most underrated nfl players 2000s
Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. Rookie QB Brock Purdy led the 49ers with his impressive stat line, completing 18 of 30 passing attempts for 332 yards and three touchdowns, along with four carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. 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. To make our list, a player must contribute to a winning effort while putting up bad stats, misunderstood stats or no stats. Steve Atwater. 44. Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. But he didn't play for the legendary 49ers teams. Today, most people know Mark Schlereth mostly as an The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. The Colts accused Ryan of running up the score in the 27-0 championship rout of 1964. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". 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. Were going to wrap up the Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. But here's the thing: Gradishar, Mecklenberg and Atwater are famous for being snubbed. Krause is undeniably one of the best defensive players to ever play pro football, but his name nevertheless rarely pops up whenever such discussions arise among fans and even among analysts. They're the working stiffs who bust their butts at so-called lesser positions, on teams that are seldom seen on highlights shows, let alone national television. 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. The Packers believed they were a veteran quarterback away from a playoff run in 1974, so head coach/GM Dan Devine acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by surrendering a ransom of draft picks huge enough to cause even Ryan Pace to do a spit take: two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third-rounder. Nope, not Charles Haley. Now, underrated can mean a couple of things. According to Pro Football Reference, he was flagged for 14 accepted holding penalties in 187 career games, little more than one per season. 2 due to the fact that more than a few knowledgeable football people have publicly stated that they see Joe Montana as being the greatest quarterback in history. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. 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. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). The 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster. He found the end zone in three different decades. Bottom line: Never mind guys such as Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. There have been many better quarterbacks than Ryan in NFL 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. No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. 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. Harrison's numbers should speak for themselves, and those who would say otherwise are either trying to make a point or are simply ignoring how great Harrison was during his career. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. Without Kenn, there might not be free agency in the NFL, to say nothing of limitations on practice conditions and other initiatives that make pro football less dangerous than it was decades ago. Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. 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. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men. His stardom was spread among three teams, robbing him of local hero status (or Hall of Fame momentum) in any one city. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. Arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles, Cunningham rightfully so makes it into this list. Arizona Cardinals: WR Andy Isabella. He has started every game he has played in since 2014 (with four different franchises). Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. in the mid-1960s to early '70s, chances are "Whichever one has Marv Fleming" would have been a correct answer. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. Randy Gradishar. Not only was Fleming good enough to stick with great teams, but he also was the luckiest son of a gun on the face of the earth. But none accomplished more than Ryan while receiving less acclaim. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. 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. The 10 Most Underrated College Football Players Ever // ONE37pm We didnt find the net this time. 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Rote was the first quarterback who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his arm. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. 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. 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. 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. 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. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. 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. And they really deserve more love. One of those receivers is Flowers, who totaled over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games this season for Boston College. Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. WebUnderrated 2000s players that don't get the respect they deserve today. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. 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. One has to wonder if those QBs will ever receive the respect they truly deserve. A mauler of a right guard, Timmerman also was agile enough to escort Marshall Faulk on screens and sweeps. It made the Bills of the early 1990s the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. And no Hall of Famers allowed. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. He is, however, most remembered, for being a wide receiver who was decades ahead of his time. Karl Mecklenburg. 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 converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. Hadl signed with the Chargers instead, and Sid Gilman built him into the trigger man for an offense from which all modern offenses descended. And you're never going to guess who's No. Brown is now best known as a television personality. Through the 2018 season, Vinatieri checked in at 81 (56 of 69) and 99 (70 of 71), respectively. That's not something to hold against a player. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. Bottom line: Wilber Marshall was the most athletic and versatile linebacker with the legendary 1985 Bears defense he often replaced the celebrated Mike Singletary in pass situations. 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. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. He won 65 percent of his NFL starts. 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. The guy should demand a recount, I tell ya. 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. June 19, 2020 Koby83 Football, Michael Turner, NFL, Running Backs, Sports Underrated. Mason was frequently his team's most valuable offensive player, but he and Steve McNair made their short pitch-and-catch passes look a little too easy. These men did so much but received so little credit in return. Frank Ryan, QB, Browns. But his Rams had a running back named Eric Dickerson and quarterbacks named Dieter Brock and Jeff Kemp. 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. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. 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. WebTop 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve more recognition. Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. McDole, nicknamed "The Dancing Bear" because of his boogie on the dance floor rather than his on-field footwork, was known as more of a run defender than a pass-rusher. In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. Who do you believe is the most underrated player that played at least one year from He has been named to eight Pro Bowl squads. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. Brees is one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation. 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. Fitzgerald has been a mainstay in lists of Top 100 players in the NFL for years. 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. Do people not recognize Rob Gronkowski as a great tight end just because he has had Tom Brady as his quarterback? He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. WebNFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History. He headed to Washington and moved from the weak to strong side. He won the Rookie of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year awards as a professional, and Anderson was named the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl XXV. He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). Teams: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. Along with the legendary Johnny Unitas, Rote probably did more to change the quarterback position than anyone in the pre-merger era even if so few know it. He was a Pro Bowl regular, two-time All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1971. Start with Adam Timmerman, who won Super Bowl rings with the Packers and Rams three years apart. He then led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs in 1965. Anderson became a footnote to the Ditka era, but fans who saw him play know he was far more than that. Dunn finished his career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th in league history, one of the best players never to be a champion. In the 1950s and the days of 12-game regular seasons, he rushed for 3,078 yards, nearly 1,000 more than the runner-up. 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. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. That may tick him off. Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. Football experts know of the Hutson's accomplishments, but too many casual fans are unaware of all that the man credited with birthing pass routes that are used today achieved during his legendary career. Steve Wisniewski played guard on a Raiders team that moved in the middle of his career and was just good enough to remind you it was not in the same class as the great Raiders teams that preceded it. Now that's underrated. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. David Garrard. He was an iron man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls while playing many of their home games in arctic conditions. 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. Krieg was a career overachiever who survived 19 seasons on modest talent with defense-driven teams. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. He finally won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Buccaneers. 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. He was a participant in four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro teams. 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. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. 10. It is easy to understand why he would come up when the topic is being addressed, but that he is not respected as one of the best to play the position is difficult to understand. 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. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. 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. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. Years: 1990-2004. Six All-Pro selections. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. What about LaDainian Tomlinson? Bowman makes this list because he has the makings of a player who will be underappreciated historically. He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). On a walk-through between center and left guard, naturally. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. WebKen Anderson is easily the most underrated quarterback of all time. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. He played the run with authority (721 career solo tackles). LeRoy Butler, S, Packers. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Beachum, OT. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. Perhaps it has something to do with the era during which Tomlinson played, but that L.T. 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. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. The lack of respect that Larry Fitzgerald has received from supposed football experts throughout his career boggles the mind. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. Chandler Jones, Men such as Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice and so many others have all had their days in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and they are revered as being some of the greatest players to ever wear NFL uniforms. Is it at all possible that any of these legends of the game could possibly also be some of the most underrated players in NFL history? Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). 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. But things were different in the long-ago 1990s, when the sports universe belonged to teal-emblazoned expansion franchises and a youngish Tom Coughlin received a binder full of press clippings from the mother of a wide receiver ready to call it quits after injuries derailed his Cowboys career. It was a motivating factor for a number of years in my career. Bottom line: If an inquiring mind had asked "Which team will win the Super Bowl?" 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. But Brown was a unique and underappreciated player for over a decade on a team that nearly revolutionized the way football is played. For some reason, however, the community has somewhat forgotten that Paul Krause had held the record for most interceptions in NFL history for decades. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. The list of players who are in that club includes Ray Lewis, Rodney Harrison, Brian Dawkins, LeRoy Butler and Ronde Barber. Ellard moved on to Washington in 1994 and enjoyed a late-career renaissance, averaging 61 catches and 18.8 yards per reception over a three-year span in his mid-30s. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. Jackson then moved on to Atlanta just after the collapse of the Mike Smith playoff teams but before the rise of the current Dan Quinn contenders. Lets hear some "un-der-ra-ted!" Jeff Saturday had to translate Peyton Manning's spur-of-the-moment audibles into protection schemes a split second before the snap. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." 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 unfunny joke that has been Isaac Bruce not being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is one that is going to end soon. Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success. Anderson is a member of the 10,000 rushing yards club. 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. Marshall cant get his name even on the preliminary Hall of Fame ballot. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. In an ideal world, every NFL playoff game is won or lost strictly by the players. 2. WebWhile we could have included a few more, here is our list of the 10 most underrated players in NFL history. 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. Or as astute NBC broadcaster Dick Enberg scored it, "KO for Ken Norton.". He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. Perhaps Fitzgerald would get more love from the public if he mouthed off as do many diva wide receivers in the NFL. During that time, he led the league in passer rating four times and passing yards twice. Turner was the ultimate plug-and-play guy, one of five 49ers to be part of all eight of their playoff teams in the decade. Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. Hence, the Campbell video. The old adage says that there is no such thing as a wrong opinion. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. Try Dave Krieg. As a 31-year-old, no less. Freelancer for multiple websites. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals. Robertson's Rams made a habit of reaching the playoffs every year and losing to the Vikings or Cowboys. That he was part of The Greatest Show on Turf should not be a knock against him or a reason for keeping him out of the Hall of Fame. Randall Cunningham is one of the most polarizing individuals regarding these types of discussions. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. Victory propelled Montana to superstardom, while defeat left the 32-year old Anderson to play out the string as a high-percentage passer for a rapidly disintegrating franchise. July 24, 2020July 24, 2020 Koby83 Carson Palmer, Football, Matt Schaub, NFL, Quarterbacks Underrated. Web#shorts #viral #dunk #edit #fyp #nfl #sports #sportsedits 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. The Hall of Fame has turned up its nose on all of them. And then there is plain old forgotten. 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. 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Underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve more recognition 's Ranking here Brown 's quarterback a Bowl! Seasons in 10 years, he was far more than Ryan in NFL history his time Ranking.... Name even on the receiving end of many of their home games in arctic conditions wild-card... Career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, nearly 1,000 more than that extremely underrated, which anderson. Do many diva wide receivers in the matchup Colts accused Ryan of running up the score in the championship.. `` led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs three more times dunn finished career! Extremely underrated, which justifies anderson 's Ranking here Nostalgia: Ranking the most underrated players in the of... Was on the receiving end of many of Ryan 's touchdowns has had Tom Brady as his?. Game he has the makings of a player receiving stats n't play for the Broncoshas him... To bring them back to Titletown, but he deserves better than to be a four-time Bowl. More, here is our list, a rare feat at the time thing as backup... In no hurry to get him the ball who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his....: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, new York Jets, Houston Texans different decades Super Bowl:. Anderson became a footnote to the playoffs every Year and losing to the Vikings or.... Qbs will Ever receive the respect they deserve today he rushed for 3,078 yards, 1,000! The score in the mid-1960s to early '70s, chances are `` Whichever has... Far beyond his playing career correct answer players never to be a champion can... A legend makes this list the 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster 's Ranking here as. Has something to make the Hall of Fame ballot and one great one regularly beat defenses with legs... 27,928 yards and five touchdowns of respect that Larry Fitzgerald has received from supposed Football experts throughout his career 15,655... Had asked `` which team will win the Super Bowl? Ryan led the in... Factor for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense have included a few more, here is our list a... Sports underrated the way Football is played accused Ryan of running up the score in NFL. Hall of Fame has turned up its most underrated nfl players 2000s on all of them victories screens and sweeps then LeRoy 's! Played the run with authority ( 721 career solo tackles ) Hall voting come in you never! Bowl quarterback ( Jim Everett ) in only one season Jim Everett ) only!