July 9, 2025 • 56 mins
Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice to reveal numbers 11 through 8 of NFL Daily's Top 25 Players of the Last 25 Years. Gregg and Nate kick of this tier of players with tight end Rob Gronkowski at number 11 (01:30), Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Derrelle Revis at number 10 (15:30), Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Randy Moss at number 9 (25:30), and wrap up the show with Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis at number 9 (42:05).
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Don't miss any of NFL Daily's Top 25 Players of the Last 25 Years where Gregg is joined by ESPN's Mina Kimes and Bill Barnwell, Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice, NFL Network's Steve Wyche and Brian Baldinger and broadcasting legend Kevin Harlan to break down the best NFL players since the turn of the century.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to NFL Daily's Top twenty five players of the
last twenty five years. This is the big six part
series where we break down the best players of the century.
So far, we're made it all the way to episode four,
and that means we're gonna hit the top ten in
this episode. And when I was thinking of who could
(00:23):
come on during this series, one name kept coming back
to me. And even though he just had a baby,
I said, Nate Tice, can you break your paternity leave
to come on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I felt really bad.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I didn't know that when I first asked you, But
you just wanted to talk ball. We've got some personal
connections on this show, and so I'm really so excited
that Nate Tice of Yahoo's Sports check out his football podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Three to zho one, you're with us today. We're gonna
have some fun.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
No, you threw some nice bait in the water to
get me on this one.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Like it was not only just the one that I
definitely have a connection you to the others that we're
talking about were also like, yeah, yeah, twist my arm
to talk about these players.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
So happy to be here. Thanks for It's all good.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
I got enough sleep to be able to talk about
these players, to try and remember my childhood a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
With some of these I know, I knew, so I wanted,
like Baldy is a perfect guess. He was just on
because he's covered the league the whole time. So I
was thinking about guys like that, like Steve Weiss, Kevin Harlan,
guys like that too. But I knew that even when
Nate Tice was a wee lad, he was following this
like it was his freaking job. So I can't wait
to talk about these players. Let's go to our first
(01:33):
one of the day, number eleven.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Rob Ronkowski from.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
The Rams thirty one shotgun staff to Brady's dropping back
lobs would throw four.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Ronkowski left side makes the.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Catch over two different nurse.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Tumbling to the two and it's.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
A twenty nine.
Speaker 7 (01:48):
You strike to the big boy, his favorite tight end,
the old world tight end.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
What a catch. It's just crunch time.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
When it's crunch time, Tom loves to throw.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Me in the ball and I love to make that players.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
The staff out of the gun actually fake passed up
got Kowski.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
He's gonna score a touchdown.
Speaker 7 (02:03):
Touchdown Tama Bay Holy Groncaboli he breaks the record. He's
got his twenty third touchdown of the postseason from Tom Brady.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Rob does things that wide receivers do, makes the grab
at the forty, Rob.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Those things that tight ends do, and Rob does things
that Pulmington lineman.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Do, breakhead's kin to the zone.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Actually, Okay, you're kidding me.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
What an amazing catch by Ronkowsk gets the play of
the year, the play of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Unbelievable follow if you catch it.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah. I love that clip of Tom Brady miked up
asking what a lot of us would ask of Rob
Gronkowski throughout his scarer, like how did you do that?
A player like no other number eleven on our list,
the number one tight end on the list. And Nate,
I'll start with how we started that clip, because his
last moment as a Patriot before he quote unquote retired
(02:57):
the first time was essentially make the biggest play and
winning a super Bowl, And just the game before that,
he walked the Chiefs down the field to help get
to that Super Bowl. And I think of the conference
championship game against the Broncos when they didn't have much
and he's just carrying them to almost force overtime in
(03:19):
that game. And it's funny you think of all the
things and we'll get into the versatility and what made
him great, but his ability there and you saw the
Bucks play too. He led the Bucks and receiving in
that game, in a game with Mike Evans and Chris
Godwin and Antonio Brown, like he led the Bucks. He
had two touchdowns, he led them in receiving two, so
coming through in the biggest of moments. And to me,
(03:39):
this is a list about the highest level of excellence
when they were at their best, and that to me
is Rob Gonkowski.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
One of the most dominant players in the NFL history
at any position. And probably I'm glad you said he's
the number one tight end on this list, which I
agree with. I think he is the best tight end
of all time. And I'm including players that are still playing.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Maybe he shouldn't even be higher than number eleven on
this list, but I like to think I like you
backing me up.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yes, just absolutely dominance and not only just like oh
eye test stuff, just their statistical stuff, you know, the
scoring in his second year. I believe it was all
the touchdowns that he had, the yack that he had
he was throwing guys off of him. I always thought
that Gronk was kind of looked like the kid that
hte puberty puberty early in Little league and kind of
was just being able to throw everybody off because he
(04:25):
was so much bigger and stronger than everybody else. Like
the only blemish on his entire career was that Miami
Hail Mary play.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Oh, come on, he's on defense. That's not his fault.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
That's the only one I have in his career. But
one of the most dominant players. You even hinted at
the versatility like this guy. And in the video of
the clips, they said that right there, he's catching fade balls,
fade touchdowns, which were automatic, it felt like, and it
wasn't you know, the other tight end at that time
that was doing that was what Jimmy Graham. You know,
he was catching fade balls. And most people hate faith
(04:56):
faith throw, so I get it. But when you have
that automatic answered, they're great, Like it's really nice to
have when you can just get him about eighty percent
of the time. But the thing with Gronk, you know,
Jimmy Graham was a glorified receiver that wanted to be
called a receiver. Actually Gronk was a blocker, that was
what they said too, And Mike not just like, oh,
he was pretty good a I was, like, no, an
absolute one of the best blocking tight ends ever on
(05:19):
top of being one of the best receiving tight ends ever,
probably one of the most dominant as well. So he
was a complete package and probably just one of the
best players at his peak compared to his peers, like ever,
I think.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, you mentioned the second season he had thirteen hundred yards,
ninety catches, seventeen touchdowns, and you know, he was always
a touchdown maker, by far the leader in touchdowns throughout
his career compared to other tight ends, just like far
and away and still And it's crazy when you have
an all time rate stat like this over some of
the guys back in the day when the game was
(05:50):
just different, but by far the leaders and yards per
catch of a tight end. So you think efficiency, like
he managed to catch fifteen yards per catch his entire career, Nate,
So you don't quite like, I don't think people immediately
think of Gronk as a big play maker, and I
want to get to the blocking and everything, But when
you think of the efficiency of red zone, big plays
(06:13):
and the fact that he didn't go out for as
many routes necessarily as some of the other tight ends
because he was in blocking and obviously very valuable, more
valuable as a run blocker. It's just next level. And
we spent a lot of the episode. Travis Kelce was
twenty five on this list. Nate and so Mina and
I spent a decent amount of time kind of comparing,
and for me, this list is more about how great
(06:36):
you were at your greatest, and obviously you have to
have some longevity. Rob Gronkowski had that, and to me,
it's not that close because of that versatility, the way
and you can maybe explain this better than me as
a real film guy, like the way that he tilted
defenses because of the run pass option, because of how
(06:56):
good he was as a blocker, Like what did he
do to the opposition.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Like the guys that change the math or make the
opposing team honor them. I think anybody who watch the
NBA playoffs kind of feels this sometimes where you're like
one guy's getting picked on over and over and over,
or one guy you know on defense or offense, and
then the NFL that's what it is week to week,
not saying other sports aren't. You can just see it
more hyper focused in the playoffs. But in the NFL,
(07:21):
Gronk's on the field as opposed to other tight ends,
especially since about this time to now, they're more what
we call receiving tight ends f's h's guys that are
off the ball or split out, maybe as Sam Laporta
is a guy that comes to mind, But you do
not want Sam laport at the point of attack. As
a defense, I can treat Sam Laporta or less as
a receiver, just a big receiver. He is a passketcher,
(07:44):
but I'm just going, yeah, he's a receiver to us.
So that changes the defensive looks, That changes what they
can throw at you. And there's some good there's a
lot of bad to that. There could be some good
to that you can take advantage of it if you
can get an offensive coordinator like Ben Johnson. But I
would just say that that is just what It makes
it harder on play callers and play designers because there's
some limitations with Gronk. You can literally do anything. You
(08:07):
can split him out one on one, you can attach
him next to a tackle, you can run behind him.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
You do not have to hide him in the run game.
You're actually using him as.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
The point of attack, and that in itself is usually
a Guys that can do that aren't really great receivers.
Guys like Josh Oliver right now, who's like a fine receiver.
But Gronk was the best receiver. So it's just that's that.
I actually think Travis Kelcey at twenty five is like
a tad low But you but you mentioned the fifteen
yards are per catch in his career. Kelsey never hit
(08:36):
that mark ever in a season. You know, like like
the highest that Kelsey ever had is thirteen point five and.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Twenty you're saying Kelsey shouldn't be on the list, or
he should.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Be no, should be higher.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
It's tough when you see these games. They're the only
they're the only two tight ends. I mean that he's
jumping over a guy like these are the quality of
players you're jumping over. Though, It's like Walter Jones and oh,
you know, like this list is outraged, you know, Interrell
Owens and players like like that Lamar Jackson statement. You know,
(09:06):
just look at the list first. But yeah, that versatility
is the difference of why he's that high to me, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Why Yeah, he's the why tight end.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
No, but it's there's I talked about rarity at a
position like you're never it's gonna be. I don't think
we ever see a guy at this level that can
do both things this well, truly be a lead blocking
and an elite receiver and not just like, oh, he's
good hands and he's a number two, number three, he's like, no,
he was the guy of a passing attack and in
the red zone.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
It's just one of he's a unicorn player. It's just
one of those.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
I wish he was always healthy and stuff and we
always just got to see the true true of all
of it. But man, the flashes are just the sustained
flashes have been amazing.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yeah, it's fair to point out twenty twelve, twenty thirteen,
like what would have been right in the prime of
his career, suffered through some injuries and you know, didn't
stay on the field as much, but then he did
bounce back. He ultimately had about seven seasons where he
was on the field almost the entire time, and those seasons,
like every almost every one of them, he was first
(10:05):
team All Pro and It's interesting to think about the
different eras of Gronk because when he comes into the
league twenty ten, he's a what six to six tight end,
just a monster two hundred and sixty four pounds, and
you would think he would be like a high draftic.
And yeah, he had some back injuries, but that wasn't
the only reason he got drafted low. Like people weren't
sure if you go look at the NFL dot com
(10:26):
profile Nate, they were like, is he really explosive enough?
Like is he a good enough route runner like to
be an explosive guy. He got taken seventeen spots Nate,
behind Tim Tebow. And I'm glad you pointed out the
hands because to me that that stands out to me,
like he could go pick up a Tom Brady almost
(10:47):
a groundball missile and just grab it off the turf.
In addition to catching those fade balls that you mentioned,
he was good coming out of in and out of
his routes, Like I thought.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
He was like really good at that for his size.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
And I think about I really do think about this
Denver sequence that happened in the AFC Championship Game was
one of the worst Patriots teams that got that far.
Steven Jackson was there running back and they're trying to
win a game that they're heavy underdogs in and it's
fourth and ten. The season is over if you don't
pick up fourth and ten. Denver with a great defense.
(11:23):
You know, the no fly zone is double covering him.
They're like, we're not gonna let Gronk beat us on
this play, and he decides to just like run a go.
I think it's his option because he's like, this is
my best chance to beat them, and he catches a
forty yard catch in double coverage to keep the season going.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Then on fourth down, season.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Is absolutely on the line, like once again, and he
makes a crazy toe tapping touchdown over a receiver in
the back of the end zone to give them a
chance to win that game.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
They don't get the two point conversion. They lose by two.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
They needed that too, But it's like, that's the story
of legendary stuff that I think for me, like at
his very highest level, it's just he's just doing things
other guys never did. And that, to me is what
I'm looking for when I'm looking at these top like
when we're getting now into the elite of the elite
players at the very top of this list.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, what the guys that were Like, Man, I don't
know if we ever see that again. That's really was
And also on top of it, I know what his
persona is, but like as an on field player, he's
extremely smart. Like he's a very smart football player and
understood landmarks and you know, obviously could take tough coaching
with under Belichick and stuff. But I think also that
that's an underrated aspect with him. It was his understanding
(12:37):
of where to get to, why he's getting there. You
hear him talk some football even like the no laying
up guys, the golf podcasters, golf guys, they talk to
him about their quarterback rankings, and he actually had like
real tangible thoughts on quarterback rankings. It wasn't just like
oh yeah, he's a ball where you know, like it
was like no, no, like he actually you could tell
he's watching but you know, so it's it's something that
(13:00):
I think has also just been underrated with him. And
you said that he dropped in the draft and he's
one of those guys and this always happens when a
guy breaks out, he's the he's the number one guy.
I would say, where every or a lot of coaches
and personnel guys go. You know, Gronk was the number
one guy on my board. But you know, just you know,
(13:21):
I had medicals like we had we had gold star rankings,
which man, which guy was your guy? And he was
he was my guy that year. And it was like
he went in the second round. It wasn't like he
went twenty two, you know in the first, or twenty
six in the first. It was like he went in
the second round. So I just think he's always that
that funny. He's one of those ald timers for me
about that guy that was like, no, no, he was
(13:41):
my guy, but we had this, this and that, and
that's why we didn't take him.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Hell, even the Patriots took someone ahead of him, although
it was Devin mccorty, who had a fantastic treat. Yeah,
there's this play I remember when Jonas Gray, I think
it was during his crazy game against the Colts. This
running back for the Patriots, who had one brief shining
moment for them on a primetime game, scores a touchdown
(14:06):
and Gronk blocks one of their defensive backs, Sergio Brown,
like into the stands and he gets a penalty for it,
and I've never seen Bill Belichick and the rest of
the Patriots sort of like celebrating an unsportsman like penalty
for Gronk because it was after the play. The touchdowns
still counted, and he just enjoyed, According to Gronk, like
(14:26):
throwing him out of the club. It was feats like
that feeds like this next play, Let's look at one
last Gronk play before we move on.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
They protected Brady no section in the game for the Bears.
The spread offense continues, Brady gets.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Timed, fires, picks it to Prontowsky, fights out pots for
the touchdown.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
The priest is least Wow, It's like Danielle Mountain mounting
out there checks birth certificate.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
It really is that you mentioned, Yeah, the guy going
through puberty early. I mean for some people in Nate,
I'm speaking out of experience, that just means like shooting
up to five five and seventh grade and maybe being
like a shooting guard for one year instead of the
point moment. So it doesn't work out the same for everyone.
But that was that was the man. Rob Gronkowski and
(15:19):
Chiefs fans who aren't happy about Kelsey. Look, he got
on the list. It's an honor just to be nominated.
That's true of anyone in our entire top ten. We've
reached the top ten. Let's go number ten Durrell Revs.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
With the fourteenth pick in the two thousand and seven
NFL Draft, the New York Jets select Durrell Revis, cornerback.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
It's perfect.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Ben from the pocket has time, lobs it to the
corner of Revis with the coverage, and Revis pulls it
down one handed.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Darrell Reevis was there and Ted Dan grabbed him by
his shoulder pads and drug him out.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
You know, there's a lot of good corners in this league,
but there's only one, Durel Revis.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Let's go. Don't be afraid to be great tonight. Don't
be afraid to be great. Let's go. Yes, let's go.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
If you're a Jets fan, I guess it's safe to
say we've been through a lot together.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Thank you for believing in me and supporting me every
step of the way. You will always have a place
to stay on. Rivis Isler.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Four First Team All Pros, a member of the Hall
of Fames, All two thousand and ten's first team, the
most passes defense in the first five years of his
career by a good amount. And stats don't really define
Darrel Revis. But like Gronk, to me, at his very best,
(16:51):
I think he's the best at his position that I've
seen since covering the league.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you agree, Nate Tice?
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Yeah, yes, yes him.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I'm counting just the last twenty five years.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Ramsey.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Ramsey's up there. Woodson did not even.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Chin certain the second's going to get there, but it's
but it's yeah, but he's going to get there. I mean,
he just went dpoy. So I'm not like saying anything
outlandish here, but yeah, he's going to get there. But no, yes,
I would say he's the definitive one. Though, like Revas,
Island is a deserve nickname. Like his his reputation is
deserved because there's nobody who quite liked this. It's why
(17:28):
Rex Ryan could be Rex Ryan at the New York
Jets is because of Durell Reevas, which you can't say
that about a lot of defenders.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Yeah, speak to that.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
So Rex has talked about that two thousand and nine
season as it was happening. Since it was happening, he
was so mad that the Revas actually didn't win Defensive
Player of the Year that year. That was Charles Woodson's
crazy statistical year as kind of a safety hybrid player
for the Packers, and Woodson won it. And I remember
at the time thinking, man, it's hard to knock this
(17:58):
because Woodson had so many game changing plays, But in
that two thousand and nine season, I think it's just
a pure cover corner. I have not seen anyone else
do it like that. And I'll just go through the
players that he went against during that season, Randy Moss
two times, Terrell Owens a couple of times, Steve Smith,
Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, and none of those players Nate
(18:21):
went over thirty five yards in any of their games,
Like against Durell Reevs. You mentioned how he helped Rex
do what he did. Could you explain sort of like
what he unlocked for the rest of that defense.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Well, because Rex Ryan was bringing so I mean so
much heat, especially then, especially in that era when he
was such an outlier. Actually, a lot of what the
modern NFL does is really Rex Ryan. It rightist a
lot of it, and it's really cool to see actually,
but with Rex Ryan, it was because of what he
(18:56):
ran behind all the funky blitzes and the creepers and
simulated pressures that they call them. Is he put the
You know, the corners would be in a lot of
one on one situations. Now today you know there's some
high end corners. But I actually say I think corner
play like the standard of it. The floor of it
has risen, but the stars are still hard to find.
(19:17):
Is that defenses now go, We'll just run Cover two
behind this look. We'll run like a zone, a version
of zone behind this look. While Rex Ryan could just go, well,
we're gonna run these blitzes, and I can run any
look behind it. I don't just have to run a
safer Cover two. I can run Manda Man, I can
run Cover three. With these situations that puts a guy
(19:39):
on it creates one on one situations and good quarterbacks
and receivers. Really, especially in the NFL, it's usually called
a gash or be gash world. All right, you're gonna
blitz us. If we have the talent, or we can
block it up, or we have the dudes at quarterback
and receiver, we're going to hit a big play against you.
But against these Jets teams and why they were so
good in that era, so good that they were able
to make final four runs with weaker offenses, was that
(20:03):
they could just blitz, blitz, blitz or fake blitz and
run all these creepers simulated looks and no matter what,
they could have a revis covered the number one guy
and they didn't have to be run a more passive
look behind it. They could stay aggressive. And it's just
that's what these are the guys that we're talking about.
We just said, you just mentioned it. Hey, top ten,
top eleven, top fifteen, We're talking about real needle movers.
(20:23):
This is a skeleton key kind of player. That's what
really really good corners can do is that they just
true outside lockdown corners. Is they can let you be
aggressive because now you can really only have to cover
two and a half seconds, or if your blitz doesn't
get there, you can hold on for three three and
a half seconds. In theory, with these types of guys,
it just allows defenses to be more aggressive. And then
(20:45):
he just went with the aggressive guy and Rex Ryan
just one of those perfect marriages of player other aspects
of this team, and then the coach to kind of
wield him at that time.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, he came in talking such a big game Rex
immediately before he even had Revis for a game set. Oh,
he's the best cornerback in league. He's going to be
And he hadn't really shown that level of play yet,
but he saw the vision and yeah, and that season
thirty one passes defense and six interceptions and he gave
up forty one completions on I think it was one
hundred and eleven attempts at him, So people were trying
(21:16):
him a little bit. So if you do the math there,
you're throwing for about thirty percent when you throw it
to Revs. And these are the best wide receivers in
the league. And when you do throw it on those,
when you're completing at thirty percent of the time, there
is almost an equal chance that a guy makes a
catch as Darrell Revis touches the ball. And so that
level of total dominance, it was a demanding style of play.
(21:39):
It didn't hold up as well throughout his whole career,
but the brilliance that he had for that stretch with
the Jets and then coming back around it did contribute
to him being the top cornerback for me on that list.
He was awesome in that twenty fourteen Patriots season. So
that was like the era of the Miami Heat super team,
and that Revs pick up kind of felt like it
(22:01):
because the Patriots were knocking on the door, knocking on
the door, and they got a great Revus season in
twenty fourteen, and Malcolm Butler, you know, help deliver Durel
Revis and everyone else on that team a championship.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
It's such a hard position to sustain high level play
because it's just twitchiness. You look at any sport that
requires athleticism or just even quick twitch athleticism. It's why
kind of you look in combat sports. It's why younger fighters, sorry,
smaller fighters age quicker. It's because so much is round
on speed, and that's what outside positions are kind of
(22:38):
like in the NFL. I think Revis, if he came
into the league five years later, he would have a
even more extended career. He had a nice career, but
I'm saying he wouldn't maybe caught on for maybe two
three more years because all that zone stuff I talked about.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
I think he would have.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Been really nice in those types of systems where he
could have been like a number two. You know, a
number two corner that's you know, on your roster, You're
not really he's gonna kind of play like an above
average corner that can merely just hold his own because
you're gonna just run so many zone looks. And that
was the thing we talked about, the man the man
looks and lockdown Revis Island. His body positioning was excellent,
(23:13):
like he just knew how to position his body and
get his hands on the ball. And I think that's
just why he would would have would have aged better
if he just came into the league even a little
bit later. Like you said, it's just such a demanding
asque to just play that way, so kind of oh,
you know, actually modern comparisons Stefan Gilmore, Yes, last year
(23:33):
with Minnesota gets in a Brian Florrez defense that's a
little bit more zone heavy with all the funky looks.
I think Revis would have kind of aged that way
as well.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
The crazy thing with Revis, though, is like the rest
of the Jets would be in zone, but Revis would
just be a man. Like Rex talked about that, just like, Okay,
the rest of the team's doing one thing, and I've
got Revis. You know, as you mentioned doing something else.
Let's let's look at Darrell Revis and he might be
going up against someone else that's on this list.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
This is revs. Down here on eighty one Randy Moss,
Brady gonna go deep for Moss is Darnick and is
brought down by Moss back with the sixteen yard line.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
That's like a perfect example what I was talking about.
They've ran a blitz Jim Lendard, of course the Grex
Shran's favorite player ever, who's with the Broncos right now
gets home. Tom Brady has to throw a goball to Moss,
which usually is like guaranteed touchdown one on one. There's
the blitz Jim Leonard free one on one. It should
be what you want and turns into a pick. I mean,
(24:38):
that should be a touchdown. Like that's that's the that's
those are math changers. That that's why like Darrel Reeves
is Darrel Revas. It was like a perfect example.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
It was such a good matchup for those years because famously,
you know, Moss's first game with the Patriots, he goes
deep on Revas, who is coming off an injury at
the time, and like that's an all time touchdown for him,
and then that's an all time interception for Durell Reeves,
one of the best to do it. Let's take a
quick break, and we may just have spoiled too on
(25:07):
the other side. Back on NFL Daily's best twenty five
players in the last twenty five years, I'm getting the tingles.
(25:31):
It's all been a preamble to the real reason we
had Nate Tice on this show.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Number nine. Randy Moss.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
Farron airs it out. Guess who Moss? Another touch? Another
touch style. There are two guys covering Randy Moss and
neither guy can get in a position. And that's just embarrassing.
What's that football world? Here goes with a big ball
to Moss.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
He reels today with hot hand right revest let me.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Stay them, I go bye to and just go hurt
you and Smith's arns Moss for the first down of bard.
There goes Brandy Boss down the sideline.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
Brandy Moss on Monday Night good bounces, nude hold beeper.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Look at Randy Moll.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Touch down.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Believable head ud, believable crazy Moss flight wide to the
right for long count a.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
Ready takes ready looks Freddy Fills touch down, touchdown, Randy
Boss right open at the clear.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Side of the exel, finishing there with a go ahead
touchdown with under three minutes to go, and what I
would say was the greatest drive of Tom Brady's career.
And yet it never gets remembered because something called the
helmet catch happened a few minutes later in a game
where they had no answers. It made so much sense
(26:54):
in that two thousand and seven season that it was
Randy Moss that puts them.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Over the top.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Man, that that whole clip just brings back all the
memories like Tarrico on Monday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
That was fun.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Gus Johnson is in the mix, Randy Moss over Drell
Reeves and then obviously his days with the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Nate, Well, you were you were a ball boy back
in the day.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
What was going on? What was your experience with with
the Randy Moss era.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
It worked my perception on NFL athletes and athletes in
general for my entire life. Oh yeah, this is normal,
you know, this is this is just what you see
every day. And then realizing as I've gotten older that
I might again might not see that ever again, just
like when we talk about Gronk talking about unicorns, talking
about once in the lifetime athletes, like, that's Randy Moss
to me, uh like he I mean, he's all of six',
(27:43):
four could legitimately run a four to. Three you, know
people say below, that but legitimately a four to. Three
the greatest hands, ever the greatest ball skills. Ever also
another guy that's a football, genius believe it or, not
like really is far as just body positioning and understand the,
coverages like really really advanced level uh and just just
(28:05):
the package of all of. It and also just again
age actually okay for a minute with the forty nine
ers where he almost had like A Vince carter late
career where it was kind of his athletics isn't let
it be okay you know for a. Minute but when
you talk about that seven year, dominance you, know it's
almost Like shack like you it's just one of THE
i actually when you told me the guys that we're
gonna talk, ABOUT i thought we're gonna be a maybe
(28:26):
a chunk. Higher this guy was included At Randy moss
BECAUSE i just, OKAY i don't think it's just he's
just the once in a lifetime type. Player to, ME
i KNOW i have some biases with, that BUT i
think anyone that watched him and see, them just watch a,
game one game in that kind OF o two to
five era four era In minnesota really ninety, nine ninety
(28:48):
eight to oh. Four, yeah, yeah but really when The
randy ratio kind of, started and just watch him kind
of take over two thousand and, three watch him against
The packers in two thousand and, three and you'll just
watch a drive where it's like that first you guys,
had and that was two thousand and, three as well
As Gus farott throw him the ball against the forty
nine ers and even on that. Play we talk about
certain players changed the league as far as scheme and.
(29:10):
Everything Lawrence taylor is the famous. Example Randy moss is the.
Same like the proliferation Of cover two also helped that
THE Nflfc central featured The Tampa Bay, buccaneers But cover
two became more happened more league wide because teams, go,
well that's how we have to Stop Randy. Moss otherwise
it's singled up automatic. Touchdown but you watched that first,
place It's Gus farott backup quarterback launching a ball against cover,
(29:33):
two which should be. Impossible he should be double covered
with two guys with him with a safety that should
be over at the top of, them and he's passed.
Them so talk about math, changers just guys that break
the space time can continue them with. Football that Was Randy,
moss AND i stand by it's the greatest Athlete i'll
probably ever see in my.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
LIFE i love.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
It i'm glad you're pushing back that he should be even.
HIGHER i THINK i sent you a text at one
point WHEN i was, like it WOULD i be crazy
to Have megatron Over Randy moss because and you were, like.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
You get short with.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
You, yeah you're just. BAD i Had moss even.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
LOWER i had him twelve for, OKAY i will defend
myself at least in terms of why he's not even.
Higher and at this point they're all just so good
that you're you're splitting, Here yeah you don't count ninety
eight the, best that's fair rookie season of all time
BY i think for the era in terms of you
know the fact that he was Because pukaku's numbers are,
crazy but for the era right to get to GET mvp.
(30:31):
Votes he was third in THE mvp that. Year Randy,
moss he led the league in touchdowns as a rookie wide.
Receiver it was just stuff that you'd never seen, before
so that doesn't. Count and then he has the pop up, Seasons,
nate he has the four first Team all, pros But
i'm only counting. Three but in terms of the breadth
of as you, know the entire, career it was like
(30:52):
a little less and the other guys at other, positions
not even at wide, receiver because Ultimately Randy moss is
my highest receiver on this. LIST i thought they're incredible
excellence at the very. Top plus they added like a
sprinkling of a little a few more extra. Years but
That i'm just splitting here is you're making me talk
negatively About Randy.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Moss this is. Preposterous he's in the top.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
Ten we're in the top. TEN i know it's so
tough with all, this AND i get. It and again
WHEN I i know WHAT i, saw it was just
it's one of those just the highlight reel. Moment not even,
man now you're just make me go down memory. LANE i,
mean it's just the latter play against The. Broncos you
Know Tomoe williams again just the football genius to, him
(31:34):
the sports. Genius there's a play this would have been four
against The, saints AND i want to say it Was sunday.
Night it Was sunday and Their monday night and He
dante Made Dante culpeper throws it sixty yards into the
back corner of the end. Zone and again it Was
Randy moss beating cover two on a third and like
fifteen AND i just talked about math breakers As dante
(31:56):
throwing as far as you, Could randy running by everybody
and catches in the very very corner of the end.
Zone it's one of my favorite throws and catches. Ever
but he made that on the regular like he did
those like on a week to week basis where it
was just truly. Highlights how MANY i, MEAN i mean
anyone that owned them in fancy even the. Hots it
would be like you'd have games where even if he
got taken out of the, game, right they would find
a way for him to score in the red zone or.
(32:18):
Something because he was another fade guy that was dominant
on fades where he would have games where it'd be
like four catches twenty two yards two, touchdowns you, know
like he'd have like random games like, that like look it, Up,
oh Three week One, cowboys he had a game like.
Speaker 5 (32:32):
THAT i love that.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
You're pulling all of these just totally out of thin.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Air.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Exactly, no but it's it's it's really just one of those. Players,
AGAIN i don't think we'll see that combination of. Traits
we might see big and fast guys that can run some.
Routes we might see guys that can catch everything and be,
fast but maybe at five to. Ten it's just that
combination of, size, speed ball skills all rare and one
(32:57):
of my you, know if you want a neutral, PARTY
i said this in the draft process because we're talking
About Travis, hunter BECAUSE i Said Travis hunter's ball skills
were like a Mini Randy. Moss is That Bobby bowden said,
that you know That Deon sanders was his parameter for,
athleticism and he Said Randy moss is a Bigger Deon
sanders and, THAT i, mean come, on it's really what
(33:20):
we're talking about. Here but, yeah one of my probably
my favorite player ever probably will never be. Topped AND
i got to see a lot of cool things watching
him in practice and games up close and.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Personal there's so much about THAT i could dig. Into,
well FIRST i do want to point out BECAUSE i
was talking about like how he didn't, stack you, know
as many dominant. Seasons let's not get it like carried.
Away he's fourth all time in receiving, yards and he's
second in, Touchdowns like he has the accumulative counting. Sets
he's second in one hundred yard receiving. Game he's third
(33:52):
in like thousand yard. Seasons So King karen stinks because
he's second in home Run he has all of those numbers.
Too SO i love what you said about how he
changed the, game and THAT i think is important if
we're going to put a player this. High when he
got To New, England Bill belichick tells that story and
they're going through how things are gonna go and you know,
different And randy is just, like, well, yeah but you're
(34:14):
not gonna you're not gonna face any single high. Anymore
like that's, gone like great.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Watch, film like everyone got played them, differently.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Right he's, like don't worry about how we're going to
handle those. Defenses And belichick often said How Randy moss
taught him more than almost any.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Other player he's ever.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Coached he, said certainly the smartest receiver he's ever coached
and one of the smartest players, overall and that they
kept adding different kind of two way goes into an
option routes into how he ran because he could handle,
that and a lot of the, time a lot of
his touchdowns you saw were like he's coming inside and
(34:54):
then he breaks back out to the. Corner and that
was all like intell and sent him And Tom, brady
two geniuses being on the same. Page and if we
want to get into just like numbers, again they combine
for the greatest season ever between a quarterback and a wide.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Receiver let's let's check out a.
Speaker 7 (35:13):
Clip third down and ten for The patriots withok their
own thirty five direction nap To brady stands in the,
pocket fires it to the right down the right sideline
and caught at the twenty fifteen ten five. Touchdown Patriots Tom,
Brady Rando Randy, moss and they each have SHUT nfl
records on the go ahead touchdown sixty five yard Bomb
(35:37):
Brady demosh For Tom brady touchdown pass number, fifty AN
nfl record For randy mosh touchdown reception number twenty, three
AN nfl. Record one play bang, bang they both SET nfl.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Records it is really crazy to think about that Because
Ty warren or who was it that who Grabbed Eli
manning's jersey and can get them you, know to the
ground on that. Play like if they were able to do,
that if The patriots defense comes up big with that
lead against The, giants Then Randy moss breaks the all
(36:12):
time record and receiving touchdowns on a game winning like
huge long touchdown to go seventeen to oh to end
the regular season and they were losing that. Game it
was the Right it was like week seventeen and it
was in the fourth quarter and he breaks.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
That Network it was a big SPECIAL Nfl. Network, yeah it.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Was it was a big spot FOR Nfl network And
Brian GUMBELE i believe at the. Time and so that's
what he does in the regular, season and then he
finishes that season out by winning The Super bowl by
catching the game winning touchdown for under you, know with
under three minutes. Left and it's crazy how much differently
we would remember just that season as magical and as you,
know memorable as it is if their defense just finishes
(36:52):
out that. Play but there were so many moments like,
that and you brought up a bunch of them.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
ALREADY i love.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
It TO i, mean it's not.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
Coincidence was on the two teams that set the point,
record you, know scoring record ninety Eight vikings and then,
yeah Seven. Patriots he was a big reason because of.
That for, that it's NOW i all the memories and
again it that cover two, stories the ONE i always
come back to and like that That. BELICHICK i was
so cool for me to hear The belichick version of
(37:20):
that and The patriots version of, that because that's WHAT
i would Hear Scott lenehan and my dad talking about
In minnesota was that like they couldn't like they couldn't
use film from previous weeks because nobody was playing cover
to every. Snap and if you look again the gravity of,
this there's a couple of receivers that get this now Justin,
jefferson which is. Fun you know Another viking gets this
(37:43):
treatment as. Well but if you look, too is Those
vikings teams had awesome run. Games is because and that
is something again changing the. Math so it's just not
only his, stats it's how he made everyone else's lives.
Easier if you're drawing double, coverage that means everyone else
gets singled. Up Jermaine wiggins had his career year With
Randy moss In. Minnesota, yeah Former patriot as.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Well, yes was there Some Meelde, Moore Randy.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Musk they were kind of like the Two Twin towers
though they were really setting each other.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
UP i feel like And Nate burson in.
Speaker 4 (38:12):
There yeah, no but, no you well Theymore, no but
that was actually a big because that would they would get,
Sorry i'm just you're just making me your rant, now
but it's. Uh they would get all the cover, too
and the running back would be isoed up on like
some big linebacker with a neck. Roll so they had
all these receiving running backs that were able to just.
Win Ontario smith was the other guy that would just
win these one on. Ones it would just be, cheating you,
(38:33):
know just a little one on one matchups Because Randy
moss was taking so much.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Coverage, yeah but let's.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Look at one more fun highlight from The vikings, era
which is remembered for a variety of.
Speaker 6 (38:43):
Reasons moss for a, touchdown Oh Elan harris playing all
bien up on the route And Randy, moss without even
really being able to run as a shoots the moon
to the.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Fans here In Green.
Speaker 5 (39:02):
Bay that is a disgusting act By Randy, moss and
it's unfortunate that we had that on our ear.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
Live that is.
Speaker 5 (39:11):
Disgusting let's get back to the, Play.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Randy great job by the way By chris And.
Speaker 1 (39:18):
Troy what a booth by the, Way Joe, Buck, Wow
Chris collinsworth And Troy Aikman uh Collins drith just rips
out shoot the moon in the middle of a. Sentence very,
Naturally buck cuts him, off and Then troy's just you
could tell that the Stated troy's voice is kind of
like calm, down, buddy and was, like all, right let's
get back to the.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Play What abouty's, Right troy's.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Right that wasn't called in the.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Huddle it was a it was a run, play and
once again The packers had Brand man coverage and it
was just a signal From Pepper culpepper to To. Randy
and if you even watch on, it they're not pass.
Blocking everyone's run. Blocking and so he just skirts out
to the, ring just throws. It but, yeah, Again math
changer and that was on the high ankle sprain as. Well,
(40:02):
yeah so shooting them and then that's Also, god you
just made me just rattle off this like nostalgia for.
Me so he also knows THE. Afro, yeah that Was
Kelly campbell And aprils And randy and a couple other
guys With Jermaine, wiggins and The afros stood For america's
finance receivers On sunday Or saturday.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Because there's a game to play On. Saturday, yeah just
a little little little, aughts BUT i love.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
THAT i can just what was it like for a
little Uh nate tice? There, yes for listeners that aren't,
aware your father might coach the team from two thousand
and one to two thousand and. FIVE a lot of
offense in that, time.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
Ye carnival, Teams, yeah a lot of. Points and again
that's WHAT i thought was. NORMAL i thought playing in
The dome was. NORMAL i grew up in The kingdome
in The Metro, dome so those were The, YEAH i
thought that was the HOW i thought you multi use
stadiums was normal as, Well but, yeah, no but it.
Was it was. AWESOME i got to see a lot
of cool players a lot of cool, offenses a very
(40:59):
fun division, too and very fun period of THE. Nfl
we've talked about this off, air but it was it
was just a WHEN i went to thirty two. Teams
it was right when my dad became a full time
head coach in two thousand and, two and that felt
like a transitioning of aras you, know and then probably
Another rett transition after. That but like right that point in,
time it was defenses were, changing offenses were, changing getting
a little bit more wide open again, there you, know
(41:21):
it wasn't just as run, Heavy SO i thought it
was a very cool time. Period it was very fun,
though but Those minnesota teams were a little, wild a little,
wild you, know like you, know lax character. Rules was
the moneyball.
Speaker 1 (41:36):
Was involved and that, place that, place that play we
just saw actually INSPIRED i had forgotten this that that
was the play that inspired the famous quote From Randy
moss when they asked him in the parking lot.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
How he was great cash.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Homing he was gonna pay for the fine straight, cash.
Homie let's go. It let's go to our next, player number.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
Eight Ray lewis good protection.
Speaker 5 (42:05):
Here shut by loss And lewis is on his, Way
he's hard to go touch.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
On you, know he is the best tackler in the
league as far As i'm. Concerned when he gets his
hands on, you you can forget.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
It you are going down WHEN i step on the
field and he's on the. Field as to prove to
these people That i'm the. Best you, know when you
talk About i'm in a lineback WHEN i step on the,
FIELD i want to make sure WHEN i walk off.
It you know you just seen.
Speaker 5 (42:32):
It Here's lewis playing on special. Teams, Oh i'll tell
you that's worth the worse of the. Pull that's where
the looser is your.
Speaker 3 (42:40):
Teeth this sole. Entertainment come put me, here, good y'all.
Speaker 1 (42:44):
Entertainment ray lewis the highest h off ball linebacker on this.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
List we Had Luke.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Keikley they're at, fourteen but Ultimately ray gets the top
spot all time tackler seven first Team All, pro which
is just. Outrageous he kind of had that peak early
in his, career and then he tacked on this period
FROM oah nine to like ten where he suddenly was
popping off.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Again Two Defensive player of The year.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Votes very few players IN nfl history have ever gotten
that two more, seasons by the, way where he got
some SOME mvp, votes three more where he Got Defensive
player of The year. Vote so for a long, time
Ray lewis was looked at like not just at the
best at his, position but as just one of the
best players in THE. Nfl what what stands out to
(43:34):
you first when you think about Ray lewis.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Kind of like the first modern linebacker as far as, coverage,
blitzing run, ability was big enough to stop the run as,
well can run sideline the. Sideline bike also has the
intelligence and just, understanding you, know defensive calls as. Well
kind of that total. PACKAGE i feel like before, that
because of what THE nfl, was it was so run.
(43:57):
Heavy you, know some run and shoot stuff was coming,
around but most linebackers had the neck. Role there were
big thumpers that had to take on. Fullbacks Ray lewis
felt like a linebacker that was meant to cover single back.
Offenses and maybe there's others in this, era but he was, Like,
okay this is the prototype that everyone else is. Chasing
and then again another guy that it's where is it the?
(44:18):
Scheme it's where the scheme and the and the player
unlock each other where he is helping the scheme out
because he can do so. Much he can. Cover that's
the thing that stands out with. ME i just keep
coming back to is that he could cover Like Derek
brooks would be another linebacker like this at this, time
that was, Like, okay this is a coverage linebacker that
can but also do other. Things but Ray lewis was
(44:39):
thick enough to you, know stop a guy right at
the lion of scrimmage as well and live in the
box as. Well wasn't just a big. Stiff so that
that's where we're talking about these needle, movers game, changers,
math math, changers whatever you want to. Say and Ray
lewis felt like the new prototype for you, know the
two thousands when he was kind of becoming hitting his
prime and even though he hit it maybe a or
(44:59):
two before The, haughts but really just once he was
into the two, thousands it's like he was the dude
at that.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
POSITION i love you starting with that, point because you,
know WHEN i went back to kind of read About
lewis's career as part of doing this and talk about his,
career more than one player kind of pointed that. Out, Exactly,
nate that he almost straddled too Airis so if you
think about the peak of Ray lewis's, career and he
(45:28):
might not be in the top ten or even beyond
this list if it hadn't worked out that that year
where he Wins Defensive player of The year and wins
The Super BOWL, mvp which is just something that's that's
like an all time year that happened to be two.
Thousand so he just made the. Cutoff but if you
think about how great he, was then in the beginning
(45:48):
part of this, career who is he shutting?
Speaker 2 (45:50):
Down he's shutting Down.
Speaker 1 (45:52):
Jerome bettis And Eddie george And Fred. Taylor like those
matchups Against Eddie george were epic and that was what
made him. Great and then when you start to think
about the back half of his, career it really was
the versatility and the. Coverage so many of his best
plays when you're looking at his, highlights are just fooling,
(46:14):
quarterbacks making quarterbacks look, Stupid AND i think that that
gets lost.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
When you talk about Ray.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
Lewis Mike nolan was one of his, Coaches, nate and
he mentioned that he Was Lawrence taylor's coach and this
is a hot, take But Mike nolan said he thinks
Ray lewis is the best defensive player ever because the
difference is there was no escaping. Him you could not
run away from. Him you could Have Lawrence taylor on
the edge or other great edge defenders, ever but there
(46:44):
was no play where you could. Escape kind of the
matrix of Ray, lewis whether it was run, left run,
center run, right pass, left pass, center pass, right obviously
you can throw over the top of his. Head but
it's true in a way that he impacted the game
on a down to down basis like few other defensive.
Speaker 4 (47:00):
Players when the kind Of West coast offense went from you,
know every it went from Just Bill walsh Or Bill
walsh was the proliferator of it to like more commonplace
in the.
Speaker 3 (47:11):
Nineties.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
Uh, really the the crux of the passing game of
The West coast offense is get these big linebackers on
an island against our fast running backs right and make
them cover over and over and over and oh oh,
wow all of a, sudden we all these receiving backs
making all these.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
Catches it's.
Speaker 4 (47:29):
Great that's where Ray lewis kind of like stop that
like where it's just like that doesn't become just a
clear advantage if you all the common THEME i think
just getting through all these guys and this one we're
talking about these needle, movers is these are the guys
that create. Matchups they create wins no matter who they go,
against which is the sign of a great. Player even
when you're scouting a, guy it usually is what can
they do? Consistently who can they beat? Consistently not every,
(47:52):
time just, Consistently and and Ray lewis or these elite
guys that we're talking, about it's, like, well it doesn't
matter the matchup there consistently and then that's the sign
of a great. Player AND i was just even as
as you were saying his first year or the first
year of this millennium two, thousand you, know Ray lewis
was listed like two thirty. FIVE i think he came
(48:13):
into the league at the other all pro linebackers are
Like Jeremiah. Trotter Jeremiah trotter was listed at two sixty. Two,
Okay so just talking about the other guys of this.
Era Sam cowart for The bills listed at two forty,
Eight Stephen boyd of The lions listed at to forty
seven six foot two, percent so all these like just,
(48:35):
hammerheads big, guys big. Bodies Ray lewis was, athletic but
like your point was. Perfect he bridged the two eras
that was this time period that was the late nineties
into the two, thousands which was BRIDGING i, formation Early west,
coastuff now getting into a little bit more, spread more
single back stuff throughout the, league more two tight, ends
(48:55):
more three, receivers but it's a linebacker that can stay
on the field all three. Down it was so commonplace
at this time period to have the true true because
remember two defenses were signaling to go. True this is
our base down defense and this is our late down,
defense our nickel. Defense you, know nickel wasn't as common
as it was, now but back then it was linebackers
(49:15):
would just fully get swapped off where it was, like,
okay this is and now that becomes such a tell
that offenses are, like oh we'll pick on. That we
know which looks you're getting. To but Ray lewis felt
like one of these linebackers where it's LIKE i could
be on the, LOOK i could be on the field
no matter, What Like Mike nolan's alluding, to like he
can just impact the game in all those. Ways so,
yeah it's just it's so much fun to talk about
(49:36):
all these guys BECAUSE i feel Like i'm repeating myself
a little, bit but that's what these guys.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
Were, well, yeah we're at this part of the list,
especially and they're the best at their very positions and
they helped change their.
Speaker 2 (49:47):
Position and you think about him.
Speaker 1 (49:48):
Too he's the only Player and it's a weird stat
for him BECAUSE i mentioned how he's like the all
time leaning tackler and. Everything he's the only player IN
nfl history with forty sacks and thirty. Interceptions you don't
necessarily think of him like first as a blitzer or in,
coverage ALTHOUGH i think you should in, coverage but to
combine those sort of big plays at multiple. Levels and,
(50:10):
yeah he got drafted in ninety, six so it's tricky
like him And.
Speaker 2 (50:14):
Ogden ogden't in the, end didn't.
Speaker 1 (50:15):
Make this list because his best part of his career
was early and Ray lewis did make two second Team all,
pros even got Some Defensive player of The year votes
before two thousand and a first Team All, pro but
even after two. Thousand it's another five or six first
teams and another second, team and he's just racking up.
Plays and to, me he kind of defines that. Position
(50:38):
it's a position where it's a tough spot to. Make for,
instance THE nfl one hundred all time, team and he
was an obvious guy to be on. It let's listen
To Bill. Belichick, actually as part of THAT nfl one hundred.
Speaker 2 (50:51):
Broadcast you could.
Speaker 8 (50:52):
Play a, run you could play the, past you could
blitz if you had great instincts to handle the defense
and you you knew your team, well you knew what
they could, do and you certainly knew the opponents, well
and he knew how to defend what they tried to.
Do so it's obvious that your preparation paid.
Speaker 3 (51:14):
Off let me deal with.
Speaker 5 (51:15):
The pump and. Go that's Why i'm stin' ohigh on.
Speaker 2 (51:18):
That but he got to play.
Speaker 6 (51:19):
That remember when Playing, brady it's a test mat what what?
Speaker 1 (51:24):
What?
Speaker 6 (51:25):
So?
Speaker 2 (51:26):
What?
Speaker 8 (51:26):
Yeah WHAT i hated playing against.
Speaker 5 (51:29):
YOU i hated playing against.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
You. Uh that Was Ray lewis And Tom brady and
the second to last clip there going what what back
and forth to each. Other In, belichick who loves to to,
uh you, know include himself in the history because he.
Should uh points out to Ray lewis in that conversation
and they're looking at each other's in the. EYES i,
mean it is. Intense as he's telling him what a
great player. Is he points out that Actually belichick made
(51:53):
the trade for the extra first the year before he
got fired In, cleveland so they had that extra first sitting.
There because Of Bill, belichick he was not, around uh
to see them take Ray, lewis and that is an amazing,
uh just crossing of.
Speaker 2 (52:09):
Pasts it would have been cool to See belichick coach Ray.
Speaker 4 (52:11):
Lewis but the other side of that is because Of
Bill belichick there in position to Take Jonathan ogen right.
Speaker 1 (52:20):
RIGHT i will speak For belichick, here and because Of Art,
modell they were in. Position As belichick likes to point,
out it's not great for your season when you announced
the team is moving halfway halfway through the year and
you got you got you, know fans.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
Ripped ripping up. Seats it's not.
Speaker 3 (52:39):
Great.
Speaker 1 (52:40):
Uh Mike singletary had a quote WHEN i was looking
up to and he he coached Ray. LEWIS i don't
know if you remember that that he was a position
coach back, then AND i love it when all time
greats give up the flowers to other similar.
Speaker 2 (52:52):
Ones and and.
Speaker 1 (52:53):
He In singletary, says, YEAH i see the, comparison like
he always got compared To, singletary but he's, Like ray is.
Better and he said he Thought ray is better physically and.
Mentally And Shannon sharp had a quote AND i think
this has to be said when talking About Ray, lewis
he thought he's the greatest leader in the history of team.
Sports Rod woodson, said who had been around and been
(53:15):
on a lot of different teams, too said, Like i've
never been a teammate with someone with that was such
a giant force of personality that he truly dragged all.
Speaker 2 (53:26):
Of us with.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
Him and when he's talking about, us he's talking about
Like hall Of fame guys like. Himself that he's never
been around someone that was able to like just collectively
bring up the energy of every single person around. Him
AND i think that is part of the reason why
WHY i put him, here that that sort of consistency
over a career like, THAT i give him a little
(53:47):
extra bump them.
Speaker 3 (53:48):
Up a few. Spots, yeah a moss, over but the, YEAH.
Speaker 2 (53:53):
I know you.
Speaker 1 (53:53):
Would this is What i'm gonna do, Now, nate every
single rest of the guy on the. List i'm gonna be,
like SHOULD i have Put Randy moss? Over like maybe
MAYBE i agree with.
Speaker 4 (54:01):
You either, WAY i gotta see who comes in IRE
i got, it and Then i'll probably be, like oh,
yeah oh, yeah.
Speaker 2 (54:08):
A lot of. Quarterbacks we have a lot of.
Speaker 4 (54:10):
Quarterbacks, Yeah AND i totally get. That No in Ray lewis.
TOO i know we're talking about pros and two. Thousands
it's like he's he's THE u like the my he
Epitomizes miami as, well just that competitive nature as. Well but,
Yeah i'm glad he brought that. Up the leadership stuff as,
well like that has to be. Said and again epitomizes
what That ravens, defense WHICH i is always gonna be
(54:32):
in my brain as like WHAT i thought was the
more most, fearful scariest, Defenses those two Thousands ravens, defenses
those are the ones in my brain as they are the.
Speaker 1 (54:41):
Bar two Thousand ravens is the best defense of my.
Speaker 2 (54:45):
LIFETIME i, mean.
Speaker 4 (54:46):
Dominant you they snuffed out. Everybody it was just it
was it was.
Speaker 2 (54:50):
Ridiculous was it was a different era in a, way
and they.
Speaker 1 (54:54):
HELPED i THINK i think some of the rule changes
were partly because of like how good The ravens and
The bucks follow them up. Were but yeah that they
are the absolute, best and SO i love Having Ray
lewis as a representative uh for.
Speaker 2 (55:08):
Them, nate you did.
Speaker 1 (55:09):
IT i hope you know your daughter has not woken
up from her nap. Yet AND i appreciate you taking
the time to take a trip down memory.
Speaker 3 (55:19):
Lane thank, you, Fun thank you for letting me your.
Speaker 4 (55:22):
RANT i felt like a comedian getting the red light
during The Randy moss.
Speaker 2 (55:27):
Segment, no not at.
Speaker 5 (55:28):
ALL i.
Speaker 2 (55:29):
COULD i could keep going to. Me WHAT i found
with this is LIKE i could do a whole.
Speaker 1 (55:34):
EPISODE i could do a whole episode On Randy moss
or any of these.
Speaker 4 (55:38):
Guys that's how it. Goes but thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (55:43):
Me our next episode will be the fifth edition OF
Nfl dailies twenty five players in twenty five, years and
we will be joined by the legendary play by play
Announcer Kevin. Harlan he will help us cover players seven through,
four and hopefully somewhere Knight tis will be listening and
(56:03):
being angry That Randy moss wasn't ranked over, them
Welcome to NFL Daily's Top twenty five players of the
last twenty five years. This is the big six part
series where we break down the best players of the century.
So far, we're made it all the way to episode four,
and that means we're gonna hit the top ten in
this episode. And when I was thinking of who could
(00:23):
come on during this series, one name kept coming back
to me. And even though he just had a baby,
I said, Nate Tice, can you break your paternity leave
to come on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I felt really bad.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I didn't know that when I first asked you, But
you just wanted to talk ball. We've got some personal
connections on this show, and so I'm really so excited
that Nate Tice of Yahoo's Sports check out his football podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Three to zho one, you're with us today. We're gonna
have some fun.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
No, you threw some nice bait in the water to
get me on this one.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Like it was not only just the one that I
definitely have a connection you to the others that we're
talking about were also like, yeah, yeah, twist my arm
to talk about these players.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
So happy to be here. Thanks for It's all good.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
I got enough sleep to be able to talk about
these players, to try and remember my childhood a little bit.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
With some of these I know, I knew, so I wanted,
like Baldy is a perfect guess. He was just on
because he's covered the league the whole time. So I
was thinking about guys like that, like Steve Weiss, Kevin Harlan,
guys like that too. But I knew that even when
Nate Tice was a wee lad, he was following this
like it was his freaking job. So I can't wait
to talk about these players. Let's go to our first
(01:33):
one of the day, number eleven.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Rob Ronkowski from.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
The Rams thirty one shotgun staff to Brady's dropping back
lobs would throw four.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Ronkowski left side makes the.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Catch over two different nurse.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Tumbling to the two and it's.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
A twenty nine.
Speaker 7 (01:48):
You strike to the big boy, his favorite tight end,
the old world tight end.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
What a catch. It's just crunch time.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
When it's crunch time, Tom loves to throw.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Me in the ball and I love to make that players.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
The staff out of the gun actually fake passed up
got Kowski.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
He's gonna score a touchdown.
Speaker 7 (02:03):
Touchdown Tama Bay Holy Groncaboli he breaks the record. He's
got his twenty third touchdown of the postseason from Tom Brady.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Rob does things that wide receivers do, makes the grab
at the forty, Rob.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Those things that tight ends do, and Rob does things
that Pulmington lineman.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Do, breakhead's kin to the zone.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Actually, Okay, you're kidding me.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
What an amazing catch by Ronkowsk gets the play of
the year, the play of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Unbelievable follow if you catch it.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah. I love that clip of Tom Brady miked up
asking what a lot of us would ask of Rob
Gronkowski throughout his scarer, like how did you do that?
A player like no other number eleven on our list,
the number one tight end on the list. And Nate,
I'll start with how we started that clip, because his
last moment as a Patriot before he quote unquote retired
(02:57):
the first time was essentially make the biggest play and
winning a super Bowl, And just the game before that,
he walked the Chiefs down the field to help get
to that Super Bowl. And I think of the conference
championship game against the Broncos when they didn't have much
and he's just carrying them to almost force overtime in
(03:19):
that game. And it's funny you think of all the
things and we'll get into the versatility and what made
him great, but his ability there and you saw the
Bucks play too. He led the Bucks and receiving in
that game, in a game with Mike Evans and Chris
Godwin and Antonio Brown, like he led the Bucks. He
had two touchdowns, he led them in receiving two, so
coming through in the biggest of moments. And to me,
(03:39):
this is a list about the highest level of excellence
when they were at their best, and that to me
is Rob Gonkowski.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
One of the most dominant players in the NFL history
at any position. And probably I'm glad you said he's
the number one tight end on this list, which I
agree with. I think he is the best tight end
of all time. And I'm including players that are still playing.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Maybe he shouldn't even be higher than number eleven on
this list, but I like to think I like you
backing me up.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yes, just absolutely dominance and not only just like oh
eye test stuff, just their statistical stuff, you know, the
scoring in his second year. I believe it was all
the touchdowns that he had, the yack that he had
he was throwing guys off of him. I always thought
that Gronk was kind of looked like the kid that
hte puberty puberty early in Little league and kind of
was just being able to throw everybody off because he
(04:25):
was so much bigger and stronger than everybody else. Like
the only blemish on his entire career was that Miami
Hail Mary play.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Oh, come on, he's on defense. That's not his fault.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
That's the only one I have in his career. But
one of the most dominant players. You even hinted at
the versatility like this guy. And in the video of
the clips, they said that right there, he's catching fade balls,
fade touchdowns, which were automatic, it felt like, and it
wasn't you know, the other tight end at that time
that was doing that was what Jimmy Graham. You know,
he was catching fade balls. And most people hate faith
(04:56):
faith throw, so I get it. But when you have
that automatic answered, they're great, Like it's really nice to
have when you can just get him about eighty percent
of the time. But the thing with Gronk, you know,
Jimmy Graham was a glorified receiver that wanted to be
called a receiver. Actually Gronk was a blocker, that was
what they said too, And Mike not just like, oh,
he was pretty good a I was, like, no, an
absolute one of the best blocking tight ends ever on
(05:19):
top of being one of the best receiving tight ends ever,
probably one of the most dominant as well. So he
was a complete package and probably just one of the
best players at his peak compared to his peers, like ever,
I think.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, you mentioned the second season he had thirteen hundred yards,
ninety catches, seventeen touchdowns, and you know, he was always
a touchdown maker, by far the leader in touchdowns throughout
his career compared to other tight ends, just like far
and away and still And it's crazy when you have
an all time rate stat like this over some of
the guys back in the day when the game was
(05:50):
just different, but by far the leaders and yards per
catch of a tight end. So you think efficiency, like
he managed to catch fifteen yards per catch his entire career, Nate,
So you don't quite like, I don't think people immediately
think of Gronk as a big play maker, and I
want to get to the blocking and everything, But when
you think of the efficiency of red zone, big plays
(06:13):
and the fact that he didn't go out for as
many routes necessarily as some of the other tight ends
because he was in blocking and obviously very valuable, more
valuable as a run blocker. It's just next level. And
we spent a lot of the episode. Travis Kelce was
twenty five on this list. Nate and so Mina and
I spent a decent amount of time kind of comparing,
and for me, this list is more about how great
(06:36):
you were at your greatest, and obviously you have to
have some longevity. Rob Gronkowski had that, and to me,
it's not that close because of that versatility, the way
and you can maybe explain this better than me as
a real film guy, like the way that he tilted
defenses because of the run pass option, because of how
(06:56):
good he was as a blocker, Like what did he
do to the opposition.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Like the guys that change the math or make the
opposing team honor them. I think anybody who watch the
NBA playoffs kind of feels this sometimes where you're like
one guy's getting picked on over and over and over,
or one guy you know on defense or offense, and
then the NFL that's what it is week to week,
not saying other sports aren't. You can just see it
more hyper focused in the playoffs. But in the NFL,
(07:21):
Gronk's on the field as opposed to other tight ends,
especially since about this time to now, they're more what
we call receiving tight ends f's h's guys that are
off the ball or split out, maybe as Sam Laporta
is a guy that comes to mind, But you do
not want Sam laport at the point of attack. As
a defense, I can treat Sam Laporta or less as
a receiver, just a big receiver. He is a passketcher,
(07:44):
but I'm just going, yeah, he's a receiver to us.
So that changes the defensive looks, That changes what they
can throw at you. And there's some good there's a
lot of bad to that. There could be some good
to that you can take advantage of it if you
can get an offensive coordinator like Ben Johnson. But I
would just say that that is just what It makes
it harder on play callers and play designers because there's
some limitations with Gronk. You can literally do anything. You
(08:07):
can split him out one on one, you can attach
him next to a tackle, you can run behind him.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
You do not have to hide him in the run game.
You're actually using him as.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
The point of attack, and that in itself is usually
a Guys that can do that aren't really great receivers.
Guys like Josh Oliver right now, who's like a fine receiver.
But Gronk was the best receiver. So it's just that's that.
I actually think Travis Kelcey at twenty five is like
a tad low But you but you mentioned the fifteen
yards are per catch in his career. Kelsey never hit
(08:36):
that mark ever in a season. You know, like like
the highest that Kelsey ever had is thirteen point five and.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Twenty you're saying Kelsey shouldn't be on the list, or
he should.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Be no, should be higher.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
It's tough when you see these games. They're the only
they're the only two tight ends. I mean that he's
jumping over a guy like these are the quality of
players you're jumping over. Though, It's like Walter Jones and oh,
you know, like this list is outraged, you know, Interrell
Owens and players like like that Lamar Jackson statement. You know,
(09:06):
just look at the list first. But yeah, that versatility
is the difference of why he's that high to me, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Why Yeah, he's the why tight end.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
No, but it's there's I talked about rarity at a
position like you're never it's gonna be. I don't think
we ever see a guy at this level that can
do both things this well, truly be a lead blocking
and an elite receiver and not just like, oh, he's
good hands and he's a number two, number three, he's like, no,
he was the guy of a passing attack and in
the red zone.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
It's just one of he's a unicorn player. It's just
one of those.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
I wish he was always healthy and stuff and we
always just got to see the true true of all
of it. But man, the flashes are just the sustained
flashes have been amazing.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Yeah, it's fair to point out twenty twelve, twenty thirteen,
like what would have been right in the prime of
his career, suffered through some injuries and you know, didn't
stay on the field as much, but then he did
bounce back. He ultimately had about seven seasons where he
was on the field almost the entire time, and those seasons,
like every almost every one of them, he was first
(10:05):
team All Pro and It's interesting to think about the
different eras of Gronk because when he comes into the
league twenty ten, he's a what six to six tight end,
just a monster two hundred and sixty four pounds, and
you would think he would be like a high draftic.
And yeah, he had some back injuries, but that wasn't
the only reason he got drafted low. Like people weren't
sure if you go look at the NFL dot com
(10:26):
profile Nate, they were like, is he really explosive enough?
Like is he a good enough route runner like to
be an explosive guy. He got taken seventeen spots Nate,
behind Tim Tebow. And I'm glad you pointed out the
hands because to me that that stands out to me,
like he could go pick up a Tom Brady almost
(10:47):
a groundball missile and just grab it off the turf.
In addition to catching those fade balls that you mentioned,
he was good coming out of in and out of
his routes, Like I thought.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
He was like really good at that for his size.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
And I think about I really do think about this
Denver sequence that happened in the AFC Championship Game was
one of the worst Patriots teams that got that far.
Steven Jackson was there running back and they're trying to
win a game that they're heavy underdogs in and it's
fourth and ten. The season is over if you don't
pick up fourth and ten. Denver with a great defense.
(11:23):
You know, the no fly zone is double covering him.
They're like, we're not gonna let Gronk beat us on
this play, and he decides to just like run a go.
I think it's his option because he's like, this is
my best chance to beat them, and he catches a
forty yard catch in double coverage to keep the season going.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Then on fourth down, season.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Is absolutely on the line, like once again, and he
makes a crazy toe tapping touchdown over a receiver in
the back of the end zone to give them a
chance to win that game.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
They don't get the two point conversion. They lose by two.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
They needed that too, But it's like, that's the story
of legendary stuff that I think for me, like at
his very highest level, it's just he's just doing things
other guys never did. And that, to me is what
I'm looking for when I'm looking at these top like
when we're getting now into the elite of the elite
players at the very top of this list.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, what the guys that were Like, Man, I don't
know if we ever see that again. That's really was
And also on top of it, I know what his
persona is, but like as an on field player, he's
extremely smart. Like he's a very smart football player and
understood landmarks and you know, obviously could take tough coaching
with under Belichick and stuff. But I think also that
that's an underrated aspect with him. It was his understanding
(12:37):
of where to get to, why he's getting there. You
hear him talk some football even like the no laying
up guys, the golf podcasters, golf guys, they talk to
him about their quarterback rankings, and he actually had like
real tangible thoughts on quarterback rankings. It wasn't just like
oh yeah, he's a ball where you know, like it
was like no, no, like he actually you could tell
he's watching but you know, so it's it's something that
(13:00):
I think has also just been underrated with him. And
you said that he dropped in the draft and he's
one of those guys and this always happens when a
guy breaks out, he's the he's the number one guy.
I would say, where every or a lot of coaches
and personnel guys go. You know, Gronk was the number
one guy on my board. But you know, just you know,
(13:21):
I had medicals like we had we had gold star rankings,
which man, which guy was your guy? And he was
he was my guy that year. And it was like
he went in the second round. It wasn't like he
went twenty two, you know in the first, or twenty
six in the first. It was like he went in
the second round. So I just think he's always that
that funny. He's one of those ald timers for me
about that guy that was like, no, no, he was
(13:41):
my guy, but we had this, this and that, and
that's why we didn't take him.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Hell, even the Patriots took someone ahead of him, although
it was Devin mccorty, who had a fantastic treat. Yeah,
there's this play I remember when Jonas Gray, I think
it was during his crazy game against the Colts. This
running back for the Patriots, who had one brief shining
moment for them on a primetime game, scores a touchdown
(14:06):
and Gronk blocks one of their defensive backs, Sergio Brown,
like into the stands and he gets a penalty for it,
and I've never seen Bill Belichick and the rest of
the Patriots sort of like celebrating an unsportsman like penalty
for Gronk because it was after the play. The touchdowns
still counted, and he just enjoyed, According to Gronk, like
(14:26):
throwing him out of the club. It was feats like
that feeds like this next play, Let's look at one
last Gronk play before we move on.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
They protected Brady no section in the game for the Bears.
The spread offense continues, Brady gets.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Timed, fires, picks it to Prontowsky, fights out pots for
the touchdown.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
The priest is least Wow, It's like Danielle Mountain mounting
out there checks birth certificate.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
It really is that you mentioned, Yeah, the guy going
through puberty early. I mean for some people in Nate,
I'm speaking out of experience, that just means like shooting
up to five five and seventh grade and maybe being
like a shooting guard for one year instead of the
point moment. So it doesn't work out the same for everyone.
But that was that was the man. Rob Gronkowski and
(15:19):
Chiefs fans who aren't happy about Kelsey. Look, he got
on the list. It's an honor just to be nominated.
That's true of anyone in our entire top ten. We've
reached the top ten. Let's go number ten Durrell Revs.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
With the fourteenth pick in the two thousand and seven
NFL Draft, the New York Jets select Durrell Revis, cornerback.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
It's perfect.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Ben from the pocket has time, lobs it to the
corner of Revis with the coverage, and Revis pulls it
down one handed.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Darrell Reevis was there and Ted Dan grabbed him by
his shoulder pads and drug him out.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
You know, there's a lot of good corners in this league,
but there's only one, Durel Revis.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Let's go. Don't be afraid to be great tonight. Don't
be afraid to be great. Let's go. Yes, let's go.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
If you're a Jets fan, I guess it's safe to
say we've been through a lot together.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Thank you for believing in me and supporting me every
step of the way. You will always have a place
to stay on. Rivis Isler.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Four First Team All Pros, a member of the Hall
of Fames, All two thousand and ten's first team, the
most passes defense in the first five years of his
career by a good amount. And stats don't really define
Darrel Revis. But like Gronk, to me, at his very best,
(16:51):
I think he's the best at his position that I've
seen since covering the league.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you agree, Nate Tice?
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Yeah, yes, yes him.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I'm counting just the last twenty five years.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Ramsey.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Ramsey's up there. Woodson did not even.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Chin certain the second's going to get there, but it's
but it's yeah, but he's going to get there. I mean,
he just went dpoy. So I'm not like saying anything
outlandish here, but yeah, he's going to get there. But no, yes,
I would say he's the definitive one. Though, like Revas,
Island is a deserve nickname. Like his his reputation is
deserved because there's nobody who quite liked this. It's why
(17:28):
Rex Ryan could be Rex Ryan at the New York
Jets is because of Durell Reevas, which you can't say
that about a lot of defenders.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Yeah, speak to that.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
So Rex has talked about that two thousand and nine
season as it was happening. Since it was happening, he
was so mad that the Revas actually didn't win Defensive
Player of the Year that year. That was Charles Woodson's
crazy statistical year as kind of a safety hybrid player
for the Packers, and Woodson won it. And I remember
at the time thinking, man, it's hard to knock this
(17:58):
because Woodson had so many game changing plays, But in
that two thousand and nine season, I think it's just
a pure cover corner. I have not seen anyone else
do it like that. And I'll just go through the
players that he went against during that season, Randy Moss
two times, Terrell Owens a couple of times, Steve Smith,
Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, and none of those players Nate
(18:21):
went over thirty five yards in any of their games,
Like against Durell Reevs. You mentioned how he helped Rex
do what he did. Could you explain sort of like
what he unlocked for the rest of that defense.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Well, because Rex Ryan was bringing so I mean so
much heat, especially then, especially in that era when he
was such an outlier. Actually, a lot of what the
modern NFL does is really Rex Ryan. It rightist a
lot of it, and it's really cool to see actually,
but with Rex Ryan, it was because of what he
(18:56):
ran behind all the funky blitzes and the creepers and
simulated pressures that they call them. Is he put the
You know, the corners would be in a lot of
one on one situations. Now today you know there's some
high end corners. But I actually say I think corner
play like the standard of it. The floor of it
has risen, but the stars are still hard to find.
(19:17):
Is that defenses now go, We'll just run Cover two
behind this look. We'll run like a zone, a version
of zone behind this look. While Rex Ryan could just go, well,
we're gonna run these blitzes, and I can run any
look behind it. I don't just have to run a
safer Cover two. I can run Manda Man, I can
run Cover three. With these situations that puts a guy
(19:39):
on it creates one on one situations and good quarterbacks
and receivers. Really, especially in the NFL, it's usually called
a gash or be gash world. All right, you're gonna
blitz us. If we have the talent, or we can
block it up, or we have the dudes at quarterback
and receiver, we're going to hit a big play against you.
But against these Jets teams and why they were so
good in that era, so good that they were able
to make final four runs with weaker offenses, was that
(20:03):
they could just blitz, blitz, blitz or fake blitz and
run all these creepers simulated looks and no matter what,
they could have a revis covered the number one guy
and they didn't have to be run a more passive
look behind it. They could stay aggressive. And it's just
that's what these are the guys that we're talking about.
We just said, you just mentioned it. Hey, top ten,
top eleven, top fifteen, We're talking about real needle movers.
(20:23):
This is a skeleton key kind of player. That's what
really really good corners can do is that they just
true outside lockdown corners. Is they can let you be
aggressive because now you can really only have to cover
two and a half seconds, or if your blitz doesn't
get there, you can hold on for three three and
a half seconds. In theory, with these types of guys,
it just allows defenses to be more aggressive. And then
(20:45):
he just went with the aggressive guy and Rex Ryan
just one of those perfect marriages of player other aspects
of this team, and then the coach to kind of
wield him at that time.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, he came in talking such a big game Rex
immediately before he even had Revis for a game set. Oh,
he's the best cornerback in league. He's going to be
And he hadn't really shown that level of play yet,
but he saw the vision and yeah, and that season
thirty one passes defense and six interceptions and he gave
up forty one completions on I think it was one
hundred and eleven attempts at him, So people were trying
(21:16):
him a little bit. So if you do the math there,
you're throwing for about thirty percent when you throw it
to Revs. And these are the best wide receivers in
the league. And when you do throw it on those,
when you're completing at thirty percent of the time, there
is almost an equal chance that a guy makes a
catch as Darrell Revis touches the ball. And so that
level of total dominance, it was a demanding style of play.
(21:39):
It didn't hold up as well throughout his whole career,
but the brilliance that he had for that stretch with
the Jets and then coming back around it did contribute
to him being the top cornerback for me on that list.
He was awesome in that twenty fourteen Patriots season. So
that was like the era of the Miami Heat super team,
and that Revs pick up kind of felt like it
(22:01):
because the Patriots were knocking on the door, knocking on
the door, and they got a great Revus season in
twenty fourteen, and Malcolm Butler, you know, help deliver Durel
Revis and everyone else on that team a championship.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
It's such a hard position to sustain high level play
because it's just twitchiness. You look at any sport that
requires athleticism or just even quick twitch athleticism. It's why
kind of you look in combat sports. It's why younger fighters, sorry,
smaller fighters age quicker. It's because so much is round
on speed, and that's what outside positions are kind of
(22:38):
like in the NFL. I think Revis, if he came
into the league five years later, he would have a
even more extended career. He had a nice career, but
I'm saying he wouldn't maybe caught on for maybe two
three more years because all that zone stuff I talked about.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
I think he would have.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Been really nice in those types of systems where he
could have been like a number two. You know, a
number two corner that's you know, on your roster, You're
not really he's gonna kind of play like an above
average corner that can merely just hold his own because
you're gonna just run so many zone looks. And that
was the thing we talked about, the man the man
looks and lockdown Revis Island. His body positioning was excellent,
(23:13):
like he just knew how to position his body and
get his hands on the ball. And I think that's
just why he would would have would have aged better
if he just came into the league even a little
bit later. Like you said, it's just such a demanding
asque to just play that way, so kind of oh,
you know, actually modern comparisons Stefan Gilmore, Yes, last year
(23:33):
with Minnesota gets in a Brian Florrez defense that's a
little bit more zone heavy with all the funky looks.
I think Revis would have kind of aged that way
as well.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
The crazy thing with Revis, though, is like the rest
of the Jets would be in zone, but Revis would
just be a man. Like Rex talked about that, just like, Okay,
the rest of the team's doing one thing, and I've
got Revis. You know, as you mentioned doing something else.
Let's let's look at Darrell Revis and he might be
going up against someone else that's on this list.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
This is revs. Down here on eighty one Randy Moss,
Brady gonna go deep for Moss is Darnick and is
brought down by Moss back with the sixteen yard line.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
That's like a perfect example what I was talking about.
They've ran a blitz Jim Lendard, of course the Grex
Shran's favorite player ever, who's with the Broncos right now
gets home. Tom Brady has to throw a goball to Moss,
which usually is like guaranteed touchdown one on one. There's
the blitz Jim Leonard free one on one. It should
be what you want and turns into a pick. I mean,
(24:38):
that should be a touchdown. Like that's that's the that's
those are math changers. That that's why like Darrel Reeves
is Darrel Revas. It was like a perfect example.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
It was such a good matchup for those years because famously,
you know, Moss's first game with the Patriots, he goes
deep on Revas, who is coming off an injury at
the time, and like that's an all time touchdown for him,
and then that's an all time interception for Durell Reeves,
one of the best to do it. Let's take a
quick break, and we may just have spoiled too on
(25:07):
the other side. Back on NFL Daily's best twenty five
players in the last twenty five years, I'm getting the tingles.
(25:31):
It's all been a preamble to the real reason we
had Nate Tice on this show.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Number nine. Randy Moss.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
Farron airs it out. Guess who Moss? Another touch? Another
touch style. There are two guys covering Randy Moss and
neither guy can get in a position. And that's just embarrassing.
What's that football world? Here goes with a big ball
to Moss.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
He reels today with hot hand right revest let me.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Stay them, I go bye to and just go hurt
you and Smith's arns Moss for the first down of bard.
There goes Brandy Boss down the sideline.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
Brandy Moss on Monday Night good bounces, nude hold beeper.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
Look at Randy Moll.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Touch down.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Believable head ud, believable crazy Moss flight wide to the
right for long count a.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
Ready takes ready looks Freddy Fills touch down, touchdown, Randy
Boss right open at the clear.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Side of the exel, finishing there with a go ahead
touchdown with under three minutes to go, and what I
would say was the greatest drive of Tom Brady's career.
And yet it never gets remembered because something called the
helmet catch happened a few minutes later in a game
where they had no answers. It made so much sense
(26:54):
in that two thousand and seven season that it was
Randy Moss that puts them.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Over the top.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Man, that that whole clip just brings back all the
memories like Tarrico on Monday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
That was fun.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Gus Johnson is in the mix, Randy Moss over Drell
Reeves and then obviously his days with the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Nate, Well, you were you were a ball boy back
in the day.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
What was going on? What was your experience with with
the Randy Moss era.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
It worked my perception on NFL athletes and athletes in
general for my entire life. Oh yeah, this is normal,
you know, this is this is just what you see
every day. And then realizing as I've gotten older that
I might again might not see that ever again, just
like when we talk about Gronk talking about unicorns, talking
about once in the lifetime athletes, like, that's Randy Moss
to me, uh like he I mean, he's all of six',
(27:43):
four could legitimately run a four to. Three you, know
people say below, that but legitimately a four to. Three
the greatest hands, ever the greatest ball skills. Ever also
another guy that's a football, genius believe it or, not
like really is far as just body positioning and understand the,
coverages like really really advanced level uh and just just
(28:05):
the package of all of. It and also just again
age actually okay for a minute with the forty nine
ers where he almost had like A Vince carter late
career where it was kind of his athletics isn't let
it be okay you know for a. Minute but when
you talk about that seven year, dominance you, know it's
almost Like shack like you it's just one of THE
i actually when you told me the guys that we're
gonna talk, ABOUT i thought we're gonna be a maybe
(28:26):
a chunk. Higher this guy was included At Randy moss
BECAUSE i just, OKAY i don't think it's just he's
just the once in a lifetime type. Player to, ME
i KNOW i have some biases with, that BUT i
think anyone that watched him and see, them just watch a,
game one game in that kind OF o two to
five era four era In minnesota really ninety, nine ninety
(28:48):
eight to oh. Four, yeah, yeah but really when The
randy ratio kind of, started and just watch him kind
of take over two thousand and, three watch him against
The packers in two thousand and, three and you'll just
watch a drive where it's like that first you guys,
had and that was two thousand and, three as well
As Gus farott throw him the ball against the forty
nine ers and even on that. Play we talk about
certain players changed the league as far as scheme and.
(29:10):
Everything Lawrence taylor is the famous. Example Randy moss is the.
Same like the proliferation Of cover two also helped that
THE Nflfc central featured The Tampa Bay, buccaneers But cover
two became more happened more league wide because teams, go,
well that's how we have to Stop Randy. Moss otherwise
it's singled up automatic. Touchdown but you watched that first,
place It's Gus farott backup quarterback launching a ball against cover,
(29:33):
two which should be. Impossible he should be double covered
with two guys with him with a safety that should
be over at the top of, them and he's passed.
Them so talk about math, changers just guys that break
the space time can continue them with. Football that Was Randy,
moss AND i stand by it's the greatest Athlete i'll
probably ever see in my.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
LIFE i love.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
It i'm glad you're pushing back that he should be even.
HIGHER i THINK i sent you a text at one
point WHEN i was, like it WOULD i be crazy
to Have megatron Over Randy moss because and you were, like.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
You get short with.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
You, yeah you're just. BAD i Had moss even.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
LOWER i had him twelve for, OKAY i will defend
myself at least in terms of why he's not even.
Higher and at this point they're all just so good
that you're you're splitting, Here yeah you don't count ninety
eight the, best that's fair rookie season of all time
BY i think for the era in terms of you
know the fact that he was Because pukaku's numbers are,
crazy but for the era right to get to GET mvp.
(30:31):
Votes he was third in THE mvp that. Year Randy,
moss he led the league in touchdowns as a rookie wide.
Receiver it was just stuff that you'd never seen, before
so that doesn't. Count and then he has the pop up, Seasons,
nate he has the four first Team all, pros But
i'm only counting. Three but in terms of the breadth
of as you, know the entire, career it was like
(30:52):
a little less and the other guys at other, positions
not even at wide, receiver because Ultimately Randy moss is
my highest receiver on this. LIST i thought they're incredible
excellence at the very. Top plus they added like a
sprinkling of a little a few more extra. Years but
That i'm just splitting here is you're making me talk
negatively About Randy.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Moss this is. Preposterous he's in the top.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
Ten we're in the top. TEN i know it's so
tough with all, this AND i get. It and again
WHEN I i know WHAT i, saw it was just
it's one of those just the highlight reel. Moment not even,
man now you're just make me go down memory. LANE i,
mean it's just the latter play against The. Broncos you
Know Tomoe williams again just the football genius to, him
(31:34):
the sports. Genius there's a play this would have been four
against The, saints AND i want to say it Was sunday.
Night it Was sunday and Their monday night and He
dante Made Dante culpeper throws it sixty yards into the
back corner of the end. Zone and again it Was
Randy moss beating cover two on a third and like
fifteen AND i just talked about math breakers As dante
(31:56):
throwing as far as you, Could randy running by everybody
and catches in the very very corner of the end.
Zone it's one of my favorite throws and catches. Ever
but he made that on the regular like he did
those like on a week to week basis where it
was just truly. Highlights how MANY i, MEAN i mean
anyone that owned them in fancy even the. Hots it
would be like you'd have games where even if he
got taken out of the, game, right they would find
a way for him to score in the red zone or.
(32:18):
Something because he was another fade guy that was dominant
on fades where he would have games where it'd be
like four catches twenty two yards two, touchdowns you, know
like he'd have like random games like, that like look it, Up,
oh Three week One, cowboys he had a game like.
Speaker 5 (32:32):
THAT i love that.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
You're pulling all of these just totally out of thin.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Air.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Exactly, no but it's it's it's really just one of those. Players,
AGAIN i don't think we'll see that combination of. Traits
we might see big and fast guys that can run some.
Routes we might see guys that can catch everything and be,
fast but maybe at five to. Ten it's just that
combination of, size, speed ball skills all rare and one
(32:57):
of my you, know if you want a neutral, PARTY
i said this in the draft process because we're talking
About Travis, hunter BECAUSE i Said Travis hunter's ball skills
were like a Mini Randy. Moss is That Bobby bowden said,
that you know That Deon sanders was his parameter for,
athleticism and he Said Randy moss is a Bigger Deon
sanders and, THAT i, mean come, on it's really what
(33:20):
we're talking about. Here but, yeah one of my probably
my favorite player ever probably will never be. Topped AND
i got to see a lot of cool things watching
him in practice and games up close and.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Personal there's so much about THAT i could dig. Into,
well FIRST i do want to point out BECAUSE i
was talking about like how he didn't, stack you, know
as many dominant. Seasons let's not get it like carried.
Away he's fourth all time in receiving, yards and he's
second in, Touchdowns like he has the accumulative counting. Sets
he's second in one hundred yard receiving. Game he's third
(33:52):
in like thousand yard. Seasons So King karen stinks because
he's second in home Run he has all of those numbers.
Too SO i love what you said about how he
changed the, game and THAT i think is important if
we're going to put a player this. High when he
got To New, England Bill belichick tells that story and
they're going through how things are gonna go and you know,
different And randy is just, like, well, yeah but you're
(34:14):
not gonna you're not gonna face any single high. Anymore
like that's, gone like great.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Watch, film like everyone got played them, differently.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Right he's, like don't worry about how we're going to
handle those. Defenses And belichick often said How Randy moss
taught him more than almost any.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Other player he's ever.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Coached he, said certainly the smartest receiver he's ever coached
and one of the smartest players, overall and that they
kept adding different kind of two way goes into an
option routes into how he ran because he could handle,
that and a lot of the, time a lot of
his touchdowns you saw were like he's coming inside and
(34:54):
then he breaks back out to the. Corner and that
was all like intell and sent him And Tom, brady
two geniuses being on the same. Page and if we
want to get into just like numbers, again they combine
for the greatest season ever between a quarterback and a wide.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Receiver let's let's check out a.
Speaker 7 (35:13):
Clip third down and ten for The patriots withok their
own thirty five direction nap To brady stands in the,
pocket fires it to the right down the right sideline
and caught at the twenty fifteen ten five. Touchdown Patriots Tom,
Brady Rando Randy, moss and they each have SHUT nfl
records on the go ahead touchdown sixty five yard Bomb
(35:37):
Brady demosh For Tom brady touchdown pass number, fifty AN
nfl record For randy mosh touchdown reception number twenty, three
AN nfl. Record one play bang, bang they both SET nfl.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Records it is really crazy to think about that Because
Ty warren or who was it that who Grabbed Eli
manning's jersey and can get them you, know to the
ground on that. Play like if they were able to do,
that if The patriots defense comes up big with that
lead against The, giants Then Randy moss breaks the all
(36:12):
time record and receiving touchdowns on a game winning like
huge long touchdown to go seventeen to oh to end
the regular season and they were losing that. Game it
was the Right it was like week seventeen and it
was in the fourth quarter and he breaks.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
That Network it was a big SPECIAL Nfl. Network, yeah it.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Was it was a big spot FOR Nfl network And
Brian GUMBELE i believe at the. Time and so that's
what he does in the regular, season and then he
finishes that season out by winning The Super bowl by
catching the game winning touchdown for under you, know with
under three minutes. Left and it's crazy how much differently
we would remember just that season as magical and as you,
know memorable as it is if their defense just finishes
(36:52):
out that. Play but there were so many moments like,
that and you brought up a bunch of them.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
ALREADY i love.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
It TO i, mean it's not.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
Coincidence was on the two teams that set the point,
record you, know scoring record ninety Eight vikings and then,
yeah Seven. Patriots he was a big reason because of.
That for, that it's NOW i all the memories and
again it that cover two, stories the ONE i always
come back to and like that That. BELICHICK i was
so cool for me to hear The belichick version of
(37:20):
that and The patriots version of, that because that's WHAT
i would Hear Scott lenehan and my dad talking about
In minnesota was that like they couldn't like they couldn't
use film from previous weeks because nobody was playing cover
to every. Snap and if you look again the gravity of,
this there's a couple of receivers that get this now Justin,
jefferson which is. Fun you know Another viking gets this
(37:43):
treatment as. Well but if you look, too is Those
vikings teams had awesome run. Games is because and that
is something again changing the. Math so it's just not
only his, stats it's how he made everyone else's lives.
Easier if you're drawing double, coverage that means everyone else
gets singled. Up Jermaine wiggins had his career year With
Randy moss In. Minnesota, yeah Former patriot as.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Well, yes was there Some Meelde, Moore Randy.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Musk they were kind of like the Two Twin towers
though they were really setting each other.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
UP i feel like And Nate burson in.
Speaker 4 (38:12):
There yeah, no but, no you well Theymore, no but
that was actually a big because that would they would get,
Sorry i'm just you're just making me your rant, now
but it's. Uh they would get all the cover, too
and the running back would be isoed up on like
some big linebacker with a neck. Roll so they had
all these receiving running backs that were able to just.
Win Ontario smith was the other guy that would just
win these one on. Ones it would just be, cheating you,
(38:33):
know just a little one on one matchups Because Randy
moss was taking so much.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Coverage, yeah but let's.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Look at one more fun highlight from The vikings, era
which is remembered for a variety of.
Speaker 6 (38:43):
Reasons moss for a, touchdown Oh Elan harris playing all
bien up on the route And Randy, moss without even
really being able to run as a shoots the moon
to the.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Fans here In Green.
Speaker 5 (39:02):
Bay that is a disgusting act By Randy, moss and
it's unfortunate that we had that on our ear.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
Live that is.
Speaker 5 (39:11):
Disgusting let's get back to the, Play.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Randy great job by the way By chris And.
Speaker 1 (39:18):
Troy what a booth by the, Way Joe, Buck, Wow
Chris collinsworth And Troy Aikman uh Collins drith just rips
out shoot the moon in the middle of a. Sentence very,
Naturally buck cuts him, off and Then troy's just you
could tell that the Stated troy's voice is kind of
like calm, down, buddy and was, like all, right let's
get back to the.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Play What abouty's, Right troy's.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Right that wasn't called in the.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Huddle it was a it was a run, play and
once again The packers had Brand man coverage and it
was just a signal From Pepper culpepper to To. Randy
and if you even watch on, it they're not pass.
Blocking everyone's run. Blocking and so he just skirts out
to the, ring just throws. It but, yeah, Again math
changer and that was on the high ankle sprain as. Well,
(40:02):
yeah so shooting them and then that's Also, god you
just made me just rattle off this like nostalgia for.
Me so he also knows THE. Afro, yeah that Was
Kelly campbell And aprils And randy and a couple other
guys With Jermaine, wiggins and The afros stood For america's
finance receivers On sunday Or saturday.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Because there's a game to play On. Saturday, yeah just
a little little little, aughts BUT i love.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
THAT i can just what was it like for a
little Uh nate tice? There, yes for listeners that aren't,
aware your father might coach the team from two thousand
and one to two thousand and. FIVE a lot of
offense in that, time.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
Ye carnival, Teams, yeah a lot of. Points and again
that's WHAT i thought was. NORMAL i thought playing in
The dome was. NORMAL i grew up in The kingdome
in The Metro, dome so those were The, YEAH i
thought that was the HOW i thought you multi use
stadiums was normal as, Well but, yeah, no but it.
Was it was. AWESOME i got to see a lot
of cool players a lot of cool, offenses a very
(40:59):
fun division, too and very fun period of THE. Nfl
we've talked about this off, air but it was it
was just a WHEN i went to thirty two. Teams
it was right when my dad became a full time
head coach in two thousand and, two and that felt
like a transitioning of aras you, know and then probably
Another rett transition after. That but like right that point in,
time it was defenses were, changing offenses were, changing getting
a little bit more wide open again, there you, know
(41:21):
it wasn't just as run, Heavy SO i thought it
was a very cool time. Period it was very fun,
though but Those minnesota teams were a little, wild a little,
wild you, know like you, know lax character. Rules was
the moneyball.
Speaker 1 (41:36):
Was involved and that, place that, place that play we
just saw actually INSPIRED i had forgotten this that that
was the play that inspired the famous quote From Randy
moss when they asked him in the parking lot.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
How he was great cash.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Homing he was gonna pay for the fine straight, cash.
Homie let's go. It let's go to our next, player number.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
Eight Ray lewis good protection.
Speaker 5 (42:05):
Here shut by loss And lewis is on his, Way
he's hard to go touch.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
On you, know he is the best tackler in the
league as far As i'm. Concerned when he gets his
hands on, you you can forget.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
It you are going down WHEN i step on the
field and he's on the. Field as to prove to
these people That i'm the. Best you, know when you
talk About i'm in a lineback WHEN i step on the,
FIELD i want to make sure WHEN i walk off.
It you know you just seen.
Speaker 5 (42:32):
It Here's lewis playing on special. Teams, Oh i'll tell
you that's worth the worse of the. Pull that's where
the looser is your.
Speaker 3 (42:40):
Teeth this sole. Entertainment come put me, here, good y'all.
Speaker 1 (42:44):
Entertainment ray lewis the highest h off ball linebacker on this.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
List we Had Luke.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Keikley they're at, fourteen but Ultimately ray gets the top
spot all time tackler seven first Team All, pro which
is just. Outrageous he kind of had that peak early
in his, career and then he tacked on this period
FROM oah nine to like ten where he suddenly was
popping off.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Again Two Defensive player of The year.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Votes very few players IN nfl history have ever gotten
that two more, seasons by the, way where he got
some SOME mvp, votes three more where he Got Defensive
player of The year. Vote so for a long, time
Ray lewis was looked at like not just at the
best at his, position but as just one of the
best players in THE. Nfl what what stands out to
(43:34):
you first when you think about Ray lewis.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Kind of like the first modern linebacker as far as, coverage,
blitzing run, ability was big enough to stop the run as,
well can run sideline the. Sideline bike also has the
intelligence and just, understanding you, know defensive calls as. Well
kind of that total. PACKAGE i feel like before, that
because of what THE nfl, was it was so run.
(43:57):
Heavy you, know some run and shoot stuff was coming,
around but most linebackers had the neck. Role there were
big thumpers that had to take on. Fullbacks Ray lewis
felt like a linebacker that was meant to cover single back.
Offenses and maybe there's others in this, era but he was, Like,
okay this is the prototype that everyone else is. Chasing
and then again another guy that it's where is it the?
(44:18):
Scheme it's where the scheme and the and the player
unlock each other where he is helping the scheme out
because he can do so. Much he can. Cover that's
the thing that stands out with. ME i just keep
coming back to is that he could cover Like Derek
brooks would be another linebacker like this at this, time
that was, Like, okay this is a coverage linebacker that
can but also do other. Things but Ray lewis was
(44:39):
thick enough to you, know stop a guy right at
the lion of scrimmage as well and live in the
box as. Well wasn't just a big. Stiff so that
that's where we're talking about these needle, movers game, changers,
math math, changers whatever you want to. Say and Ray
lewis felt like the new prototype for you, know the
two thousands when he was kind of becoming hitting his
prime and even though he hit it maybe a or
(44:59):
two before The, haughts but really just once he was
into the two, thousands it's like he was the dude
at that.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
POSITION i love you starting with that, point because you,
know WHEN i went back to kind of read About
lewis's career as part of doing this and talk about his,
career more than one player kind of pointed that. Out, Exactly,
nate that he almost straddled too Airis so if you
think about the peak of Ray lewis's, career and he
(45:28):
might not be in the top ten or even beyond
this list if it hadn't worked out that that year
where he Wins Defensive player of The year and wins
The Super BOWL, mvp which is just something that's that's
like an all time year that happened to be two.
Thousand so he just made the. Cutoff but if you
think about how great he, was then in the beginning
(45:48):
part of this, career who is he shutting?
Speaker 2 (45:50):
Down he's shutting Down.
Speaker 1 (45:52):
Jerome bettis And Eddie george And Fred. Taylor like those
matchups Against Eddie george were epic and that was what
made him. Great and then when you start to think
about the back half of his, career it really was
the versatility and the. Coverage so many of his best
plays when you're looking at his, highlights are just fooling,
(46:14):
quarterbacks making quarterbacks look, Stupid AND i think that that
gets lost.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
When you talk about Ray.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
Lewis Mike nolan was one of his, Coaches, nate and
he mentioned that he Was Lawrence taylor's coach and this
is a hot, take But Mike nolan said he thinks
Ray lewis is the best defensive player ever because the
difference is there was no escaping. Him you could not
run away from. Him you could Have Lawrence taylor on
the edge or other great edge defenders, ever but there
(46:44):
was no play where you could. Escape kind of the
matrix of Ray, lewis whether it was run, left run,
center run, right pass, left pass, center pass, right obviously
you can throw over the top of his. Head but
it's true in a way that he impacted the game
on a down to down basis like few other defensive.
Speaker 4 (47:00):
Players when the kind Of West coast offense went from you,
know every it went from Just Bill walsh Or Bill
walsh was the proliferator of it to like more commonplace
in the.
Speaker 3 (47:11):
Nineties.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
Uh, really the the crux of the passing game of
The West coast offense is get these big linebackers on
an island against our fast running backs right and make
them cover over and over and over and oh oh,
wow all of a, sudden we all these receiving backs
making all these.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
Catches it's.
Speaker 4 (47:29):
Great that's where Ray lewis kind of like stop that
like where it's just like that doesn't become just a
clear advantage if you all the common THEME i think
just getting through all these guys and this one we're
talking about these needle, movers is these are the guys
that create. Matchups they create wins no matter who they go,
against which is the sign of a great. Player even
when you're scouting a, guy it usually is what can
they do? Consistently who can they beat? Consistently not every,
(47:52):
time just, Consistently and and Ray lewis or these elite
guys that we're talking, about it's, like, well it doesn't
matter the matchup there consistently and then that's the sign
of a great. Player AND i was just even as
as you were saying his first year or the first
year of this millennium two, thousand you, know Ray lewis
was listed like two thirty. FIVE i think he came
(48:13):
into the league at the other all pro linebackers are
Like Jeremiah. Trotter Jeremiah trotter was listed at two sixty. Two,
Okay so just talking about the other guys of this.
Era Sam cowart for The bills listed at two forty,
Eight Stephen boyd of The lions listed at to forty
seven six foot two, percent so all these like just,
(48:35):
hammerheads big, guys big. Bodies Ray lewis was, athletic but
like your point was. Perfect he bridged the two eras
that was this time period that was the late nineties
into the two, thousands which was BRIDGING i, formation Early west,
coastuff now getting into a little bit more, spread more
single back stuff throughout the, league more two tight, ends
(48:55):
more three, receivers but it's a linebacker that can stay
on the field all three. Down it was so commonplace
at this time period to have the true true because
remember two defenses were signaling to go. True this is
our base down defense and this is our late down,
defense our nickel. Defense you, know nickel wasn't as common
as it was, now but back then it was linebackers
(49:15):
would just fully get swapped off where it was, like,
okay this is and now that becomes such a tell
that offenses are, like oh we'll pick on. That we
know which looks you're getting. To but Ray lewis felt
like one of these linebackers where it's LIKE i could
be on the, LOOK i could be on the field
no matter, What Like Mike nolan's alluding, to like he
can just impact the game in all those. Ways so,
yeah it's just it's so much fun to talk about
(49:36):
all these guys BECAUSE i feel Like i'm repeating myself
a little, bit but that's what these guys.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
Were, well, yeah we're at this part of the list,
especially and they're the best at their very positions and
they helped change their.
Speaker 2 (49:47):
Position and you think about him.
Speaker 1 (49:48):
Too he's the only Player and it's a weird stat
for him BECAUSE i mentioned how he's like the all
time leaning tackler and. Everything he's the only player IN
nfl history with forty sacks and thirty. Interceptions you don't
necessarily think of him like first as a blitzer or in,
coverage ALTHOUGH i think you should in, coverage but to
combine those sort of big plays at multiple. Levels and,
(50:10):
yeah he got drafted in ninety, six so it's tricky
like him And.
Speaker 2 (50:14):
Ogden ogden't in the, end didn't.
Speaker 1 (50:15):
Make this list because his best part of his career
was early and Ray lewis did make two second Team all,
pros even got Some Defensive player of The year votes
before two thousand and a first Team All, pro but
even after two. Thousand it's another five or six first
teams and another second, team and he's just racking up.
Plays and to, me he kind of defines that. Position
(50:38):
it's a position where it's a tough spot to. Make for,
instance THE nfl one hundred all time, team and he
was an obvious guy to be on. It let's listen
To Bill. Belichick, actually as part of THAT nfl one hundred.
Speaker 2 (50:51):
Broadcast you could.
Speaker 8 (50:52):
Play a, run you could play the, past you could
blitz if you had great instincts to handle the defense
and you you knew your team, well you knew what
they could, do and you certainly knew the opponents, well
and he knew how to defend what they tried to.
Do so it's obvious that your preparation paid.
Speaker 3 (51:14):
Off let me deal with.
Speaker 5 (51:15):
The pump and. Go that's Why i'm stin' ohigh on.
Speaker 2 (51:18):
That but he got to play.
Speaker 6 (51:19):
That remember when Playing, brady it's a test mat what what?
Speaker 1 (51:24):
What?
Speaker 6 (51:25):
So?
Speaker 2 (51:26):
What?
Speaker 8 (51:26):
Yeah WHAT i hated playing against.
Speaker 5 (51:29):
YOU i hated playing against.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
You. Uh that Was Ray lewis And Tom brady and
the second to last clip there going what what back
and forth to each. Other In, belichick who loves to to,
uh you, know include himself in the history because he.
Should uh points out to Ray lewis in that conversation
and they're looking at each other's in the. EYES i,
mean it is. Intense as he's telling him what a
great player. Is he points out that Actually belichick made
(51:53):
the trade for the extra first the year before he
got fired In, cleveland so they had that extra first sitting.
There because Of Bill, belichick he was not, around uh
to see them take Ray, lewis and that is an amazing,
uh just crossing of.
Speaker 2 (52:09):
Pasts it would have been cool to See belichick coach Ray.
Speaker 4 (52:11):
Lewis but the other side of that is because Of
Bill belichick there in position to Take Jonathan ogen right.
Speaker 1 (52:20):
RIGHT i will speak For belichick, here and because Of Art,
modell they were in. Position As belichick likes to point,
out it's not great for your season when you announced
the team is moving halfway halfway through the year and
you got you got you, know fans.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
Ripped ripping up. Seats it's not.
Speaker 3 (52:39):
Great.
Speaker 1 (52:40):
Uh Mike singletary had a quote WHEN i was looking
up to and he he coached Ray. LEWIS i don't
know if you remember that that he was a position
coach back, then AND i love it when all time
greats give up the flowers to other similar.
Speaker 2 (52:52):
Ones and and.
Speaker 1 (52:53):
He In singletary, says, YEAH i see the, comparison like
he always got compared To, singletary but he's, Like ray is.
Better and he said he Thought ray is better physically and.
Mentally And Shannon sharp had a quote AND i think
this has to be said when talking About Ray, lewis
he thought he's the greatest leader in the history of team.
Sports Rod woodson, said who had been around and been
(53:15):
on a lot of different teams, too said, Like i've
never been a teammate with someone with that was such
a giant force of personality that he truly dragged all.
Speaker 2 (53:26):
Of us with.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
Him and when he's talking about, us he's talking about
Like hall Of fame guys like. Himself that he's never
been around someone that was able to like just collectively
bring up the energy of every single person around. Him
AND i think that is part of the reason why
WHY i put him, here that that sort of consistency
over a career like, THAT i give him a little
(53:47):
extra bump them.
Speaker 3 (53:48):
Up a few. Spots, yeah a moss, over but the, YEAH.
Speaker 2 (53:53):
I know you.
Speaker 1 (53:53):
Would this is What i'm gonna do, Now, nate every
single rest of the guy on the. List i'm gonna be,
like SHOULD i have Put Randy moss? Over like maybe
MAYBE i agree with.
Speaker 4 (54:01):
You either, WAY i gotta see who comes in IRE
i got, it and Then i'll probably be, like oh,
yeah oh, yeah.
Speaker 2 (54:08):
A lot of. Quarterbacks we have a lot of.
Speaker 4 (54:10):
Quarterbacks, Yeah AND i totally get. That No in Ray lewis.
TOO i know we're talking about pros and two. Thousands
it's like he's he's THE u like the my he
Epitomizes miami as, well just that competitive nature as. Well but,
Yeah i'm glad he brought that. Up the leadership stuff as,
well like that has to be. Said and again epitomizes
what That ravens, defense WHICH i is always gonna be
(54:32):
in my brain as like WHAT i thought was the
more most, fearful scariest, Defenses those two Thousands ravens, defenses
those are the ones in my brain as they are the.
Speaker 1 (54:41):
Bar two Thousand ravens is the best defense of my.
Speaker 2 (54:45):
LIFETIME i, mean.
Speaker 4 (54:46):
Dominant you they snuffed out. Everybody it was just it
was it was.
Speaker 2 (54:50):
Ridiculous was it was a different era in a, way
and they.
Speaker 1 (54:54):
HELPED i THINK i think some of the rule changes
were partly because of like how good The ravens and
The bucks follow them up. Were but yeah that they
are the absolute, best and SO i love Having Ray
lewis as a representative uh for.
Speaker 2 (55:08):
Them, nate you did.
Speaker 1 (55:09):
IT i hope you know your daughter has not woken
up from her nap. Yet AND i appreciate you taking
the time to take a trip down memory.
Speaker 3 (55:19):
Lane thank, you, Fun thank you for letting me your.
Speaker 4 (55:22):
RANT i felt like a comedian getting the red light
during The Randy moss.
Speaker 2 (55:27):
Segment, no not at.
Speaker 5 (55:28):
ALL i.
Speaker 2 (55:29):
COULD i could keep going to. Me WHAT i found
with this is LIKE i could do a whole.
Speaker 1 (55:34):
EPISODE i could do a whole episode On Randy moss
or any of these.
Speaker 4 (55:38):
Guys that's how it. Goes but thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (55:43):
Me our next episode will be the fifth edition OF
Nfl dailies twenty five players in twenty five, years and
we will be joined by the legendary play by play
Announcer Kevin. Harlan he will help us cover players seven through,
four and hopefully somewhere Knight tis will be listening and
(56:03):
being angry That Randy moss wasn't ranked over, them
Host
Gregg Rosenthal
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