Saints' linebackers (all of 'em)
 

Good food for thought. I\'m still undecided, but MLB has moved up in relative importance for me. One thing to note about many of those defenses is their innovations in schemes. Thus, maybe the deciding factor is the scheme and not the name of the position that determines the importance of the the position. It is still my view that the \"free\" backer is the most valuable. Notice that Urlacher\'s performance dropped off when Washington left - I suspect Urlacher\'s \"freedom\" was seriously limited when that happened.

Good point about LT, he was a freak too. I\'ll think on that.

I\'ll just go back to my list of playmaking OLBs (most of which play the WLB spot) and ask are there as many playmaking MLBs in the league right now?

Nicely done. I\'m off to teach, so we\'ll have to get back to it later. Cheers.

Saints' linebackers (all of 'em)
 

JKool --

Here\'s a list of defensive MVP since 1971 that can be used in the debate. It\'s a tough call to make. But, I still like a dominant MLB. Those speed rushers off the edge are a lot easier to find. Like a Pat Swilling or Lawrence Taylor.


NFL Defensive Player of the Year

The Associated Press has been honoring the Defensive Player of the Year since 1971!
1971 - Alan Page, DT Minnesota
1972 - Joe Greene, DT Pittsburgh
1973 - Dick Anderson, S Miami
1974 - Joe Greene, DT Pittsburgh
1975 - Mel Blount, CB Pittsburgh
1976 - Jack Lambert, LB Pittsburgh
1977 - Harvey Martin, DE Dallas
1978 - Randy Gradishar, LB Denver
1979 - Lee Roy Selmon, DE Tampa Bay
1980 - Lester Hayes, CB Oakland
1981 - Lawrence Taylor, LB NY Giants
1982 - Lawrence Taylor, LB NY Giants
1983 - Doug Betters, DE Miami
1984 - Kenny Easley, S Seattle
1985 - Mike Singletary, LB Chicago
1986 - Lawrence Taylor, LB NY Giants
1987 - Reggie White, DE Philadelphia
1988 - Mike Singletary, LB Chicago
1989 - Keith Millard, DT Minnesota
1990 - Bruce Smith, DE Buffalo
1991 - Pat Swilling, LB New Orleans
1992 - Cortez Kennedy, DT Seattle
1993 - Rod Woodson, CB Pittsburgh
1994 - Deion Sanders, CB San Francisco
1995 - Bryce Paup, LB Buffalo
1996 - Bruce Smith, DE Buffalo
1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT San Francisco
1998 - Reggie White, DE Green Bay
1999 - Warren Sapp, DT Tampa Bay
2000 - Ray Lewis, LB Baltimore
2001 - Michael Strahan, DE NY Giants
2002 - Derrick Brooks, LB Tampa Bay
2003 - Ray Lewis, LB Baltimore
2004 - Ed Reed, S Baltimore

Saints' linebackers (all of 'em)
 

yeah, lawrence taylor\'s are a dime a dozen. you can get them anywhere.