Top Ten NFL Numbers

The NFL Network’s Top Ten best numbers. I really enjoyed this one.

10. 99. Warren Sapp. Mark Gastineau. Dan Hampton. Jason Taylor.

9. 19. Who besides Johnny Unitas and Lance Alworth? Bernie Kosar? Keyshawn Johnson? Bob Lee?

8. 85. Just because of Chad Johnson? They probably didn’t mention Nick Buoniconti, Jack Youngblood, or hall of famer Del Shofner.

7. Lucky number 7. Joe Theisman. Mike Vick. Ben Roethlisberger. John Elway. Ron Jaworski. Bert Jones was shown. Several luminaries were not mentioned: George Halas, Mel Hein, Dutch Clark, Ace Parker, Bob Waterfield, and Pan Pastorini.  

6. The Lions number 20’s: Lem Barney, Billy Sims, and Barry Sanders. Not mentioned: Mel Renfro, Cliff Battles, Gino Cappaletti. Who knew Barney punted? 

5. 21. Not just speedsters Deion Sanders, Cliff Branch, Ladanian Tomlinson, James Brooks, and Eric Metcalf’s senior and junior, but also QB John Hadl. Not mentioned: Jim Kiick and hall of famer Dan Fortmann. Also David Murphy.

4. 34. Walter Peyton, Bo Jackson, and Earl Campbell were lauded as the best number 34’s. Also Joe Perry and Ricky Williams. Also mentioned: Kevin Mack, Herschel Walker, and Thurman Thomas. Herschel gained more yards than any other 34, but they didn’t mention that. Not mentioned: hall of famer Cornell Green.

3. 80. The best receiver number, better than 81, 82, or 88 (so claimed the show). Jerry Rice and Steve Largent. James Lofton. Antony Carter. I doubt Andre Rison was mentioned, nor hall of famers Tom Fears, Jack Butler, Len Ford, or Super Bowl hero Jim O’Brien. Probably not Kellen Winslow either.

2. 32. Jim Brown. OJ Simpson. Franco Harris. Marcus Allen. Deferring James. My guess is the ten best 34’s outrushed the ten best 32’s.

1. 12. Namath. Staubach. Bradshaw. Brady. Aaron Rodgers. Jim Kelly. Bob Griese. Probably not mentioned: MVP John Brodie.