[Rain Man]

My top LB units, with the open admission that I'm screwing over the guys who played before I started watching in 1970. I start with the NFL Network's Top Ten and shuffle them before moving on to the legitimate rankings.


#1 - Saints' Johnson, Jackson, Swilling, and Mills - I really like this pick. These guys were incredible, and they typically had no-names in front of them. Dominant group. I'm not sure I'd put them at #1, but they should be in the top four. I'd put them at #3

#2 - Steelers' Ham, Russell, and Lambert - No brainer. Top four, possibly could be #1, but the show made the valid point that they had a dominant line in front of them. Probably #1.

#3 - Giants' Taylor, Reasons, Banks, and Carson - Certainly up there, and certainly a top four pick, but truthfully I think the combo of Taylor, Carson, Brian Kelley, and Brad Van Pelt was better. Maybe the Giants' backers should be on the list twice with these two groups, but Reasons would drop the first group out of the top ten. Taylor, Carson, Kelley, and Van Pelt should be #4

#4 - Chiefs' Lanier, Bell, and Lynch - Probably should be #2.

Overall, they got the top four right. I'd just shuffle the order a little.

#5 - Packers' Nitschke, Robinson, and Caffey - Bah. They're a contender, but they're not Top Ten.

#6 - Bears' Singletary, Marshall, and Wilson. This group ruled. Should be #5. These guys were Monsters. Monsters of the Midway.

#7 - Steelers' Lloyd, Greene, Kirkland, and Brown. Scary, scary, scary. Should be #6.

#8 - Raiders' Martin, Hendricks, and Millen. They're close, even though Millen is a stupid SOB. Being cheaters and bad sportsmen would drop them down on my list, out of the top ten. They're not as good as some of the others.

#9 - Broncos' Swenson, Gradishar, Jackson, and Rizzo (?????). Are you freaking kidding me? Are you kidding me? Gradishar was very, very good, and Swenson was pretty good. Jackson was barely, barely average and gets overrated just because he's on TV now, and does anybody know this Rizzo clown? What a freaking joke. They weren't even as good as the Fletcher/Dennison/Mecklenburg/Ryan group that followed them. That group was more deserving. This group may be top 50, but certainly not Top Ten.

#10 - Ravens' Lewis, Boulware, and Sharper. Whatever. They're fine. Not top ten.

The rest of my top ten:

Patriots' Tippett, Nelson, Blackmon, and McGrew - I'd go with these guys at #7, even though it was mostly Tippett. But there was a lot of Tippett.

Vikings' Sieman, Blair, and Hilgenburg - Should be #8. Nice, balanced group.

Browns' Banks, Matthews, Eddie Johnson, and Mike Johnson - Yeah, you've never heard of half of them, but they're #9 in my book.

Cowboys' Edwards, Jordan, and Howley. They barely edge out the Colts below for #10.


My other contenders:

Colts' May, Hendricks, and Curtis - Could easily be #10.
Dolphins' Swift, Buoniconti, and Kolen
Patriots' Bruschi, Johnson, McGinest, and Vrabel
Steelers' Gildon, Kirkland, Holmes, and Lloyd - Dear lord, the Steelers have a history of linebackers.
Steelers' Ham, Lambert, Cole, and Merriwether - See above.
Chiefs' Thomas, Simien, and Davis
Chiefs' Edwards, Thomas, Simmons, and Davis - I think they'd be top ten, except Thomas was technically an end during these couple of years, I think.
Chargers' O'Neal, Seau, B.R. Smith, and Plummer - I think O'Neal was an end in LB's clothing.
Broncos' Fletcher, Dennison, Mecklenburg, and Ryan
Eagles' Bergey, Bunting, and Zabel
Bears' Butkus, Buffone, and any other guy since there was never a regular third starter
Lions' Lucci, Naumoff, and Walker - Underrated.
Falcons' Nobis, Brezina, and Hansen
Panthers' Greene, Lathon, Mills, and Bailey - I have no idea who Bailey was, but these guys rocked.
Buccaneers' Brooks, Nickerson, and Marts
Cardinals' Noga, Junior, Nunn, and Baker
Rams' Robertson, Reynolds, and (Jim) Youngblood
Colts' Young, Banks, Herrod, and Bickett
Seahawks' Simmons, Kirkland, and Brown