I’ve always been fascinated by the phrase “cerebral linebacker.” The definition of cerebral is: “intellectual rather than emotional or physical.” How can you take the emotion and physicality out of being, say, a middle linebacker?
Willie Lanier was my first favorite football player as a child. When I met him while he was still playing, I thought he had the biggest hands I had ever seen. Not only long, but thick.
I have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times in later years when his career was long over. He does have a presence, and he does come off as cerebral. He is a joy to talk to, not just about football, but really about anything.
I have never been an autograph guy. I never saw the point. I might have gotten 5 autographs in my life. But if you come to my basement room, you will see an autographed picture of Willie Lanier. It is about 48 years old, but still has pride of place.
In addition to being an interesting pairing of the two MLBs, Lanier is now the earliest player on the 101 list so far (preceding Mel Blount by a few years, but still safely within the Super Bowl era) and Wagner is only the second active player (along with Mahomes).
Boy, Kansas City was loaded with talented players in the late 60s.
I suspect we'll see him later in the list, but I think of MN Supreme Court Justice / Purple People Eater Alan Page as a cerebral person who played like it despite being a monster of a Defensive Tackle.
Most likely not on the list and not cerebral on the field is Ndamukong Suh. Suspended for kicking a player in the crotch and intentionally stomping on a player on the ground are not the usual qualifications for the brainier among us. But not many brutish linemen are mentored by Warren Buffett either.
I like reading these, perhaps especially the thoughtful examinations of the players from the earlier days of the NFL (and AFL), particularly the players of the 1960s and 1970s.
I also enjoyed learning that Ontario, California is located somewhere just about directly south of Oxnard, under the sea. And that I can drive there from Santa Monica if I just keep going on the 10. Geography is fun!
Pretty funny. Yeah, it's hard to be west of a coastal city. I don't think many non Californians even know that Oxnard is an actual city, much less that it's on the coast. Ontario is so far east it's not even in LA County.
I love these double entries comparing similar players, especially from different eras. It's like hearing the next verse of the song.
Willie Lanier was my first favorite football player as a child. When I met him while he was still playing, I thought he had the biggest hands I had ever seen. Not only long, but thick.
I have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times in later years when his career was long over. He does have a presence, and he does come off as cerebral. He is a joy to talk to, not just about football, but really about anything.
I have never been an autograph guy. I never saw the point. I might have gotten 5 autographs in my life. But if you come to my basement room, you will see an autographed picture of Willie Lanier. It is about 48 years old, but still has pride of place.
In addition to being an interesting pairing of the two MLBs, Lanier is now the earliest player on the 101 list so far (preceding Mel Blount by a few years, but still safely within the Super Bowl era) and Wagner is only the second active player (along with Mahomes).
Boy, Kansas City was loaded with talented players in the late 60s.
Love it.
I suspect we'll see him later in the list, but I think of MN Supreme Court Justice / Purple People Eater Alan Page as a cerebral person who played like it despite being a monster of a Defensive Tackle.
Most likely not on the list and not cerebral on the field is Ndamukong Suh. Suspended for kicking a player in the crotch and intentionally stomping on a player on the ground are not the usual qualifications for the brainier among us. But not many brutish linemen are mentored by Warren Buffett either.
Think you meant that Ontario is east of LA, not west.
I like reading these, perhaps especially the thoughtful examinations of the players from the earlier days of the NFL (and AFL), particularly the players of the 1960s and 1970s.
I also enjoyed learning that Ontario, California is located somewhere just about directly south of Oxnard, under the sea. And that I can drive there from Santa Monica if I just keep going on the 10. Geography is fun!
Pretty funny. Yeah, it's hard to be west of a coastal city. I don't think many non Californians even know that Oxnard is an actual city, much less that it's on the coast. Ontario is so far east it's not even in LA County.
I had to actually re-read it as I thought he said that Wagner was from Oxnard at first as that was all I could think of west from LA with an O.