[Lefty Noob]

Lott was definitely an incredible safety, though I would disagree that there's no debate about who the best safety of all time was (Emlen Tunnell, anyone?) but I was a big fan of the way he played the game. That said, all four of the guys you discuss are Hall of Famers. Hard to go wrong picking any of them, you know?

[Shayndapain]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Lott was definitely an incredible safety, though I would disagree that there's no debate about who the best safety of all time was (Emlen Tunnell, anyone?) but I was a big fan of the way he played the game. That said, all four of the guys you discuss are Hall of Famers. Hard to go wrong picking any of them, you know?

Lott >> Tunnel

I have never had to debate Lott being the best of all-time, nobody has ever...ever refuted that fact. I'll try my best.

Just to start out, the Sporting News 100 greatest players list...Tunnel is 70th, Lott is 23rd. Even on their list Lott is 47 players better then Tunnel. It's something to consider in this conversation.

Tunnel; 9 pro-bowls, 8 all-pros. 2 rings. 1950's all decade team.
Lott; 10 pro-bowls, 9 all-pros. 4 rings. 1980's and 1990's all decade teams. Also he was placed on the 75th ann. All-time team...Tunnel was not placed on this team.

Lott has been widely considered by most sports analysts as the best safety of all time, that's why he's constantly placed on All-Time teams while Tunnel is not. Lott is also placed on all these lists much higher.

Back to the top 3 Niners of all time...Just looked at the top 100's list and Steve Young was placed at #63. Before anybody thinks I get my information purely from lists and stats, you're wrong. I don't. But I do think that obviously Lott should get a lott more credit on this site.

[Lefty Noob]

Heh heh... didn't say I didn't agree that Lott WAS the best of all time. Just that a case could be made for others, including Tunnel.
Young gets more love because he was a quarterback, simple as that. But everyone seems to be limiting it to players. Why doesn't Walsh get some love?

[Shayndapain]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Heh heh... didn't say I didn't agree that Lott WAS the best of all time. Just that a case could be made for others, including Tunnel.
Young gets more love because he was a quarterback, simple as that. But everyone seems to be limiting it to players. Why doesn't Walsh get some love?

Great point about Walsh, I wonder where anybody would put Walsh on the top 3 list???

But no, nuh uh, no way you could ever make a debate about Lott not being the best safety of all time. There are some who appear close, but deffinately no safety gets that close enough yet to debate him against Lott.