On Saturday, Peter King told me that a certain defensive back who had a reputation for not hitting receivers very hard wasn’t happy with his place in a new list of the best pro football players of all time.
Ironically, my ability to comment on the topic sooner than today was interrupted by our coverage of the conundrum presented by defensive backs who like to hit receivers too hard. (Or, more accurately, with their helmets and/or in their helmets.)
Deion Sanders recently complained on NFL Network about being “only” No. 34 on the list of the top 100 players. Per King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column, Sanders called the placement “preposterous.” Deion also said he was “appalled” by the move, and he wondered aloud how he would be able to explain to his children that he didn’t land in the top ten, possibly because he’s been telling them for all their lives that he’s in the top three.
“How can you tell me with a straight face that 33 other players had a greater impact?’' Sanders said.
As King points out, the list is dominated by offensive players. Only 11 defensive players landed higher than Sanders -- and it’s hard to make the argument that he should be higher than any of them.
The fact that Sanders is regarded as the twelfth best defensive player of his time represents a testament to his uncanny coverage skills, since he surely didn’t get there for his run support or downfield tackling.