I've heard the same thing said about any sport. The best football players played in the 90's (Montana and Rice), there's not some internal NFL about some older player being better. In the NBA they've pretty much dismissed Chamberlain as the best ever despite his rediculous points-per-game because of the lack of competition, and instead consider MJ the best ever.
- neem55

Rice is considered the best receiver and one of the best players ever. However, many of the best players are from the past according to NFL pundits. In the NBA, Bill Russel is also thought of as one of the all-time greats. Baseball, it's not even close. The best players are almost exclusively from yesteryear, with the odd guy sprinkled in since the modern era.

Wilt the Stilt changed the game. The key was invented due to him.
Oscar Robertson to me was the greatest ever.
Even the great MJ never got close to averaging a seasons triple double.
- Nighthawk

OMG it is amazing how you can garble the same argument without really looking at the reality, Oscar robertson and Chamberlain played against teams that had no idea how to defend them nor players big enough to. I agree robertson was the better player out of the two, but MJ dominated at a time when NBA players were actual athletes, and there was more than 2 or 3 7 footers in the league. Think of the average size/skill of players in those times in both leagues. MJ/Gretz were better because they faced the best and beat them.

I am joining Thunda and Marwood on the patio for Margaritas
- VANTEL

OMG it is amazing how you can garble the same argument without really looking at the reality, Oscar robertson and Chamberlain played against teams that had no idea how to defend them nor players big enough to. I agree robertson was the better player out of the two, but MJ dominated at a time when NBA players were actual athletes, and there was more than 2 or 3 7 footers in the league. Think of the average size/skill of players in those times in both leagues. MJ/Gretz were better because they faced the best and beat them.
- neem55

U r in denial n only argumentative when faced with facts.
All u do is discredit their achievements.

@Neem

Pick apart Hank Aaron n the adversity he faced.
Nolan Ryan for K's n no hitters while u at it.
Keep on garbling on about who the greats faced n why they r nothing comparable to the Johnny come lately's.

Rice is considered the best receiver and one of the best players ever. However, many of the best players are from the past according to NFL pundits. In the NBA, Bill Russel is also thought of as one of the all-time greats. Baseball, it's not even close. The best players are almost exclusively from yesteryear, with the odd guy sprinkled in since the modern era.
- golfingsince

The only guy I've heard of a NFL debate of the best ever that involved guys older than Montana/Elway/rice/ reggie white/lawrencce taylor mentioned in the conversation was Jim Brown. I think him even being in that conversation is debatable.

@Neem

Pick apart Hank Aaron n the adversity he faced.
Nolan Ryan for K's n no hitters while u at it.
Keep on garbling on about who the greats faced n why they r nothing comparable to the Johnny come lately's.
- Nighthawk

I don't know baseball.

Someone mention this is a hockey blog?
My bad 😜

U r in denial n only argumentative when faced with facts.
All u do is discredit their achievements.
- Nighthawk

Use English please. The only one in denial of facts here is you, as you continue to ignore that the general skills of each league has excelled to the point of comparing guys who played against smaller and less skilled players to ones that play now is silly.

I don't know baseball.
- neem55

Well i have 50+ yrs of being a fan of almost every sport before the internet.
I followed the UCLA Bruins in their dynasty years n we can bet no team in any era no matter what or why will challenge their unbeaten record.
That was n still is one the greatest ever runs in any sport ever.

Use English please. The only one in denial of facts here is you, as you continue to ignore that the general skills of each league has excelled to the point of comparing guys who played against smaller and less skilled players to ones that play now is silly.
- neem55

Ok. You are an insufferable ninny. A parrot of other peoples rehashed arguments.
Pointless to further educate you. GL

The only guy I've heard of a NFL debate of the best ever that involved guys older than Montana/Elway/rice/ reggie white/lawrencce taylor mentioned in the conversation was Jim Brown. I think him even being in that conversation is debatable.
- neem55

http://www.cheatsheet.com...C2%ADtime.html/?a=viewall

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2152421

http://www.nydailynews.co...st-time-article-1.2031278

first three links I found.

The fact that you think Brown "is debatable" IMO shows you have a pretty huge bias towards the recent game.

I love how the Nucks keep shuffling their lines in order to try and find something which doesn't work...
- stringerbell

I have noticed that very same thing....something works for awhile seem like they have to mess with it....then NEVER go back to it. Very strange way to operate

Well i have 50+ yrs of being a fan of almost every sport before the internet.
I followed the UCLA Bruins in their dynasty years n we can bet no team in any era no matter what or why will challenge their unbeaten record.
That was n still is one the greatest ever runs in any sport ever.
- Nighthawk

Then you of all people should be able to see that players are much better now as a whole and to be elite requires more skill than ever. Being old isn't a sign of wisdom, only of age. People aren't right or have right opinions cause they've been arguing them for longer otherwise the world would still be flat and I would be a catholic. Hockey, basketball and football is played by more skilled and athletic players since the 90's than in any other time. It means the leagues have more parity and that there are more elite players than ever. Now, I'm dropping it because it is a simple "I'm old and know more" bullpoop that permeates and weakens society as a whole in every subject/debate. "This is the way I've always done it" the way the worlds is, looks like you've been doing it wrong.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/10-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-%C2%ADtime.html/?a=viewall

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2152421

http://www.nydailynews.co...st-time-article-1.2031278

first three links I found.

The fact that you think Brown "is debatable" IMO shows you have a pretty huge bias towards the recent game.
- golfingsince

I do indeed have a bias, the game is harder to be good at today. I think Brown would get shut down more in todays game.

You could just as easily say give the old timers the training, diet and modern equipment and they'd still be dominant.
- golfingsince

surprisingly... youre the 1st to bring up training and nutrition, which is important. People forget that Lafleur used to smoke right on the bench, lighting up between shifts. I remember watching him on HNIC, he had a lit smoke stashed on the bench and would pull it out when back on the bench

In those days it was common to smoke and have some beers in between periods. Impossible to compare athletes given those circumstances

If Bo Jackson didn't need hip replacement he would of been the closest to Jim Brown.
Brown would be a star in any era say no more.

surprisingly... youre the 1st to bring up training and nutrition, which is important. People forget that Lafleur used to smoke right on the bench, lighting up between shifts. I remember watching him on HNIC, he had a lit smoke stashed on the bench and would pull it out when back on the bench

In those days it was common to smoke and have some beers in between periods. Impossible to compare athletes given those circumstances
- SMBDragon

I knew Pete Mahovolich who was just that lol

I do indeed have a bias, the game is harder to be good at today. I think Brown would get shut down more in todays game.
- neem55

I think Marino would pass for 7000 yards. I read an article today that called his sophomore season possibly the best ever for a QB. That's back when you could bump and run the entire length of the field.

In general, I think people also have a bias towards Montana. Steve Young stepped in and played better.

Another thing is that Jim Brown did that when EVERYONE knew he was going to run the ball, and still couldn't stop him.

On a side note, it's nice to see you own up to the fact that you're biased towards todays players. It puts the entire conversation in proper context, and to bed.

I think Marino would pass for 7000 yards. I read an article today that called his sophomore season possibly the best ever for a QB. That's back when you could bump and run the entire length of the field.

In general, I think people also have a bias towards Montana. Steve Young stepped in and played better.

Another thing is that Jim Brown did that when EVERYONE knew he was going to run the ball, and still couldn't stop him.

On a side note, it's nice to see you own up to the fact that you're biased towards todays players. It puts the entire conversation in proper context, and to bed.
- golfingsince

To me it's not a bias so much as just the reality of every sport. Maybe everybody is doing drugs and maybe it is diet/nutrition, but they are all much bigger and better on average. I think the coaching/player development is night and day too.

One last comparison between eras...

Idc if today its diet n lifestyle or Roids.
Every athlete is in the same boat in whatever era they played.
Players r measured on achievement in the time n means at their disposal.
Technology or advancement is not a consideration to remain relevant.

What they did n when they did it r facts of the times.

Sports evolve n revolutionizes itself.
The greats r the revolutionaries n everyone else copy cats.

Revolutionaries r the greatest with their impact going forward.

I think Marino would pass for 7000 yards. I read an article today that called his sophomore season possibly the best ever for a QB. That's back when you could bump and run the entire length of the field.

In general, I think people also have a bias towards Montana. Steve Young stepped in and played better.

Another thing is that Jim Brown did that when EVERYONE knew he was going to run the ball, and still couldn't stop him.

On a side note, it's nice to see you own up to the fact that you're biased towards todays players. It puts the entire conversation in proper context, and to bed.
- golfingsince

Marino was a stud then n would be a stud nowadays I agree.
I add Warren Moon for consideration.
As for Steve Young then add Tarkenton too.

How about this playoff race?

L.A.versus Chicago is a pretty good game. End to end action.