Bruschi: Mayo is a Top 3 Linebacker

[MrNathanDrake]

When asked if the Patriots defense could be elite without an elite defensive player he said (paraphrased):

'Hold on there, Wilfork and Mayo are definitely in that elite company'
'You think Mayo is an elite player?'
'I believe he's a top 3 LB in the league, absolutely'

-------------------------

If we're talking true Linebackers(not 34 OLB's that mostly rush the passer), then Bruschi might have a case.


Patrick Willis
Ray Lewis
Brian Urlacher
Jerod Mayo ???
AJ Hawk
Jon Beason
Lawrence Timmons
Jonathon Vilma


This will be Mayo's year to really show he's Elite.

 

[Shockt327]

How many SBs did the team win with "elite" players from 01-04? They were very good, but I'm not sure how many were top 3 in the opinions of non-pats fans...

Anyhow, I'd put Wilfork in as elite. Hayneworth could easily reclaim that title too. Beyond that I'd say that McCourty is knocking on the door. Mayo is too. Both are young, but they are All-Pro.

You can't win All Pro w/o being elite...at least for a year. It's not a popularity contest like the Pro Bowl is. So Tedy is on the money, IMO...

 

[mosi]

When asked if the Patriots defense could be elite without an elite defensive player he said (paraphrased):

'Hold on there, Wilfork and Mayo are definitely in that elite company'
'You think Mayo is an elite player?'
'I believe he's a top 3 LB in the league, absolutely'

-------------------------

If we're talking true Linebackers(not 34 OLB's that mostly rush the passer), then Bruschi might have a case.


Patrick Willis
Ray Lewis
Brian Urlacher
Jerod Mayo ???
AJ Hawk
Jon Beason
Lawrence Timmons
Jonathon Vilma


This will be Mayo's year to really show he's Elite.

AJ Hawk? I think you mean Clay Matthews. AJ has been a bust.

 

[BradyFTW!]

When asked if the Patriots defense could be elite without an elite defensive player he said (paraphrased):

'Hold on there, Wilfork and Mayo are definitely in that elite company'
'You think Mayo is an elite player?'
'I believe he's a top 3 LB in the league, absolutely'

-------------------------

If we're talking true Linebackers(not 34 OLB's that mostly rush the passer), then Bruschi might have a case.


Patrick Willis
Ray Lewis
Brian Urlacher
Jerod Mayo ???
AJ Hawk
Jon Beason
Lawrence Timmons
Jonathon Vilma


This will be Mayo's year to really show he's Elite.

Lewis, Vilma and Hawk aren't even close to as good as Willis, Urlacher, Mayo, and Beason.

 

[JackBauer]

Mayo is better than Lewis at this point in his career.

From what I've seen, the best linebackers (outside of pass-rushing specialists) are Willis, Mayo, and Timmons.

 

[The-Hooded-One]

Mayo is better than Lewis at this point in his career.

From what I've seen, the best linebackers (outside of pass-rushing specialists) are Willis, Mayo, and Timmons.

I don't think Urlacher should be slept on. He was great last week.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Ray Lewis and Urlacher are both still very good and make more splash plays than Mayo

 

[Holy Diver]

Mayo led the NFL in tackles last year. by 15

Belichick said he was the best interview he ever had next to Ray Lewis.

The only other LB I'd consider having at this point is Patrick Willis.

Mayo is certainly elite.

 

[Sicilian]

I think the knock on Mayo to this point has been his lack of "big plays", but I believe that's more a product of the role he's played thus far. The Tampa preseason game gave us a taste of what can happen when Mayo is given more aggressive responsibilities, and I think we'll see some of that once Spikes is back there in the middle.

 

[RodThePat]

Mayo is better than Lewis at this point in his career.

No, he isn't. He's not nearly as much of a playmaker, but that's not a knock on Mayo as Ray Lewis is one of the 5 best LBs of all time, maybe THE best.

 

[Triumph]

Bruschi should shut up.

What does he know?

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Even though he plays for the enemy you cant forget David Harris.

 

[Holy Diver]

Even though he plays for the enemy you cant forget David Harris.

He's not even the best Jet linebacker.....

 

[ausbacker]

No, he isn't. He's not nearly as much of a playmaker, but that's not a knock on Mayo as Ray Lewis is one of the 5 best LBs of all time, maybe THE best.

Mayo is considerably better than Ray Lewis at this stage of their careers. Mayo is arguably the best inside linebacker in the NFL along with Patrick Willis.

People need to move past the mystique of Ray Lewis and actually watch him these days. He's still very good, but I'd rather Mayo or Willis.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

He's not even the best Jet linebacker.....

Of course he is.
And is also a top 5 ILB.

Willis, Mayo, Harris, Beason, DeMeco Ryans or Timmons. Arguably the top 5/6.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Also, what the ***k was that question?

Can the Patriots win with no elite players on D?

What the hell is that guy talking about?

We had 3 guys beeing named all-pro, and we added Haynesworth, who may become all pro again.

What does he consider elite? Two players by position? Idiot.

 

[Deus Irae]

Mayo's a top 3 ILB. As an all around LB?

I'm not seeing it.


Edit: To clarify that....

I don't think there's any question that he's a top 3 ILB. I think there's a very legitimate question about him as a top 3 LB.

Ware
Willis
Harrison
Matthews
Woodley
Hali


They've all got some legitimate arguments.

 

[Froob]

He's not even the best Jet linebacker.....

Who's better?

 

[JackBauer]

No, he isn't. He's not nearly as much of a playmaker, but that's not a knock on Mayo as Ray Lewis is one of the 5 best LBs of all time, maybe THE best.

Yes, he is, and I say that while also acknowledging that, in his prime, Lewis might have played at a level unsurpassed by any other linebacker in NFL history.

 

[JackBauer]

Mayo's a top 3 ILB. As an all around LB?

I'm not seeing it.


Edit: To clarify that....

I don't think there's any question that he's a top 3 ILB. I think there's a very legitimate question about him as a top 3 LB.

Ware
Willis
Harrison
Matthews
Woodley
Hali


They've all got some legitimate arguments.

Fair point. That's why I excluded pass-rushing OLBs from my list. How do you weight Matthew's pass rushing ability against his propensity for getting bulldozed in the ground game for the purposes of ranking against, say, Mayo or Willis? Who knows.