The Most Underappreciated NFL Stars

by NYCowboy on Oct 7, 2008 8:55 AM MDT

This past Sunday, the 49ers honored Steve Young with a halftime ceremony retiring his number. I always thought that despite his numerous accomplishments, Young was never appreciated as much as he should have been. It got us thinking here at The Fantasy Sports Forum about some excellent NFL players who never quite received the credit they probably should have. Here is our top ten list:

10. Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants: Not the strongest arm or the fastest runner, but an excellent leader who got the job done and had one of the greatest Super Bowl games of any quarterback. Could play for my team anytime.

9. Art Monk, WR, Washington Redskins: Yeah I know he was just elected to the Hall of Fame, but it took about 15 years for him to get there - even though when he retired he was the NFL leader in receptions. Wasn't flashy, didn't call attention to himself, just caught the football and kept the chains moving.

8. Jeff Garcia, QB, San Francisco 49ers: Had the impossible job of making 49er fans forget Joe Montana and Steve Young - good luck. His arm is nothing special, but all he does is win. I'm not sure anyone knows why, but he just has that something special.

7. John Taylor, WR, San Francisco 49ers: Maybe he was able to put up all those numbers because opposing defenses were worried about Jerry Rice, but he was a highlight machine himself, regularly turning five yard slants into 60 yard touchdowns. The perfect complement to Rice in that he didn't need the spotlight to shine on himself.

6. Drew Pearson, WR, Dallas: One of the best receivers of the 70s and a leader of the Cowboys. Best known for the Hail Mary completion against Minnesota in the playoffs. Has very similar numbers to Hall of Famer Lynn Swann and should probably be there himself.

Read the rest here: http://thefantasysportsforum.com/article.php?ID=449

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

It's funny how every list imaginable,

more 49ers than should make the list. Why isn’t Rod Smith on that list? Or Randy Gradishar? Or Floyd Little? Always 49ers, or some team in the NFC East. The Top 10 Comebacks…all but one game had an AFC Winner. That ends my rant, but not my utter hatred for all things 49er. I suppose its to be expected since I live in Niner territory. ;-)

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Tim Lynch on Oct 7, 2008 9:17 AM MDT reply actions

Not much consolation

but at least TD was in there!

Too bad there is no way to leave a comment suggesting everyone you mention above.

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano

by DesertBroncoFan on Oct 7, 2008 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions

ditto on the TD

by Sneaky Sean on Oct 7, 2008 9:43 AM MDT up reply actions

guess i should have read whole article. lol

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Tim Lynch on Oct 7, 2008 5:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Jeff Garcia?

The comment is “all he does is win”. Win what? He’s 52 and 53 as a Starter. Garcia is in his 10th year, and he has only won two Playoff games as a Starter in his entire career.

I guess if Garcia was appreciated more, he wouldn’t be with his 5th team already…would he? lol
Somebody said, you’re only as good as your last game…Oops!

"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit" - Alex Karras

by Denver Diehard on Oct 7, 2008 10:36 AM MDT reply actions

Its the 49er connection.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Tim Lynch on Oct 7, 2008 5:34 PM MDT up reply actions

I would have taken Doug Flutie over Garcia any day.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Tim Lynch on Oct 7, 2008 5:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Plunkett

The only reason he did anything was because of his supporting cast, the fact was for his career in Oakland, Al Davis was trying to replace him, Plunket only played because the starters got injured or stunk. Raiders won those two Super Bowls because of the defense and their running game, and basically Plunket job was to heave the ball up once the defense was playing man to man and hope Cliff Branch came down with it.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum

by Broncoman on Oct 7, 2008 11:15 AM MDT reply actions

Once again, Floyd Little omitted

I am glad to see TD included, but only the Broncos remember Floyd.

That’s ok with me. We’re playing for wins, not media publicity....HT 9/11/08

by firstfan on Oct 7, 2008 11:46 AM MDT reply actions

And even the Broncos seem to have but a dim memory

Is your schedule stable right now? Do you want to get into some emails about promoting Little? I don’t know how much progress we’ll make, but I have some time right now to work on something…

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 7, 2008 3:28 PM MDT up reply actions

Partially clear

That’s ok with me. We’re playing for wins, not media publicity....HT 9/11/08

by firstfan on Oct 7, 2008 3:48 PM MDT up reply actions

good news FF

My girlfriend is coming over this weekend with her laptop. She has a DVD burner. Yeee ha!

"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit" - Alex Karras

by Denver Diehard on Oct 10, 2008 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions

these lists are bogus

Any list that has Simms and Garcia on it are crap. Where is Little? Where is Rod? HEck where is Haven Moses?

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Oct 7, 2008 12:08 PM MDT reply actions

Or Lionel Taylor? The original LT.

That’s ok with me. We’re playing for wins, not media publicity....HT 9/11/08

by firstfan on Oct 7, 2008 3:49 PM MDT up reply actions

Billy Thompson

The first hard hitting safety. Why is Roger Werhli in the HoF and Thompson not? here I go getting riled up over the lack of respect towards the Broncos

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Oct 7, 2008 4:04 PM MDT up reply actions

The missus says I have to go take one of my blood-pressure pills now.

That’s ok with me. We’re playing for wins, not media publicity....HT 9/11/08

by firstfan on Oct 7, 2008 4:42 PM MDT up reply actions

Amen to Floyd,

and Randy, and Rod, and Terrell, and Haven, and Lionel, and one of my personal favorites, Billy, and Louis, and don’t forget Steve Atwater, and Simon Fletcher and Rich Jackson, and the Coop, and…, well…, I’m beyond disgusted.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Oct 7, 2008 4:51 PM MDT up reply actions

I'll keep it going........

Rick Upchurch, Riley Odoms, Jim Turner to name a few

"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit" - Alex Karras

by Denver Diehard on Oct 8, 2008 6:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Absolutely.

And is Tom Jackson up above somewhere? And if he is, what about Rubin Carter? Now there was a real unsung hero.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Oct 9, 2008 6:04 PM MDT up reply actions

About Tom Jackson

Tom simply doesn’t have the numbers or the achievements needed for the HOF.
Tom only made the Pro Bowl 3 times in a 14 year career.
His numbers: Interceptions – 20. / fumble recoveries 8 / Sacks 13

Now compare to Gradishar that still isn’t in: Only 10 years in the league
7 Pro Bowl Appearances
His numbers: Interceptions – 20. / fumble recoveries 13 / Sacks 4.5

Jackson had more sacks than Gradishar, but that was part of his role as a blitzing LB. It’s easy to see that Gradishars numbers are close to Jackson but he played four less years to achieve. The real kicker for the HOF Selection Committee is the Pro Bowl appearances. Three years out of 14 is not that great.

"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit" - Alex Karras

by Denver Diehard on Oct 9, 2008 8:01 PM MDT up reply actions

I hear you buddy...

…and agree. I’m just thinking that his contributions are under appreciated. He was full of positive emotion but had/has a deeper, more thoughtful side.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Oct 10, 2008 10:49 AM MDT up reply actions