THE NEXT GOAT?

The AP NFL All Pro team was released last Friday, and a whopping 15 players have been honored for the first time as All Pros, including WRs Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIAfKI0RZRc
Larry Fitzgerald with the AMAZING catch in double coverage.

However, the focus this year is and should be on Baltimore Ravens S Ed Reed. The only unanimous selection to the 2009 AP All Pro team, Ed Reed has established himself as the best defensive player on the best defense in the NFL. In 2004, Reed became only the third safety EVER to win the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, with 9 INTs that season, which not so coincidentally happens to be the same number of picks Reed ended this current season with. With 5 Pro Bowl selections and 4 All Pro selections, as well as a DPOY award in 2004, Ed Reed has cemented his status as the best safety in the NFL. But is he the best safety of all time? Certainly better than his best contemporaries, who include Mike Brown, Troy Polamalu, Bob Sanders, Rodney Harrison, and John Lynch. Through his first 7 NFL seasons Reed's stats and awards simply jump off the page.
Ed Reed
5x Pro Bowl selection
4x All Pro selection
NFL INT leader in '04 and '08
43 INTs
NFL Defensive Player of the Year(2004)
2 NFL records: interception yards(season), longest interception return(108 yds)

To put Ed Reed's numbers in perspective, his 43 INTs are tied for 3rd most among active players, tied with Champ Bailey, the 8 time Pro Bowler and himself a 2006 unanimous All Pro selection. Reed's DPOY award in 2004 also puts him in elite company, with only 3 other safeties (Dick Anderson, Kenny Easely, and Bob Sanders being the others) winning the award since 1971.

But these credentials alone do not merit the label of GOAT. To be the best at your respective position, you must demostrate an excellence surpassing mere numbers and statistics. The player must establish a new standard for the position by which all players from that point on will be measured by. Also, the player must make his case for the title of greatest of all time. Like in 2005 when Tim Duncan made his case as the best power forward to ever step on a basketball court. Or Dustin Pedroia's unreal 2008 campaign, where he became only the 4th 2nd baseman since 1931 to win the AL MVP award.

At a mere 30 years old, Ed Reed, with a little luck and health, has at least a few more years of premier performance left in his 5'11, 200 lb. frame. A few more All Pro selections as well as 25-30 more INTs are not out of the question before #20 decides to hang up his cleats. And where does this put Ed Reed in the GOAT discussion? Certainly a shoo in first ballot Hall of Famer at this pace, but greater than Dick "Night Train" Lane and Ronnie Lott?

As sports fans in the 21st century, every player is debated and anaylzed to the point where there are no mythical living legends. Each player has their faults, and through the miracle of technology, namely zoom and slow motion, these faults are exploited and pointed out on national TV. Is Ed Reed the best safety in the NFL? Yes, and with a unanimous All Pro selection, the media seems to agree. However, is Ed Reed the best EVER? Maybe. Maybe not. But its damn well worth watching to find out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDIzORlw54g&feature=related
BEST OF ED REED