There are lots of ways to categorize the all-time greats in the NFL. One category few players are part of is those who forced the NFL to change the rules because of their playing style.
This is what happened with former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mel Blount. His level of physicality was something never seen in the NFL before, and the league responded by creating the “five-yard chuck” rule, where defensive backs were no longer able to hit receivers more than five yards downfield. Before the adoption of that rule in 1978, defensive backs could hit receivers at any time until a pass was in the air.
But this wasn’t enough for ESPN to include them in the infographic below, in which they ask who the greatest cornerback of all time is. They did include former Steeler Rod Woodson, who absolutely deserves consideration, but excluding Blount is the pinnacle of disrespect. I’d like to think if you asked guys on the lists like Jalen Ramsey, Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman they would agree Blount’s place in history is cemented and he should be on the board over at least half the guys on the infographic.
Just going to leave this here 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/Dcdgi75E9n
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 12, 2023
