NFL: Selecting the best player in each franchise’s history
By Brad Rowland
New York Giants – Lawrence Taylor
You mean this isn’t Eli Manning?
No, Lawrence Taylor is the no-doubt, slam-dunk choice for the New York Giants, and if you were born after 1986, this will serve as a reminder as to why he earned that nod.
Taylor is considered, by some, as the best defensive player in league history, and if you don’t share that view, we can all agree that he was one of the most terrifying. His peak came in 1986, when Taylor set a then-NFL record with 20.5 sacks while earning league MVP honors, and routinely made plays that were previously unthinkable from his position.
During his prime, Taylor reached double-digit sacks in seven consecutive seasons, and he was named Defensive Player of the Year on three occasions with eight (!) first-team All-Pro honors. “LT” is just 11th on the all-time sack list with 132, but considering his other contributions against the run and even in coverage, his first-ball Hall of Fame induction was undoubtedly justified.
Lawrence Taylor is the picture of what a hybrid, pass-rushing linebacker should look like, and even if it wasn’t always pretty off the field, he is the best player in New York Giants history by a comfortable margin.
Sorry, Eli.
Next: New York Jets