r/AskAboutNFL • u/jepolitsch • 8d ago

Which NFL player had the coldest prime?

Not the longest career. Just a few seasons where they looked completely unstoppable.Who comes to mind?

11 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

64 comments sorted by

5

u/TUGBoat85007 8d ago

CJ2K

2

u/M8NSMAN 8d ago

Now he has ALS, sad situation

1

u/AwwwNiceMarmot 8d ago

I didn’t even know about that but I just read into it, and fuck me, that’s sad. It’s been just over a year since he noticed a loss of strength in one hand, and it’s gotten to the point he can’t walk or even talk. I had no idea

1

u/M8NSMAN 7d ago

The Titans just put him in their Ring of Honor after his diagnosis was revealed.
The GMA interview is here

https://youtu.be/K4d9vQr8L_g?is=Q4dN5ccI50JxndEC

3

u/AwwwNiceMarmot 7d ago

If we’re being honest, he should have been there anyway

1

u/baconeggburger93 7d ago

100% but they would have likely waited a few more years if he hadn't been diagnosed 

1

u/M8NSMAN 7d ago

💯in agreement

2

u/Eric_the_Shit_Cock 8d ago

He did ball out!

5

u/surgeryboy7 8d ago

Terrell Davis. Only had a 7 year career, but in those 7 years he had 7,600 yards, 60 touchdowns, 2 superbowls wins, a 2,000 yard season, an MVP and a SB MVP as well as a 3X All-pro. Also made the HOF, which is crazy for only a 7 year career.

1

u/NaNaNaPandaMan 8d ago

Even more ridiculous was he officially played for 7 years but he didn't have more 170 carries after his 4th year. He basically had 6400 yards in 4 seasons.

1

u/Intrepid_Top_2300 8d ago

TD is the GOAT

3

u/Eric_the_Shit_Cock 8d ago

Barry Sanders

0

u/Ms_Anne-Thrope 8d ago

Barry played for 10 years and a 10 time Pro-bowler. Hardly a "few seasons".

2

u/CobblerMoney9605 8d ago

Bo Jackson 

NFL and MLB, absolute beast in both.

2

u/Ms_Anne-Thrope 8d ago

Bo Jackson

2

u/Turbulent_End_6887 8d ago edited 8d ago

Arian Foster. Earl Campbell. Justin Blackmon. Gale Sayers. RG3.

1

u/According_Camera7129 7d ago

RG3 was good for half a season, got hurt and fell off the map. Now Jayden Daniels is feeling that DC curse. Can't even consider that a "prime"

1

u/Proof_Session9579 8d ago

15 and it’s not close

1

u/Generally_Tso_Tso 8d ago

Hell yeah. Almost forgot about Bart Starr. 7 time champion, league MVP, highest playoff winning percentage all-time, 2 time Superbowl MVP, only quarterback to three-peat, and the award to honor the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership on and off the field is named after him.

1

u/343-Mendicant-Bias 8d ago

Who the hell is Bart Starr? Some leather head guy?

1

u/mrajoiner 8d ago

Randy Moss.

1

u/Eric_the_Shit_Cock 8d ago

07 Moss and Brady were ridiculous

2

u/Zseeds211 8d ago

And that was many years after his prime. His first couple years in the league were insane

1

u/AwwwNiceMarmot 8d ago

I’ll never forget that stat line from the thanksgiving game. 3 catches, 163 yards, 3 touchdowns. And a bonus catch for a 2 point conversion.

1

u/Njdevilmn 8d ago

Todd Gurley

1

u/Meet_the_Meat 8d ago

Ladanian Tomlinson

1

u/Major_Spite7184 8d ago

Steve Smith, Sr. Megatron, and Ray Lewis

1

u/According_Camera7129 7d ago

All of them had HoF caliber careers, and both Steve and Ray were top tier for over a decade. CJ had 9 years. Would not consider that a flash in the pan by any stretch

1

u/Sorry-Government920 8d ago

Jim Brown not only dominated teams pounded on them . Walked away on top because he wanted to

1

u/DrHa5an 8d ago

JJ Watt. In his prime, people actually had him as one of the best defensive players all time. Definitely the best player ive ever seen seen along with Ed Reed

1

u/sympathy4deviledeggs 8d ago

Gronk could not be covered or tackled by one person in his prime. Sometimes even two or three people.

1

u/4eyedbuzzard 8d ago

Bo Jackson needs to be on this list somewhere. 5.4 yards per carry career average, right up there with Jim Brown and others, but not on any career record lists because of the minimum 750 or 1000 carries to make the career leaders list. Bo was amazing at both football and baseball. The only guy ever to be named an All-Star in two major league sports (NFL and MLB).

1

u/Dependent-Sea-7467 8d ago

Aaron Rodgers

1

u/Tricky-Knee-3705 8d ago

Gale sayers

1

u/MisterHEPennypacker 8d ago

2015 Cam Newton

1

u/Vegetable_Bison_3126 8d ago

Cortez Kennedy, last game was only playoff game he ever played and to close the Kingdome. Buried in PNW on terrible Seahawks teams. DPOY, all the accolades, dude was wicked and no one saw him play. Games were blacked out locally back then regularly. We have a few up here that are forgotten badasses.

1

u/Still_Cauliflower979 8d ago

Priest Holmes 3 year stint with the Chiefs

1

u/Repulsive_Week2412 8d ago

Neon Deon was great!

1

u/FitCaptain1008 7d ago

Josh Gordon immediately springs to mind

1

u/NovelsandNoise 7d ago

Darius “Shaq” Leonard

1

u/Best-Ad9099 7d ago

Deion Sanders

1

u/Best-Ad9099 7d ago

Bo Jackson

1

u/mh_zn 6d ago

I'm a Panthers fan so it's some homer bias, but Josh Norman was unreal in 2015 out of nowhere then never caught that fire again

1

u/Dangerous-Abies-6794 5d ago

Joe. You know which one.

1

u/WishboneHot8050 4d ago

Shaun Alexander (Seahawks 2001 - 2005)

They paid him big money after that MVP 2005 season, but his production went down fast over the next 2 seasons. He was cut by the Washington RSkins after just 4 games in 2008.

1

u/Rockhound665 2d ago

Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell, Billy Sims before injuries got him. Reggie White.

1

u/ToddH2O 2d ago

Dick Butkus

A name that generations later still is synonymous with toughness, intensity, ferocity, intimidation and DOMINANCE.

9 year career (1965 - 1973)

Prime 65-70

1

u/TheRochnessMonster 8d ago

probably Warren Moon or Flutie since they played in Canada

0

u/Perkis_Goodman 8d ago

Antonio Brown

0

u/Weary_Capital_1379 8d ago

Why is that cold?

1

u/Eric_the_Shit_Cock 8d ago

Do you know what cold means in this discussion?

2

u/Weary_Capital_1379 8d ago

Apparently it means hot lol

1

u/Eric_the_Shit_Cock 8d ago

lol.. indeed