Quote:
Originally Posted by REDSKINS4ever
Have you seen films of Dick Butkus hit players? Butkus played at 6'3 245, and was a very powerful hitter. Regardless if the year is 1968 or if the year is 2012, a 245 pound man is a 245 pound man. If Butkus played in today's NFL, his hits would carry the same weight as it did in the time that he played. Jack Tatum was 5'10 200 pounds and without a doubt THE MOST ferocious hitter in NFL history. He once paralyzed a man from the waist down on the gridiron(Darryl Stingley).
The pro game has always been violent. Although the players today are stronger and faster, there were those players way back when who undoubtedly could play with the same viciousness in today's NFL.
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I may be 41 years old, but I have seen footage of all these guys. Listen I dont want to get hit by Butkus or Ray Lewis. Back than the nutritional science and sports science wasnt what it is today. Training facilities werent what they are today. alot of the guys back than probably had to work in the off season and couldnt train all year long like todays athletes. That being said on a pound for pound basis - yes - I fear the speed, power, and hits of todays NFL more than back than. I never said if Butkus was around today he wouldnt be just as good. But he isnt - if he was this would be a one sided argument.
Also, I dont think that paralyzing a guy makes you ferocious - Stingley was hit in the wrong place - he was unlucky.