The 2008 Lions Would Beat the 1972 Dolphins

there is a reason he did not say Fatter
the writer means Bigger Faster
all in all he means more athletic

Mike, your an idiot. you are saying that he meant fat, which he didn't say in that article at all, and if you had any common sense about football you would know that you have to be strong, large, and athletic to even be a backup in the NFL. Or in other words big for NFL terms. When you say fat in the NFL it means heavy, but strong, and someone who could whoop many people's asses. Especially with today's NFL, they would run right through lots of teams o lines from the past. So basically what I'm saying is your comment was the stupidest thing I've read in a while.

I think this article is comparing apples and oranges. Lets put the 08 Lions in that DeLorean and play the game with the same rules the NFL had in 72.

QBs got no love and got hit almost every play. Ask any NFL player from 72 what a late hit is? Helmet to Helmet tackles and finger breaking on the bottem of piles.

Calvin Johnson would never complete a route. He would have no clue what to do after 5 yards and the Defenders are still pushing him off his route or knocking him to the ground.

So to draw a comparision. The 08 Lions might be a Indy Car, faster and more atheletic. But, if the game was played with the 72 rules, the race is an off-road dirt rally. Try winning the baja 1000 with an Indy car. Just not going to happen.

David

Just like "giant fan since 57" said. My money is the Dolphins. Todays atheletes are bigger and faster. But they are by no means meaner or as tough as the players of the past.

Sure, todays athelets

OK, this is where I draw the line. The argument can be made for football, as it is almost purely a contact sport, and the size, power, and athleticism of the players are a major factor. Not so much with baseball. How many times does this have to be proven? One of the greatest athletes of our generation (Michael Jordan) tried and failed miserably to play this game. In baseball, athleticism is an advantage ONLY when all else is even.

If we're looking only at power numbers, yes, today's baseball player is superior to the past. They are more athletic, have far better conditioning, and lots of trainers, coaches, and other assistants that players of the past did not. However, once again, baseball is an extremely intuitive sport. The most important factors determining a player's success are traits that are either intangible, or achieved only through many years of experience. Today's truly great players would be great back then and vice versa. Example: Derek Jeter, while his greatness can be argued, IS a premier player in today's MLB, not because he is bigger, faster, stronger, but mainly for his intangible talents. Pete Rose is another great example of a player achieving greatness without the physical skills of others. Maddux would have been a great pitcher in ANY era. The list goes on and on. Great baseball players would be great no matter when they played. OK, here's a counter argument; Jose Canseco was an average player at best, but he achieved some success (with the help of steroids) by belting huge homeruns. However, there isn't even an argument over who was greater, Canseco or Reggie Jackson. Why? Because, once again, what made Jackson great wasn't just his power, it was his ability to rise to the occasion. His ability to carry a team when they needed it. His ability to simply WIN. This holds true in EVERY era. Baseball is a game where these sorts of questions can never be answered. Great players would be great whenever.

Agreed, they are tougher in 72. And the lions would lose. (With alot of injured players)

to giants fan sine 57, It doesn't matter what rules you go by, any team in that era would not stand a chance against teams of today. None of the players on the 72 Dolphins team would even make the practice squad on today's team.

Today's Florida Gator's team would crush the 72 Dolphins team.

No they would have to play under rules that both agreed on because the 2008 loins have never played under 72 rules so it wouldnt be fair.

**i meant the gators and sooners would probably beat the 72 dolphins, much less a professional teams like the lions

Players do call their own plays. (see: Manning, Peyton)