4 Years Ago... Arizona State OC Billy Napier was ‘____ed' he didn't get Alabama OC jo

[Cajunrunner]

Rice is certainly one of the top receivers ever, but did he have the impact on football that Jordan and Saban had on basketball and college football?

When NFL Network did their countdown to 100 Greatest Players of All-Time several years back, he was #1. Rice set records in an era when DBs could still play some actual defense against the pass. His 10 year stretch from '86 to '95 is about as dominant for his position as any other player during such a stretch in NFL history, except maybe Jim Brown.

And just like Saban and Jordan, you dig into their performances on the biggest stage. In the NFL, that's the Super Bowl. Look at his first three SB games. His fourth was at the age of 40, and it was actually still better than what his closest challenger for best in his position (Randy Moss) accomplished in his prime SB appearance.

Every other position in the NFL there can be some debate as to who was the best (though I'd say Tom Brady may very well have closed that debate for QBs). For receiver, there's no real debate.


We may have gone away from the point of this thread...but in short, Rice is closer to the Jordan/Saban level of his trade than Brees is to him. And Rice had that same obsessive compulsive trait as those two.

[fanof71]

4 years ago when Billy Napier left Alabama for Arizona State, Steve Sarkisian got the OC job at Alabama. Now that Sarkisian is headed to Texas, will Saban offer the job to Napier and will Napier take it?

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/

Tracking a Fed Ex cargo jet from Lafayette to Tuscaloosa....Something to do with an elephant..

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know.
Then we tried to remove the tusks. The tusks. That's not so easy to say. Tusks.
You try it some time. As I say, we tried to remove the tusks. But they were embedded so firmly we couldn't budge them.
Of course, in Alabama the Tuscaloosa, but that is entirely ir-elephant to what I was talking about"

[covcaj]

When NFL Network did their countdown to 100 Greatest Players of All-Time several years back, he was #1. Rice set records in an era when DBs could still play some actual defense against the pass. His 10 year stretch from '86 to '95 is about as dominant for his position as any other player during such a stretch in NFL history, except maybe Jim Brown.

And just like Saban and Jordan, you dig into their performances on the biggest stage. In the NFL, that's the Super Bowl. Look at his first three SB games. His fourth was at the age of 40, and it was actually still better than what his closest challenger for best in his position (Randy Moss) accomplished in his prime SB appearance.

Every other position in the NFL there can be some debate as to who was the best (though I'd say Tom Brady may very well have closed that debate for QBs). For receiver, there's no real debate.


We may have gone away from the point of this thread...but in short, Rice is closer to the Jordan/Saban level of his trade than Brees is to him. And Rice had that same obsessive compulsive trait as those two.

Thanks for the info. And, I tend to agree about Brady. There was always a question as to whether Brady made Belichick or vice versa. The argument could be made that Belichick was not Belichick before he had Brady... on the other hand, Brady wasn't considered that much before Belichick. However, based on this year, it appears we are getting closer to the answer.

[Zeebart21]

Tracking a Fed Ex cargo jet from Lafayette to Tuscaloosa....Something to do with an elephant..

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know.
Then we tried to remove the tusks. The tusks. That's not so easy to say. Tusks.
You try it some time. As I say, we tried to remove the tusks. But they were embedded so firmly we couldn't budge them.
Of course, in Alabama the Tuscaloosa, but that is entirely ir-elephant to what I was talking about"

Ok wait? The elephant was in your pants? WHERE were his tusks imbedded? Hmmmm, maybe you shouldnt be so Loosa.

Thats my contribution for the day. Happy New Year, Hope you all are well.

Z

[Turbine]

Then you're saying he's one of the Top 2 or 3 players in NFL history.

I just heard Brian Mitchell's name.

[Cajunrunner]

Thanks for the info. And, I tend to agree about Brady. There was always a question as to whether Brady made Belichick or vice versa. The argument could be made that Belichick was not Belichick before he had Brady... on the other hand, Brady wasn't considered that much before Belichick. However, based on this year, it appears we are getting closer to the answer.

True, but you can say the same about so many accomplished athletes/coaches. Is Saban really one of the greatests, or does his top recruiting class going on something like 10 years make him so great? Brady or Bellichek? Jordan/Kobe or Phil Jackson? Brees or Sean Peyton? Staubach or Tom Landry? Lawrence Taylor or Bill Parcels/Bill Bellichek? Montana or Walsh?

I think each benefits from the other, and those who end up being at the top of their games usually know how to recognize and understand when there is a player/coach at their disposal to give them that extra push over the top.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Thanks for the info. And, I tend to agree about Brady. There was always a question as to whether Brady made Belichick or vice versa. The argument could be made that Belichick was not Belichick before he had Brady... on the other hand, Brady wasn't considered that much before Belichick. However, based on this year, it appears we are getting closer to the answer.

Brady wasn’t anything other than a mid level draftee. He started after Bledso got injured and never looked back.

Brady currently has some of the best wide receivers in history and an all world tight end. He’s not without a lot of great support. He’s also been in the presence of greatness at New England.

Bottom line he gets his glory but he’s had always had more weapons than others. That’s not a knock on him just acknowledging Moss, Gronk, along with Cooks to name a few in New England

[Cajunrunner]

I just heard Brian Mitchell's name.

I know this is a hill you enjoy dying on, but while Brian Mitchell is definitely one of the best return men in NFL history, he is not a clear #1. In fact, there's much debate to be had I'm sure as to who the Top 3 or 5 would be, and with what criteria to use (example, Deion Sanders was not a full-time return guy, but possibly still Top 3-5 greatest PR guys in NFL history).

[covcaj]

True, but you can say the same about so many accomplished athletes/coaches. Is Saban really one of the greatests, or does his top recruiting class going on something like 10 years make him so great? Brady or Bellichek? Jordan/Kobe or Phil Jackson? Brees or Sean Peyton? Staubach or Tom Landry? Lawrence Taylor or Bill Parcels/Bill Bellichek? Montana or Walsh?

I think each benefits from the other, and those who end up being at the top of their games usually know how to recognize and understand when there is a player/coach at their disposal to give them that extra push over the top.

Absolutely And, that was my point, though evidently not well made. Certainly, Brady and Bellichek profited from each other. However, it appears, at least after one season, that Brady was able to function much better without Bellicek than vice versa.

As far as Saban, there are many attributes required to being a good or great head coach. And, knowledge of the game is just one, and, I would argue, not even the most important. That he is such a great recruiter is part and parcel of his beign a great college head coach.

[fanof71]

Ok wait? The elephant was in your pants? WHERE were his tusks imbedded? Hmmmm, maybe you shouldnt be so Loosa.

Thats my contribution for the day. Happy New Year, Hope you all are well.

Z

Marx Brothers sample...Animal Crackers...

[31Ragin97]

Yes, but I'm talking about that trait for Greatest of All Time at their professions. I know Saints fans love Drew Brees, but he's not the Rice/Saban/Jordan level of greatness.

yet when saban’s resources were constrained and he didnt get first dibs on every single player he wanted he struggled. three pieces (at least) to being a head coach: coaching, recruiting, overall program(i.e. finances, facilities,staff, etc). would be interesting if there was a way to grade the different aspects separately, obviously there isnt though.

and not as much jordan, but slightly and rice and brees were certainly late bloomers or under appreciated initially? what changed as they moved up and how does that rate against someone who was on top at every step along the way coming up, i.e. lebron james, magic johnson, barry bonds,

[31Ragin97]

i fail to see how napier would move up past these so called “low paid analysts”, that saban uses to wait there turn before a legal coaching slot opens. also if i was ____ed about someone not choosing me, im not sure id want to give them another chance