The NFL is dominated by athletic marvels, whether it be dual-threat quarterbacks, unicorn left tackles, or physically imposing defensive ends. For instance, at linebacker, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher had prototypical size and speed and accordingly were among the best defensive players of the 2000s. On the other end of the spectrum, football players lacking ideal physical attributes are often overlooked despite strong production. Instead, it takes grit and perseverance to overcome these perceptions and still be a productive player – case in point, London Fletcher and Zach Thomas were both undersized, yet were two of the best linebackers of their era as contemporaries of Lewis and Urlacher; given their similar paths to great NFL careers, it is natural to compare the pair and ask:
Who was better – London Fletcher or Zach Thomas?
Continue reading
