The excuse you usually here is that he didnt play on a SB winning team, yet Ricky Jackson and John Randle make it today Total BS that Klecko gets screwed, all of the players that played against him recognize him as the best (Munoz, Stephenson etc) yet inferior players like Tippett and these 2 get in. It's a disgrace
Yeah, but Jackson did start in a Super Bowl. He started Super Bowl 29 at right end for San Francisco. He basically played the same way as Robert Brazile and Lawrence Taylor. You'd rank them Taylor 1, Jackson 2 and Brazile 3. Taylor is arguably a top 10 player of all-time. Jackson obviously is not as good as Taylor, but he was still a superb player. As for Randle, I don't disagree with you. Klecko's right at his level and maybe better.
I don't know why Klecko continues to get overlooked. It's one thing to not get in but he's not getting any attention at all.... He was an outstanding player.
He had 7 seasons with 15 or more games and 4 partial seasons. He also started playing before sacks were tracked. If he had been hurt a bit less he would have been a shoe-in.
Ricky Jackson was on a Super Bowl winning team. Klecko was not a finalist so he actually got "screwed" awhile ago
Top five lists are almost impossible to do. Top 5 players IMO 1. Jim Brown RB Browns 2. Lawrence Taylor OLB Giants 3. Johnny Unitas QB Colts / Chargers 4. Jerry Rice WR 49ers / Raiders / Seahawks 5. Deacon Jones DE Rams / Chargers / Redskins
Wow, no Payton at all. Most people come down to HBs, Brown or Payton when it comes to the running game. Although Brown was hugely influential and a true great, Payton played in the modern game which I think is alot tougher/faster/stronger than when Brown played, but as you have said...."IMO".
Payton was great no doubt. And is arguably top 10. I wouldn't say the era in which Payton played was tougher than the era that Brown played. Payton averaged 88 YPG; Brown averaged 104 YPG Both great numbers it just goes to show you how good Brown was. Another player that is widely ignored is Jim Taylor Packers FB. He was widely considered 1a of the same era as Jim Brown. The reason he didn't have the numbers Brown did was he split carries with Paul Hornung.
