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Greatest Steeler Defensive Back EVER

Glen Edwards, is he the one with the nickname "Pine" Edwards or something? My uncle had said he had two crucial plays in both Super Bowl IX & Super Bowl X to seal the win for the Steelers and that he hit like a Mack truck.
 
Same here, but I'll trust the videotape, statistics, rule changes & type of respect they were given by their peers to make a judgment:

1. Mel Blount
2. Rod Woodson
3. Troy Polamalu
4. Donnie Shell
5a. Carnell Lake
5b. Darren Perry

Honorable mention: Ike Taylor

Perry not even in the same zip code of Lake. Perry was solid, Lake was awesome at everything, including hitting.
 
Darren Perry and Ryan Clark were underrated though.

Clark was perfect for Steeler scheme, before they went all soft with rules and ref calls. He could knock the snot out of peeps. He wouldn't be as effective if he played today.
 
Glen Edwards, is he the one with the nickname "Pine" Edwards or something? My uncle had said he had two crucial plays in both Super Bowl IX & Super Bowl X to seal the win for the Steelers and that he hit like a Mack truck.



Are you sure it is "Pine" and not Cottonwood or Elm???




Salute the nation
 
1.) Blount
2.) Troy
3.) Woodson
4.) Shell
5.) Perry

Honorable Mention: Taylor and Lake
 


Hey Slash
I had some time to watch the interviews and some tape on this humble individual. Jack Butler had good size at 6'1" and 200 lbs and very good hands. I think it safe to say he would rank between Donnie Shell and Carnell Lake on my original top 5 list.

I think we should all consider ourselves fortunate to have witnessed the careers of so many talented players in a Steelers uniform. We should be so lucky to see anyone of this calibore in a black and gold jersey again.
I am currently sitting in the ICU of my local hospital awaiting transfer to a renowned cardiac facility for a procedure that will hopefully end a 7 year battle with health issues or at least improve my quality of life.

I lost my drivers license for an extended period of time and let my passport run out due to fear of travelling. Depression gets a hold of you as you go through years looking for all the right answers from doctors..
One thing I will say that has been a continued positive passion and way to pick myself up is following the Steelers. I haven't been to Pittsburgh for a game since opening day following the Superbowl win against Seattle. If things go well I hope to issue a new passport, rent one of my favourite muscle cars and make a road trip to see the Steelers play at home to the Ravens on my birthday.
Thanks to all of you on this forum for sharing a true passion. Discussion only adds to the experience.
Go Steelers
 
Last edited:
Hey Slash
I had some time to watch the interviews and some tape on this humble individual. Jack Butler had good size at 6'1" and 200 lbs and very good hands. I think it safe to say he would rank between Donnie Shell and Carnell Lake on my original top 5 list.

I think we should all consider ourselves fortunate to have witnessed the careers of so many talented players in a Steelers uniform. We should be so lucky to see anyone of this calibore in a black and gold jersey again.
I am currently sitting in the ICU of my local hospital awaiting transfer to a renowned cardiac facility for a procedure that will hopefully end a 7 year battle with health issues or at least improve my quality of life.

I lost my drivers license for an extended period of time and let my passport run out due to fear of travelling. Depression gets a hold of you as you go through years looking for all the right answers from doctors..
One thing I will say that has been a continued positive passion and way to pick myself up is following the Steelers. I haven't been to Pittsburgh for a game since opening day following the Superbowl win If things go well I hope to issue a new passport, rent one of my favourite

I sincerely hope that you find some answers and can start feeling like yourself again. Here's to good health my Steelers brother!
 
Hey Slash
I had some time to watch the interviews and some tape on this humble individual. Jack Butler had good size at 6'1" and 200 lbs and very good hands. I think it safe to say he would rank between Donnie Shell and Carnell Lake on my original top 5 list.

I think we should all consider ourselves fortunate to have witnessed the careers of so many talented players in a Steelers uniform. We should be so lucky to see anyone of this calibore in a black and gold jersey again.
I am currently sitting in the ICU of my local hospital awaiting transfer to a renowned cardiac facility for a procedure that will hopefully end a 7 year battle with health issues or at least improve my quality of life.

I lost my drivers license for an extended period of time and let my passport run out due to fear of travelling. Depression gets a hold of you as you go through years looking for all the right answers from doctors..
One thing I will say that has been a continued positive passion and way to pick myself up is following the Steelers. I haven't been to Pittsburgh for a game since opening day following the Superbowl win against Seattle. If things go well I hope to issue a new passport, rent one of my favourite muscle cars and make a road trip to see the Steelers play at home to the Ravens on my birthday.
Thanks to all of you on this forum for sharing a true passion. Discussion only adds to the experience.
Go Steelers

I'm sorry to hear that Paul. My dad is going through some health issues that has him laid up and not in the best of spirits either. I keep telling him preseason is less than a month away that does put a little bit of a smile on his face.

Here's to hoping both of you are healthier and in better spirits by that time.
 
I'm sorry to hear that Paul. My dad is going through some health issues that has him laid up and not in the best of spirits either. I keep telling him preseason is less than a month away that does put a little bit of a smile on his face.

Here's to hoping both of you are healthier and in better spirits by that time.

Thanks for the comments and all the best to your Dad and family.
Here's to a kick *** start and finish to the new season
 
Not to mention Rod flew the coop , for me he dropped a few for not being s Steeler for life. Something he had the opportunity to do, but passed.

I don't think that's quite accurate/fair.
I'm trying to find the quote, but either Cowher and/or Rooney said they regret letting Rod walk and wish they would have thought about/entertained the idea of moving him from Corner to Safety. I think the coaching staff didn't think Rod could hang at Corner after a decade and/or lost a step due to the knee....whatever and Rod thought he could.
Obviously we fans have a bias towards lifers and hate seeing homegrown players leave and wear another jersey, especially that of the Rats ( Rod ) and Patriots ( Harrison ).

To answer the original question :

1) Blount
2) Woodson
3) Polamalu
4) Shell
5) Lake
 
Hey Slash
I had some time to watch the interviews and some tape on this humble individual. Jack Butler had good size at 6'1" and 200 lbs and very good hands. I think it safe to say he would rank between Donnie Shell and Carnell Lake on my original top 5 list.

I think we should all consider ourselves fortunate to have witnessed the careers of so many talented players in a Steelers uniform. We should be so lucky to see anyone of this calibore in a black and gold jersey again.
I am currently sitting in the ICU of my local hospital awaiting transfer to a renowned cardiac facility for a procedure that will hopefully end a 7 year battle with health issues or at least improve my quality of life.

I lost my drivers license for an extended period of time and let my passport run out due to fear of travelling. Depression gets a hold of you as you go through years looking for all the right answers from doctors..
One thing I will say that has been a continued positive passion and way to pick myself up is following the Steelers. I haven't been to Pittsburgh for a game since opening day following the Superbowl win against Seattle. If things go well I hope to issue a new passport, rent one of my favourite muscle cars and make a road trip to see the Steelers play at home to the Ravens on my birthday.
Thanks to all of you on this forum for sharing a true passion. Discussion only adds to the experience.
Go Steelers

Inbox me when you are intown.


God speed on a full recovery for you. I hope it all goes good for you.
 
I don't think that's quite accurate/fair.
I'm trying to find the quote, but either Cowher and/or Rooney said they regret letting Rod walk and wish they would have thought about/entertained the idea of moving him from Corner to Safety. I think the coaching staff didn't think Rod could hang at Corner after a decade and/or lost a step due to the knee....whatever and Rod thought he could.
Obviously we fans have a bias towards lifers and hate seeing homegrown players leave and wear another jersey, especially that of the Rats ( Rod ) and Patriots ( Harrison ).

To answer the original question :

1) Blount
2) Woodson
3) Polamalu
4) Shell
5) Lake
I was under the impression they desired to move him from CB to S and he refused.
 
That is correct Slash.....he understood it to cause the contract to be reduced because not being consummate with a FT corner, but rather 1/2 CB 1/2 Safety, Rod wanted contract based on CB throughout.
 
I don't think that's quite accurate/fair.
I'm trying to find the quote, but either Cowher and/or Rooney said they regret letting Rod walk and wish they would have thought about/entertained the idea of moving him from Corner to Safety. I think the coaching staff didn't think Rod could hang at Corner after a decade and/or lost a step due to the knee....whatever and Rod thought he could.
Obviously we fans have a bias towards lifers and hate seeing homegrown players leave and wear another jersey, especially that of the Rats ( Rod ) and Patriots ( Harrison ).

To answer the original question :

1) Blount
2) Woodson
3) Polamalu
4) Shell
5) Lake

I think you nailed it on your list.

Also, part of the beef with Rod and team and moving him to safety, was that safeties of the day didn't make the kind of $ a premier CB did. Rod wanted top CB $, the team told him he was no longer that,
and it pissed him off. If the team said "We aren't sure where you're going to play, but we will pay your top CB $ any how" Rod may have been OK with that. But what they actually did was have
Donohoe start negotiating with "You are no longer the player you once were and should be paid accordingly (i.e. less).

Rod got insulted. And we lost a lot more than a talented CB; we lost a team leader, loyal to the bone and kept other players in line. I really wish Rod could have won a ring while in Pitt.
 
Had the pleasure of watching Blount play. Big guy, extremely quick, and would just maul opposing receivers. I read an article in Sports Illustrated more than 40 years ago, back when the magazine actually mattered, where the author wrote how he felt sorry for a Cowgirl wide receiver named Golden Richards because Blount just demolished the guy one game. The list:

1. Blount. The best. HOF
2. Woodson. Deion Sanders, if Sanders was physical and liked to hit and hammered RB's and TE's, as well as wide receivers. HOF
3. Polamalu. Game changer. Instinctive. Fearless. HOF
4. Lake. Quite good before injuries took over.
5. Shell. Hit like a truck, covered middle of the field.

So 2 CB's, 3 safeties in my index.
 
I disagree. Rod Woodson was the single best athlete the Steelers have ever had. Probably the fastest player we had. Was an elite corner, and returner. Whether it was returning kicks, punts, ints, or fumbles, he was taking it to the house.

The only player to come back from an ACL tear in the same season.

Ended his career as the #3 all time interception leader, and is the all time league leader in defensive touchdowns.

He's clearly my #1 DB to ever play for the Steelers.
 
I disagree. Rod Woodson was the single best athlete the Steelers have ever had. Probably the fastest player we had. Was an elite corner, and returner. Whether it was returning kicks, punts, ints, or fumbles, he was taking it to the house.

The only player to come back from an ACL tear in the same season.

Ended his career as the #3 all time interception leader, and is the all time league leader in defensive touchdowns.

He's clearly my #1 DB to ever play for the Steelers.




Dang,....Cope, thanks for posting all the information. Makes one rethink a little.




Salute the nation
 
Dang,....Cope, thanks for posting all the information. Makes one rethink a little.




Salute the nation

You make a Steelers all time great list regardless if you are number 1 or 10 you are doing something right. All had great careers.

We are having fun with positioning but all did us proud as players....
 
You make a Steelers all time great list regardless if you are number 1 or 10 you are doing something right. All had great careers.

We are having fun with positioning but all did us proud as players....



ABSOLUTELY right slash. We as STEELERS fans have had an unbelievable amount of high end talent through out the years. Just look at how many "SUPER PLAYS" we have had and that will give you an indication of the level of players we have had. Honestly, since the merger I would wager we've had one of if not the best talented overall franchise to current date. Argue the the 80s but even then we had some high talent. Obviously the 70s was off the charts but look at the 90s / 2000s / 2010s, extremely talented......






Salute the nation
 
I found one archived article with quotes from Woodson and Rooney at the time.
It seems it was more Steelers lowballing in Rod's mind, and the Steelers using Bettis' contract as an excuse of being up against the cap.
No mention of Corner vs Safety, but remarks regarding Rod getting beat and not being the same.

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/06/...elers-longtime-all-pro-corner-heads-west.html

The writer of that article, Thomas George, was a sports columnist, not a team beat writer. Never set foot in a Pittsburgh locker room to interview players and quotes from Mr. Rooney were sourced picked. Obviously slanted to Rod’s POV and shows his pride was indeed stung. But the circumstances at that time dictated Pitt be very frugal in their contracts because they were still at TRS and did not have the revenue stream as the clubs with state of the art stadiums. It’s true the trade for Bettis did have a big impact on their salary cap status as he was the number 1 priority for the direction Chin wanted the offense to go.

As for Rod’s comment the Steelers didn’t contact him after the season, that was a flat out fabrication. I’ve mentioned before about Rod during the ProBowl on live national TV complaining about his contract. An insult to Mr. Rooney, who would not say a word about it. But Tom Donahoe would. If I were able to find the article that occurred after the pro bowl by one of the sports writers (Smizik, might have been Cook) it detailed that Donahoe set priorities for the contract talks among the pending free agents and they would offer Rod a fair deal, and Mr. Rooney wanted him to retire a Steeler, but he wasn’t Rod of 1990-94 and both sides had to be realistic.

The contract mentioned in the article actually wasn’t a bad contract from the Steelers, considering Rod, A: lost a step from the ACL, B: wasn’t to return punts anymore, C: had his lowest tackle numbers since he was a rookie. Interestingly Rod took less money on a one year contract EXPECTING the 49ers to extend him. He even states it in the article. However after that year they didn’t. So he didn’t measure up to what Rod wanted either. Ironically, he then went to Baltimore and ended up converting to Safety, something Tim Lewis wanted him to do before he went to SF, but refused because it would have devalued his contract demands as a Corner.


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