The forearm shiver delivered by Lakers center Andrew Bynum is still tingling down the arm of the sports world. Or at least here in Los Angeles where talking about the Dodgers divorce seems to be the only viable alternative.
One thing that people seem to miss was that Bynum's hit was not old-school or tough, it was cheap actually. The kind of thing you would expect from the Pistons, Celtics or Hugh Jackman.
Just kidding, Hugh.
But it should be considered an insult to call this "old-school." Or that it was tough, rather. With that in mind, I cobbled together my list of the six best tough guys in NFL history, going old-school -- thus eliminating current players.
Considered:Â Dick Butkus, Marion Motley, Jim Taylor and Bill Bates. (And others, please share your below.)Â
And without further ado ...
6. Tommy McDonald
McDonald was the last NFL player to not wear a facemask. McDonald was just 5-foot-9 and weighed 176 pounds, but he was durable and only missed three games during his first 11 seasons. McDonald once fractured his jaw in a game against the Giants but still scored four touchdowns.
5. Jim Brown
The bruising Brown is considered the best running back in NFL history and retired at the top of his game after only nine seasons. He was also durable, starting in 118 consecutive games. When Brown teased a return to the game at age 47, nobody was laughing because many thought he could pull it off.
4. Conrad Dobler
Dobler once graced the cover of Sports Illustrated under the guise of "The NFL's dirtiest player." Dobler so angered opponents, Merlin Olsen placed Dobler's name on a headstone in a scene from his television series, "Father Murphy."
3. Deacon Jones
Jones changed the way defensive ends played the game. He coined the phrase "sack" and then terrorized opponents with his patented "head slap." In fact, one opponent sharpened the buckles on his helmets to try to slow down Jones' head slap. Needless to say, it didn't.
2. Jack Youngblood
Playing in Super Bowl XIV with a broken leg is tough. But playing in the Pro Bowl the following week is almost an act of lunacy. Remember that the next time some current NFL player has to beg out of the Pro Bowl with some alleged injury.
1. Chuck Bednarik
Concrete Charlie once hit Frank Gifford so hard, the Giants halfback sat out a season. Bednarik was known as the "60-Minute Man" because he never came off the field, and is the last NFL player to truly play both ways.
