Linebackers have been in the news lately.
Ray Lewis Saturday ended a legendary -- and controversial -- 17-season career with the Baltimore Ravens just two days after San Diegans learned of the terrible price Junior Seau paid to become a pro football icon and perhaps the greatest Charger of all-time.
Lewis and Seau are ranked among the 10 greatest linebackers ever to play in the National Football League in a survey of 15 national experts and sources conducted this week by the U-T San Diego. Twenty-two linebackers received at least one top-10 vote.
Only three linebackers ? Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert and Lawrence Taylor ? were named on all 15 ballots. Lewis and Seau were each named on 12.
Aside from possibly quarterback, no position on the football field is demanding both mentally and physically than linebacker. The 10 players on this list defended against both the run and the pass ? covering backs and tight ends down the field as well as blitzing the quarterback.
All 10 had one thing in common ? pain . . . both the deliverance and the receipt. ?We try to hurt everybody,? Sam Huff of the New York Giants said in 1959 as the role of the middle linebacker in the new 4-3 defense came into vogue.
In fact, the 1960 CBS documentary titled ?The Violent World of Sam Huff? served to promote both the NFL and the legend of the linebacker. Huff failed to make this list, although two contemporaries (Ray Nitschke and Chuck Bednarik) did.
The top 10 linebackers in NFL history:
1. Dick Butkus (Chicago Bears, 1965-73): The prototype for the modern middle linebacker, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Butkus was one of the most feared hitters in NFL history. Butkus also developed the technique of separating the ball from the ballcarrier with a ripping motion of his massive arms and hands. A five-time all-pro, the Chicago native?s career was cut short by knee injuries. In nine NFL seasons, the intimidating Butkus amassed 1,020 tackles ? although he never played for a championship team. Universally regarded as the top middle linebacker in NFL history. Had 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries in his career. Sacks were not an official statistic during his cereer.
2. Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants, 1981-1993): Regarded by many as the best linebacker in NFL history, Taylor forced offenses to change strategy and formations in an unsuccessful effort to halt his charges from the ?wing? position in the Giants 3-4 alignment. The original L.T. played at 6-3 and 237 pounds. His forte was rushing and destroying quarterbacks, ripping the ball away with his ?strip sack.? Rival teams went to employing two tight ends and the H-back in single-back sets to help tackles assigned to Taylor. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year finished his career with 132? sacks and had at least 10 sacks in every season from 1984-90. In 1986, he had 20? sacks.
3. Jack Lambert (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974-84): Although under-sized for a middle linebacker at 6-3 and 200 pounds, Lambert was the heart ? as well as the toothless, menacing face -- of Pittsburgh?s famed ?Steel Curtain? defense. He helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls during an 11-season career. Lambert was a perfect blend of raw aggression, speed and awareness. Great range on pass defense. Lambert had the ability to cover backs and tight ends down field one-on-one as well as clogging the middle against wide receivers. He finished with 28 career interceptions and was a seven-time all-pro. Lambert was named to the NFL all-decade team for both the 1970s and 1980s as well as the NFL?s 75th anniversary all-time team.
Source: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/12/butkus-tops-ranking-of-nfl-linebackers/
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