2008 Woodie Awards
Tony's Time Out: Old-School v. New Kids
Tony Patrico
Issue date: 7/18/07 Section: Sports
With the NFL season right around the corner, I wanted to compare this year's current crop of players to the players of the past. What would it have been like to see Reggie White line up across the field from Vince Young? Who would win a foot race between Emmitt Smith and Adrian Peterson? I put a star of old against a rising star to see who shines the brightest.
The first match-up is against one of the games best new up-and-coming quarterbacks, Tennessee Titan Vince Young, and one of the games best defensive lineman, former Green Bay Packer, the late Reggie White. Young's quickness and visual perception of the field makes him dangerous on the ground and gives him the edge to find a receiver when others would scan over them. However, White was one of the first players to introduce such innovative moves like the spin-move, the bull-rush and was most famous for his sheer strength. Match-up number one goes to White.
Next lets put one of the games best wide receivers on the strong side and let him loose. I'll take the electric Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49er's days. Back in his prime, Rice could catch anything within an arms reach regardless of the coverage. You get the ball to him; he'd get into the end zone. However, if you take some of the speed-blessed defensive secondary players of today you got yourself a pretty good match-up that may be some of the reason the Rice retired a few years ago. I'll take my chances defending with Champ Bailey from the Denver Broncos. With his speed and his sense for knowing where the ball will be, I'm giving this one to Bailey.
As Adrian Peterson, straight from the Oklahoma Sooner locker room, steps onto the field in Minnesota, the question will be answered. Will Adrian Peterson, picked 7th overall, be the best running back in the game? Perhaps. However, lets say Peterson was drafted in 1981, which was four years before he was born, but let your imagination run. So, think Peterson lining up, receiving the hand off from Tommy Kramer and bursting through the hole in the offensive line, only to met by the most intimidating linebacker in the history of the game, Lawrence Taylor. Sorry, AP, but LT wins this one.
The first match-up is against one of the games best new up-and-coming quarterbacks, Tennessee Titan Vince Young, and one of the games best defensive lineman, former Green Bay Packer, the late Reggie White. Young's quickness and visual perception of the field makes him dangerous on the ground and gives him the edge to find a receiver when others would scan over them. However, White was one of the first players to introduce such innovative moves like the spin-move, the bull-rush and was most famous for his sheer strength. Match-up number one goes to White.
Next lets put one of the games best wide receivers on the strong side and let him loose. I'll take the electric Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49er's days. Back in his prime, Rice could catch anything within an arms reach regardless of the coverage. You get the ball to him; he'd get into the end zone. However, if you take some of the speed-blessed defensive secondary players of today you got yourself a pretty good match-up that may be some of the reason the Rice retired a few years ago. I'll take my chances defending with Champ Bailey from the Denver Broncos. With his speed and his sense for knowing where the ball will be, I'm giving this one to Bailey.
As Adrian Peterson, straight from the Oklahoma Sooner locker room, steps onto the field in Minnesota, the question will be answered. Will Adrian Peterson, picked 7th overall, be the best running back in the game? Perhaps. However, lets say Peterson was drafted in 1981, which was four years before he was born, but let your imagination run. So, think Peterson lining up, receiving the hand off from Tommy Kramer and bursting through the hole in the offensive line, only to met by the most intimidating linebacker in the history of the game, Lawrence Taylor. Sorry, AP, but LT wins this one.
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