And I'm talking 'tough' here... not clever, or cute.
Gotta go with Dick Butkus.
I would add Ray Nitschki
Simple but profound I like "Jim Brown".
You can't leave out "Deacon Jones".
Johnny U fits the bill, IMHO.
Joe Greene... again, simple but powerful.
And switching topics here... because I can do that, it's MY thread....
Back in the days of those old football periodicals there was an article in one of them... this perhaps the early 70's, who ventured a guess as to the best NFL player of ALL TIME.. and their choice? Marion Motley. I do not recall ever having seen Marion play.. he retired in 1955. Not sure I was watching football then... and if I was.. I don't remember it.