Voice of the Fan

Sporting News, The, Nov 22, 1999

Choice voice `Even though I am a lifetime Cowboys fan, your prediction of a Dallas Super Bowl victory (TSN, November 8) is akin to picking the Clippers to win the NBA championship. Did you see the Eagles, Giants, Colts and Vikings games?'

Jim Marshall San Francisco

Shift in power

In your midseason NFL report, you picked the Cowboys over the Dolphins in the Super Bowl (TSN, November 8). The way the Cowboys are playing, it looks like they won't even make the playoffs.

After midseason, it's obvious that the NFC will wind up on the short end of the stick no matter which AFC team it plays. The power has shifted to the AFC.

Kelly Pernick Wilmette, Ill.

Cornerback controversy

Rod Woodson is head and shoulders above Deion Sanders as the best-ever cornerback (TSN, November 8). Before his knee injury, Woodson was not only the best cover man but a solid tackler. That makes him the most well-rounded cornerback in the NFL.

Don't forget, on the NFL's 75th anniversary team (selected in 1994), Woodson is one of the cornerbacks; Sanders isn't on the list.

Daryl Dotson Asheville, N. C.

Paul Attner mentions the roles Mel Blount and others played under as a reason for their dominance. Blount was the reason for the 5-yard rule. He would totally eliminate a receiver from the play. The intimidation factor Blount brought to his game was a very important part of the Steel Curtain. Sanders is not the total package and can't be compared to Blount.

Ric Tkac North Huntington, Pa.

Sanders the best cornerback ever? You must be kidding. He is a self-serving showboat who does not care about the integrity of the team game. He is the best punt returner of all time but hardly the best cornerback. Wonder why the guy wears a headband around his neck? It's too small for his head.

Jeff Owens Mattoon, Ill.

Ranking the best

Lists always generate plenty of response--often disagreement-- and our Football's 100 Greatest Players was no different.

"To list Deion Sanders as the 37th best player is ludicrous," writes Stephen Liss of Houston. "Deion is the second-best defensive player to step on the field behind L.T. (Lawrence Taylor, No. 4). Sanders should be No. 5."

Although 83 of the 100 players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, some HOF members were left off, such as Yale Lary and Doak Walker. Lanny Middings of San Ramon, Calif., thought Lary should have been on the list because of his versatility. "Not only was Lary the best punter in NFL history, but he was the Deion Sanders of his day ... opposing passers routinely refused to throw to his side of the field."

Simon Gin of San Francisco writes, "1 was stunned not to see Doak Walker included. Walker, who led the league in scoring and was a standout kicker, played brilliantly for the Lions' championship teams of the 1950s. College and pro, Walker was the greatest all-around football player ever."

Readers also made arguments for future Hall candidates, including receivers Andre Reed and Cris Carter and recently retired Barry Sanders.

"Granted, Jim Brown (No. 1) was a great back, but he was 230 pounds playing against 220-pound linebackers and 240-pound linemen," writes Chris Cullen of Boston. "He was so dominant because he was one of the biggest people on the field, and you put him above Barry Sanders?"

"Reed continues to get little or no respect," writes Tony Wockasen of Chattanooga, Tenn. "He is only the third player in NFL history to have 900 catches, along with Jerry Rice and Art Monk. It's time to give credit where it's due."

Steven Markey of Cottage Grove, Minn., writes, "Carter is No. 2 in touchdown receptions and fourth in receptions in history, and he's not even included in the top 10 coming attractions? To exclude Carter is a travesty."

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