bill and tom's excellent adventure
(the only draft that matters)
((to us))
(((part six)))


day six: safety

adrian wilson. ed reed. troy polamalu. today's great nfl safeties don't owe anything, necessarily, to ronnie lott. if aping a previous player's style and/or swag was a commodity worth paying royalties on, though, some financial recompense may, in fact, be in order.

ronnie lott came into the league as a corner, but his massive skill-set was worth more when given the keys to terrorhawk from the 49ers centerfield and strike fear into wide-receivers league wide. lott was an incredibly cerebral player and much like polamalu, these days, always seems to be around the end result of any play, lott set the precedent for that type of behavior coming from the safety position.

in addition to his awareness rating being a figurative "99", lott's other calling card was his toughness, with no greater example being that of asking a san francisco trainer to shave the top half of a pinky off so that he could re-enter a football game after smashing the digit into oblivion between two helmets.

his vital stats ring every bit as impressive.

10 pro bowls
8 first team all-pros
4 super bowls
80's and 90's all decade teams

lott may have not only been the spiritual grandfather to the golden age of safeties we are currently living in, but he may be the the greatest defensive back to ever live (ed: eat that, primetime). period.

chris: Since you got the best FS ever, I will take the best SS ever. Ken Houston who played for Washington and Houston, spending most of his time with the Redskins.


12 Pro Bowls
2 All Pro Selections
1986 HOF
1970's all decade team
75th Anniversary Team


Before Lott, Ken Houston was the safety. At 6'3 200 pounds, he would be an avg if not small safety now. However in his day this was considered big and he like Lott was regarded for his big hits.
 
i'm just gonna have to take your word for it.


as I was looking around, ken houston's name popped up on every list of all-time safeties that i found, but he was one of the few guys at any position that i have ZERO recollection of ever seeing a highlight from or reading about. of course, after having that thought, I said to myself, "chris is going to pick ken houston."

i'm not against picking guys from previous generations. i'm not so naive to believe that there weren't really good football players relative to their competition in the 60's and 70's. that being said, you aren't going to see many, if any, of those guys on team bill. so, congrats on the ken houston pick. maybe you can introduce me to him before the big game.

chris: meet ken houston (ed: see below)

i'll commend the pick if for no other reason than the fantastic sideburns.

anything else or are we moving forward to you drafting joe montana?