Butkus or Lambert?

[Forkboy]

Poll question: Butkus or Lambert?

I've always been a huge fan of both, but have always leaned towards Butkus (never seen a better example of textbook tackling). Lambert certainly had a better supporting cast, and the Steelers defensive line was far better than anything Butkus had to work with, but both were great examples of what (to me) a football player should be like.

What say you?

[Awsi Dooger]

1. Butkus

Might have been the best football player of all time.

I wouldn't put Lambert anywhere near that plateau.

[Dinger]

2. Butkus By A Mile, & I'm A Packer Fan!

Butkus even came to Nitschke's funeral, and as a huge fan of Ray's, I sure appreciated that.:headbang:

[Forkboy]

3. Ray was no slouch either.

The only knock being that he rarely played against the pass. But he was a fearsome player otherwise, and his pic could be the NFL logo. He just looks like a football player. He was a scary dude, and one the greats, no doubt.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Ray spent a good chunk of his career jumping up and down on Sonny Jurgensen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/history/greats/articles/jurgensen.htm

[Captain Hilts]

4. Butkus - he changed the way the position is played. nt

[two gun sid]

6. Lambert

Butkus was a stand-up defensive lineman. Most of his career he played on bad wheels and wasn't the most mobile of 'backers.

When Butkus began his career, the NFL was a different league than it was after the high powered passing offenses of the AFL were blended in. Lambert was a tough competitor that could stop the run and drop into coverage. It's really hard to compare these two great players. Although they both played Middle Backer, their teams defensive schemes dictated that they really had different jobs.

Both great players.