Picking the best player in the history of an NFL franchise is a very subjective thing. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Here is my stab at the best player in the history of each of the 32 NFL franchises.
Minnesota Vikings: Alan Page, DT
Some might go with Fran Tarkenton. Others might like Cris Carter or Adrian Peterson. I go with the first defensive player to be named the league's MVP.
Green Bay Packers: Don Hutson, WR
The NFL changed the moment Hutson stepped on the football field.
Chicago Bears: Walter Payton, RB
I wanted to pick Bulldog Turner but I had to go with Sweetness.
Detroit Lions: Dutch Clark, QB
Clark might be the best football player nobody knows. He was an inaugural member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's tough not to pick Bobby Layne or Barry Sanders.
San Francisco 49ers: Jerry Rice, WR
He's only one of the best football players to ever play the game.
St. Louis Rams: Deacon Jones, DE
You can't go wrong with Jones or his linemate Merlin Olsen.
Arizona Cardinals: Ernie Nevers, RB
Going back to the 1920s with this one. Nevers is an all-time great.
Seattle Seahawks: Walter Jones, T
He made stars out of offensive playmakers. If Kenny Easley's career hadn't been cut short by injuries, he might be the pick.
New York Giants: Lawrence Taylor, LB
I want to pick Mel Hein but the choice has to be Taylor. He's one of the few players to truly change the game.
Philadelphia Eagles: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB
This guy just screams football.
Washington Redskins: Sammy Baugh, QB
He could have played in any era. Like Hutson and Taylor, Baugh changed the NFL from his first snap.
Dallas Cowboys: Bob Lilly, DT
Roger Staubach feels like the natural choice but I have to go with "Mr. Cowboy."
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, QB
The Saints were rarely relevant in the four decades prior to Brees joining the team.
Atlanta Falcons: Claude Humphrey, DE
He finally got his much deserved call to Canton last year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lee Roy Selmon, DE
This could go to Warren Sapp or Derrick Brooks but I'll go with the first Buc, for now.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith, WR
One of the toughest football players to ever play receiver.
Oakland Raiders: Art Shell, T
He was a wall.
San Diego Chargers: Lance Alworth, WR
So smooth and graceful.
Denver Broncos: John Elway, QB
A fairly easy choice.
Kansas City Chiefs: Bobby Bell, LB
The Chiefs of the late 1960s had one of the all-time great defenses. They were loaded with Hall of Famers. Bell might have been the best of them.
Indianapolis Colts: John Unitas, QB
Can't go wrong with Peyton Manning or Unitas.
Houston Texans: J.J. Watt, DE
He's the most disruptive defensive player that I've seen since Lawrence Taylor.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Fred Taylor, RB
He may have rushed for the quietest 11,000 yards ever.
Tennessee Titans: Earl Campbell, RB
A different city and team name then but he was a great, great runner.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Greene: DT
There were a lot of great players around him but he made that defense great.
Cleveland Browns: Jim Brown, RB
There's certainly an argument for Otto Graham but Brown was one of the best 2 or 3 football players ever,
Cincinnati Bengals: Anthony Munoz, T
He simply silenced the man across from him.
Baltimore Ravens: Jonathan Ogden, T
No offense to Ray Lewis or Ed Reed but Ogden was an football player.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady, QB
Nuff said.
Buffalo Bills: Bruce Smith, DE
More "official" sacks than anyone.
Miami Dolphins: Dwight Stephenson, C
He might have been the best, most gifted center of all-time.
New York Jets: Joe Namath, QB
Who else?
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