Who was the greatest #1 overall draft pick of all time

[ddaryl]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/alltimeno1

Well if we judge by probowls, then Bruce Smith is the winner. The rest is up for debate. But Bruce played 18 years in the NFL and made the probowl 11 times (all 11 times was as a Bill). So purely judging by the amount of probowls, Bruce is our winner as it stands today.


This record will eventually be tied by Peyton manning (who has 9 probowls so far) and will eventually be broken by the same man IMO, but as of today of all the 1st overall picks in the NFL since 1936 no #1 overall 1st rd pick has more porbowls then Bruce.


Thought I'd share this tidbit that takes us back to a time when we actually drafted the right player in the 1st rd.

The # 1 overall player(s) who have played in the most probowls is a tie between

Randall McDaniel, G – 12 Pro Bowls: 1990-2001
Will Shields , G - 12 between 1993 -2006

No NFL player has been elected to more Pro Bowls since the game went to the AFC-NFC format in 1971 than McDaniel (Kansas City’s Will Shields , G is tied with him). McDaniel earned a Pro Bowl berth in each season of his 14-year career except his first and last year. He played in 11 Pro Bowls representing the Minnesota Vikings. His final Pro Bowl appearance came as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[k-oneputt]

Elway.

[ddaryl]

Elway.


No Elway only has 10 probowls in 16 years. Bruce had 11 in 18 years....


My post was purely based upon probowl nods, and I even said the rest was debateable outside of that, but this thread was saying based purely upon probowls in a career by the #1 overall pick, Bruce Smith was the winner

[k-oneputt]

Ok. Pro bowls it is.

[Jan Reimers]

Peyton Manning, if you don't use Pro Bowls.

[MikeInRoch]

Judging by probowls is kinda silly.

[Sportsuser101]

Judging by probowls is kinda silly.

Thats like saying Ruben Brown was a probowler for 9 years. Probowls mean nothing IMO

[bigbub2352]

Peyton Manning, if you don't use Pro Bowls.
Peyton Manning

[Beastie Bills]

No Elway only has 10 probowls in 16 years. Bruce had 11 in 18 years....

I'm not a mathematician, but I think 10 in 16 years is better.

Elway made the probowl in 62.5% of his seasons.
Bruce made the probowl in 61.1% of his seasons.

That being said, the answer is Peyton Manning. Probowls are a popularity contest.

[ddaryl]

I'm not a mathematician, but I think 10 in 16 years is better.

Elway made the probowl in 62.5% of his seasons.
Bruce made the probowl in 61.1% of his seasons.

That being said, the answer is Peyton Manning. Probowls are a popularity contest.


11 is greater then 10 and that was the only indicator I was using, and I clearly stated this in the original post... I wasn't going by %... which would be wrong cause many players didn't have as long careers so technically that % could be skewed by lack of a carer divided by number of appearances.

Yes Elway deserve a bigtime honorary mention in all of this...

This thread was me just trying to lighten up the mood a little and let us take a little pride in what I thought was an interesting fact... Bruce Smith has more probowls then any other player taken #1 overall in the NFL

SOmetimes posting a little blurb on this forum is equal to banging your head off a brick wall.


I do agree that outside of this silly stat of probowls that Peyton Manning is making a heluva case for greatest NFL player of all time

[ddaryl]

Thats like saying Ruben Brown was a probowler for 9 years. Probowls mean nothing IMO


Yes and no

In Rubens case about 50% of those probowls were BS


But in many cases they are legitimate measuring sticks.. Like Bruce or Peyton or Elway for example

[Beastie Bills]

You are correct you are no mathematician

11 is greater then 10 and that was the only indicator I was using, and I clearly stated this in the original post

10/16 is greater than 11/18.

62.5% is greater than 61.1%.

Beastie Bills is greater than ddaryl.

[ddaryl]

Judging by probowls is kinda silly.


But that was the point of this entire thread was to look at all the #1 overall draft picks in the history of the NFL, and noticing out of all those picks since 1936 Bruce Smith sits alone at the top with 11 probowl nods, and all of them as a member of the Bills.


All this thread is/was a futile attempt at bringing back a little Buffalo Bill pride

[ddaryl]

10/16 is greater than 11/18.
62.5% is greater than 61.1%.
Beastie Bills is greater than ddaryl.


:banghead:

you're doing this on purpose aren;t you ( I also edited that post while you were replying to me)


I clearly stated in my post it was based upon appearances and not %

[yordad]

10/16 is greater than 11/18.

62.5% is greater than 61.1%.

Beastie Bills is greater than ddaryl.11 is greater than 10.

If Elway played another seaon or two, do you tyhink he would have made the pro bowl?

ddaryl > beastie bills, btw.

[realdealryan]

Peyton, period.

[Oldbillsfan]

Didn't Jason Peters play to make pro bowls?

I agree, Payton Manning is pretty amazing.

[Mr. Pink]

Chuck Bednarik

[Ingtar33]

well... Bruce was probably the greatest defensive end to ever play. Had he played end in a 43 his numbers would have been much-much better. No 34 ends ever put up a fraction of the production Bruce did.

I'd have to say he's certainly in the talk for top 4 or so no.1 picks ever.

[YardRat]

Jeezus Christmas guys...it's not like we have a couple of generations of successes to bask in...Screw the math and let us enjoy this one just for a little bit.

BRUUUUUUUUCE !!

[ddaryl]

Peyton, period.


Nope Peyton only has 9 so far, probably 10 after this year

Come back to me when Peyton has 12

[Griff]

Bruce or Peyton for sure.