The Best Player You Have Ever Seen Not Make It To The Super Bowl

[Peytonsbetter]

Tarkenton played in a Super Bowl with the Vikings and lost to the Dolphins. Munoz played in a Super Bowl and lost, I think, to the 49ers.

How about the Matthews brothers? Bruce played with the Titans against the Rams in 99 but I have no idea about Clay.

Both were great players.

 

[primetime]

-Johnny Unitas

Um, Unitas played in the "guaranteed" game against Namath. Him getting knocked out in the second quarter and thus forcing Earl Morrall to come in is probably the reason the Jets won (and saved the AFL and thus the Patriots!) He also led the Colts back to the Super Bowl two years later, making it a grand total of two Super Bowl appearances in his career.

My vote goes to OJ Simpson. Probably the best RB to ever play the game, but gets glossed over because of post-retirement issues (like, you know, killing his wife and an innocent guy). Barry Sanders would be next.

 

[mgteich]

OJ get snoticed because of his character. IMHO, he was nowhere near as good as Barry Sanders or Jim Brown.

Um, Unitas played in the "guaranteed" game against Namath. Him getting knocked out in the second quarter and thus forcing Earl Morrall to come in is probably the reason the Jets won (and saved the AFL and thus the Patriots!) He also led the Colts back to the Super Bowl two years later, making it a grand total of two Super Bowl appearances in his career.

My vote goes to OJ Simpson. Probably the best RB to ever play the game, but gets glossed over because of post-retirement issues (like, you know, killing his wife and an innocent guy). Barry Sanders would be next.

 

[QuiGon]

I agree with Barry Sanders and would add Larry Wilson, Tommy Nobis, and John Brodie. Warren Moon was on a Super Bowl team in his last season with Buffalo.

I am not sure that is accurate... Moon played in (and lost) the famous 35 point comeback game, which was Buffalo's 3rd of 4 consecutive Super Bowl runs... and I know he wasn't on the Bills in that next season either... (in fact I don't remember him ever going to Buffalo, but I couldn't rule it out 100%)...

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Im going with Dan Fouts, back in the pre Marino days, he just threw the ball all over the place...

 

[mgteich]

If I were just looking at quarterbacks, I would have Manning and Brodie before Fouts.

Im going with Dan Fouts, back in the pre Marino days, he just threw the ball all over the place...

 

[gomezcat]

How about the Matthews brothers? Bruce played with the Titans against the Rams in 99 but I have no idea about Clay.

Both were great players.

I have a feeling that Clay was with Cleveland for his whole career. Time to cheat:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_Matthews
I was wrong about him being at just Cleveland but I reckon he is eligible.

I'd like to add the names of Dan Dierdorf at OT, Mike Munchak at Guard and Lee Roy Selmon at DE.

 

[Tunescribe]

Barry Sanders
Merlin Olson
Deacon Jones
Eric ****erson
Warren Moon
Earl Campbell
Bert Jones
Randall Cunningham
Dan Fouts
Kellen Winslow
Steve Largent
Chris Carter
O.J. Simpson
John Brodie
Roman Gabriel

I see lists like this and am amazed I'm the only one so far to mention **** Butkus, arguably the best linebacker ever to play the game.

 

[dhamz]

Um, Unitas played in the "guaranteed" game against Namath. Him getting knocked out in the second quarter and thus forcing Earl Morrall to come in is probably the reason the Jets won (and saved the AFL and thus the Patriots!)

Unitas did not get hurt in that game. Morrall was the starter, played poorly and Unitas relieved him.

 

[taltos]

I am not sure that is accurate... Moon played in (and lost) the famous 35 point comeback game, which was Buffalo's 3rd of 4 consecutive Super Bowl runs... and I know he wasn't on the Bills in that next season either... (in fact I don't remember him ever going to Buffalo, but I couldn't rule it out 100%)...

You are correct, was reading a stats chart and placed him on the wrong team. His team that year lost to the Bills in the post season prior to the Super Bowl. Sorry for the confusion. The source that I have been using is pro-football-reference.com.

 

[RayClay]

Barret Robbins

 

[Kevin The Pat]

Um, Unitas played in the "guaranteed" game against Namath. Him getting knocked out in the second quarter and thus forcing Earl Morrall to come in is probably the reason the Jets won (and saved the AFL and thus the Patriots!) He also led the Colts back to the Super Bowl two years later, making it a grand total of two Super Bowl appearances in his career.

My vote goes to OJ Simpson. Probably the best RB to ever play the game, but gets glossed over because of post-retirement issues (like, you know, killing his wife and an innocent guy). Barry Sanders would be next.

Sorry for those two I was thinking never won a Super Bowl, nevermmind.

 

[bronk37]

Warren Moon seems like a deserving candidate.

 

[NoCal Patriot]

My vote goes to Dan Fouts.He was a great player that few got to watch often.He could throw the rock!I'll admit I'm a little biased.My college Roommate was his center,Don Macek.

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

If I were just looking at quarterbacks, I would have Manning and Brodie before Fouts.

You're kidding... Archie Manning over Fouts??? Dan Fouts was practically unstoppable. In his heyday, the Chargers lost games while scoring 40+ points. What a pity he never made it to the big game....

But I can't argue with the majority... Barry Sanders.

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

Barret Robbins

good one!

 

[Jacky Roberts]

How can it NOT be Barry Sanders? (Although in about ten years, the answer will be Ladanian Tomlinson).

 

[primetime]

Unitas did not get hurt in that game. Morrall was the starter, played poorly and Unitas relieved him.

You're right, I got Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V mixed up. He got knocked out of SB V in the second quarter, he relieved Morrall in SB III.

 

[3 to be 4]

I see lists like this and am amazed I'm the only one so far to mention **** Butkus, arguably the best linebacker ever to play the game.

agreed. sorry for the oversight!

 

[3 to be 4]

aslo, i think i saw someone list Irving Fryar. He scored the Patriots TD in SB 20