Best LB in Patriots History?

[zippo59]

There is definitely no right answer to this question. We've had some good ones over the years. I would set up a poll but I don't really get how plus I don't think they really matter so we'll just discuss. You can make an argument for many different players. Some of obvious ones to choose from are

Tedy Bruschi
Andre Tippett
Willie McGuinest
Steve Nelson
Mike Vrabel
Ted Johnson

 

[shirtsleeve]

Not even close. AT was all world. But for pure heart,soul, and bleeding Pats red, white and blue, Tedy has no peer.

 

[HAMMERMILL]

My first thought was Andre Tippet,so have to stick with him.

 

[Patti37]

My first thought was Andre Tippet,so have to stick with him.

Same here.

 

[bbaptiste]

What a great question!!

My faves:

Most underrated: Vincent "the Undertaker" Brown.

Best second Banana: Don Blackmon

Most intense: Tedy Bruschi

Biggest hitter: Ted Johnson

Greatest career cut short by injury: Clayton Weishun

All-around best: Andre "Karate" Tippett

 

[patsfan13]

Although he left the team I'd have to include Nick Buoniconti.

 

[ClevTrev]

Cannot overlook Steve Nelson, who gets props for guts, aggression, and pure team dedication. His clone would fit very well on the current team as an ILB.

 

[biffman]

There is definitely no right answer to this question.

Yes there is. It’s Tippett and it’s not even close.

 

[homerpatsfan]

Tippet , BUT WHAT A GROUP

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

In order:

Tippett
Nelson
Willie
Bruschi

Also, Vicent Brown deserves to be on a list of great Patriot LBs.

 

[ClevTrev]

In order:

Tippett
Nelson
Willie
Bruschi

Also, Vicent Brown deserves to be on a list of great Patriot LBs.

OK, I'll take that 4 with Tippett & Willie at OLB and Nelson & Bruschi at ILB. Not bad . . . .

 

[chowder]

Tippett is the best so far, but Bruschi is my favorite.

 

[AzPatsFan]

You are having a discussion of the best LB in Patriots history and no one mention the ONLY Patriot LB in the Pro football Hall of Fame? He played 8 years for the Pats and after trade,played his final five with the Phish.

I guess it's just that he played before many here were born.

But Nick Buoniconti was the best LB I ever saw on the Pats but Tip comes close,bu twas a completely different type of LB. Nick did everything; stop the run, blitz, cover and quarterback the Defense. The closest player to his style would be Zack Thomas but Zack is only a pale imitation of Nick.

He holds the record for producing the only defense not to lose a game the entire season when in his later years he was the captain and heart of the Dolphin's "Killer Bs," partially named after him...

 

[shirtsleeve]

Yeah he's in the hall, but Tip has been shafted for not being there too.
I like the most unsung going to Don Blackmon, too. The guy was a monster, but was forgotten.

 

[zoostation]

Love em all...but Tippet was by far the most talented physically. If you don’t agree you never saw him play.

I remember being at a meaningless Colts game at the end of the season. Both teams sucked and had absolutely nothing to play for. The only word I can use to describe Andre that day was “a kamikaze”. This man was all over the field hitting anything and anyone. All this in front of a whopping 12,000 fans…tops. Andre was a beast and he never quit.


Having said that Tedy will always be a true Patriot through and through! (forever)

I also loved the time Andre knocked Ken O'Brian of the Jets out with a brutal sack in the playoffs (wildcard game in 1985). O'Brian was quoted as calling plays from his high school playbook before they realized they had to take him out of the game. The shot from the AP wire showed Andre airborn with O'Brian in his grasp on a horizontal plain.

 

[ClevTrev]

You are having a discussion of the best LB in Patriots history and no one mention the ONLY Patriot LB in the Pro football Hall of Fame? He played 8 years for the Pats and after trade,played his final five with the Phish.

I guess it's just that he played before many here were born.

But Nick Buoniconti was the best LB I ever saw on the Pats but Tip comes close,bu twas a completely different type of LB. Nick did everything; stop the run, blitz, cover and quarterback the Defense. The closest player to his style would be Zack Thomas but Zack is only a pale imitation of Nick.

He holds the record for producing the only defense not to lose a game the entire season when in his later years he was the captain and heart of the Dolphin's "Killer Bs," partially named after him...

One of the reasons Buoniconti gets overlooked is that while he was an excellent LB during his time with Boston, he played for the Fins during the prime of his career. That coupled with the fact that the Pats were not the greatest before he left has something to do with him being overlooked. No doubt a great player, many feel Nick made his mark with a division rival. He certainly should get his due, as he played 7 stellar years for the Pats.

 

[BayAreaPatsFan]

There is definitely no right answer to this question. We've had some good ones over the years. I would set up a poll but I don't really get how plus I don't think they really matter so we'll just discuss. You can make an argument for many different players. Some of obvious ones to choose from are

Tedy Bruschi
Andre Tippett
Willie McGuinest
Steve Nelson
Mike Vrabel
Ted Johnson

What no love for Vincent Brown (the "UNDERTAKER") !!

 

[patsfan13]

I would have to say Tippett. Nick as #2, Tippett had the misfortune of playing at the same time as L Taylor, who is arguable the best OLB to ever play the game.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

OK, I'll take that 4 with Tippett & Willie at OLB and Nelson & Bruschi at ILB. Not bad . . . .

Not bad? Hell, I'd stack them right up there with the great Steelers and Giants LBing corps.

 

[3 to be 4]

Love em all...but Tippet was by far the most talented physically. If you don’t agree you never saw him play.

I remember being at a meaningless Colts game at the end of the season. Both teams sucked and had absolutely nothing to play for. The only word I can use to describe Andre that day was “a kamikaze”. This man was all over the field hitting anything and anyone. All this in front of a whopping 12,000 fans…tops. Andre was a beast and he never quit.


Having said that Tedy will always be a true Patriot through and through! (forever)

I also loved the time Andre knocked Ken O'Brian of the Jets out with a brutal sack in the playoffs (wildcard game in 1985). O'Brian was quoted as calling plays from his high school playbook before they realized they had to take him out of the game. The shot from the AP wire showed Andre airborn with O'Brian in his grasp on a horizontal plain.

wasnt that the game when O'Brien was on the sideline phone and he was so out of it he was ordering a pizza??

Tippett was easily the best Patriot LB i ever saw. In 1984 and 1985 he was overshadowed by LT, but AT was great.