Ray Lewis...greatest of all time.

[Ray Rice Rutgers Running]

If the ravens win the superbowl and ray continues playing like a stud.. There is no question.

There's already no question IMO

[savagehenry54]

I didn't see those other guys play, except Singletary and imo, Lewis was better than Singletary. The most explosive and dynamic MLB I've ever seen play is Ray Lewis, without doubt. I don't think he's been as good the last four to five years, but from the mid 90's to the mid 00's, he was probably the best defender in the game and certainly the best at his position.

Being the best for a decade at your position, and quite probably on defense just in general is tremendous. I'm glad to have watched the guy play and I'm rooting for the Ravens to win it all.

And lest people forget, he did play in a 4-3 for many years back when Sam Adams and Siragusa were the DTs and they won that SB in 2000. In case anyone wants to nitpick about his playing inside in the 3-4 as opposed to a pure MLB in a 4-3.

[Storm]

Ray Lewis is great at 2 things

playing LBer and hiding a white suit

[BengalbobZilla]

Rey Maualuga is the greatest of all time

[Woodley]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

Rey Maualuga is the greatest of all time

Eh...I'd give lewis a slight "edge" over maualuga, lewis reacts and "cuts" better.

[Shake n Blake]

Ray Lewis is definitely the best MLB I've seen in my 20 years following the NFL.

Great against the pass and the rush, explosive, and he also had excellent hands for the INT in his younger days.

Best leader I've seen. His teammates have always seemed to feed off his passion.

Honorable mention goes to Seau, but Ray was on another level.

Like Savage, I'll be rooting for the Ravens the rest of the way, but part of me is glad that Lewis and Reed will be gone soon.

Those 2 caused a lot of heartache for us Bengals fans.

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by SteelCitySouth

It's quite easy.

Advanced search
Bengalzona
Key words Chad Hall of Fame

Profit

College taught me how to search.

You make my point for me. My point was not to be too quick to declare someone a HoFer. Obviously, I know from experience.

BTW- I sent your wife home early tonight. Obviously, you have too much time on your hands. Morning Star isn't keeping you busy enough.

[SteelCitySouth]

Originally Posted by Bengalzona

You make my point for me. My point was not to be too quick to declare someone a HoFer. Obviously, I know from experience.

BTW- I sent your wife home early tonight. Obviously, you have too much time on your hands. Morning Star isn't keeping you busy enough.

Thanks I enjoyed your wife and my wife!

[coltsfan4ever]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

Rey Maualuga is the greatest of all time

... of missing tackles!

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by SteelCitySouth

Thanks I enjoyed your wife and my wife!

No problem.... I know how much you like having two strapons in you at the same time.

[BengalbobZilla]

Originally Posted by Bengalzona

No problem.... I know how much you like having two strapons in you at the same time.

i think that says a lot about you too...at least it says you like at least one in you

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

i think that says a lot about you too...at least it says you like at least one in you

Considering how your boyfriends treat you, I can see where you might assume that.

[SteelCitySouth]

Originally Posted by Bengalzona

No problem.... I know how much you like having two strapons in you at the same time.

I heard at one time people were predicting you would make it into the HOF for # of strapons taken at one time...Boy were they wrong when you were only able to take 5...Though it is still more impressive than my best of 2...

[BmorePat87]

Originally Posted by gmdino

I posted a list to Facebook a couple weeks ago...

But Singletary, Butkus, Nitschke, Taylor, Lambert (I'm biased...but for his size), Bednarik, Lewis, Hendricks, Thomas, Seau.

Mix and match as you like...and number 10 switches for me depending on the the way I look at it...but Lewis can't crack the top three (maybe four) for me all time.

I'm sure all 14 of your friends were captivated.

[BengalbobZilla]

Originally Posted by RavensLover69

I'm sure all 14 of your friends were captivated.

thats 12 more than you have, not counting your mom

[BmorePat87]

Originally Posted by BengalbobZilla

thats 12 more than you have, not counting your mom

Thank god I have your mom, otherwise that'd be pretty sad.

[BengalbobZilla]

Originally Posted by RavensLover69

Thank god I have your mom, otherwise that'd be pretty sad.

my mom is dead, she had a brain embolism 3 years ago

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by SteelCitySouth

I heard at one time people were predicting you would make it into the HOF for # of strapons taken at one time...Boy were they wrong when you were only able to take 5...Though it is still more impressive than my best of 2...

It's just a matter of preference.

I'd rather carry five in my hands than have two shoved up my virgin *******. I'll leave that to you, bro!

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by ballsofsteel

Good evening gentlemen. I've been watching pro ball for over 40 years. IMHO, Ray Lewis is the best MLB I've seen play (in his prime). He was the most intimidating.

Butkus was far more intimidating

[bengals67]

This is a good post and question and I am sorry someone always had to take a shot at the poster. I think it stinks.

I have been watching since 1967 and my vote is Ray best inside and Taylor as best outside. Between the two of them, Ray is the best.

Troy is the best safety. Better than Ronnie Lott who was a complete stud.

One reason for our record over the years - we have had to play both of these guys twice a year.

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

Butkus was far more intimidating

I hate to say it but when I think intimidating at LB, my first thought is Jack Lambert.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Bmoreblitz

I'm proud of you gmdino! You can talk with some sense...lol
But here is why:

BUTKUS......LMAO!!!
**** Butkus never went to the playoffs.
**** Butkus if he played today, would come off the field on third down.
**** Butkus did not elevate the level of his teammates.
**** Butkus only played 9 years and made 8 Pro Bowls and was an All Pro 8 times.

There is no argument that LT established and defined the "rush" OLB position. The man had 132.5 sacks. He played for 13 seasons, made 10 Pro Bowls, 10 times an All Pro, was a 3 time DPOY and an NFL MVP.

He also had 1,088 tackles, 9 INT's and 11 fumble recoveries. He changed the game like few in history. He didn't call the plays, or set the defenses, he just did his thing and I'm glad I got to watch him.

Lambert played 11 seasons and made 9 Pro Bowls and 8 All Pro teams. He was a 1 time DPOY, and finished his career with 1,479 tackles, 23.5 sacks, 28 INT's and 17 fumble recoveries. The similarity with Ray was that he was also considered too small to play the MLB position in the NFL. He went to rookie camp at 6'4" and 205 pounds, but he was FAST, like Ray. His speed and talent allowed Bud Carson to redefine defense by establishing the Cover-2, and the Steelers won 4 SB's with Lambert roaming the middle.

In my mind, the most complete LB other than Ray Lewis WAS Lambert. He was a tackling machine, an intimidator, and an excellent pass rusher when he was unleashed, and obviously a great pass defender.

Ray obviously had the longest career of any of the aforementioned. In his 17 seasons he made 13 Pro Bowls (MLB record) and 10 All Pro teams (LB record), the latter only equaled by LT. He is a 2 time DPOY and a SB MVP. He amassed 2,073 tackles, dwarfing the others in that stat, but he also had 41.5 sacks, 31 INT's and 20 FR's.

He is the ONLY member of the 40 sack / 30 Int. club. He took the calls, changed them a lot, set the D, and inspired his teammates better than all others, according to other players.

His stats say he's the best overall, certainly the most complete, and if you want to say it's because he played the longest, it's true. He also has the record for games played at MLB, and there is something to be said for longevity.

There is also something to be said for the fact that Ray Lewis was still making Pro Bowls long after Butkus stopped making tackles and started drinking Miller Lite for money and arguing with Bubba Smith, and long after LT stopped sacking QB's and started raping women and running a crack house.

Ray Lewis is the greatest LB in NFL history..........

Any discussion of the greatest defensive player ever would have Ray Lewis on the short list, along with Reggie White, Deacon Jones, Alan Page, LT, and Butkus.

So Butkus was an all-pro for 88% of his career with no other defensive talent around him
Ray was an all pro for 59% of his career surrounded by a host of pro bowlers.

Every year of his career except one Butkus was the best MLB in football. Ray was the best a little over half of the time

You noted Ray has the NFL record for All-pro selections at 10. It took a 17 year career to beat the next closest (butkus, 8)who only played 9 years.

Butkus didn't have the ability to extend his career with HGH. Or state of the art surgery
Your assertion Butkus would have gone off the field on third down is incorrect, he was 6'3", 245 and yes he could cover.
To say he didn't go to the playoffs as a knock against his greatness is fan boy macking for Ray. The Bears as a team were horrible during his tenure.

Your observation on who is the greatest is disproven by your own statements

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Bengalzona

I hate to say it but when I think intimidating at LB, my first thought is Jack Lambert.

I can name the front four he played behind for the Steelers.
Can you do the same for the bears Butkus played behind?
Not so intimidating to me

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

I can name the front four he played behind for the Steelers.
Can you do the same for the bears Butkus played behind?
Not so intimidating to me

Not saying that Lambert was a better player, just had a more intimidating persona. Butkus' claim as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, is legit IMO.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Bengalzona

Not saying that Lambert was a better player, just had a more intimidating persona. Butkus' claim as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, is legit IMO.

Nah, just a bad dentist