Four Steelers in Top 20 of ESPN's NFL Any Era Poll

by Neal Coolong on Jan 27, 2012 12:53 PM EST



ESPN.com launched a poll of NFL Hall of Fame players' votes on which 20 players currently in the game could play in any era.

It shouldn't come as a surprise the Steelers have four players among the top 20, the most of any team.



OLB James Harrison is No. 10, WR Hines Ward is No. 8, QB Ben Roethlisberger is 3 and SS Troy Polamalu is No. 2, before Ravens LB Ray Lewis, who was voted No. 1.

The fact Roethlisberger beat out every other quarterback (Peyton Manning, 20, Tim Tebow, 19 and Tom Brady, 11) and every other offensive player shows the level of support the gritty and fearless Roethlisberger gets from Hall of Fame members, such as Dolphins C Dwight Stephenson, who had this to say:

Love him or hate him, Big Ben is one of the toughest, gutsiest players in all of the NFL. Last year he breaks his nose and it is sitting under his left eye socket. The trainer bends it back straight, throws some tape on it, he plays a couple of plays with a mask on, doesn't like the mask, rips it off and goes back in and plays.

Polamalu, the highest rated defensive back on the list, drew praise from RB Marcus Allen:

Troy Polamalu has a unique tenacity that is timeless, that crosses football generations. He could play in a leather helmet.

Ward, the highest-rated receiver on the list, is described beautifully by former Vikings DT John Randle:


http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/1/27/2752609/steelers-throwback-players-espn-poll

Pretty sure Neal Coolong was a editorial writer over at SF for a period.

Ward should be in the top five, at least.

Ward had never played like a wideout -- he plays like a smaller version of James Harrison. Yet so many Steeler fans itching to throw him under the bus.

bet Mel Blount could play in this era of football, in his playing days 6'3 205+pounds and fast. he's just as big and fast as the CBs today.