'72 Miami Dolphins, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Mike Tyson - sports organizations today like New England Patriots and Alabama Crimson Tide.

There is a comfort, a reassurance, a sense of "All is right in the world" when our expectations are consistently met. When we can count on something.

As we all know, it can be fleeting, and rare when it is consistent over time.

But, damn, it feels good.

Kind of forgot the former G.O.A.T there, doncha think?

Not taking away from Montana's greatness....

The OP doesn't mention Joe, who until Brady came along was the GOAT.

Thus the etc. could have added Elway, Farve, Staubach and a few more...

The MAN

I actually had a young guy in his mid-20's tell me that Kareem Abdul Jabbar's sky-hook was a lucky shot

By the way, I agree with you on Montana. For me, he was the best ever, especially vs the league he had to play against.

Montana was the epitome of a "system quarterback" in today's vernacular. It was a different system than anyone had seen at the time in the NFL - basically get the ball over the line and into space. Bill Walsh actually called himself a genius and frankly he was. He simplified. Also SF played in a horrifically bad division - New Orleans Atlanta (never had two winning seasons in a row) and the LA Rams.

The players then weren't close to the level of play of today. From jr. high to high school camps (almost year round) to vastly better college facilities nutrition recovery therapy knowledge of the game. It's not even close.

Montana was good but it was more about the system and the times for him. Steve Young was the best QB the Niners have ever had and it's not even close.

Great QB, but I'll take Joe Montana. He played vs a far different (Better) NFL than Brady played against.

Kite actually played in the NBA. Comparing 1980's athletes to today is absurd.

1980's athletes went through high school often playing different sports and although there were camps there wasn't the year round focus of AAU in basketball or 7-on-7 camps in football. Today's kids are in a regiment that was unheard of 30 YEARS ago other than hockey or soccer.

Two direct cases in point
Compare Len Bias as a freshman at Maryland to LeBron his rookie year in the NBA.
Cam Newton would have been the largest player on the Lombardi era Packers. I know that goes goes well back beyond the 80's but he would still been one biggest players of the early 90's Cowboys.

The nutrition and recovery technology (ice cold water pools at every NFL team) and lifelong weight training of today's NFL player wasn't literally scoffed at for those growing up in the 70's who ended up in the NFL in the 80's.

Brady plays against athletes who have been trained (including knowledge of the game) in an realm vastly superior to when he entered the league in 2001 let alone the 80's or 90's.

"Brady plays against athletes who have been trained (including knowledge of the game) in a realm vastly superior to when he entered the league in 2001 let alone the 80's or 90's."

Brady is a great quarterback whose had great success, but I'd have loved seeing him playing vs the 80's Steel Curtain & Oakland Raiders 2 times per year. I'd have loved seeing him lock eyes with Decon Jones coming off the corner after he'd have head-slapped whomever out of his way. I would loved to have seen him playing vs Lawrence Taylor and that NY Giants Defense 2 times per year. There were no rules protecting QB's at the time, so Brady would have needed an offensive line to protect him.

You saying that those Celtics and Lakers teams of the 1980's wouldn't have competed well vs today's NBA teams/players? That Jim Brown couldn't have run against or had success vs the D-lines of today's NFL teams? That Earl Campbell would have been tackled with ease vs today's nutritionally fit linebackers, linesmen etc? That the Montana/Rice combo wouldn't have played well vs the team defenses (corners) of today? That Kareem/Jordan/Magic/Dr. J/Wilt wouldn't have had success vs today's players/teams? Floyd Mayweather is surely fit and has great Defense, but vs Sugar Ray Robinson? The guy the term "Best pound for pound" boxer was coined for? That Aaron, Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Willie Mays would have had much success against these nutritionally fit pitchers now-a-days? Vin Scully (I'd say he has some knowledge of baseball) whose seen a LOT of baseball players has said many times that Willie Mays was the BEST 5 point player he's ever seen in baseball. Willie would have struggled vs the pitchers of today's era? Serena Williams--small wooden racket aside--would have been a great, if not the greatest WTA tennis player across any generation given her serve, intelligence/knowledge of the game, power, athleticism and will to win.

NO doubt there are extremely talented players who've played in all sports since 2001 who could have played across any generation of sports. NO doubt that the athletes are bigger faster and stronger now-a-days, and I surely understand the improvement of nutrition and science as they relate to sports. I also understand and accept that the rules of today's sports have changed. However, there are athletes and teams who were that great and who could have excelled and competed at extremely high levels in their given sport and who would have been considered amongst the best, if not the best in their sport in any era.

I bet even with advances in knowledge and training, you stick Dan Marino in his prime in the league today, he's passing for 6000 yards a a season, easily. Especially given that you can have a winning football team without a running game nowadays, Marino would slay. Even with the advancements in LB's, Marino had a ridiculous ability to still release an accurate throw while already being dragged down.

IT WAS ONLY 1 GAME - and we were hurt....that's my story and stickin' to it!!! Brady IS the BEST evah...we need to shore up our defense line....and Belichick will make sure our defense is a force to reckon with....

AFA roger is concerned..he can GSDB....

I love watching Tom and his Hobbits (receivers) play. Gronk is an Orc.

up to normal today.