Who are the 10 greatest Steelers?

Written by Bob Smizik
http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Sunday, December 26, 2010 12:10 AM

The NFL Network presented its 10 greatest Steelers on a Christmas Eve show that had two omissions that were not just glaring but enormously glaring.

One was somewhat understandable, the other beyond comprehension.

The show counted down from 10, and after it named Rod Woodson as No 4, I was surprised to realize either Franco Harris or Terry Bradshaw would be excluded because I felt strongly Joe Greene and Jack Ham, as yet not named, definitely would be among the first three.

To my astonishment, it was Ham who was left of the list completely. The man considered upon his retirement as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, outside linebacker in NFL history was absent

Bah! Humbug!

A top ten all-time list of Steelers without Jack Ham isn’t worth anything.

And the same goes for the omission of defensive tackle Ernie Stautner. Maybe I missed something and the list was only for the past 50 years. But Stautner, who retired in 1963, cannot be absent from any list of the Steelers greatest players.

He is the only player in franchise history to have his number -- 70 -- retired. I might understand a fan-based poll omitting Stautner, but not an entity with the supposed heft and knowledge of the NFL Network.

At least the show tried to explain the absence of Ham -- not as many Pro Bowl appearances as Jack Lambert -- but I heard no mention of why Stautner was excluded.

Here’s the NFL Network list.

1. Joe Greene
2. Terry Bradshaw
3. Franco Harris
4. Rod Woodson
5. Jack Lambert
6. Mel Blount
7. Troy Polamalu
8. Hines Ward
9. Lynn Swann
10. Jerome Bettis

There is no right or wrong list. Twenty different people would probably come up with 20 different lists. It’s entirely subjective and no one is dead wrong. Aside from the omissions of Ham and Stautner, I have only one strong disagreement with the NFL Network list.

I don’t believe Swann belongs. I know all about his Super Bowl catches. If the list were of the greatest Super Bowl receivers, he’d be near the top, if not at it. But the Super Bowl was a small fraction of his career. He never had a 1,000-yard season. He’s fourth on the team’s all-time receiving list, seven ahead of Elbie Nickel.

Swann was a great player, not a top ten Steeler great.

Here’s the Bob Smizik list.

1. Joe Greene.
2. Rod Woodson
3. Jack Ham
4. Mel Blount
5. Ernie Stautner
6. Jack Lambert
7. Franco Harris
8. Terry Bradshaw
9. Hines Ward
10 Jerome Bettis

Honorable mentions: Mike Webster, John Stallworth, Polamalu, Swann.

My list is based on many factors: Historical standing at their position; contributions to the Steelers; statistics, gut feeling from listening to, reading about and watching the team for more than 60 years.

As always, your comments and your lists are welcome.

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I'll post my list again in case you missed it earlier:


1. Joe Greene - An utterly dominant defensive player and a two-time Defensive POY...his number 75 should also be officially retired.

2. Jack Ham - A tremendous linebacker in every facet of the position...one of the two best outside linebackers in NFL history.

3. Jack Lambert - A truly menacing figure but also one of the three or four best middle linebackers of all time. He could do it all.

4. Mel Blount - A true game-changer and a Defensive POY.

5. Ernie Stautner - An NFL legend who helped established Pittsburgh as a team no one had fun playing against. The Steelers may have lost the game but they were going to give their opponent a beating.

6. Terry Bradshaw - Comparing passing statistics from the 70s to current numbers is a waste of time. Bradshaw is one of the great quarterbacks of all time...a league MVP and a two-time Super Bowl MVP.

7. Franco Harris - His 'Immaculate Reception' gave the Steelers their first playoff win...ever.

8. Rod Woodson - One of the great all-around defensive players in Steelers history.

9. Troy Polamalu - See 'Rod Woodson'. He has already piled up some of the most memorable defensive plays in team history.

10. Hines Ward - I don't think Ward is a better receiver than Swann or Stallworth but he's a Super Bowl MVP and a physical tone-setter on a two-time Super Bowl winning team.