Along With Butkus, Best Players I've Ever Seen

[Harlan Huckleby]

Later I wrestled heavy weight at a college where Otto Graham was athletic director, recently retired as football coach.

Wasn't this the Coast Guard Academy? Don't tell us you're actually a serviceman in disguise. Semper paratus 'Always ready', isn't that the coast guard motto?

ya, that was the Coast Guard Academy. Otto Graham was a Coast Guard officer. I'm not sure if that was an honorary deal or if he actually served. (I supposed if Willie Mays was available, they'd make him Admiral Willie Mays and send him out recruiting.)

He was personable and gentle-voiced, fatherly sort of guy. Not u-rah-rah. He also looked like a movie star. I remember being nervous, not because he was famous, I didn't know Otto Graham from Graham Cracker. I was 18, to me the Seniors were worldly old men to be feared. An actual officer was a god. I didn't want to admit I stunk at football, didn't want to tell this towering figure "no", I think I just kept quiet and never got back to him.

[Harlan Huckleby]

dp

[Freak Out]

Best player I've ever seen? I have never seen Otto Graham play thats for sure.

Brett Favre

Joe Montana

Jerry Rice

Barry Sanders

OJ

Tarkenton

Marino

[Freak Out]

Best player I've ever seen? I have never seen Otto Graham play thats for sure.

Brett Favre

Joe Montana

Jerry Rice

Barry Sanders

OJ

Tarkenton

Marino

...and I think I should add Marcus Allen in there.

as far as a defensive player goes I would have to say..

Butkus/Nitschke

LT

Deacon Jones

Reggie White

Mel Blount

Bruce Smith was damn good.

It's hard to put guys like this in any real order...they all changed the game in some way.