Your favorite players, the best players (coaches, too)

[Monkey]

Just wanted to see who your favorite players are, currently and all-time.
Also, they may not be your favorite players, but who are the best NFL players you've ever seen?
Finally, if you want to show some love for coaches, that's cool, too.

I'll just throw a couple out for now.

With all this talk about Manning and Brady, I remember a QB from my early days of football. The greatest QB I've ever seen play the game is Joe Montana. He was absolutely clutch when he needed to be, and I swear he had an invisible force field around him because he didn't seem to get hit very often. He went onto win three Superbowls. Joe Cool was money.

Barry Sanders is still the greatest football player I have ever seen on the field. He could cut on a dime and avoid tackles with ease. He made even the best defenders look soooo stupid. He was extremely powerful as well, being able to squat over 600 pounds and bench press 450. The guy was a monster. I loved watching him play, I still remember his rookie season. Vick has nothing on this guy when it comes to escaping a tackle.

Finally, Rex Ryan cracks me up. I'm not a fan of the Jets. I don't hate them, they're just one of those teams that are just there, you know? I'm neutral as far as that goes. With his 'dress-up' imitation of his brother, and commenting how Brady and him have something in common (both are married to supermodels) this past week. I'm sorry, but the guy is funny. I'd love to have a coach like that. He really believes in his players, he's successful, and he keeps it fun. For all the sports writers who talk shit about why he's cracking jokes when he hasn't won a Superbowl... get a life. I realize winning is everything in the NFL, but aren't you supposed to love and enjoy the game, too? So what if the dude cuts up every now and then, it's fun to watch. You only get one life to live, enjoy it.

Who do you like and who has impressed you the most? No need to put it all in one post.

[Freddy Krueger]

I gotta agree on Joe Montana. The man was just awesome. Though I have a bit of grudge with him since he beat my Cincinnati Bengals in two Super Bowls on two last minute drives. Ugh. ;)

I gotta add Chad Ocho Cinco as well. People either love him or hate him, but I will never understand the hate. He's not the prima donna T.O. used to be, he's just a guy that makes the game all the more fun. He doesn't gloat, he jokes. And that's definitely gotta be appreciated.

Also gotta show love for Aaron Rodgers. It's amazing to see him do what he's currently doing at quarterback. He went from the guy that got sacked 20 times a game and somehow pulled out the win to the guy that just pulls out the win. He's definitely grown and will continue to grow.

[Monkey]

I gotta agree on Joe Montana. The man was just awesome. Though I have a bit of grudge with him since he beat my Cincinnati Bengals in two Super Bowls on two last minute drives. Ugh. ;)

Same here, the guy embarrassed my team in the playoffs in '89 or '90 when he thrashed them 41-13.
Same feelings with John Elway. Great QB, but he beat my browns in consecutive years in the 80s, famous for "The Drive."

I sometimes wonder how Sanders would have done if he had played for a winning team. He may have stayed on a few more years. Unfortunately, he was in the same position as Archie Manning when he played for the Saints. Great player, lousy team.

I hesitate to use the term, "Greatest of all-time" because I never saw the likes of Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, or Dick Butkus. I doubt anybody can really say 'so and so is the greatest' with any qualification, because how many people do you know have been watching pro football since the 20s?

I cringe when people talk about the QBs of today as being so great because they simply compare passing stats. The game has evolved so much over the past 40 years, they have so many rules protecting the QB and the passing game in general... it's like comparing apples to oranges.

[Monkey]

Saw a 'top 20' NFL postseason performances show on ESPN and they brought up Joe Montana. I knew he had won all four SB appearances, but his comprehensive stats for all four games is amazing:
83/122 - 68.0%, 1142 yards, 11 TD, 0 Int, with a 127.8 QB rating.

The legacy of a QB is mostly determined by his ability to win the big one and his performance in the clutch. Joe da man.

I noticed Aaron Rodgers has the highest career QB rating of all-time. Has a SB ring. Dude's already getting the Manning/Brady love (how quickly the analysts forget Brees...). :(

[zombie extra 3]

Finally, Rex Ryan cracks me up. I'm not a fan of the Jets. I don't hate them, they're just one of those teams that are just there, you know? I'm neutral as far as that goes. With his 'dress-up' imitation of his brother, and commenting how Brady and him have something in common (both are married to supermodels) this past week. I'm sorry, but the guy is funny. I'd love to have a coach like that. He really believes in his players, he's successful, and he keeps it fun. For all the sports writers who talk shit about why he's cracking jokes when he hasn't won a Superbowl... get a life. I realize winning is everything in the NFL, but aren't you supposed to love and enjoy the game, too? So what if the dude cuts up every now and then, it's fun to watch. You only get one life to live, enjoy it.t. Yea I like Rex but I'm a Jet fan so I'm DEFINITELY biased. :D But yea, he is fun to listen to. He's the polar opposite of a Bill Belichick who has very little personality. I don't like the Pats or Belichick (obviously). But I respect their talent and what they have accomplished.
ADDED:
I would have to say the best player in the NFL I have seen is Jerry Rice. Granted I didn't see his work with the 49ers but I did see his run with the Raiders. Although he was getting near the end of stellar career with the Raiders, he was still awesome.

[Monkey]

Rice was easily the greatest receiver I've ever seen. Even though his stats are padded somewhat by all the rule changes made to help the passing game, he simply dominated and his numbers are astronomical. I doubt his TD, receptions, and yardage records will be broken in my lifetime. Dude had a phenomenal work ethic.

Where experts would debate putting in guys like Otto Graham, Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, etc. on their 'all-time NFL team' for QB/RB... Rice would be on it almost every single time.