[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3538393[/url]
Here is the way the fans voted:
Here is AFC North blogger James Walker's response. I agree that Bradshaw would not have been my choice. Although I am a big fan of some of the underappreciated guys in this poll like Blount and Ham, you have to admit that Mean Joe was the rock that held everything together on the greatest defense football has ever seen. And he gave that kid his jersey in exchange for a Coke. C'mon now.1) Who is the greatest player in Steelers history?
42.6% Terry Bradshaw, QB (1970-83):
Steelers all-time leading passer with 27,989 yards and two-time Super Bowl MVP.
25.1% Joe Greene, DT (1969-81):
''Mean Joe'' was a leader of the ''Steel Curtain'' defense.
11.6% Jack Lambert, LB (1974-84):
Lambert had 28 career interceptions and more than 1,400 tackles.
6.7% Franco Harris, RB (1972-83):
Steelers all-time leading rusher with 11,950 yards and MVP of Super Bowl IX.
4.5% Jerome Bettis, RB (1996-2005):
"The Bus" is second all time on the Steelers in rushing (10,571).
3.4% Mike Webster, C (1974-8:
A nine-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro selection.
3.0% Lynn Swann, WR (1974-82):
First wide receiver to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
1.8% Jack Ham, LB (1971-82):
Regarded as one of the greatest outside linebackers.
0.9% Mel Blount, CB (1970-83):
Steelers all-time leader in interceptions with 57.
0.5% John Stallworth, WR (1974-87):
Second all time on the Steelers in receiving (8,723 yards).
The oddest choices were probably a tie between New Orleans and Baltimore.Pittsburgh Steelers: Franchise player
August 18, 2008 1:05 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
Readers' pick: Terry Bradshaw, QB
Terry Bradshaw certainly is the greatest quarterback in Pittsburgh Steelers history.
But the "Blonde Bomber" is not the greatest overall player in the franchise's history.
The top four players -- Bradshaw, defensive lineman Joe Greene, linebacker Jack Lambert and running back Franco Harris -- are solid choices by Steelers fans. But the ordering is off.
Bradshaw was a winner in every sense of the word, and he was at his best in big games. But Bradshaw's career numbers are not as overwhelming as one would think.
Bradshaw only completed 51.9 percent of his passes in 14 seasons. He had five years of 20 interceptions or more, including his rookie year when Bradshaw threw six touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
Overall Bradshaw has just two more touchdowns (212) during his career than interceptions (210). There were many seasons when Bradshaw was merely an average -- and at times below average -- quarterback.
Green, Lambert and Harris played at a higher level for more seasons than Bradshaw, and that trio deserved much higher consideration.
The glamour position of quarterback often gets most of the credit for winning championships, and this particular voting reeks of a popularity contest.
In 40 seasons of football in 'Nawlins, the best the Saints could come up with was Bobby Hebert? Are you kidding me? In 7 seasons with the Saints and 4 with the Falcons, I still think his career highlight is when George Costanza thought his last name was fun to pronounce in a Seinfeld episode. You'd think that if NFL Network was dumb enough to say the Saints had the greatest LB corps of all time (what a crock) that at least one of those guys, Pat Swilling, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, and Vaughn Johnson, would get more votes from fans than "A Bear."
And to all those Raven fans that were delusional enough to think that Ray Lewis should be considered an all-time great LB or that Jonathan Ogden is the best left tackle of all time, you voted for a kicker as your greatest player.I thought it was somewhat embarrassing when Gary Anderson was named the Steeler team MVP in 1983, but at least a kicker is not considered our all-time best player.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by RuthlessBurgher
Bookmarks