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The 25 Most Productive Players

The Browns Board
7 3 450
  • According to my PFR source, the following have had the most productive careers in the NFL since 1950. I include the name, and the numbers of years played, which is an important factor in career production:

    1. Brett Favre, 20 years

    2. Jerry Rice, 20 years

    3. Fran Tarkenton, 18 years

    4. Peyton Manning, 15 years

    5. Reggie White, 15 years

    6. Ray Lewis, 17 years

    7. Dan Marino 17 years

    8. Alan Page 15 years

    9. Bruce Smith 19 years

    10. John Unitas 18 years

    11. John Elway 16 years

    12. Carl Eller 16 years

    13. Rod Woodson 17 years

    14. Derrick Brooks 14 years

    15. Jim Marshall 20 years

    16. Merlin Olsen 15 years

    17. Junior Seau 20 years

    18. Lawrence Taylor 13 years

    19. Bruce Matthews 19 years

    20. Paul Krause 16 years

    21. Jim Brown 9 years

    22. Andy Robustelli 14 years

    23. Bill George 15 years

    24. Tom Brady 13 years

    25. Anthony Munoz 13 years

    Of all these players only Favre, Brooks, Brady, and Seau and Jim Marshall are not in the HOF....but of these only Marshall has yet been eligible. Favre, Brady, Brooks and Seau are certain Hall of Famers.

    (and, of course, note, every single one of these played at least 4 years longer in the league than Jim Brown)

  • What about Clay Mathews SR. for 16 years of service to the Browns?

  • What about Clay Mathews SR. for 16 years of service to the Browns?

    @nickers said:

    What about Clay Mathews SR. for 16 years of service to the Browns?

    Clay is tied for 93rd place in his career. But, he has good company. He is tied with Marcus Allen, Sam Huff (both in HOF), and Reggie Wayne and Vinny Testaverde. and Chuck Howley.

    But, Clay is the second highest ranking person who spent most of his career with the Browns, behind JB.

    A few "cup of coffee" Browns like Jim Marshall, Len Dawson, Doug Atkins, and Willie Davis were ahead of Clay, but they mostly played for other teams. And note, because this goes back only to 1950, the careers of Otto Graham and a few other great Browns won't show up here.

  • Along those lines, I noted in some research I was doing that for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Preliminary Nominees....of which there were 128 names involved, ONLY the following had any connection whatsoever to the Browns:

    1. Keenan McCardell WR played with Browns 1992-1995

    2. Lomas Brown OT with Browns 1999

    3. Jay Hilgenberg C with Browns 1992

    4. Carl Hairston DT with Browns 1984-1989

    5. Ted Washington DT with Browns 2006-2007

    6. Clay Matthews LB with Browns 1978-1993

    7. Bud Carson HC with Browns 1989-1990

    8. Art Modell, Owner of Browns 1961-1995

    Of course, none of these got in, nor are any likely. As much as we like Clay here, he was never considered a "dominant" player that would get him in the HOF. He was a good, steady, solid LB, but, alas, not likely HOF material.

  • Along those lines, I noted in some research I was doing that for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Preliminary Nominees....of which there were 128 names involved, ONLY the following had any connection whatsoever to the Browns:

    1. Keenan McCardell WR played with Browns 1992-1995

    2. Lomas Brown OT with Browns 1999

    3. Jay Hilgenberg C with Browns 1992

    4. Carl Hairston DT with Browns 1984-1989

    5. Ted Washington DT with Browns 2006-2007

    6. Clay Matthews LB with Browns 1978-1993

    7. Bud Carson HC with Browns 1989-1990

    8. Art Modell, Owner of Browns 1961-1995

    Of course, none of these got in, nor are any likely. As much as we like Clay here, he was never considered a "dominant" player that would get him in the HOF. He was a good, steady, solid LB, but, alas, not likely HOF material.

    @the-gipper said:

    Along those lines, I noted in some research I was doing that for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Preliminary Nominees....of which there were 128 names involved, ONLY the following had any connection whatsoever to the Browns:

    1. Keenan McCardell WR played with Browns 1992-1995

    2. Lomas Brown OT with Browns 1999

    3. Jay Hilgenberg C with Browns 1992

    4. Carl Hairston DT with Browns 1984-1989

    5. Ted Washington DT with Browns 2006-2007

    6. Clay Matthews LB with Browns 1978-1993

    7. Bud Carson HC with Browns 1989-1990

    8. Art Modell, Owner of Browns 1961-1995

    Of course, none of these got in, nor are any likely. As much as we like Clay here, he was never considered a "dominant" player that would get him in the HOF. He was a good, steady, solid LB, but, alas, not likely HOF material.

    Well..on a HOMER rant...he deserves IMO just based on the fact he succeeded in both the 43 and 34 defense...wich I think few linebackers ever do...just sayin'..LOL.

  • According to my PFR source, the following have had the most productive careers in the NFL since 1950. I include the name, and the numbers of years played, which is an important factor in career production:

    1. Brett Favre, 20 years

    2. Jerry Rice, 20 years

    3. Fran Tarkenton, 18 years

    4. Peyton Manning, 15 years

    5. Reggie White, 15 years

    6. Ray Lewis, 17 years

    7. Dan Marino 17 years

    8. Alan Page 15 years

    9. Bruce Smith 19 years

    10. John Unitas 18 years

    11. John Elway 16 years

    12. Carl Eller 16 years

    13. Rod Woodson 17 years

    14. Derrick Brooks 14 years

    15. Jim Marshall 20 years

    16. Merlin Olsen 15 years

    17. Junior Seau 20 years

    18. Lawrence Taylor 13 years

    19. Bruce Matthews 19 years

    20. Paul Krause 16 years

    21. Jim Brown 9 years

    22. Andy Robustelli 14 years

    23. Bill George 15 years

    24. Tom Brady 13 years

    25. Anthony Munoz 13 years

    Of all these players only Favre, Brooks, Brady, and Seau and Jim Marshall are not in the HOF....but of these only Marshall has yet been eligible. Favre, Brady, Brooks and Seau are certain Hall of Famers.

    (and, of course, note, every single one of these played at least 4 years longer in the league than Jim Brown)

    @the-gipper said:

    According to my PFR source, the following have had the most productive careers in the NFL since 1950. I include the name, and the numbers of years played, which is an important factor in career production:

    1. Brett Favre, 20 years

    2. Jerry Rice, 20 years

    3. Fran Tarkenton, 18 years

    4. Peyton Manning, 15 years

    5. Reggie White, 15 years

    6. Ray Lewis, 17 years

    7. Dan Marino 17 years

    8. Alan Page 15 years

    9. Bruce Smith 19 years

    10. John Unitas 18 years

    11. John Elway 16 years

    12. Carl Eller 16 years

    13. Rod Woodson 17 years

    14. Derrick Brooks 14 years

    15. Jim Marshall 20 years

    16. Merlin Olsen 15 years

    17. Junior Seau 20 years

    18. Lawrence Taylor 13 years

    19. Bruce Matthews 19 years

    20. Paul Krause 16 years

    21. Jim Brown 9 years

    22. Andy Robustelli 14 years

    23. Bill George 15 years

    24. Tom Brady 13 years

    25. Anthony Munoz 13 years

    Of all these players only Favre, Brooks, Brady, and Seau and Jim Marshall are not in the HOF....but of these only Marshall has yet been eligible. Favre, Brady, Brooks and Seau are certain Hall of Famers.

    (and, of course, note, every single one of these played at least 4 years longer in the league than Jim Brown)

    A dozen years from now, Javoen Clowney, who is a DE for South Carolina, will make this list if he stays relatively healthy. He's one of the best football talents I've ever seen. In fact, if the Browns have a chance at him next year, just take him, and worry about QB later.

  • @the-gipper said:

    According to my PFR source, the following have had the most productive careers in the NFL since 1950. I include the name, and the numbers of years played, which is an important factor in career production:

    1. Brett Favre, 20 years

    2. Jerry Rice, 20 years

    3. Fran Tarkenton, 18 years

    4. Peyton Manning, 15 years

    5. Reggie White, 15 years

    6. Ray Lewis, 17 years

    7. Dan Marino 17 years

    8. Alan Page 15 years

    9. Bruce Smith 19 years

    10. John Unitas 18 years

    11. John Elway 16 years

    12. Carl Eller 16 years

    13. Rod Woodson 17 years

    14. Derrick Brooks 14 years

    15. Jim Marshall 20 years

    16. Merlin Olsen 15 years

    17. Junior Seau 20 years

    18. Lawrence Taylor 13 years

    19. Bruce Matthews 19 years

    20. Paul Krause 16 years

    21. Jim Brown 9 years

    22. Andy Robustelli 14 years

    23. Bill George 15 years

    24. Tom Brady 13 years

    25. Anthony Munoz 13 years

    Of all these players only Favre, Brooks, Brady, and Seau and Jim Marshall are not in the HOF....but of these only Marshall has yet been eligible. Favre, Brady, Brooks and Seau are certain Hall of Famers.

    (and, of course, note, every single one of these played at least 4 years longer in the league than Jim Brown)

    A dozen years from now, Javoen Clowney, who is a DE for South Carolina, will make this list if he stays relatively healthy. He's one of the best football talents I've ever seen. In fact, if the Browns have a chance at him next year, just take him, and worry about QB later.

    Skeptical2013 said:

    A dozen years from now, Javoen Clowney, who is a DE for South Carolina, will make this list if he stays relatively healthy. He's one of the best football talents I've ever seen. In fact, if the Browns have a chance at him next year, just take him, and worry about QB later.

    Well, I think it is a little early to start proclaiming that guys that are in college now are going to be top Hall of Famers. I am not saying he won't make it, but there have been many big time college players that turned into big time busts. Can you say Courtney Brown?