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00:04The number 10 safety of all time, Brian Dawkins.
00:08The number 10.
00:10Yep.
00:17His coming out on the field and getting crazy, it worked.
00:29It's funny.
00:30Because as a teammate, we would all make sure we got in position so that we could see him
00:34and what he was going to do that week.
00:39You would see Dawkins a couple hours before a game and you'd be like,
00:42how is he going to make it to game time without just losing his mind?
00:45It was a little scary.
00:47God, Dawkins, you know what's all it is.
00:50You know what's all it is.
00:53To play the way he played that position, he kind of had to turn himself into someone completely different.
00:59They call him Weapon X.
01:00Weapon X.
01:01Weapon X.
01:04He was like Wolverine.
01:06With a nickname like Weapon X, it seems like Brian Dawkins is a perfect fit for number 10 on our
01:13greatest safeties list.
01:14And for all of his pregame style, he had plenty of in-game substance, being the only player in NFL
01:21history to record over 25 interceptions, forced fumbles, and sacks.
01:27The Weapon X sort of mantra came from his ability to play anywhere and be used as a weapon.
01:38Jim Johnson was able to revolutionize the safety position.
01:42What Jim Johnson looked at in Brian Dawkins is, we have this unique talent that we can place all over
01:47the field.
01:47Knocked away by...
01:54That was some hit by Brian Dawkins.
01:58Oh, and he hit.
02:01He was a multi-dimensional safety because he could play deep.
02:06He is firing, and it is intercepted by Brian Dawkins.
02:10Dawkins is the man!
02:11What a play by Dawkins.
02:14The Wolverine.
02:15He could play in the box and defend the run.
02:17No!
02:18Great play by Brian Dawkins!
02:20He was a monster.
02:21I mean, who wanted to face Brian Dawkins?
02:25Brian Dawkins really was the heart and soul of a great defense.
02:29He was also an inspiration for that defense.
02:32Whatever we need, you be that thing.
02:34You be that leader that I know you are.
02:36In here, baby, in that heart and that chest.
02:38Be that tonight.
02:39Can you feel that thing that swings out your doggone hands?
02:42That thing that's beating your doggone chest right now.
02:45Can you feel that?
02:46He's got so much fire and desire to him, so it's contagious.
02:50Bring what you got to the doggone table, man.
02:53Give it to me, and I'm going to give it to you all out, all in.
02:56Brian being an amazing athlete was able to make that work.
03:00I think Dawkins took way too long to get in the Hall of Fame.
03:02I'm like Michael Jackson before he went crazy.
03:05I'll be there.
03:06I think it makes sense that Brian Dawkins would be on this list.
03:08I would put him higher than number 10.
03:10Brian Dawkins was one of the most fun players ever.
03:16The number nine safety of all time, Donnie Schell.
03:20Number nine on our list is Donnie Schell.
03:23Kaboom.
03:28I don't think I've ever seen anybody hit any harder than Donnie Schell.
03:32I just remember Donnie Schell was a pop-hopper.
03:34You caught the ball, and you came across the middle, pop-hop.
03:36Donnie Schell was right there to just lay a hit on you every time.
03:39Donnie Schell, number nine.
03:41People are so disrespectful.
03:43Donnie Schell was the nastiest little SOB safety in the history of the NFL.
03:48But, I mean, how many championships did they win?
03:51You win four in six years.
03:52Everyone needs to shut up.
03:56Donnie Schell was part of a 1974 Steelers rookie class that included four future Hall of Famers.
04:02And even though our number nine safety never heard his name called in that 17-round draft,
04:07he was voted to five Pro Bowls during his 14-year career.
04:13Donnie Schell wasn't a starter immediately.
04:15But from the late 70s to the mid-80s, he was a great player.
04:20And he kind of outlasted a lot of those guys.
04:23His prime was after the Steelers had won four Super Bowls.
04:29Schell's big hits earned him the nickname the Human Torpedo.
04:32On a Monday night in 1978, he delivered his biggest boom against a future Hall of Famer.
04:47Pittsburgh hammered Earl Campbell into submission.
04:50And the NFL Rookie of the Year spent most of his afternoon on the Oiler sideline,
04:57nursing sore ribbons.
04:59That was a statement.
05:02It was just a perfect tackle.
05:06Earl Campbell, we probably wouldn't have won that game.
05:10When Donnie Schell hit you, you knew you'd been hit.
05:14Right.
05:17And it is Tim Penman intercepted.
05:19Here we come, Donnie Schell with the ball.
05:21It's his 50th, and he now passes Ken Houston to Hall of Famer.
05:26He is the first strong safety in history to intercept 50 passes.
05:31In 2017, Schell was inducted into the Steelers' Hall of Honor.
05:37And Schreiman into the Pro Football Hall of Fame has proven more...
05:44Blunt, Glein, Lambert, Ham.
05:47You almost forget that there's somebody else out there.
05:49Schell played forever.
05:51He probably gets a little short-changed because of his surrounding cast.
05:56But his longevity is right there.
05:57And any time you're part of that defense over a long period of time, it means something.
06:01Donnie Schell should be in the Hall of Famer.
06:03No, ifs, ands, or buts.
06:04One of the all-time underrated, underappreciated players.
06:09Donnie Schell and Ronnie Lott.
06:11That's it.
06:12All others suck.
06:15For the number eight safety of all time, Kenny Easley.
06:19Kenny Easley came out of UCLA.
06:21He was a big safety.
06:23Why'd you end up on UCLA?
06:25A little plane?
06:26No, man.
06:28You're gonna talk to me.
06:30He was a prototype.
06:33Physical, athletic safety.
06:37Standing at 6'3", the number eight safety on our top ten list is one of the most imposing
06:42middle defenders of his era.
06:45Aptly named the Enforcer, a five-time pro-boiler, punished ball carriers for nearly a decade.
06:51Um, no doubt about it.
06:53I play the game in a vicious situation out there to hurt anyone, but.
07:01You're an aggressive type of game.
07:06Play hard and.
07:11Yeah, uh, are you serious?
07:14Hit people's the greatest safety in history.
07:16What?
07:18You don't even have to look at the numbers.
07:20You see a receiver get hit the way.
07:27He got hit.
07:29It was number 45, Kenny Easley.
07:35The amazing thing about Kenny Easley highlights
07:39is that when he got an interception,
07:41he could move so gracefully,
07:43and he used positional awareness so well.
07:46Type is back to pass.
07:56The interceptions look like they were intended for him.
08:01He would judge the ball in midair with absolute perfection.
08:09Interceptions, and you're like, where's the.
08:14Receiver.
08:18He looked like a Lynn Swan when he had a ball in his hands.
08:21I mean, he did have that graceful movement.
08:22Throws a field.
08:23Picked off by Seattle at the 45.
08:25Easley will go all the way.
08:26Play for a touchdown.
08:28He had this fluidity to him.
08:30He can run.
08:31He can knock down passes.
08:33That's what Kenny Easley does best.
08:35He can cover a lot of.
08:40Ground while the ball is in the air.
08:43Passes.
08:44Tip.
08:45It is intercepted.
08:47Kenny Easley.
08:48Kenny Easley, son.
08:50Pacific Northwest.
08:51This ain't no joke.
08:52Seattle, son.
08:53He's the reason there's a 12th man.
08:57With Kenny Easley, you're so used to the consistency.
09:02He's going to be there every down.
09:04He's going to make plays.
09:08And then unfortunately, the illness robbed him of that ability to be that same guy.
09:14He tried his best to push through it, but ended up ultimately having to retire.
09:21Kidney failure ended Easley's career at age 28.
09:25His seven seasons are the fewest of any safety on our list.
09:30But it is his grit and grace that earned him our number eight spot, as well as a place in
09:38camp.
09:40Kenny Easley, Hall of Famer number 306, is indeed grateful.
09:49He left some years on the field that we didn't get to share with him as fans.
09:54He easily could do it all.
09:56I think he should probably be higher on this list.
09:58You know, had he continued to play, I think you'd be listing him a little higher, actually.
10:05The number seven safety of all time, Steve Atwater.
10:09Play hard, play smart, and knock your ass out every chance you get, baby.
10:17Steve Atwater is the first safety I remember.
10:20They really patrolled very well, and no one wanted to get in his range.
10:24I mean, you say Steve Atwater, and like, I end up crunching him, but I'm like, ugh.
10:30Steve Atwater.
10:32Steve Atwater brought the lumber.
10:33Showtime, baby, showtime in my mind, let's get it!
10:39Literally, let's just get down to it.
10:41I've always called it a pain day for a reason.
10:43Somebody's gonna get lit up.
10:44Somebody's gonna get jacked up, and people love it.
10:47Pain day.
10:48Everyone lives to see somebody get cracked, and your boy brought some serious...
10:55Crack.
10:55I mean, absolutely, Riddell type hits.
11:03The job of a defensive back is to take the ball away.
11:08All they've talked about is hitting, is tackling.
11:11I mean, look, we have linebackers for that.
11:14We have defensive linemen for that.
11:16How'd he take the ball away?
11:18Not very good.
11:19He had 24 interceptions in 10 seasons.
11:22And it's not like he was De'Rell Rivas.
11:24He's a safety.
11:32In particular, kind of stand out to you.
11:34Well, everyone remembers the Christian Okoye hit on Monday Night Football.
11:38I remember the hit like it was just yesterday.
11:40Christian Okoye, big dude.
11:42Boy, he is too big and too fast to be playing running back in the NFL.
11:46And you talk about hitting a, you know, brick wall.
11:49I mean, Christian Okoye ran straight up for a reason, because he could.
11:53An incredible run with about five guys on his back tonight.
11:57Chewy in nightmare.
11:58Oh.
12:00Listen.
12:03Nobody, nobody, hits Christian Okoye up top.
12:14Christian Okoye is 700 pounds.
12:19Good try, baby.
12:21And can run a 4.6.
12:23I don't give a f***.
12:24Nobody, hits Christian Okoye up top.
12:28Unless you're Steve Atwater.
12:31Steve Atwater.
12:35Steve Atwater took it to him, man.
12:37I mean, he got hit.
12:40He hit Christian Okoye so hard, like a solo tackle, in the hole, like nobody was on his legs.
12:48If Steve Atwater hit me as hard as he hit Christian Okoye, I wouldn't even be friends with people named
12:53Steve, no more.
12:55Okay.
12:56Don't get mad at me, you know.
12:57Take your f*** head on the table.
12:59Like, legit.
13:00Like, just in life, in general.
13:02I just, just like, what's up, man?
13:03What's your name?
13:04My name is Steve.
13:05You're a bird.
13:05I got a c***.
13:06Yeah.
13:07Steve Atwater.
13:09Chris McQuade on the ground like this, man.
13:12Chris McQuade's legs was like this, dog.
13:16Steve Atwater, man.
13:19He hit him so hard.
13:20I got a c***.
13:22Ah, shoot.
13:23I really got a c***, guys.
13:25Like, for real.
13:29So the hit is great, but it kind of oversimplifies Atwater's career.
13:33I mean, not only an eight-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champ.
13:37This is a guy whose name almost feels synonymous with the safety position.
13:43He did make, he did make some plays.
13:46He did make some plays in that Super Bowl that they don't win without.
13:50Are you kidding me?
13:51Atwater was a great cover safety.
13:54And his ability to survey and anticipate.
13:56It is in a second.
13:59Diagnose, recognize, and react before the offense's first step.
14:03And he was one of the best at doing that.
14:06Probably so.
14:07Atwater would be fifth.
14:09You know who Liz Steve Atwater is, number one-o?
14:12Christian N'Coye.
14:13Christian N'Coye's.
14:16Quick safety of all time.
14:19Emlyn Tunnell.
14:20Too low.
14:21Number six.
14:22Way too low.
14:23Far too low.
14:24He had 79 interceptions in his career when they only played 12 games for most of it.
14:29And then 14 games for part of it.
14:32And threw the ball 20 times a game or something like that.
14:35He might have 150 playing right now.
14:40Playing outside in the cold.
14:42Playing that many games in a season.
14:47He.
14:48There's.
14:49There's a lot.
14:49Reed.
14:51Kraus.
14:52Him.
14:59It's Emlyn Tunnell.
15:01Come on.
15:01Now you're just making up names.
15:03You're just making stuff up.
15:05Emlyn Tunnell.
15:06You know what I'm going to do?
15:07I'm going to use that name from now on.
15:08When I check in to hotels.
15:10Tunnell.
15:11He has 80 interceptions.
15:12He's just behind Paul Kraus.
15:1479.
15:15Our number six safety retired in 1961.
15:19Look at that.
15:19With a then NFL record 79 career interceptions.
15:23He might actually deserve to be higher than six.
15:26His stats will bear out how dominant he was when you consider when he was playing this wasn't a pass
15:32-happy league.
15:32He fires a long pass.
15:34A danger pass.
15:35But fearless ball thought.
15:36Emtonen.
15:37You pass.
15:37But fearless ball thought.
15:39Emtonnell makes the catch for New York.
15:41So he's got a couple of standards.
15:43I did my research.
15:47Emtonnell's teams faced 4,663 pass attempts against him in games he played.
15:53That means he picked off every less than 60 passes.
15:57Every 59 passes.
16:00You have guys in the league who get four or five interceptions over a season and we call them the
16:08best defender in the league or something like that.
16:11And they have gloves on.
16:13He didn't have gloves on.
16:14He played outside in the cold.
16:16What do you think he'd be doing facing 600 pass attempts every season like guys today do with gloves?
16:26About 13 interceptions every year.
16:32Titles, that's great.
16:33He's a four-time first-team All-Pro.
16:35He's recognized by his peers in that era as being outstanding.
16:38But the volume of picks that he had, 79 career interceptions.
16:43He was ahead of his time.
16:44A great player right now, like a Richard Sherman, might get 40 to 50 interceptions for his career.
16:51Emtonnell had 79 in an era in which they played 12 games and threw the ball 15 to 20 times.
16:59That's playing center field.
17:01Watch Emtonnell play it like Willie Mays.
17:03A perfect catch.
17:06Number six.
17:08Well, he was the first real great one.
17:09He should be number one.
17:10Go ahead.
17:14Emtonnell was an undrafted World War II hero who made an immediate impact as a rookie in 1948.
17:21Tom Landry was the defensive.
17:23He fought in the World War.
17:24He didn't play until he was 24.
17:27He'd still be holding the NFL.
17:29He might have 90 to 100 if he played 21 to 22 years old like everybody else has.
17:35He'd still be holding the record.
17:38Then what would the argument be against him not being on the Mount Rushmore?
17:46The coach and Landry was trying to build what he called the umbrella defense.
17:51And he needed a real specific kind of player to cover a lot of ground to make the whole thing
17:57kind of work.
17:59When he saw Emtonnell, he said, I found my guy.
18:02His nickname was offense on defense.
18:06There was one year, I believe it was 52, where he had more yards, kicks, returning interceptions, returning punts, than
18:15the Giants running backs did.
18:17Emtonnell adding another brilliant run back to his record and a touchdown to the New York side of the scoreboard.
18:26In addition to being a great player, he was really a pioneer.
18:29He was the first purely defensive player to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
18:34He was the first African-American voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
18:38He was the first African-American assistant coach in the modern era of pro football.
18:43And he was the first African-American player to play for the New York Giants.
18:46He accomplished everything he could have possibly accomplished at a time when very few African-Americans were even playing in
18:51the NFL.
18:53Exactly.
18:54Don't talk to me about whoever, some, I know they got Troy Poyamalu up there.
19:01He had 32 career interceptions.
19:03Don't talk to me about somebody else being in that spot.
19:19He is expending energy.
19:21So, he's 80, 85% where other guys get to come out fresh at 100% on the defensive side
19:29of the ball.
19:30He's expending energy elsewhere.
19:32What do his stats look like if he just played defense?
19:41And now, the number five safety of all time, Ken Houston.
19:45Ken Houston.
19:46Ken Houston.
19:47I remember the, was he on the Chiefs?
19:50Ken Houston.
19:51Ken Houston.
19:53I think he's top 10.
19:55He's not top five.
19:56Playback of the day.
19:58I'm some older guys.
19:59Yeah, I'm too, I'm too, I'm too young for that.
20:02Once again, history class is in session.
20:05Here's a lesson on the safety voted to more Pro Bowls than any other on this countdown.
20:11Very fair for Ken Houston to be rated number five.
20:14Ball hawk, but also was a people hawk.
20:18When Ken Houston got to you, you remembered it.
20:22Kenny Houston is the greatest strong safety in history.
20:25Kenny could run.
20:28He was physical.
20:30There may have never been a better tackler in the secondary than Kenny Houston.
20:35He came from a small college prairie view where he played linebacker.
20:38Because he had the size and the strength to play linebacker,
20:44he was perfect at safety position at a time when you needed safeties to play the run.
20:5012 defensive touchdowns.
20:52The all pro in the Oilers secondary was Ken Houston's number 29,
20:57a lean, mean blade cutting down a ball carrier.
21:02They said that I was a dirty player because I was a hitter.
21:06And I was always a little guy in among big men, so I had to strike first.
21:10And I took that attitude to the secondary.
21:18George Allen was coaching in Washington.
21:21To complete my defense, I need Kenny Houston.
21:24And so he traded five players and said it was a bargain.
21:28One of the worst in NFL history was when the Houston Oilers trade him to the Redskins
21:33for a bunch of tomato kings.
21:35When number 27, Ken Houston, takes off his glasses,
21:40he does not become Superman.
21:42The 11-year veteran becomes Super Safety,
21:47one of the finest defensive backs the NFL has ever known.
21:55For most Hall of Fame players, they have what you would call a signature play.
22:00And Kenny Houston had one of those plays on a Monday night game.
22:03Redskins-Cowboys.
22:04It was a low-scoring, close game.
22:07Cowboy fullback Walt Garrison's about to score,
22:10and Kenny stops him at like the one-inch line
22:13with a tackle that was so perfect,
22:15and it kind of was the story of his career.
22:17Look at that.
22:18Walt Garrison was literally a cowboy.
22:20I mean, he was a cowboy in the offseason,
22:22and he wrestled steers.
22:23In that particular situation, he was the steer,
22:26and Kenny Houston won the battle.
22:28Yeah, hi, yeah, yeah.
22:30I'm sure about Kenny Houston's playoff resume.
22:33All of these guys won playoff games, I'm sure.
22:38Won Super Bowls, even.
22:40Played in Super Bowls, or NFL championships.
22:43Kenny Houston in the playoffs, 0-5.
22:47Defenses gave up 35 points a game.
22:54He's above Inland to now.
22:58Ridiculous.
23:03He did play in Washington when they went to the Super Bowl in 1972.
23:07No, he didn't.
23:08But Ken Houston largely plays for some bad Oilers teams,
23:12so he's oftentimes forgotten, but a great safety.
23:15Should be on any list of top 10 of any football player.
23:20No weaknesses.
23:21Strong.
23:22He didn't get to, see, this is why he's,
23:26this is why we have these slip-ups.
23:28He didn't get to Washington until the year after they went to the Super Bowl.
23:32Tall, big, smart.
23:39The number four safety of all time.
23:42Troy Palavala.
23:43A lot of wood makes Troy's hair.
23:45The hair gives him like a Samson look.
23:47It's very luxurious.
23:50Hi, Mr. Savini.
23:52This is Troy Palavala from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
23:54Yes, I am the guy with big hair.
23:56Anyway, I'm calling to tell you that Hens' children has four champs,
23:59who's just for men.
24:00Right.
24:01Having cut my hair for 10 years.
24:03I mean, how is that ad not still on?
24:06I think this is better than that.
24:07Are you kidding?
24:08This is better.
24:09Way.
24:10Toes and luscious lobs.
24:11Maybe you're shinier.
24:13As a follically challenged man,
24:15I have great respect for anybody who's got that.
24:20No player's hair has ever matched their style of play better than Troy Palavala.
24:27Wild.
24:29All over the place.
24:31Yeah, it was a thing of...
24:32How do you make a tackle like that?
24:35Speaking of playmaking and death-defying picks on his...
24:39He made a tackle behind his back.
24:42That's...
24:43Disgusting.
24:44Fingertips, like hallucinogenic-type picks.
24:47Stuff you haven't seen before ever.
24:49And it's intercepted!
24:50You won't ever see it again.
24:5235-30!
24:53There's something about putting that helmet on.
24:55He just became the Tasmanian Devil.
24:58He's out here destroying people.
24:59Moves to the wall.
25:00Great tackle.
25:01Brian and Eric Palavala.
25:03He pursued offensive players the way he pursued a life with Jesus.
25:09What a play by Troy Palavala!
25:12Remember how fun he was?
25:13Remember how fast his closing speed was?
25:15Better than anybody else in the NFL.
25:18What a play by the best safety in the business.
25:22He was so fast.
25:24To me was the 2005 season and we were playing the Broncos in the AFC Championship game.
25:31And it was a play to the running back.
25:33And all of a sudden he comes up and makes a play.
25:36And everybody just said, wow.
25:39He just made that play.
25:40He was just a guy that was everywhere.
25:42He was always there at a critical time.
25:44Flacco is going to be hit by Palavala.
25:46The ball's out!
25:47He could sniff a play.
25:48He anticipated a play.
25:50Oh, what a play by Troy.
25:52Troy came up over the top.
25:53The scenario called for this play and he was ready for the play.
25:57He sensed it.
25:58It looks like he saw a future.
25:59Throws it over the middle of the field.
26:01The pass is shot.
26:01Oh, and intercepted.
26:03What a catch.
26:04He kept his hand underneath.
26:05He was a Jedi.
26:06He was one with the football.
26:07And another great interception from this marvelous safety.
26:14Sure, Troy's hair was unique.
26:16But what separates the number four safety was the fact that he had the freedom to do whatever
26:23he wanted.
26:23Second and four of the seven teams.
26:26But Palavala goes through the net.
26:28And down goes Duff.
26:29What a play.
26:30Wow.
26:32Troy doing what Troy does.
26:34Freedom of any player I've ever coached in our defense.
26:38I don't want to take any chance.
26:39Oh, Palavala.
26:40Oh, he's jumping the gun.
26:43He's talking about heavy quarterback snap count down pat.
26:47I don't know how that happens, by the way, that the coach says, hey, Troy, you can just
26:52go out there and do whatever you want.
26:53What other player do they let do that?
26:55I think he took chances that a lot of safeties couldn't take.
26:59I didn't know the answer.
27:00Diving over the line.
27:02You know, we have a freedom to switch positions, do different things if we feel different things.
27:07And I use some of my liberty.
27:11What are you, you killed him.
27:15His range and his ability to just sacrifice his body to make plays, whether it was a tackle
27:20in the run game or what he did in coverage.
27:23Just a guy who is physical every snap of every game.
27:26Troy taught me that sometimes it's definitely great to be athletic.
27:31And they can also have long, curly, larky, beautiful hair.
27:34I would have him lower on the list.
27:35Really?
27:36I think that's fair.
27:37I think Troy's fourth.
27:39Who made this list?
27:41No way.
27:44The number three safety of all time.
27:47Oh, no.
27:47Ed Reed.
27:48Ed Reed is no doubt about it the best safety to ever play football.
27:53They ain't never seen this.
27:54What do you mean for real?
27:55They ain't never saw nothing like this now.
27:57Did we do it right by putting Ed ahead of Troy?
27:59Yeah, I think so.
28:00I'd put Ed Reed number one.
28:02I think this might be a little overrated for Ed Reed.
28:05What?
28:08Oh, no.
28:09You know what?
28:10The more I think about this list, this whole list is Pharrell.
28:13I think Ed Reed should be 10 through 1.
28:18When we talk about guys who maximize being around the football and making a bigger play, that was Ed Reed.
28:28I think he really changed the way the position was played.
28:30He's athletic.
28:32He can guard the tight end.
28:33He can guard the running back out of the back, too.
28:36He can help over the top.
28:38He can help and earn the fist.
28:40He is the prototypical safety.
28:42I think he did that for so long.
28:43You know, of course, I'm mad at him because he picked off a couple passes of mine.
28:46That's once, fires end zone.
28:49Picked off by Ed Reed in the end zone.
28:53Get my ball back, Ed.
28:55The interceptions, the hands that he had.
28:58I wish I could have had his hands.
29:00I think I dropped more picks than I had.
29:08He devastated lives.
29:11Making huge plays.
29:14Constantly harassing people.
29:16Things of this nature.
29:17And that's what Steve Smith.
29:19After catch hits.
29:20Just a vicious, just horrible, terrible, just perfect human being.
29:27Oh, what a hit!
29:29That I appreciate like no other.
29:31I've never been a fan of the Ravens, but I respect Ed Reed for his brilliance as a football player.
29:40Yeah, I give the same respect to the Steelers.
29:46Have to say that.
29:55There was no defender more dangerous than Ed Reed.
29:58Our number three safety holds the record for most interception return yardage in NFL history.
30:05His return ability is the one that sets him apart.
30:08He was a weapon.
30:10Teams were legitimately afraid to throw the ball in his area at times.
30:14I look at him as more of being the saving grace.
30:16He can throw the ball away from Ed Reed.
30:18If it's not perfect, he will still make you pay for it.
30:25Touchdown, Ed Reed!
30:28When the ball was in his hands, he just wasn't.
30:30Ed Reed was off camera when that pass was thrown.
30:33It's not like he was even guarding the guy, I assume.
30:37Hey, I got an interception.
30:38It was about going to go get six.
30:41He's such a dynamic athlete and has that same feel that transitions to being a ball carrier,
30:46to being a receiver, that he changes the complexion of a game.
30:50I'm going to take this one back to the crib, you heard?
30:53Ed Reed was the best offense that the Ravens had in a couple of those years.
31:16When Bill Belichick worries about you, you're a pretty dang good player.
31:19Ed Reed's Ed Reed.
31:21He covers up for a lot of stuff.
31:23Everything he does, he does at an exceptional level.
31:28To be as wadded over the course of his career by Bill Belichick.
31:33You're the best free safety that's ever played this game at Austin.
31:36By Tom Brady.
31:38I want you to keep an eye on Ed Reed today.
31:40Yeah.
31:41When you have two guys who are at the tops of their professions and had to game plan for
31:45this guy for years and years, and they think he's one of the greatest of all time, there
31:49is no way that Ed Reed doesn't deserve to be on this list.
31:51I think you're right at number three.
31:53He needs to be higher on this list.
31:55In my opinion, Ed Reed is number two all time.
31:58He gets all ten slots, and then he's allowed to bring three friends to the bar mitzvah,
32:03so I'll say Ronnie Lott, Troy Palomaro, Donnie Schell.
32:08Game over.
32:10The number two safety of all time, Paul Kraus.
32:14Paul Kraus.
32:15All-time leading interception.
32:17It's a bomb right down the middle.
32:19It's hooked up.
32:20Paul Kraus is broken.
32:22Edward Kyle.
32:22That's interception number one.
32:24He now has 81 career interceptions.
32:28Until someone beats Paul Kraus' career interception record, you have to put him at one or two.
32:33How long did he play?
32:3440 years?
32:35That can't be right.
32:37They didn't even have a forward pass when this guy was playing.
32:41Are you sure it's interception?
32:42NFL record unbelievable.
32:43The guy was unbelievable, but no one knows who it is.
32:45He might as well be talking about sauerkraut, because no one remembers Paul Kraus to save
32:50their ass.
32:52Paul Kraus.
32:52He made this man wait for the Hall of Fame with 81 interceptions.
32:56He should have been first ballot.
32:58He doesn't even have his number retired.
33:02Vikings teams that went to the Super Bowl in the 70s.
33:04In a lot of ways, revolutionized the safety position, because he created turnovers.
33:09And he ends up retiring with the most interceptions ever.
33:15Our number two safety of all time is best remembered as a Viking, but he actually started his Hall of
33:21Fame
33:22career in Washington.
33:24This is Paul Kraus.
33:26The Redskins' number two draft selection.
33:28Who earned all pro honors in his rookie year.
33:31In 1964, Paul led the NFL with 12 interceptions.
33:36Paul Kraus should be a good winner from the Redskins.
33:41I had great success.
33:44I had 28 interceptions in four years, so that's pretty good.
33:47Despite being voted all pro his first two seasons, Prowse wasn't viewed as a scheme fit
33:53in D.C., so he was traded to Minnesota.
33:56What's up, brother?
33:57And Sam Huff was so good, but he could spit nails.
34:01And he still talks about it.
34:03What do you want to get rid of Paul Kraus for?
34:05I mean, this guy is a football player.
34:06Just let him play center field.
34:08That's what he does, you know?
34:10Now Paul Kraus is at the all-time league record.
34:12He's in the Hall of Fame.
34:14And the Redskins had him.
34:15Let him go.
34:16And it's funny, when I got to Minnesota Vikings, Bud Grant just said,
34:21you play the way you're used to playing, just don't get beat deep.
34:27He didn't get beat deep.
34:30Kraus was a perfect complement to Minnesota's ferocious defensive line,
34:34the Purple People Eaters, as the Vikings captured four NFC championships.
34:40We used to call him the center fielder.
34:43We knew that if a ball hung up in the air too long, he wasn't very far away from it.
34:48Some of the criticism of Sam's was he was a center fielder.
34:51He played back.
34:52Well, that's what Bud Grant wanted.
34:54He had a great defensive line.
34:56And he could hit people.
34:58You have the Purple People Eaters.
35:01You don't need Paul Kraus to tackle somebody.
35:03And he had solid linebackers.
35:05He just wasn't required to do it.
35:07And they got the most proud.
35:09Ah!
35:10That's it again.
35:11Paul Kraus is one of those guys, like Lawrence Taylor,
35:15who revolutionized the position of safety.
35:21I think he's probably number two on this because of numbers.
35:2581 career interceptions for Paul Kraus in an era where the ball wasn't in the air all that often.
35:30With that type of a number, am I going to quibble with him being it too?
35:34No.
35:35You know what?
35:39He did this in frigid Minnesota with the Purple People Eaters.
35:45Eller, Page, Marshall.
35:47130 career sacks each.
35:51Quarterback can't throw an interception if he's sacked.
35:53So if he had a good defensive line in front of him instead of the one of the great all
36:00-time defensive lines,
36:02he could have had 120 interceptions.
36:06The Purple People Eaters defensive line being so great hurt his numbers.
36:16Well, I always hate to say a record's never going to be broken,
36:20but 81 interceptions, pretty damn hard to top.
36:24That's not going to happen.
36:26And now, the number one safety of all time, Ronnie Locke.
36:31Yeah.
36:34Best safety I ever saw play was probably Ronnie Locke.
36:37He hit hard like a linebacker.
36:39He was deep in coverage also, you know, as like a corner.
36:43Ronnie Locke, he's in for six points for San Francisco.
36:46He's the godfather of the safety position.
36:48Everyone who's played football since, you know, 1981 at the safety position wants to be Ronnie Locke.
36:56He is a legend of the game.
37:01Ronnie is the heart and soul of the National Football League.
37:09You know, Ronnie Locke was a great safety, but the first five years of his career, he essentially played corner.
37:17So, how do you get around that?
37:19Ronnie was the best corner in the league.
37:22And the cornerback also stole their thunder as he earned Pro Bowl honors for the third time in his three
37:29-year career.
37:31And then, let's just move him to safety a little early, where he'll be the best safety of all time.
37:39Pass out of the middle.
37:40Picked by Ronnie Locke.
37:41Ronnie Locke defines the defense of the Niners that is always overlooked.
37:47That defense was nasty every one of those Super Bowl years.
37:51And Ronnie Locke was the heart and soul of those defenses.
37:55His emotional and intellectual ability to grab people and lead, that's a big reason why he would be number one
38:06on this list.
38:07Super Bowl!
38:09Back and back!
38:12Oh yeah, a 4-10.
38:13Look at Ronnie.
38:15Smile, he just had that face.
38:18Ronnie Locke hit dudes so hard that Pat Summerall would pause from where he'd go, Ronnie Lott.
38:26Back to throw it, looks right, throws left.
38:28Ronnie Lott.
38:33He's the guy that lifts this whole team.
38:37Ronnie Lott.
38:39Pure intimidating.
38:40You know, because he was going to come at you 150 miles an hour.
38:48All the way to the top row.
38:50Thank you, Woods in the Super Bowl, Super Bowl 23.
38:53Let's get ready to do the shuffle.
38:56Woods again, his fifth carry.
38:58Oh, is it?
39:00What a puck by Ronnie Lott.
39:03Hi, I'm Ronnie Lott.
39:05No more of that.
39:08When you go play the game of football, it's a violent game.
39:11I wasn't going to leave anything behind.
39:17I was never going to allow myself to be defeated.
39:25And, of course, this countdown would be incomplete, without mention of the most famous missing digit in NFL history.
39:34Finger.
39:35It happened at the last game of the season.
39:37We were playing the Cowboys.
39:39I think it was Timmy Newsome.
39:41I was trying to tackle him.
39:44Unfortunately, his helmet kind of smashed my finger against my shoulder pad.
39:49I'm sure he has one of those fractures where the bone comes through the skin because there is blood involved
39:55in that thing.
39:57I had to go see the doctor.
39:59He says, well, look, one of your bones is missing in the finger.
40:02I chose to get the finger amputated so I could play.
40:06Talk about gritty blood, sweat, and tears, and the pinky.
40:11I mean, he gave it all.
40:13Put me back in, coach.
40:15Hey, coach.
40:16Put me back in.
40:19Yeah, he wasn't always a safety, but I'm supposed to look a guy in the eye that said.
40:27Yeah, just take it off above the knuckle.
40:29I want to go into the third quarter and tell him he's not the greatest safety of all time.
40:33No, I'm going to make him the greatest safety of all time.
40:36Yes, sir.
40:38Yeah.
40:39How many rings do you have, Ronnie?
40:43One, two, three, four.
40:45Only NFL safety to end his career with fewer fingers than he started with.
40:51What about Paul Amalu?
40:52What about John?
40:53Count the fingers.
40:54How many fingers do they have?
40:56Do they have ten fingers?
40:58Well, they're not the greatest.
41:00Call me when they have 9.7 fingers.
41:03Believe it.
41:05Believe it.
41:06Believe it.
41:06Believe it.
41:06Wait.del
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