Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor is not only the greatest linebacker of all-time(no one is even in his league), but also is the greatest player to ever play on the defensive side of the ball. No one had as much impact on the game as L.T. did, because teams always had to account where L.T. was, and if they did not they payed the price. He revolutionized the way offenses had to run there blocking schemes, teams would block blitzing linebackers with running-backs/full-backs before L.T. came in the league, but not for long, once they saw L.T. absolutely destroy their quaterback. Teams started using guards to block him, then tackles and then sometimes they would use both guards and tackles to double-team and that did not always work either. Teams always say they do not prepare for one player, but they did LT. Joe Gibbs said we never prepare for a single player, but we prepare for LT, because we have to. He is the last defensive player to win the NFL MVP(Unanimously 1986) and is on the NFL's 75th anniversary... Read more

The greatest defensive player of all times. Changed the way the game was played to an extent. Pretty much eliminated the I formation and offenses had to taylor (no pun intended) their game plan away from LT because he was such a destructive force. Just seemed whenever it was a pass play you can count on the quarterback either being sacked or just getting the ball away before #56 came bearing down on him. In his prime he was as awe inspiring to watch as Barry Sanders, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and all the absolute tops at their positions.

Defencive Super Wares a 56 on his chest. Sack Master Taylor would of been one hell of a monster of the midway in Chicago, but the Giants got him first. Anyone who doesn't know him, just turn on some film. the greatest pass rushing LB who ever lived.

Lt is great are you kidding me, the giants D-Line and Harry Carson did the dirty work  and Lt goes in for the Kill, the true great was Harry Carson who was a runstopper, had speed and quickness to cover the field side to side, front to back and with the D-Line pushing, Lt Has the Go-Ahead for a sack,  Look at LT's stats drop after Harry Carson Retired, sure you could say LT was good but not great like Harry Carson was. the bottom line is LT couldn't done it without Harry Carson, LT couldn't carry Jack Ham steelers helmet from one endzone to the other.

Offensive lines were re-designed because of the great Lawrence Taylor. Speed, power, and on-field intelligence aside, Taylor's impact on the NFL was nothing short of spectacular as he created havoc and chaos on offenses. He also provided arguably the most gruesome sack ever recorded as he obliterated Joe Theismann and ended his career. (Who can forget the image of a hysterical LT begging for sideline emergency personnel to come in and help the shattered Theismann?) It can be argued that he single-handedly re-invented the position of linebacker. The greatest linebacker ever? Undoubtedly!

You can't beat him so don't even try!!!!

He sent escorts to his opponents to make them tire. That's evil, but also smart. He was a linebacker with tremendous speed.

One of the best headhunters in the game. You needed a quarterback to eat turf on a regular basis, send LT. A regular selection to the Pro Bowl during his career for scaring the opposing QB to death just by looking in his general direction before the snap, not just for making good on the implications. Loses one star for his very recent involvement with Blitz. Making a game to show off the bad 10%'ers, as opposed to the 80% in the middle like EA does, smacks a little of poor judgement, very out of character when compared to his on-field work.

In an era of specialization, L.T., indeed did revolutionalize the game. I never saw him play a single game as a linebacker, but, if the position were to be re-named, "unincumbered backside blitzer", Taylor would most definately rate as the best ever. His job was to line up five yards to the outside of the nearest blocker and run, usually unmolested, at back of the passer and, having accomplished his mission of driving the defenseless opponent to the turf, wax eloquently on about his prowess as a gladiator. L.T. was a great athlete, but he owed his success to a brilliant defensive scheme, and to a team that featured a host of teammates (Harry Carson, Brad Van Pelt etc.) willing to sacrifice personal glory for the common cause of victory.

Like the animal once said" Lets go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!" He was the best and we will never see one like him again. Total domination and feared by all!!!

LT is the greatest LB of all time, never trained & still killed every played he linded up against(REMEMBER THEISMAN)

Revolutionized his position. His dominance made other teams alter their game plans...a true great ON the field. Off the field, well that's another matter...

A tenacious competitor who played the game the way you should play it.

you guys are terrible! Taking stars off for what he did off field? Buncha Quakers!

Druggie.

Not often does a player come around with the attributes of a Lawerence Taylor. In his prime, he was a one man defensive unit. In his decline he was just another great player.

lorence is the man...not nearly as big as most linebackers but had 1 fear....and that was himself...breaking legs and tackling harder than anyone ever

5 stars for the talent, 1 for the drugs..

WHAERE'S THE PIPE L.T.?

You New Yorkers forget that Taylor's drug habits cast a question mark on his career.

Greatest linebacker ever!

Greatest outside linebacker to play the game. Lightning-quick and agile, he could sack the quarterback and run down ballcarriers.

Simply the greatest. One scary mother! And, most importantly, put an end to Joe Lovesmen.

Was he the greatest linebacker ever? I couldn't tell you that because I'm too young to have seen Butkus and others play. Was he the best pass-rushing linebacker of his era? Without question. Was he the single most feared player in the NFL in his prime? Without question (Joe Gibbs had to change his whole offensive scheme just to account for him.). Have I ever seen another defensive player that could completely take over a game almost on his own entirely as Taylor often did. The answer is no. What people fail to forget is that Taylor's "prime" was actually relatively brief. He came into the league in 1981 and I would say by 1987 he was already in decline (if you look at his stats at the tail end of his career they aren't that great). That was the toll the drugs took: he didn't work out, he didn't even sleep. By 1988 he really wasn't the same player and then after that he was good but not as great as he once was.

Re-wrote the book on linbacking and forced offenses to change the way they played, he was equally dominating weather subduing NFC East QB's or inhaling white powder. A troubled player to say the leat but one that left big footsteps.

"Don't smoke crack" Lawrence Taylor - The Waterboy

best LB EVER

Lawrence Taylor??? This crack-head shouldn't be on the same list with these other players

go fight in the wwf or make some more movies, that lowers his rating

calling this guy the best linebacker ever is just talk by the uninformed. i remember a lot of people saying carl banks was better at run-stopping and coverage after 1987. he was an impact player for about five years, but didn't really show up in the two super bowls. like most overrated defensive players, much better in pursuit than at the point

A monstrous athlete,phenomenally quick for a man of his size and power,an inspirational leader(of a Superbowl defense),a bringer of devastation and chaos,striking uncertainty and fear into the hearts of the opposition he devoured with such relish;to quarterbacks,he must have seemed like a tiger riding in on a whirlwind.Taylor was certainly the best linebacker i've seen.

What makes a football player one for the ages? When they change the way the game is played because of him, then you've gotten there. Lawrence Taylor redefined the way defense is played in pro football. Teams were forced to completely restructure their offenses to deal with him. Do you run away from him? No, he's too fast and pursued better than any linebacker in the history of the game. Throw the ball - better make it quick - he's as fast to the quarterback as anyone who has been on that side of the ball. Go right at him. Watch him rip the blockers away and make the tackle. All that said, however, the man was and is a jerk. But, it'll be a long time before they make another defender like him.

LT added a few responsabilities to a linebacker's job description. His problems away from the field don't change what he did on the field.

Straight thing. Greatest defensive player of all time, easy. His playing style was tremendous. Every play he laid a hit on someone, leaving them motionless. He was a great man on the field, but off he was a joke doing drugs. That's not cool.

My favorite player of all time. He was a beast. No offensive line could stop him. You could see it in his eyes. I never got to see him play live but TV was good enough. He kicked.

Lawrence Taylor was the top of the line linebacker that ever played the game. When he stepped on the field people felt his presence. The way he hit people and got into their heads was totally different because no one else could do that the way he did. He was rarely ever hurt, if he did get hurt he played anyway. He actually played the game for love, not money.

The best defensive player ever!

LT was (and still is) one bad dude, but could he play football. He was an unstoppable and relentless force for the Giants. Barely working out in the offseason and certainly not taking care of his body, he had unmatched natural ability. He was an incredible athlete. I remember a story from when he was at UNC which pretty much sums him up. He was watching some pick-up basketball and wanted to play, but they wouldn't let him (maybe, they were in the middle of a game...I couldn't imagine telling LT that he couldn't play). What did he do? He went onto the court and tour down the rim so that no one else could play. An amazing athlete and a mean guy.

Greatest football player that does drugs.

LT was probably one of the best pass rushers to play the game. The patented "chop-block" made many QBs wary of Taylor. The big ol' number 56.

L.T. redefined the position of Linebacker, and made all offenses fear him and set their game plans around him.

Must be in the top 10. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to see #56 perform numerous times. He is the only defensive player to single-handedly transform opposing offensive strategy, not for one game, but permanently. He made bad teams respectable and good teams great. His will and determination were unmatched. He was Lawrence of the Meadowlands and LT to many. I just think of him as the best.