re: Last truly loaded championship team pro sports

Same. I kind of like Real Madrid though. They are the second most loaded team in the world (all sports).

The problem is that Barcelona has three or even more (Cesc) players better than Ozil (Madrid's second best player).

As bland as they may have seemed, the '08 Steelers have to be in the argument.

I'm no Steelers fan-- I'll preface it by saying that, but look up and down that roster. For an NFL team, it's pretty impressive.

Polamalu and Roethlesburger are already probable Hall of Famers. Hines Ward is a borderline guy who will probably get some consideration, but never get enshrined.

Harrison will have to overcome PR problems, but he's a potential Hall guy, too. Lamar Woodley is an outside shot guy, but he's had a fantastic first 5 years-- he's a Hall track guy, if he can string together another 3-5 years at his current productivity.

Heath Miller is putting up great TE numbers, too-- I vacillate on his Hall potential, though, because the position of TE is being redefined. He may be the last true dual purpose TE considered for enshrinement. Casey Hampton is a 5 time Pro Bowler, and still has gas in the tank, if he can stay healthy.

When a pro football team can line up 7 starters where you can make plausible Hall cases for them, it's saying something. I tried to do the same for the past few other Super Bowl champions, and the cases are much weaker.

It's not a sexy pick, and a lot of the players are involved in the grind it out aspects of the game, but it's worth considering.

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Last truly loaded championship team pro sports

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As bland as they may have seemed, the '08 Steelers have to be in the argument.

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They didn't even have the best record in their own Conference and needed a TD with 35 seconds left to win the Super Bowl. Not exactly indicative of a team that was "truly loaded".

All fair and true-- but it doesn't change that they were loaded, in terms of having a disproportionate number of great players.

Winning that Super Bowl probably will be the thing that puts a Heath Miller or a Roethlesburger in the Hall, when others with a single title or no titles fall short.

The Penguins won the Cup with Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fleury. Very good crop of young talent.

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94 49ers>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>95 Cowboys.

i just turned 30 and thats the best nfl team ive ever seen.

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I agree, that 94 team was unreal. With the way the salary cap is its extremely hard to have a loaded roster like that team or the early 90's cowboys but it's possible. One team that I thought was very loaded recently was the 09 vikings

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heath miller in the hall

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Laugh all you want, but if he finishes with 50ish TDs and another title, he's probably in the Hall. The TE position is incredibly thin-- he's got as many career TDs as one of the guys in Canton at the position. With 2-3 reasonably productive years (like this season), he ends up passing Ditka, Winslow, Newsome, and Casper comfortably.

He's not going to put up Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez numbers, but it's definitely more than enough to get him in the Hall, especially when paired with 2 or more SB rings.

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Polamalu and Roethlesburger are already probable Hall of Famers.

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Hines Ward

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Harrison

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Lamar Woodley

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Heath Miller

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7 starters where you can make plausible Hall cases for them

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Come on man!

Heath fricking Miller, Woodley..really?

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With 2-3 reasonably productive years (like this season), he ends up passing Ditka, Winslow, Newsome, and Casper comfortably.

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He had 51 rec. for 631 yards and 2 TD's this year. Now, the Steelers could win another title before he is gone, but I don't see him getting over 50 TD receptions for his career. His career high was seven in the 2007 season. He will be entering his eighth season next year and he has 31 TD's so far and 3,864 yards receiving. Not bad for an average TE. HOF? Not even close.

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Not bad for an average TE. HOF? Not even close

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The average *modern era* HOF TE's career line-- keep in mind, this excludes everything pre-1961:

451 catches for 42 TD and 6,425 yards.

Absolutely none of those numbers are unreasonable for Miller to reach-- the biggest stretch is going to be yardage, where he's got to come up with 5 more 500 yard seasons to get to that median mark.

I'm not saying he's a first ballot guy. I'm not saying he's an easy choice-- but folks who just dismiss the idea without actually looking at the numbers are essentially not paying attention.