Patrick Willis HOF Material?

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:

Originally posted by 4everFaithful:

Originally posted by Niners99:

Originally posted by 4everFaithful:
Top 5 MLBs of all-time:

1) Ray Lewis
2) Jack Lambert
3) Dick Butkus
4) Mike Singletary
5) Patrick Willis


Willis was the most incredible athlete I've ever seen at that position. Had he played a longer career, he would've been higher on my list.

I think Willis was better than Lambert and Singletary. Lambert was a great player, but he played in an era they didnt really track defensive stats, so his reputation is more legend than hard numbers. Probably the same with Butkus, although I think he is a close 2nd to Ray Lewis.

Willis never played a down of NFL football in which he wasnt considered an elite player. Right off the bat as a rookie, he was a star. Our only memory of him will be that elite All-Pro player, which is why I think he gets in.

It would be dumb to say him playing out 2 more years of mediocre football on bad feet would put him over the top for the Hall, just because of the year total.

He played 7 full seasons, and made 7 Pro Bowls, and none of them were charity or based on rep. He was a HOF player.

Agreed. Honestly I'd put Willis #2 on that list behind Ray, but I didn't want to come off as a homer lol

4ever you are completely wrong.

The top 5 mlb of all time:

1) Dick Butkus;


That's it.

Dick Butkus had a short career too

Patrick Willis is HOF material no doubt. He was a leader a consummate professional on and off the field. Everyone remembers Willis as a tackling machine, but one aspect that was VERY underrated about his game was his coverage ability. I see that list up there of what some consider the top 5 MLBs of all time, I don't think any of those guys had the athleticism that Willis possessed to go toe to toe with these modern TEs the way Willis was able to.

Originally posted by iLLEST209ER:
Patrick Willis is HOF material no doubt. He was a leader a consummate professional on and off the field. Everyone remembers Willis as a tackling machine, but one aspect that was VERY underrated about his game was his coverage ability. I see that list up there of what some consider the top 5 MLBs of all time, I don't think any of those guys had the athleticism that Willis possessed to go toe to toe with these modern TEs the way Willis was able to.

he chased down a f**kin WR in stride to save a long TD, demolished AP in a head on collision IN HIS PRIME, caused all kinds of turnovers, led some of the best defenses we ever had and hit a dude so hard his soul left his body, tried to come back and then left again lol. None of the dudes on this list could do that. Willis is 2nd to Ray because ray did it way longer and he put himself in the media more, made himself into a brand. willis was a football player, not a show boat and he retired at the right time. no one was better than willis besides bowman when he left and they were teammates. ray held on to his fame til he started to deteriorate, went full on born again christian after he murdered someone and became a preacher on nfl network, got caught taking steroids or antler spray whatever the hell that was about and was gifted a superbowl as a retirement present. that being said, Ray is still a great MLB, probably the best when he was in his prime, but Pat was just as good and he was always in his prime while he played.

Originally posted by 4everFaithful:
Reason I had Lambert and Ray ahead of him is because Lambert had 4 rings and 28 ints which is very impressive in my opinion. He also had the ability to play both ILB and OLB. And of course as for Ray, it's self explanatory, the longevity and effectiveness of his career will never be matched at that position.

Watch the tape. No one dominated like Butkus. No collisions were more violent. Butkus weighed 250 in an era when lineman weighed 250. They didn't track forced fumbles back then but if they did, butkus would be the all time leader. Also he played for stinky teams.

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:

Originally posted by 4everFaithful:

Reason I had Lambert and Ray ahead of him is because Lambert had 4 rings and 28 ints which is very impressive in my opinion. He also had the ability to play both ILB and OLB. And of course as for Ray, it's self explanatory, the longevity and effectiveness of his career will never be matched at that position.

Watch the tape. No one dominated like Butkus. No collisions were more violent. Butkus weighed 250 in an era when lineman weighed 250. They didn't track forced fumbles back then but if they did, butkus would be the all time leader. Also he played for stinky teams.

Thats all true, but he also played in an era where he was able to stand out against a backdrop of mostly inferior athletes. In the modern NFL there are RB's the size of Steven Jackson. Offenses are FAR more complex and difficult to game plan for. OC's call the plays now, rather than QB's out there improving on every play.

I have respect for the old school legends like Butkus and Lambert, but they come from a time before statistics were kept, and people nostalgically remember the grit and mud of old school football. Its easy to elevate those guys to legend status without proof otherwise.

I think Butkus gets the asterisk number 1 spot, but Lewis/Willis being 1-2 is probably less crazy than you think.

If BuTkus had todays "training regimes" his game weight would be 275. Just as fast. You have a very condescending attitude towards athletes from prior eras if I may say. Not a single coach in pro football who would not start BuTkus at 28.

Don't look at stats. Look at tape of BuTkus holding up a fullback with one arm stripping the ball out with the other. Forget the stats.

Hell yes he still a Hall of Famer. Gail Sayers only played for five years and he made it. Patrick Willis made the ProBowl every single year except the year he was hurt. When you're the best at your position for almost a decade that is exactly why you make the Hall of Fame.

Its obvious to everyone except rampant webzone homers who are in the anger stage of loss.

Originally posted by b9er37:
5 all pro seasons should be enough. Athletically he's for sure better than most already in.

I'll add this, I know pro bowl is overrated, guys make it on name alone now, but 7 in a row to start a career 3rd most ever for a defensive player. After his first game we all knew we hit a home run drafting him, that's special! People are saying Terrell Davis should be in? Willis should be a no brainer. Only reason we're doubting it now is the crazy amount of negative vibes in 9er land right now. He retired with class (unlike certain HOF 9ers receivers lol)

1. Ray Lewis
2. Patrick Willis
3. Dick Butkus
4. Jack Lambert
5. Mike Singletary
Honorable Mention: Junior Seau

Guys who haven't played the game (Ray Ratto) believe his career was too short. Guys who played against him call him the best LB they ever saw. Who votes?

I am not sure who the #1 linebacker of all time would be, but i do know it wouldn't be Ray Lewis.

Originally posted by Jcool:
I am not sure who the #1 linebacker of all time would be, but i do know it wouldn't be Ray Lewis.

Perhaps you should say.. in my opinion it isnt Ray Lewis.

I dont think there is a clear cut #1 MLB like there is WR(Jerry) or RB (Brown). Lewis, Butkis, Singletary, Lambert, and Willis are all in the conversation I believe.
Lewis and Singletary were the backbones of the 2 greatest defensive teams in memory and that gives them a slight edge for me.

Originally posted by prime21:
He could have retired after his first season and made the HOF. Willis does it his way.

This. Willis would kick Cuck Norris' ass!

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:

Originally posted by Jcool:
I am not sure who the #1 linebacker of all time would be, but i do know it wouldn't be Ray Lewis.

Perhaps you should say.. in my opinion it isnt Ray Lewis.

I dont think there is a clear cut #1 MLB like there is WR(Jerry) or RB (Brown). Lewis, Butkis, Singletary, Lambert, and Willis are all in the conversation I believe.
Lewis and Singletary were the backbones of the 2 greatest defensive teams in memory and that gives them a slight edge for me.

I only place Ray Lewis as #1 middle linebacker because of the length of his career. He literally outplayed all the other Top candidates so it's kind of hard for me to go against that. It's sort of like putting Walter Payton over Jim Brown....a lot of older folks (like me) would say Jim Brown but Payton played longer so that factors in. I don't think there's any clear cut #1 either....my buddy swears Brian Urlacher is the best he's ever seen LOL LOL