Darrell Green, the Ageless Wonder, didn't start slowing down until his 15th or 16th year in the league. Still one of the fastest players in the league well into his mid-30's. Revis is consensus top-10 all time. Could make a case for top 3-5.
He is, anybody with a subscription to Pro Football Focus can look it up (I don't have one) and his only injury is to his pride that he came into camp fan and slow..and now it isn't just his ex-agents saying that, he is finally admitting it himself.
Actually, I have to say definitely top 10 worthy, not top 5 ... Here are some notable names ... Sanders, Green, Night Train Lane, Ronnie Lott, and Woodson ... then you got Blount and Champ Bailey. Revis top 10 for sure, but top 5 ... hard to say ... he has aged the worst out of all the great CBs, hard a shorter period of domination ... I have a hard time putting Revis over those names.
Noone is saying he's better than those first group of names. Like I said, consensus top-10 for sure and can make an argument for top 5. Also I consider Ronnie Lott a safety much more than a CB as that's where he dominated for most of his career.
The thing is Revis could've been just as good if not better, if he took his career a little more serious in terms of longevity. Any chance of him playing FS is out of the window cause the guy has regressed in terms of tackling. Lott would've been known more as a CB if the 49ers didn't let Dwight Hicks leave the team back in the mid 80s. He would've dominated regardless of DB position.
I always seem to forget about Willie Brown, if I remember correctly him and Revis were very identical in terms of playing style, he also had a longer stretch of dominance compared to Revis. Might have to argue Mike Haynes too ... he was the better of the "Haynes Brothers" ... Don't know much about Lem Barney at all ... will have to research and learn about him.
Lott has and always will be known as one of the best and most ferocious Safeties of all-time. Saying the same thing about him if he stayed at CB is a pure hypothetical. Also statistically his best year ever was at Free Safety. Now Revis OTOH is just happy counting the zeros on his checks.
He was really good in 84, made the pro-bowl and etc ... 17 INTs in 4 seasons, 4 TDs .. crap-ton in tackles. No doubt, it is hypothetical, but he was a really good player then. That's where Revis is now, maybe he doesn't love the game anymore, he has nothing left to prove who knows ... its a shame but hey Woody and Mac wanted to bring them back
Lem Barney was kind of a pre-Deion: - Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1992 inductee - 1st career NFL pass thrown his way (by HOF QB Bart Starr)? Pick 6. - rookie season: 10 INTs (12-game season), 232 int return yds, 3 TDs. - Took over punting when Pat Studstill was injured; punted 47 times for a 'Quigley-esque' 37.4 yards. - AP NFL defensive rookie of the year - rookie year off-season: served 6 months active duty in the US Navy. During his 11 years in the NFL, Barney had 56 interceptions, 1,011 interception return yards, and seven interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also returned 143 punts for 1,312 yards and three touchdowns as well as 50 kickoff returns for 1,274 yards, including a 98-yard return for touchdown. - sang backup vox on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" 7× Pro Bowl (1967–1969, 1972, 197, 1975, 1976) 2× First-team All-Pro (1968, 1969)
Barney was indeed the "factor of one" back during the early 70's He and Mel Farr seemed to re-energize the Detroit franchise with their play. And although I did see the Haynes & Hayes duo, I think Willie Brown was probably the best I ever saw play at that position. I never liked Sanders so I couldn't give an objective opinion. I also thought Dave Brown of the Seahawks, et al, was tremendously under rated. He was one of the few who could honestly say opposing teams didn't throw his way. Herb Adderley was a special player, but the game was a lot different then, back when he and Lane played.
good list and good discussion in terms of the best all-time. Night Train Lane was well before my time, but the guy hit like a mack truck AND was an interception machine. Think I'd have to lean towards him as best all-time. Lott to me is a Safety. Sanders was a great athlete, and did exciting things contributing on punt returns and even offense, but wanted no part of tackling whatsoever. Bailey was a great CB as well, but never really as dominant as Revis at his best. Charles Woodson and Rod Woodson both rank high as pure corners, but even higher when factoring their entire careers including their conversions to S. I was hoping Revis could take that route here, but it's looking unlikely. I've been watching football since the early 80's, and Revis '09 season was the best I've seen from any CB by far though... I would for sure put him in the top 5 if just basing on CB position, and probably top 3. If basing it on entire career, including time at other positions like S or Returner, etc., than maybe he falls out of the top 5.
Watch Revis turn it around in the second half. I predict over the next 8 games: 4 INTs, 1 FF, 1 TD, 15 Passes deflected.
The only thing about Lane, is I don't think his game would go so well with refs in today's game. I think him and Deion are the 2 best at the position. Deion did get in the head of Jerry Rice, and at times got the best of him. I won't argue Lott as a safety. I think you are underrating Bailey a little bit, he to me after thinking about this yesterday, is in my top 3. From 05 to 08, the guy was insane, I don't think Bailey ever had a weakness in his game. Revis always did have a problem with Ted Ginn and the speedy receivers. Both excellent tacklers, both great at run support, but I think Bailey was able to do MORE [Great at both man and zone]. Bailey had a longer period of domination as well in comparison to Revis. Had a reniancesse season 14 yrs in. Revis had 2009 no doubt, the most dominate year in terms of man to man coverage, but 05 to 08 Bailey was insane. I thought Revis would've surpassed Bailey in terms of being a better tackler, but this season threw that discussion in the trash. Revis could've been truly great, but I don't think he was as motivated to be the GOAT in comparison to a Bailey who was ALWAYS in tip-top shape.
If he doesn't substantially improve his game in the second half of the season, he's going to be asked to renegotiate, and will likely refuse and be cut. And that'll be that. We'd all like Revis of old back, but if he can't or won't play his technical, press-coverage, insanely-good-hand-use game, he's not going to be anything close to a "lockdown" corner again.
Revis never did look like he was trying, even when he was shutdown good. He's just v-e-r-y fluid in his movement and he looks like he isn't even trying. The difference now is that he doesn't have the speed to go with the fluid movement so he REALLY looks bad now.
