Is Hall too full for BY?

Matt Barrows, Sac Bee, June 13, 2008

Holy smokes - the Hall of Fame class for 2013 is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Brett Favre is a can't-miss first ballot guy as is Jonathan Ogden. You have to think that Michael Strahan, who is fifth on the all-time sack list and holds the season-single record in that category won't have to wait beyond 2013. (Given their dive-and-sack routine in 2001, maybe Favre should be Strahan's presenter. Buzz-zing!). In addition, Warren Sapp, Junior Seau and Orlando Pace (if he retires) are all strong possibilities. The question is whether two 49ers - Bryant Young and Larry Allen - will go into the Hall at the same time.

BY has three things going against him.
First, he played on a lot of crappy teams. Sure, his 49ers career began with a Super Bowl title, and from 1994 to 2002 Young and the 49ers made the playoffs seven times. But during the last five years of his career, the time when players like Young finally get the recognition and national attention they deserve, he was playing in meaningless games on dreadful teams. Second, his statistics are rock-solid but not mind-blowing. I know, I know. Young mostly played a position that called for him to do a lot of dirty work and to make sacrifices so that others could get the glory. And while teammates and opponents respect that, HOF voters will look to stats. BY's 89.5 career sacks are outstanding, but they're not as good as Strahan's (141.5) or Sapp's (96.5).
And finally, Young never called attention to himself. That modest business-like demeanor won him the admiration of coaches, teammates, opponents, the local fans and local media. But the ugly reality is that self-aggrandizement attracts attention and that attention sometimes gets you into the Hall. Just look at the Michael Irvin-vs.-Art Monk dynamic. Monk had better numbers than Irvin yet the flamboyant Irvin beat him into the Hall. As disgusting as this sounds, if Young had had some silly sack dance and had made outrageous comments, I bet he'd have a better chance of being a first-ballot guy. Then again, sometimes respect and dignity are more important than a yellow blazer.
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49er 1st round selections, 1998-2007. Hope for the Willis Trend to Continue

Just hours before things kick off at Radio City Music Hall for the annual NFL "Selection Meeting" AKA the draft, lets look back at the last 10 years of 49er 1st round picks, and hope....like heck that the trend started only last year, continues on an upswing.

49er 1st round selections, 1998-2007

1998
R.W. McQuarters CB ,Oklahoma State
A bust during two seasons in S.F., he reemerged as a useful special teams player and helped the N.Y. Giants win a Super Bowl last season.

1999
Reggie McGrew DT ,Florida
Arguably the team's worst top pick ever, his not-so-illustrious career consisted of nine tackles and zero starts.

2000
Julian Peterson OLB ,Michigan State (right)
Terrific and versatile linebacker has made four Pro Bowls, including past two for Seattle Seahawks.
2001
Andre Carter DE ,Cal Bears
Faded in S.F. after a 12 1/2-sack season in '02, but has perked up again for Washington Redskins.
2002
Mike Rumph CB ,Miami
Proved to be a poor one-on-one cover man and managed only three career interceptions.
2003
Kwame Harris T ,Stanford
Failed to demonstrate adequate pass-protection skills at left tackle; will try to reinvent himself with Raiders.
2004
Rashaun Woods WR ,Oklahoma
Another contender for worst 49ers pick ever, managed seven career catches and helped doom G.M. Terry Donahue.

2005
Alex Smith QB ,Utah
Jury remains out because of injury trouble and poor supporting cast, but early returns aren't favorable.
2006
Vernon Davis TE ,Maryland
Still better known for his weight room prowess than his on-field production (774 yards, seven TDs in two years).
2007
Patrick Willis ILB ,Mississippi
NFL defensive rookie of the year became the first S.F. rookie to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott.

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Start with Rice No. 1, Moss No. 2 in best WR debate

By Mike Sando, ESPN.com

Jerry Rice caught passes from two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He played for the most influential offensive coach of his era, surrounded by a roster flush with talent. The most prolific receiver in NFL history also flourished after the league changed rules to favor the passing game, fueling statistical inflation on a scale previously unseen. Rice had a lot going for him, in other words, but not enough to dissuade seven expert panelists from naming him the greatest receiver in NFL history. Singling out Rice was the easy part.

"Jerry Rice, he's so obvious, it scares me," said panelist Boyd Dowler, a longtime scout and coach who finished his playing career in 1971 with 474 receptions, five championships and an eventual spot in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Top 10 WRs of All TimeRaymond Berry, Boyd Dowler, Mike Holmgren, Ken Houston, Warren Moon, Keyshawn Johnson and Ted Thompson helped ESPN.com evaluate the best wide receivers in NFL history. ESPN.com weighed their contributions, balancing rankings with anecdotal evidence, to create the following list. (Click here for ZOOM Gallery.)Unanimity turned to ambiguity when ESPN.com asked Dowler and fellow panelists Raymond Berry, Mike Holmgren, Warren Moon, Ken Houston, Ted Thompson and Keyshawn Johnson to rank the greatest receivers after Rice. Panelists placed 13 players in the second through fifth overall slots. They ranked seven others between sixth and 10th. That left 20 all-time greats fighting for nine spots, and much work to be done.

"You reach a certain point and it's hard to do," said Berry, the NFL's career leader in receptions and receiving yards when he retired from the Baltimore Colts in 1967. "I've seen too many great ones, and it's hard to find a standard." An exhaustive analysis of the panelists' rankings, supplemented by more than six hours of interviews, gave New England's Randy Moss a slight edge over Green Bay legend Don Hutson for the second overall spot. Michael Irvin was fourth, followed by Paul Warfield, Charley Taylor, Steve Largent, Cris Carter, Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison. (Click here for bios of panelists.) "Moss has the best hands of anyone today," said Thompson, the Packers' general manager. "A lot of guys can catch. He can catch on any platform, as we say in scouting. He can adjust and catch it over the top of somebody's head, catch it falling down -- and it doesn't matter if he is covered." All 10 receivers put up numbers that ranked them among the top producers of their eras. But panelists unanimously discounted raw statistics as a meaningful tool. They explained how changes in the game made the number of receptions less relevant than ever. They placed more value on touchdowns and yards per reception. They also singled out toughness as a leading characteristic of the great ones. "They've got to have big-play ability," said Moon, one of three panelists enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with Berry and Houston. "They have to have toughness. They have to be able to get off man-for-man, bump-and-run at the line of scrimmage. And they have to be able to make the big play at the right time."

A look at the top ten:

1. JERRY RICE

Career: Played for 49ers, Raiders and Seahawks from 1985-2004. Holds NFL records for receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), TD receptions (197), TDs (207). Quick quote: "Jerry had a tremendous combination of speed, size, toughness, smarts." -- Holmgren, Rice's offensive coordinator in San Francisco

2. RANDY MOSS

Career: Set NFL record with 23 TD catches last season with Patriots.Quick quote: "Randy Moss catches the ball so well almost without looking at it sometimes. He is scary physically." -- Boyd Dowler, retired scout and former NFL receiver.

3. DON HUTSON

Career: Played for Packers from 1935-45. Held 18 NFL records when he retired. Elected to Hall of Fame in 1963.Quick quote: "Lean and swift, and boy, he could catch the heck out of it." -- Hall of Famer Berry, who studied films of Hutson in detail.

4. MICHAEL IRVIN

Career: Played for Cowboys from 1988-99. Had 750 career receptions for 11,904 yards. Elected to Hall of Fame in 2007.Quick quote: "People might not like some of the other things, but when he was on those stripes, he was as competitive as there is." -- Hall of Fame QB Moon

5. PAUL WARFIELD

Career: Played for Browns, Dolphins from 1964-77. Averaged 20.1 yards per catch. Elected to Hall of Fame in 1983.Quick quote: "Warfield was a lot like Charlie Joiner. Every step meant something to those guys. Warfield got into his route and it was like somebody falling off the face of the earth. That's how quick he could be into it." -- Hall of Fame safety Houston

6. CHARLEY TAYLOR

Career: Played for Redskins 1964-77. All-time leading receiver with 649 catches for 9,110 yards when he retired. Elected to Hall of Fame in 1984.Quick quote: "Those types of athletes who played more than one position --- Charley Taylor -- are worth the price of admission just to see them line up. That is an athlete right there, a subject in itself." -- Berry

7. STEVE LARGENT

Career: Played for Seahawks from 1976-89. Had 819 catches, 13,089 yards, 100 TDs. Elected to Hall of Fame in 1995.Quick quote: "He was as crafty as anybody I could recall. He wasn't a big guy, but he knew exactly how to lean on people and his hands were unbelievable." -- Packers GM Ted Thompson

8. CRIS CARTER

Career: Played for Eagles, Vikings, Dolphins from 1987-2002. Had 13,899 yards receiving, 130 TD receptions.Quick quote: "I've never been around a guy as competitive as he is. He is so confident. He was a hard worker, which I enjoyed because whatever I got in practice, I knew that's I was going to get in the game." -- Moon

9. TERRELL OWENS

Career: Has 129 TD receptions in career with 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys. Quick quote: "My biggest knock on him is he drops too many balls, but he makes a lot of big plays and he's as good as there is after the catch and he makes difficult catches." -- Moon

10. MARVIN HARRISON

Career: Has spent entire 12-yard career with Colts. Set NFL record with 143 receptions in 2002. Quick quote: "Of all the things that impresses me, it's how he goes about his job, how he goes about his business. He's not a fanfare guy. He's just a football player." -- Holmgren

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Joe and the Niners Still Reign Supreme

The debate is over. The mighty Patriots have fallen and Tom Brady no longer is perfect in the Super Bowl.The only quarterback that even remotely resembled our legendary Joe was Eli Manning and his Montana-like drive to win the Super Bowl. That clinching drive reminded some of the final minutes of Super Bowl XXIII as Manning threw the game winning touchdown with 35 seconds left. Montana to Taylor happened at 34 seconds to go.With the Giant upset, the Patriots can no longer be considered a powerhouse dynasty when compared to our 80's and 90's 49ers during their two decade run of dominance.

These teams not only won, they took opponents out in convincing fashion. The Patriots were expected to win and they choked under the pressure of the Giant defensive line.In Montana's fourth Super Bowl, he set records and led the 49ers to a 55-10 victory over John Elway and the Denver Broncos. The 49ers were expected to win and they did so in record breaking fashion over a tough team and a future Hall of Famer. In Brady's fourth Super Bowl appearance, he resembled a young Dan Marino in Super Bowl XIX as he was constantly hit and beat up throughout the game. The Montana to Brady comparison is no longer even remotely close.

Montana's 49ers were perfect during their run, including Steve Young's title in Super Bowl XXIX. The Brady and Belichick era Patriots now have one of the most disappointing losses in NFL history to deal with. Most championship teams are best known for winning the Super Bowl, but the contrary is true here. The 2007 New England Patriots and their perfect 16-0 regular season was still a great accomplishment, but great teams are remembered for winning titles. Despite the many great successes of this season, this team is now infamous for losing to the underdog New York Giants right on history's doorstep..Not the kind of legacy you are looking to have when history was right on their doorstep. So as 49er fans, all we have left at the moment is our rich history. Although our current 49ers are still a huge question mark, we can all rest easy now.The latest threat to Joe Montana's championship legacy is now over.

Even if the Patriots go on to win their fourth Super Bowl in the future, last night's loss tarnished their dynasty while the 49er accomplishments continue to sparkle in history's eyes as being truly extraordinary.The 1984 18-1 49ers were far superior teams to this year's Patriot team. Although, the 2007 Patriots share the same record as these two great teams, they simply didn't close the deal in the Super Bowl. The Patriot offense was stifled and their defense showed their age when Manning made play after play on the final drive. The 49er defenses during their championship runs were far better than the Patriots' current unit. I'll even take a rookie Ronnie Lott over a seasoned Asante Samuel.

Offensively, the Patriots may have set multiple records, but the 49ers revolutionized offensive football when Bill Walsh implemented the West Coast Offense that sprung up so many copycats throughout the league in recent years. Now 49er fans can rejoice as our legacy lives on. Tom "Golden Boy" Brady is no doubt a great quarterback, but now he will never leave the shadow of true Super Bowl perfection that is Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.

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Just a site note. With the next major events on the NFL schedule being the Pro Bowl in Hawaii and the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, I will continue my hiatis, but return on March 1st, in anticipation of the March 2nd start of free-agency, leading up to the draft in April.

Antonio Bryant sues NFL over drug testing

Former San Francisco receiver Antonio Bryant filed a lawsuit last Wednesday seeking to stop the NFL from requiring him to submit to drug testing, arguing the league's policy doesn't apply to him anymore. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court states the 49ers terminated Bryant's contract March 1, meaning: "Antonio Bryant is not a 'player,' not an employee or not under contract to the Defendants in any form or fashion." Letters sent to Bryant by the NFL, which were part of court documents filed Wednesday, show the NFL asked him to submit to a urinalysis on Sept. 6, 13, and 18 and threatened him with discipline equivalent to a positive test if he didn't co-operate.

Bryant's agent and lawyer, Peter Schaffer, said his client had been randomly tested since he left the 49ers, but decided he was under no obligation to take them. "It doesn't make any sense at all," Schaffer said of the NFL's testing of Bryant. Bryant's lawsuit asks a judge for a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order prohibiting the NFL from administering tests or sharing the results of those tests. It also asks the court to prohibit the NFL from telling teams that Bryant faces suspension should they decide to sign him. As for what teams Bryant might be considering or whether he would play in the NFL again, Schaffer said his client is keeping his options open.

A message left after business hours for NFL spokesman Greg Aiello was not returned. A phone number listed for Bryant, who lives in Coppell, Texas, was inoperable. The lawsuit was filed in Colorado because Schaffer is based in the state. Bryant was released in March, just one season after he signed a four-year contract with the 49ers worth US$14 million. Bryant caught 40 passes last season for a team-leading 733 yards. But he repeatedly clashed with coach Mike Nolan and was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Bryant won the Biletnikoff Award as the NCAA's best receiver as a sophomore at Pitt. He played for Dallas and Cleveland before joining the 49ers.

Neither Owens Nor Moss Would Fit With 49ers

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

While the 49ers take the weekend off, I'll be watching some football. Like everyone else, what I'm anticipating most is the Patriots-Cowboys game. The game features two of the best receivers in the game: Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. One was with the 49ers; the other could have been. The Cowboys' most dangerous receiver, aka "The Original 81," was drafted by the 49ers and played his first eight seasons here. The 49ers did not want to pay him what he wanted after the 2003 season. (Actually, they wanted to get rid of him at any price because he had turned into such a divisive force in the organization.)

The Patriots' top receiver, and the player who leads the NFL with 551 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, is "The Other 81," according to Owens' locker-room note. When the Raiders were shopping Moss in the offseason, they called the 49ers to see if they were interested in a trade. The 49ers said no thanks. Could the 49ers use players such as Owens and Moss? Of course they could. But I don't believe either would be a good fit with this particular team. Owens or Moss would make a difference, but not enough to matter. Owens and Moss are front-runners. When things are going well, there isn't much fault to find in them.

But when either has to deal with some adversity that's when things go sour. If the team's not winning and they're not seeing enough well-thrown passes, both players have a unique ability to tear organizations apart. It happened with Owens in San Fran and Philadelphia (though things didn't have to go wrong before he became a problem in Philly), and it happened with Moss in Minnesota and Oakland. Having players like either one of those two guys on the 49ers at this stage would be a recipe for disaster.

But it might have made for some interesting suggestions to coach Mike Nolan this week.

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- Moss got the better of "T.O." in the win column Sunday as the Patriots beat the 'Boys 48-27. However, ironically, they had almost mirror image games. Moss with 6 catches for 59 yards and a TD, while Owens pulled in 6 for 66 and a score. Guess that individual showdown of the premadonnas was a draw. Still, always gotta love it when Big D takes a loss. -

Four Former 49ers Visit Dick Nolan

By Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Dick Nolan, the former 49ers head coach and father of Mike Nolan, received a visit Wednesday from four of his former players at a facility for dementia patients in Grapevine, Texas. Jimmy Johnson (below), Dave Wilcox (right),Len Rohde and Ed Beard, standouts from Nolan's 49ers teams in the late-1960s and early '70s, traveled to spend about three or four hours with their former coach. Dick Nolan, 75, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Johnson asked Nolan if he recognized them. Nolan responded, "Heck, yeah, I know who you guys are."

"It was nice of those guys," Mike Nolan said. "It was neat. It touched my entire family." Nolan's younger brother, Jim, who lives in Texas, was there when the four men made the visit. Rohde visited the 49ers' practice facility today and told Mike Nolan about their trip. Nolan was very appreciative that the players got together to visit his father. "My brother called me," Nolan said. "He was all choked up on the phone because my father kind of lit up when he saw them, and he doesn't do that very often. Sometimes you're not sure if he's really listening.

"When I envision him, it's kind of like when I was there. His head is kind of down and he stares. Every now and then -- there were two or three times when I was there a month ago -- you'd say something, he'd look up and his eyes got kind of big and he'd recognize you and he'd make a smile or smirk. My brother said he kind of looked up when he saw them all and his eyes got big."
Beard lives on the East Coast. Johnson and Rohde reside in the Bay Area, while Wilcox lives in Oregon. Johnson and Wilcox are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wide-out Brewer On The Shelf - Talent show to remember Herrion

San Francisco wide receiver C.J. Brewer is expected to miss this season after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

Brewer, a second-year pro who spent last season on the 49ers' practice squad, said he'll have surgery on Friday.

A longshot to make the San Francisco roster, Brewer was injured during practice on Tuesday when he caught a pass, attempted a violent cut and his knee buckled.

"It's just a road bump," Brewer said. "I'll be back in the offseason, ready to compete again."
Brewer, who wasn't drafted after his senior season at Wyoming in 2005, wasn't allowed to play in NFL Europe this summer, because league doctors couldn't detect an ACL in his left knee. He tore that ligament four years ago.

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The 49ers marked the second anniversary of Thomas Herrion's death with a team talent show Tuesday named in his honor. Coach Mike Nolan said last year the team paid tribute to Herrion, but it was a sorrowful occasion. Nolan said this year's talent show was something that the good-natured Herrion (left,in 2005) would have appreciated. Rookie Patrick Willis was among the standout performers. He wore a wig and tried to do a musical impression of James Brown, Nolan said. Nolan noted of Willis' singing, "The high notes were tough for him to get to, but he tried." Nolan thoroughly enjoyed the comic performance, and afterward he passed along his compliments to Willis.

Herrion provided special memories during training camp of 2005. Herrion made a memorable impression when he came to the rescue of quarterback Alex Smith, his former Utah teammate. Smith was supposed to sing the Utah fight song. When Smith was clearly struggling, Herrion came to the rescue. Herrion stood at the back of the room and starting singing along in quite animated fashion.

Several days later, Herrion died of a heart attack in the moments after an Aug. 20, 2005, exhibition game against the Denver Broncos.

Clark's One Regret

By John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle

Dwight Clark was on a golf course in Portland, Ore., on Monday when he learned of Bill Walsh's death from the multiple messages on his cell phone and the television crews waiting nearby.
"I was on a course where they don't allow cell phones," Clark said Tuesday. "When I came off the turn, I had 26 messages on my phone."

As with a select number of Walsh's former players, his coaching associates and friends, Clark was able to visit with his old coach a final time. It came three weeks ago at a restaurant in Palo Alto as Clark, Joe Montana, Eric Wright and ex-Giants manager Dusty Baker met Walsh for lunch.

"He drove himself there," said Clark, who was a rookie receiver in 1979, and figured prominantly in Walsh's early success with "The Catch" in 1981 (above). "He was doing pretty good then. At that time, he looked a little weak and he said how he was sick of going to the hospital every day. It was nice to spend time with him."

If Clark has one regret, it's that he did not make time to take his 13-year-old son, who is playing quarterback in school, to visit Walsh and get some tips from the master on playing the position.
"Bill and I talked about getting him out there to meet with Bill," Clark said. "Life got busy and now I won't be able to. I'm kind of new at this people-passing-away thing. Now that I'm 50, it's happening a lot more. It'll take me a while to get a grip on the fact he's not there for me to call when I need advice. He was a huge supporter of his players and coaches."

A day late, but no less poignant, Clark remembered Walsh in much the same way as Steve Young did - as an astute judge of talent. Their own talent.

"He was a guy who believed in me before I believed in me," Clark said. "He believed I could play in the pros. He took this clean slate of a guy and turned him into a receiver."

Like many of the coach's former players, Clark became friends with Walsh after his playing days ended and enjoyed seeking his counsel.

"Once you get away from being a coach and a player, you can say how you feel," he said. "Once he let his guard down, you could see he really cared for his players. He was a double threat - he was a really smart guy but he was also tough."

The Best Player Of All Time

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today has counted down their top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and proudly, Joe and Jerry were number 1 and 2 on that list,respectively), I will go one better. Here is my number 1 player of all time, regardless of era or position.

Number 1:

Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions, 1989 -'98.

Before we look at the remarkable career of Sanders, some explanation for why I chose him over all others. Taking a look at all positions on a football field, and the impact that those different positions may play on the outcome of a game, no position has the ability to have greater impact than the running back position. Why do I say that? Well, Quarterbacks may touch the ball on every play, but at least half of those plays will result in a running play, which doesn't involve the quarterback except for the start. They aren't normally hit or absorb abuse on those plays but rather for 25 to 30 plays a game, the running back takes the pounding. Wide Receivers, if they are great (like #80!) see the ball for a maximum of 8 to 10 plays a game, or less. Defenders aren't the focus or involved on every play either, so it is my stance that no player handles the ball for the duration of a play like a running back does. Also, while championships is a focus for judging the greatness of QB's, sometimes unfairly, the success or failure for championships doesn't seem to extend to running backs.

Having said that, Barry Sanders distanced himself from all other runners and players with what he was able to accomplish in his short career, just 10 years, on a mediocre team. Unlike Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, or Marcus Allen (etc...) , Sanders played on a playoff team only once but single handedly kept Detriot competitive. All other great runners had at least a solid Quarterback, and more importantly a great offensive line in front of them. Sanders never did. Everything he did was largely the result of his solo, and often broken field efforts. Had he ever had help, from a passing game or line, he may have rushed for 2,500 yards every year, and possibly thousands more in his career.

The Lions selected Sanders with their 1st-round (3rd overall) pick in the '89 draft. Though again there were concerns about his size it turned out these concerns were mostly unfounded. Sanders was far too quick for defenders to hit solidly on a consistent basis, and too strong to bring down with arm tackles. Though short at 5'8", Sanders was very stocky; his playing weight of 203 lb (91 kg) was the same as Walter Payton and only slightly under the NFL average for a back. Despite his flashy playing style, Sanders was rarely seen celebrating after the whistle was blown instead he preferred to hand the ball to a referee or congratulate his teammates. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he never spiked the ball after a touchdown.

In 1994, Sanders rushed for an impressive 1,883 yards, on an even more amazing 5.7 yards per carry. But he also totaled 283 receiving yards, which gave him a combined 2,166 yards from scrimmage for the season. This was one of Sanders most impressive feats, and it gave him the NFL's Offensive MVP award. In 1995, Sanders posted 1,500 yards rushing with 398 receiving yards, barely beating his rushing total alone of the '94 season. In 1996, Sanders rushed for 1,553 yards with a career-low 147 receiving yards.

Sanders greatest season came in 1997 After a horrendous start in which he gained only 53 yards on 25 carries in the first two games of the season, Sanders rang off an NFL record 14 consecutive 100 yard games, including two 200 yard performances, en route to rushing for 2,053 yards. In reaching the 2,000 yard plateau, he became only the 3rd player to do so in a single season and the first since O. J. Simpson to rush for 2,000 yards in a span of 14 consecutive games. He was the first running back to rush for 1,500 yards in five seasons and the only one to do it four consecutive years. At the end of the season, Sanders shared the Associated Press's NFL Most Valuable Player Award with Brett Favre. In Sanders last season in the NFL, 1998 he rushed for 1,491 yards, breaking the four-year streak of rushing for over 1,500 yards in a season.

In Sanders spectacular career, although short, he achieved Pro Bowl status in all of his 10 seasons as a pro. Sanders was named All-Pro from 1989-1991 and 1993-1997 and was named All-Pro second team the '89, '92, '93, '96, and '98. Sanders was also named All-NFC from 1989-1992 to 1994-1997. Sanders was named NFL Rookie of the Year in '89, Offensive MVP in '94, MVP in '97, and was named to the 1990s NFL All-Decade team.

Montana's Super Success Raised The Bar

To commemorate USA TODAY's 25th anniversary, a panel of USA TODAY's NFL reporters and editors produced an anthology of the 25 best NFL players of the past 25 years. This concludes the series.

• No. 1 Joe Montana

Joe Montana, the three-time Super Bowl MVP nicknamed "Joe Cool" for his remarkable success in clutch situations and the postseason, is the No. 1 player on USA TODAY's list.

Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles from 1981-1989 and compiled a .713 winning percentage, third best in the Super Bowl era, during his 15-year career. Said Hall of Fame coach John Madden when Montana was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2000, "We say, 'He's the greatest quarterback I ever saw,' or 'He's the greatest quarterback this and that.' I say it with no disclaimers: This guy is the greatest quarterback who ever played." Montana produced some of the most memorable plays in NFL playoff history. In the 1981 NFC title game, he lifted the 49ers to their first Super Bowl by leading a legendary 89-yard, fourth-quarter drive that ended in a 6-yard high, floating touchdown pass to Dwight Clark — a play that became known simply as "The Catch." It gave San Francisco a 28-27 defeat of Dallas. Seven years later, Montana engineered a 92-yard drive against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII that ended with his 10-yard strike to John Taylor in the end zone with 34 seconds left that beat Cincinnati 20-16.

The highest-rated passer in Super Bowl history at 127.8, Montana attempted 122 passes and never threw an interception in the championship game. He had a methodical approach to the game, and never seemed to lapse into a panic mode. Montana led 31 fourth-quarter comebacks during his career. "Football fans everywhere were well aware of the fact that they were witnessing history in the making as they watched Joe turn losses into wins," former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. said when he introduced Montana at his Hall of Fame induction. "What to any other quarterback would have been a career-making highlight, was, to Joe, just another day at the office."

A two-time NFL MVP (1989, '90), Montana twice led the NFL in passer rating and was the fifth quarterback ever to throw for 40,000 yards. He retired with six Super Bowl records and a share of three others and five postseason records, including most touchdown passes (45, 11 more than Brett Favre at No. 2).Montana was selected by San Francisco in the third round of the 1979 draft, behind three other quarterbacks — Jack Thompson, Phil Simms and Steve Fuller. He missed eight games in 1986 because of back surgery, then rebounded in 1987 to win Comeback Player of the Year.

An elbow injury that cost Montana all of the 1991 season and all but one game in 1992 brought his 49ers career to an end. San Francisco turned to another future Hall of Famer, Steve Young, at quarterback, and traded Montana to Kansas City. Montana led the Chiefs to the playoffs in both of his seasons. He notched his ninth division title in 1993, then retired following the 1994 season.

Top Ten All Time - Number 2

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 2 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 2:

Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers, 1985-2000, Oakland Raiders, 2001-04, Seattle Seahawks, 2004

With the 16th pick in the 1985 Draft, Bill Walsh and the 49ers selected a player that most teams didn't regard as worthy of a first round choice. Other than the Dallas Cowboys, selecting two spots later, there was little competition for the services of this unheralded wide-out from a tiny division 1AA school.

From a stellar 1985 rookie season, 13 Pro Bowls in 20 seasons, to Super Bowl XXIII MVP and a record 1,848 receiving yards in 1995 and beyond, there are a myriad of superlatives that could describe Joe Montana's favorite target. However, let's approach this by looking at Rice's legacy as he left the game: looking back on his indelible mark.

Rice retired as the leader in a number of statistics. His 1,549 receptions were 448 receptions ahead of the second place record held by Cris Carter. His 22,895 receiving yards were 7,961 yards ahead of the second place spot held by his Raiders teammate Tim Brown. His 197 touchdown receptions were 67 scores more than Carter's 130, and his 207 total touchdowns were 32 scores ahead of Emmitt Smith's second place spot of 175.

To get an idea of how massive his 22,895 receiving yards are, if Rice had not gained any other yards on rush attempts or kick returns, his 22,895 receiving yards would still rank him second place on the NFL's list all-purpose yard leaders (category based on combination of rushing, receiving, kick/punt return yards, and interception/fumble return yards).

Rice will always be remembered for his supreme work ethic and dedication to the game. In his 20 NFL seasons, Rice missed only 17 regular season games, with 14 of them occurring in a single year (the 1997 season when he tore his knee ligaments), and the other 3 occurring in the strike shortened season of 1987. His 303 games are by far the most ever played by an NFL wide receiver, and are only 51 games behind the NFL record. In addition to staying on the field, his work ethic showed in his dedication to running precise routes, with coach Dennis Green calling him "the best route runner I've ever seen".

In 1999, he was ranked number 2 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players of All Time. Only Jim Brown was ranked ahead of him, and Rice -- 35 places ahead of the next-highest-ranked player then active, Deion Sanders -- would play another five seasons.

Called "the greatest player to ever play the game" by his former San Francisco offensive coordinator and current Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, Rice left the NFL prior to the 2005 season with 38 records. During his 20-year career, Rice, who came to refer to himself as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and caught a pass in 274 consecutive games, a phenomenal streak that stretched from his rookie season in 1985 until early in his final campaign in 2004.

Rice didn't just break many of the records he now holds, he obliterated them. He passed Jim Brown's mark of 126 total touchdowns to become the all-time leader in 1994, then extended the mark by 81 scores over the next 11 seasons. His mark of 1,549 career receptions is 448 more than Cris Carter, who is second with 1,101.

Top Ten All Time - Number 3

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 3 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 3:

Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants, 1981-93

In 1981, Taylor was drafted by the NFL's New York Giants as the # 2 pick overall. In a poll of NFL General Managers taken before the draft 26 out of the 28 GMs stated that if they had the first selection they would select Taylor. Taylor's NFL regular season debut occurred on September 6, 1981 in a 24–10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was relatively non-noteworthy for Taylor except for his picking up a penalty for a late hit on Eagles running back Perry Harrington. Taylor went on to finish his rookie season with 9.5 sacks, and is often considered to have had one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. Taylor was named 1981's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press, becoming to date the only rookie to ever win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Taylor's second year was cut short by the 1982 NFL strike and the Giants struggled to a 4–5 finish in the abbreviated season. After the season Taylor was again awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Although Taylor recorded 9 sacks and made the All-Pro team for the third consecutive season in 1983, the Giants struggled. The team finished 3–12–1, and Parcells received heavy criticism during the season from the fans and media. Following the season, Taylor was involved in a fight for his services between the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and the Giants. Taylor had been given a $1 million dollar interest-free, 25 year loan by the General's owner Donald Trump on December 14, 1983, with the provision that he would begin playing in the USFL in 1988. Taylor quickly regretted the decision and less than a month later attempted to get out of the agreement. The Giants, who were eager to keep Taylor, took part in attempting to free Taylor from it. The results of this tussle included many considerations but the ultimate result was threefold: 1) Taylor had to return the $1 million dollars to Trump, 2) the Giants were required to pay Trump $750,000 dollars over the next five seasons in order for Trump to release Taylor's rights, and 3) Taylor was given a new 6-year $6.2-million-dollar contract by the Giants.

The Giants record rebounded to 9–7 in 1984, and Taylor had another All-Pro season. Taylor got off to an exceptional start to the season including four sacks in a September game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and 8 total sacks in the Giants first four games. Due to this start opposing teams double and triple teamed him even more than usual throughout the remainder of the season and Taylor finished with 11.5 sacks. In the playoffs the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Rams 16–13, but ultimately lost 21–10 to the eventual champion 49ers.

In contrast to the previous season the Giants headed into the 1985 season with a sense of optimism after their successful 1984 campaign and a 5–0 pre-season record in 1985. The Giants finished the season with a 10–6 record, and Taylor spearheaded a defense that led the NFL in sacks with 68. Taylor himself had 13 sacks and the Giants defeated the defending champion 49ers 17–3 in the playoffs. The Giants lost to the eventual champion Chicago Bears in the second round 21–0.In 1986 Taylor had one of the most successful seasons by a defensive player in the history of the NFL. Taylor recorded a league-leading 20.5 sacks and became one of just three defensive players to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award and the only defensive player to ever win the award unanimously. In addition, Taylor won the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Giants finished the season 14-2 and dominated their opposition in the NFC playoffs, beating San Francisco and Washington by a combined score of 66–3. Taylor appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated alone the week leading up to Super Bowl XXI with a warning from the magazine to the Denver Broncos regarding Taylor. In Super Bowl XXI, after overcoming a slow start, the Giants cruised past the Denver Broncos 39–20. Taylor made a key stop on a goal line play in the first half, tackling John Elway as he sprinted out on a rollout, a play which prevented a touchdown.

With the Super Bowl win, Taylor had just capped off an unprecedented start to his career. Six years into his career Taylor had won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (1981), the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award a record three times (1981, 1982, 1986), been named to the AP All-Pro first team six times (1981–86), became the first defensive player in NFL history to be unanimously voted the league's MVP (1986), and led his team to a championship (1986).

After unmemorable seasons in 1987, and 1988, in 1989, Taylor recorded 15 sacks. He was forced to play the latter portion of the season with a fractured tibia, which he suffered in a 34–24 loss to the 49ers in week 12.The 1990 season got off to an inauspicious start for Taylor and the Giants as Taylor held out of a training camp, demanding a new contract with a salary of $2 million dollars per year. Talks dragged into September with neither side budging, and as the season approached Taylor received fines at the rate of $2,500 dollars a day. Taylor signed a contract just four days before the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite sitting out training camp and the preseason, Taylor started against the Eagles and finished with three sacks and a forced fumble. Taylor finished the season with 10.5 sacks and earned his 10th Pro Bowl in as many years, although the season marked the first time in Taylor's career that he would not make the first team on the Associated Press All-Pro team. The Giants started out 10–0 and finished with a 13–3 record. In the playoffs the Giants defeated the Bears 31–3, and went on to face their rival the 49ers in the NFC conference championship game. The Giants won a close game 15–13, as Taylor recovered a key fumble late in the game to set up Matt Bahr's game-winning field goal. In Super Bowl XXV Taylor's Giants faced off against the Buffalo Bills and in one of the more entertaining Super Bowls in history won 20–19.

1991 marked a steep decline in Taylor's production. It became the first season in his career that he did not make the Pro Bowl, after setting a then record by making it his first ten years in the league. Taylor finished with 7 sacks in 14 games. He rebounded in the early stages of what many thought would be his final season in 1992. Through close to 9 games Taylor was on pace for 10 sacks and the Giants were 5–4. However, a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in a November 8 game against Green Bay, sidelined him for the final seven games, during which the team went 1–6. Before the injury Taylor had missed only 4 games due to injury in his 12 year career, including two the previous year. Throughout the 1992 season, and the ensuing offseason, Taylor was noncomittal about his future, alternately saying he might retire, then later hinting he wanted a longer-term contract.

Taylor returned for the 1993 season enticed by the chance to play with a new coach (the newly hired Dan Reeves), and determined not end his career due to injury. The Giants experienced a resurgent season in 1993. They finished 11–5 and competed for the top playoff seeds in the conference. Taylor finished with 6 sacks, and the Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed. The Giants played the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs and defeated them 17–10. The next week on January 15, 1993 in what would ultimately be Taylor's final game the Giants faced the 49ers and were beaten convincingly 44–3. As the game drew to a conclusion television cameras drew in close on Taylor who was visibly crying. Taylor announced his retirement at the post-game press conference.

Lawrence Taylor is often considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in the history of football, and has been ranked as the greatest defensive player in history by media members, former players, and coaches. He is also widely considered to be one of the most feared players to ever step onto the football field. Taylor's explosive speed and power is credited with having changed the position of outside linebacker from a "read and react" type of position to a more attacking, aggressive position.

Rice Ran Away From The Field With Grace

To commemorate USA TODAY's 25th anniversary, a panel of USA TODAY's NFL reporters and editors has produced an anthology of the 25 best NFL players of the past 25 years. Coming Monday, they will reveal the No. 1 player:

• No. 2 Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice, the only player in NFL history to score 200 touchdowns and a man who raised the bar for many records to new heights, is No. 2 on USA TODAY's list.

Called "the greatest player to ever play the game" by his former San Francisco offensive coordinator and current Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, Rice left the NFL prior to the 2005 season with 38 records. During his 20-year career, Rice, who came to refer to himself as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and caught a pass in 274 consecutive games, a phenomenal streak that stretched from his rookie season in 1985 until early in his final campaign in 2004.

"He worked so hard to run the offense," his former teammate, quarterback Steve Young, said of playing with Rice. "It was built for guys like him. It was timing. It was artistry. It wasn't just 'Hey go out there and get open.' " Young and Rice connected for 85 touchdowns, which was an NFL record for a quarterback-receiver tandem before the Colts' Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison eclipsed the mark in 2005.

Rice didn't just break many of the records he now holds, he obliterated them. He passed Jim Brown's mark of 126 total touchdowns to become the all-time leader in 1994, then extended the mark by 81 scores over the next 11 seasons. His mark of 1,549 career receptions is 448 more than Cris Carter, who is second with 1,101.

LEAVING THE REST IN THE DUST
How far Jerry Rice stands ahead of his closes challenger in selected NFL records:
TOUCHDOWNS
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 208
No. 2
Emmitt Smith, 175
CAREER RECEPTIONS
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 1,549
No. 2
Cris Carter, 1,101
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 197
No. 2
Cris Carter, 130
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 274
No. 2
Art Monk, 183
CAREER RECEIVING YARDS
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 22,895
No. 2
Tim Brown, 14,934
SEASONS WITH 1,000 YARDS RECEIVING
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 14
No. 2
Tim Brown and Jimmy Smith, 9
GAMES WITH 100 YARDS RECEIVING
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 76
No. 2
Marvin Harrison, 59
YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 23,540
No. 2
Emmitt Smith, 21,579
RECEIVING YARDS IN ONE SEASON
No. 1
Jerry Rice, 1,848
No. 2
Isaac Bruce, 1,781

Part of what elevated Rice to his superior level for such a long time was not just his great hands and football savvy, but also his superior conditioning. He had a rigorous offseason workout program that kept him in step with his younger competitors. A mark of his durability, Rice recovered from two torn knee ligaments in the 1997 opener to return for the season's final game when he taught a touchdown. Then, as late as 2002 at the age of 40, Rice caught 92 passes for 1,211 yards.

"Jerry always told me that he never played the perfect game," his former 49ers teammate, defensive back Ronnie Lott, said of Rice when the receiver retired. "In his mind, that's a lofty deal. A lot of people would take a few of his games as perfection."

His Super Bowl success was a hallmark of Rice's career. The MVP of San Francisco's 20-16 win over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII, Rice caught 11 passes for a Super Bowl-record 215 yards and one touchdown in the game. He was also an integral part of the 49ers' game-winning, 92-yard touchdown drive in the final minute.

Rice left the 49ers after the 2000 season and played parts of four seasons in Oakland, whom he helped lead to an AFC championship in 2002. By 2004 his role had diminished, and in October of that season the Raiders traded Rice to Seattle, for whom the legendary receiver played his final game. He attempted to join the Broncos for the 2005 season, but retired prior to the opener when Shanahan told him he wouldn't be more than a fourth option at receiver.

Top Ten All Time - Number 4

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 4 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 4:

Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, 1979-92, Kansas City Chiefs, 1993-94

Montana was drafted in the third round (82nd overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, and played sparingly his first season behind starter Steve DeBerg. Bill Walsh, when asked by reporters before the 1979 season if Montana would be given a chance to play or contribute, remarked back, "Joe Who?". He became the 49ers starting quarterback late in his second season. Against the New Orleans Saints he led a comeback from a 28-point halftime deficit, to a 38-35 overtime victory. This is the second biggest comeback in NFL history, next to the 32 point comeback by the Buffalo Bills in 1993 vs the Houston Oilers. It was the first of Montana's twenty-six 4th-quarter comebacks with the 49ers.In 1981 Montana led San Francisco to a 13-3 record, the best in the NFL. In one of the most memorable games in NFL history, he led the 49ers on an 11-play, 89-yard drive, ending with a dramatic touchdown pass to Dwight Clark, which came to be known as "The Catch," for a thrilling 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship. Two weeks later Montana led the 49ers to a 26-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. For his efforts, which included scoring the first rushing touchdown by a quarterback in Super Bowl history, he was named the game's MVP, as he completed 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.

In 1984, the 49ers compiled a 15-1 regular season record, fielding what many consider one of the most dominant teams in NFL history. Montana led a 49er offense that scored 475 points, best in the NFC. He threw 28 touchdown passes with only 10 interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 102.9. Highlights in the season include a 30-27 victory over Detroit, when he drove the team to a last-second field goal, and a 23-17 win over Cincinnati, in which the 49ers erased a 17-7 deficit with three scores in the final ten minutes. This, despite Montana throwing a career-high 4 interceptions. In Super Bowl XIX, Montana completed 24 of 35 passes for a Super Bowl record 331 yards and three touchdowns, outdueling Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, and leading San Francisco to a 38-16 victory. He suffered an injury in the 1986 season that forced him to undergo major back surgery, after doctors discovered a ruptured disk as well as a congenital narrowing of the spinal cavity. Montana would return for the last seven games of the season, helping the then 5-3-1 49ers finish the season at 10-5-1.

Montana regained the starting position and led the 49ers to a 10-6 record and the NFC Western Division title.in Super Bowl XXIII, Montana had one of the best performances of his career. He completed 23 of 36 passes for a Super Bowl record 357 yards and two touchdowns. Despite his great performance, the 49ers found themselves trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 16-13 with only 3:10 left in the game and the ball on their own 8-yard line. But Montana calmly drove them down the field, completing 8 of 9 passes for 87 yards and throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with only 34 seconds left. 1989 proved to be one of the best for Montana and the 49ers. The team finished the season with an NFL-best 14-2 record, and their two losses were by a total of only five points. Montana threw for 3,521 yards and 26 touchdowns, with only 8 interceptions, giving him what was then the highest single-season quarterback rating in NFL history. The 49ers then cruised through the playoffs, and in Super Bowl XXIV, Montana became the first player ever to win Super Bowl MVP honors for a third time, throwing for 297 yards and a then Super Bowl record five touchdowns, while also rushing for 15 yards as the 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 55-10, the most lopsided score in Super Bowl history.In 1990, Montana once again led the 49ers to the best record (14-2) in the NFL.Injured after getting hit by Leonard Marshall during the NFC Championship Game in January 1991, Montana missed all of the 1991 season and most of the 1992 season with an elbow injury (he did appear in a Monday Night Football game vs. Detroit Lions at the end of the '92 season, and was very effective). However, by this point, teammate Steve Young had replaced him at the starting quarterback position.

Traded to Kansas City in 1993, much excitement was created by Montana's arrival. Although he was injured for part of the 1993 season, he was still able to lead the Chiefs in 2 come-from-behind wins in the 1993 playoffs and reached the AFC Championship Game, where Kansas City lost to the Buffalo Bills. Kansas City has not won a playoff game since 1993. Montana was also selected to his final Pro Bowl at the end of the 1993 season. Montana returned healthy to the Chiefs in 1994, starting all but 2 games. His highlights included a classic duel with John Elway (which Montana won) on Monday Night Football and a memorable game in week 2 when Montana played against his old team, the 49ers and their new quarterback, Steve Young. In a much-anticipated match-up, Montana and the Chiefs prevailed and defeated the 49ers 24-17. Montana led his team to a final playoff appearance in 1994. Montana retired at the end of the 1994 season.

Along with his unique ability to stay calm at key moments, Montana earned the nicknames "Joe Cool" and "Comeback Kid" due to his ability to rally his teams from late-game deficits, including 31 4th quarter comebacks. He also earned the nickname "Golden Joe" because he played in California (the Golden State). Among some female fans he was also known as "Swivel Hips Joe." To his teammates he was simply "Bird Legs" a reference to his skinny legs. Among his career highlights "The Catch" (the game-winning TD pass vs. Dallas in the '82 NFC Championship Game) and a Super Bowl-winning 92-yd. drive vs. the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII are staples of NFL highlight films.

For his career with the 49ers, Montana completed 2,929 of 4,600 passes for 35,142 yards with 244 touchdowns and 123 interceptions. He had 35 300-yard passing games. His career totals: 3,409 completion on 5,391 attempts, 273 touchdowns, 139 interceptions, and 40,551 yards passing. He also rushed for 1,676 yards and 20 touchdowns. His career passer rating was 92.3, 4th-highest all-time, behind his 49er successor Steve Young (96.8), Indianapolis Colt Peyton Manning (94.4), and Arizona Cardinal Kurt Warner (93.8). Montana holds post-season records for most career touchdown passes (45), and passing yards (5,772) among others. In his four Super Bowls, Montana completed 83 of 122 passes, for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns, with an impressive zero interceptions, earning him a quarterback rating of 127.8. Montana led his team to victory in each game, and is the only player ever to win 3 Super Bowl MVP awards. He played in 8 Pro Bowls.

Top Ten All Time - Number 5

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 5 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 5:

Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles, 1985-92, Green Bay Packers, 1993-98, Carolina Panthers, 2000

After college, White signed with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL, with whom he played for two seasons, while racking up 23.5 sacks, 192 tackles and seven forced fumbles in 36 starts. After the USFL folded, White moved to the NFL and went to the Philadelphia Eagles because they held his NFL rights. He played with the Eagles for eight seasons, picking up 124 sacks to become the Eagles' all-time sack leader. He also set a then Eagles regular-season record with 21 sacks in 1987. He also became the only player to ever accumulate 20 or more sacks in just 12 games. He also set an NFL regular-season record that season by averaging the most sacks per game, with an amazing 1.75 sacks per game. Over the course of his tenure with the Eagles Reggie actually accumulated more sacks than the number of games that he played.

In 1993, while being wooed by several teams as a free agent, White went to the Green Bay Packers, where he played for six seasons. During his time as a free agent, White said God would tell him where to play. Packers head coach (at the time) Mike Holmgren called Reggie White and said "Reggie, this is God. I want you to play in Green Bay." While not quite as prolific as in his previous years, White still notched up another 68.5 sacks, to become the Packers' all-time leader in that category. He also helped the Packers to two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. That victory was the only championship White ever shared in at any level. White was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.

After the 1998 season, White announced his retirement, but in 1999 he spoke to God and was told to "fulfill his commitment", and thereafter signed with the Carolina Panthers for the 2000 season. However, his performance was below his par, and he managed just 15 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Following the season, White again retired.

At the time of his retirement, White was the NFL's all-time sacks leader with 198. He has since been surpassed by Bruce Smith who has 200. White also recorded 3 interceptions, which he returned for 79 yards, and recovered 19 fumbles, which he returned for 137 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 9 consecutive seasons (1985-1993) with at least 10 sacks remain an NFL record. He was named All-Pro 13 of 15 seasons including 10 as first-team selection

Top Ten All-Time - Number 6

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 6 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 6:

John Elway, Denver Broncos, 1983-98

Elway stormed into the mile high air as one of the most highly anticipated athletes in the history of the NFL. The local newspapers ran a section that was called, "The Elway Watch". He soon became known to by all the Broncos fans simply as "The Duke" of Denver.In the 1986 season, Elway led the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI, after defeating the Cleveland Browns on a famous possession at the end of the game that became known as "The Drive". (In a span of 5 minutes and 2 seconds, Elway led his team 98 yards to tie the game with 37 seconds left in regulation.In 1987, Elway was selected to start in the AFC's Pro Bowl team and won the NFL MVP. He went on to once again lead the Broncos to a victory over the Browns in the AFC title game, earning their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

After recording an 8-8 record in 1988, Elway once again led his team to the Super Bowl after the 1989 season, with yet another win over the Browns in the AFC championship game, going on to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV. However this game ended even worse for the Broncos than their previous Super Bowl losses. San Francisco blew out Denver 55-10, the most lopsided score in Super Bowl history. Although Elway scored the only touchdown for his team on a three-yard run, his performance was exceptionally abysmal: 10 out of 26 completions for 108 yards with no touchdown passes and two interceptions. But he didn't try to hide from the media after the game or downplay his dismal performance. And when he was asked if he wanted to go back to the Super Bowl after three losses, he responded that he wanted to go back every year, even if his team kept losing. Still by this point, many doubted that he would ever win a Super Bowl in his career.

It took Elway another eight years, but he eventually led his team back to the Super Bowl in 1997. During the 1997 preseason American Bowl game in Mexico City, Elway ruptured his right (throwing arm) biceps tendon. It was treated non-surgically, and he returned to play 19 days later, going on that season to play in his fourth Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXXII, the Broncos faced the defending Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers. They would go on to defeat the Packers 31-24, finally winning a Super Bowl after three failed attempts for Elway (and four for the team). In 1998, the Broncos repeated this feat and Elway was awarded the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII, throwing for 336 yards and 1 touchdown with one interception, while also scoring a rushing touchdown in Denver's 34-19 win over the Atlanta Falcons. It was his last game.

On May 2, 1999, at the age of 38, Elway announced his retirement from pro football. Not only does he have more wins than any other quarterback in NFL history, but he has one of the best winning percentages in league history (148-82-1), and is tied for most Pro Bowl selections for a quarterback (nine). Elway is regarded as one of the top quarterbacks ever to grace the game.

Top Ten All Time - Number 7

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 7 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 7:

Brett Favre, Atlanta Falcons, 1991, Green Bay Packers, 1992 - present

Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round, 33rd overall in the 1991 NFL Draft. Atlanta coach Jerry Glanville did not approve of the drafting of Favre, saying it would take a plane crash for him to put Favre into the game. Favre's first pass in a NFL regular season game resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown. He only attempted four passes in his career at Atlanta, completing none of them.

The Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf traded a first round pick (19th overall, RB Tony Smith, Southern Miss) for Favre during the following offseason. Wolf, while previously the general manager of the New York Jets, had intended to take Favre in the 1991 NFL draft, but Favre was taken by the Falcons on the pick previous. In the third game of the 1992 season starting quarterback Don Majkowski injured a ligament in his ankle against the Cincinnati Bengals. Favre replaced Majkowski. He fumbled four times and was sacked six times during the course of the game. Down 23-17 with 1:07 left in the game, Favre completed a 42 yard pass to Sterling Sharpe. On the next play, Favre threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Kitrick Taylor with 13 seconds remaining. The next week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers began the longest consecutive starts streak for a quarterback in NFL history. The game ended in a 17-3 victory and his passer rating was 144.6. During the season, Favre helped put together a six-game winning streak for the Packers, the longest winning streak for the club since 1965. They ended 9-7 that season, missing the playoffs on their last game. Favre finished his first season as a Packer with 3,227 yards and a quarterback rating of 85.3, helping him to his first Pro Bowl.

The following season Favre helped the Packers to their first playoff berth since 1982 and was named to his second pro bowl. After the season Favre became a free agent. General manager Ron Wolf negotiated Favre into a five-year, $19 million contract. Favre and the Packers finished the 1994 season 9-7, advancing them to the playoffs in back to back years, a feat the Packers had not done since the Vince Lombardi era.

In 1995, Favre won the first of his three MVP awards. Favre led the Packers to an 11-5 record, Green Bay's best record in nearly thirty years. Favre passed for a career high of 4,413 yards and 38 touchdowns, recording a quarterback rating of 99.5, the highest of his career to date. The Packers advanced to the NFC Championship Game after upsetting the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Game. The Packers lost the NFC Championship game to the Dallas Cowboys, marking the third year in a row the Packers season was ended by the Cowboys in the playoffs. Favre helped the Packers advanced farther in the playoffs than any other Packer team since 1967, the season the Packers won Super Bowl II. Favre led the Packers to their best season in 30-years in the 1996 season, winning his second consecutive MVP award in the process. The Packers led the NFL in points scored as well as fewest points scored against. Green Bay tied the Denver Broncos for the NFL's best regular season record, 13-3, defeated the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs. The Packers advanced to Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome, a short drive from Favre's hometown.

Favre and the Packers continued their dominance of the NFC during the next season. Favre was named co-MVP of the league along with Detroit Lions' running back Barry Sanders, his third straight award. Also, Green Bay advanced to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. After being heavily favored, the Packers lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII. Favre completed 25 of 42 passes for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception in the losing effort. Favre and the Packers continued posting positive results through the next few seasons. Through the 2004 season, the Packers had the longest streak of non-losing seasons (13) in the NFL. However, the streak ended in 2005, with the Packers finishing 4-12 overall.

Favre has not had as much success in the postseason since Super Bowl XXXII; he is 2-5 in the playoffs since the 1998 season. Two of those losses were at home in the wild-card game, and they were the first postseason losses ever at Lambeau Field. Since 1998, he has recorded 149 completions on 249 attempts for 1,804 yards, with 11 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions, leaving him with a quarterback passer rating of 70.1 in the playoffs.

On February 2, 2007, Brett Favre announced that he will return for the 2007 season. He currently stands second all time in touchdown passes with 414, behind only Dan Marino's 420, and second in passing yards (57,500) behind Marino's 61,361. Favre's streak of 237 consecutive games played is a record and still active.

Top Ten All Time - Number 8

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 8 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 8:

Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears, 1965-71

Sayers was drafted by the Chicago Bears. He was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and offered more money to play there, but he ultimately chose to play in Chicago. He won NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 1965 and was the only rookie at the time to accomplish the feat of scoring six touchdowns in a game. He finished his rookie year with 22 touchdowns.

In his second season, despite being the focus of opposing defenses, Sayers led the league in rushing with 1231 yards.In 1968 his season was ended prematurely in a game against the San Francisco 49ers when Sayers tore many ligaments in his right knee. He had surgery and rehabilitation, with the help of Brian Piccolo. In the 1969 season he led the league in rushing once again, but he lacked the lightning speed he once had.

After only 5 seasons in the NFL, (7 officially, although Sayers only played 1 preseason game in 1970 and waited until after the '71 season to officially retire), Sayers made enough of an indelible mark on the NFL in only 68 games played, as a running back and return man, that he was a first ballot hall of famer in 1977. No other player has every been inducted into any pro sports hall of fame with less statistical backing or years of service, proving that Sayers was and is truely appreciated for what a talent he was and would have been no matter how long he played for.

Top Ten All Time - Number 9

Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today is counting down the top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and we will keep you up to date on the Niner notables on that list), I will go one better. Here is number 9 on my list of top ten players of all time, regardless of era or position. And yeah, there might be a 49er or two in here!!

Number 9:

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts, 1956-72, San Diego Chargers 1973

After college, Unitas was drafted in the nineteenth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, but was released before the season began. By then he was married with a child and worked construction in Pittsburgh to support his family. On the weekends, he played on a local semipro team called the Bloomfield Rams for $6 a game.In 1956 Unitas joined the Baltimore Colts of the NFL under legendary coach Weeb Ewbank. The Colts won the NFL championship under Unitas' leadership in 1958, by defeating the New York Giants 23-17 in sudden death overtime. It was the first overtime game in NFL history, and is often referred to as the "greatest game ever played." The game, nationally televised by NBC, has been credited for sparking the rise in popularity of professional football during the 1960s. Unitas then led the Colts to a repeat championship in 1959, beating the Giants again 31-16 in the title game.

Later in his career, although he was injured through most of the 1968 season, he stayed on the bench to play in Super Bowl III, the famous game wherein Joe Namath guaranteed a New York Jets win despite conventional wisdom. Unitas' insertion was a desperation move in an attempt to retrieve dominance of the NFL over the upstart AFL. Sidelined virtually all season with a lame elbow, Unitas helped put together the Colts' only score, a touchdown late in the game. Despite not playing until the fourth quarter, Unitas still finished with more passing yards than the team's starter, Earl Morrall. In 1970, Unitas led the Colts to Super Bowl V. He was knocked out of the game in the second quarter, after throwing a 75-yard touchdown pass (setting a then-Super Bowl record) that helped lift the team to victory. In 1971 Unitas brought the Colts to the AFC Championship game and lost to Miami 21-0.Unitas was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1973, and retired from football in 1974. He finished his 17 NFL seasons with 2,830 completions in 5,186 passes for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns, with 253 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,777 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Unitas set many passing records during his career. He was the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards, despite playing during an era when NFL teams played shorter seasons of 12 or 14 games (as opposed to today's 16-game seasons). He also threw a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games between 1956 and 1960, a record that still stands and is considered by many the Mount Everest-like football equivalent to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game baseball hitting streak.