Can someone dominate the NFL like Bolt/LBJ/Messi/etc.?

iknowcool · Joined: 15 Apr 2009 Posts: 14253

Somewhere else, there was a talk of who might be the best athlete in the world (this in regards to their accomplishments in their sport, not their athleticism). You have Usain Bolt, who holds the top 3 spots in the all-time men's 100. You have LeBron James, who has been the best player in the game for a very long time now and the only person that can stop him is him. You have Messi who is only 25 years old and yet his accomplishments are endless and has won the FIFA Ballon D'Or for four straight years. These guys are far and away the best at what they do. If you go historically, you have guys like MJ, Gretzky, etc.

So basically, is it at all possible that there will ever be someone who can dominate the NFL in the way those guys do in their sports? The way football is structured seems like it'd be impossible. You have a guy like Rice who is arguably the GOAT but even he didn't have that kind of dominate play. We've really yet to see a quarterback who can match a totally unmatched dominance. Even Aaron Rodgers can be neutralized.

I ask this more because I think it might be a bit unfair to football players when the discussion arises because of it seeming more difficult to dominate the game the way those guys do. So could it ever be a possible? Say a LeBron James-kind of athlete times 2 entered the league, would even he be able to just outright dominate?
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broncos67 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 22786 Location: Conshohocken

Probably not because football is so much more of a team sport than the rest. It's not hard for Lebron James to singlehandedly take over a game because of how continuous it is (i.e. he can realistically touch the ball once every 20ish seconds), same with soccer, it's a continuous flow so if Messi gets the ball, he can work his magic.

In football though, even if, say, there was a receiver who was a complete freak, his success is still so dependent on the QB, the OL, and the playcall. The other guys you mentioned can freelance more and turn their game into more of a one-on-one battle (Messi a bit less so) than a football player could.
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reckless123 · Joined: 02 Jun 2011 Posts: 14474

There are so many positions in the NFL, so it would be hard to dominate the entire league. There are dominant players at their position though. But if there were a position that would dominate the league, it would have to be QB and the only people i see that being are Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton but even that in itself is difficult. Guys like lebron and Messi are on the playing field or court all the time, so they have more impact.
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lionslicer · Joined: 06 Nov 2010 Posts: 1815

Never. No player will play all phases of the game, so they can't dominate the whole league.

But even then, if someone could kick 70 yard field goals, play quarterback as good as Brady and play linebacker like Ray Lewis, it would still be very hard to dominate the game because he'd still have to rely on his team to do what he can't. He can't throw the ball to himself. He can only cover so much of the field, he can't pass block or rush the passer, etc.
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titwio · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:22 pm Post subject:

I thought Aaron Rodgers 2011-12 season was as dominant as any one those guys. The problem with football is it's harder to sustain dominance being it's a contact sport and guys wear down quicker and don't last as long.

As far as football goes though in terms of dominance the names are probably guys like Calvin, Rodgers or Peterson but it's still probably not the same.
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DavidatMIZZOU · Joined: 09 Apr 2009 Posts: 10466 Location: The ZOU

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Hutson

Probably not anymore.
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DavidatMIZZOU · Joined: 09 Apr 2009 Posts: 10466 Location: The ZOU

Also, do you really think that LeBron is that much better than Durrant, Melo or Kobe (a couple years ago?) or add your favorite player?
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Nbanflguy · Joined: 16 Jan 2011 Posts: 697 Location: Minnesota

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reckless123 · Joined: 02 Jun 2011 Posts: 14474

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tom cody · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 9020 Location: Canada

No, because football players have many more players to compete with than those guys you listed.
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JDKing14 · Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 1875 Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Mossburg · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:40 pm Post subject:

It's impossible simply because of the nature of the sport.

The only way I can see it being close is with a defensive lineman, and I don't know if it's really possible.

DavidatMIZZOU · Joined: 09 Apr 2009 Posts: 10466 Location: The ZOU