him in our archives. 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. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. One of the most durable players in NFL history, Witten didnt miss a game over his last 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys but lands on the underrated list because of his lack of postseason success. Start with Adam Timmerman, who won Super Bowl rings with the Packers and Rams three years apart. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. WebAndrews is simply one of the most underrated players in modern NFL history, topping 2,000 scrimmage yards twice but toiling for mostly mediocre Falcons teams. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. Born: Nov. 20, 1980 (Indianapolis, Indiana), Career highlights: Seven-time NFL All-Pro (2014-19, 2021), seven-time Pro Bowl (2014-19, 2021), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2014), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Football Most Underrated College Football Players of All Time By Tony Adame, updated on January 24, 2023 J. Pat Carter / AP Photo It's easy to remember the names of Heisman Trophy winners. Even unspectacular ones manage to rack up a few 1,000-yard seasons and get drafted early in fantasy leagues. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. Bottom line: All Ken Norton could do was take down ballcarriers and collect Super Bowl rings. There's a statue outside of Lambeau Field commemorating the Lambeau Leap, perhaps the most recognizable and beloved (except to Packers opponents) end-zone celebration in the NFL. He was usually the Bears' best rusher and receiver in his prime years, catching 40-50 passes per season from Mike Tomczak or the young Jim Harbaugh. WebOne of the most durable players in NFL history, Witten didnt miss a game over his last 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys but lands on the underrated list because of his lack of Brown did one thing terribly wrong in 18 NFL seasons, but for his teams to win as often as they did, he must have done an awful lot more right. The statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who just pounced into the stands. A new generation of superstar left tackles entered the league as Brown was peaking, and he spent the latter half of his career bouncing from team to team as Tony Boselli, Willie Roaf, Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden and Walter Jones turned the blindside protector into an almost glamorous position. He was a participant in four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro teams. Peja Stojakovi 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. More than one scout considered Turner to be too light to play linebacker, too slow to play defensive back. And no Hall of Famers allowed. Roberston is the guy getting head-butted in the sternum and knocked backward by Campbell before the running back's jersey gets torn off. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. WebAlthough the Texans 2021 roster is bereft of star talent, Zach Cunningham is one of the most underrated players in the NFL.
History is a funny thing. Bottom line: Ken Riley was a quarterback and Rhodes Scholar candidate at Florida A&M before carving out a 15-season career as a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals. Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. WebTop 15 Forgotten NFL Stars Of The 2000s 15 15. There would not be another exchange of current Pro Bowlers in the NFL until the Broncos and Redskins exchanged Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis in 2004. 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. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. For this position, Im giving you my Top 20 " NFL Draft Report on Instagram: "Next up in the prospect rankings, the WR position. He had 44 career sacks and as many as eight in a season on two occasions. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Put Ellard in another era or even the AFC with an accomplished quarterback, and his legacy as The Best Wideout Not Named Jerry Rice would be that much greater. But he ended up being one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history and definitely the greatest pure inside linebacker. They are college football players we loved or ones we couldn't believe won the award. Bottom Line: Karl Mecklenburg was a throwaway pick by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL draft. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). He only played his senior season of high school and earned a scholarship at the University of Virginia after joining the team as a walk-on. Died: June 7, 2020 (age 72, Bartow, Florida), Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (1975, 1976, 1983), Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor. Ohhh-kaaaaay, one of the Hasselbecks then? WebThrough it all, Stafford, for some reason, doesn't seem to get the respect he deserves. Bottom line: There will be an interesting debate when Cordarrelle Patterson's career finally comes to a close. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. Modern centers don't get the credit they deserve. Randy Gradishar. WebExpect a bigger workload and more scores in 2022. From The Web. Hence, the Campbell video. Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. 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. 3. Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. But what peak years they were: 14- and 13-win seasons, annual playoff appearances, routine 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. Only kicker in NFL history to hit But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. Both of those seasons came, ironically enough, after Allen and Buddy were separated. Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. The Top 10 Most Improved Players of the 2023 NBA Season Headlines. A lot of that comes from the absolutely horrid teams he played for to bookend his career the New York Jets for six seasons to begin with and the Arizona Cardinals for two seasons to end with. And few players in NFL history, if any, can say they've played for the group of coaches Walls learned under Robinson, Tom Landry, Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Belichick. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men.
If you want a modern example, tell your friends that running back Frank Gore (yes, that Frank Gore) ended his career in 2020 as the NFL' s No. 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. Ken Anderson, QB, Bengals. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports. A 1984 Schafrath who once wrestled a bear, canoed across Lake Erie without stopping and jogged 62 miles from Cleveland Stadium to his hometown of Wooster, Ohio was also an NFL champion and four-time NFL All-Pro. With Warfield hurt nearly all of that season, Ryan helped make a Pro Bowler out of receiver/punter Gary Collins. He's actually in the Hall of Fame but this 1930s star remains one of the most unknown great players in the game's history. Most people think that honor belongs to Devin Hester, but Patterson has a case. His best Jim Marshall, DE, Vikings. 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. The Rams eventually acquired Jim Everett and opened up their offense, transforming Ellard into one of the NFL's most dangerous deep threats. 2. Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. We went modern with it. Forrest is a leader for FAU. 5. On Oct. 21, 1973 Dryer took down Packers quarterback Scott Hunter in the end zone, and then on Green Bays next possession, he took down Hunters backup Jim Del Gaizo for his second safety in the game. If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong. He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. 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. Even so, Smith was pretty much a well-kept secret outside Pittsburgh despite meeting or approaching Pro Bowl standards for almost a decade. Theres a chance given his size and Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. Web31 Likes, 5 Comments - NFL Draft Report (@the_nfldraftreport) on Instagram: "Next up in the prospect rankings, the WR position. Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. Wagner has set himself apart over the last decade and may already have earned a spot in the Hall of Fame as an eight-time NFL All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. Watters has never been a serious candidate for the Hall of Fame, which can be blamed almost solely on several incidents where he alienated teammates with his bad attitude. 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. 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. "It was tough, but I was happy for those guys," Dunn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A player so underrated that his own team just drafted his likely replacement, Williams Young was a devastating interior pass-rusher who recorded 30 sacks in the three-year span from 1998 through 2000. Perhaps it's time we look back on how much of an impact he and his Jaguars had on the NFL two decades ago. Roschon Johnson: The Most Underrated Prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. On a walk-through between center and left guard, naturally. Last season, Hicks missed all but five games with Bottom line: Pete Retzlaff was a star running back at South Dakota State but was cut by the Lions in 1953 and didnt make an NFL roster until 1956.