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“I’ve seen him spent from giving all he had in games, but he’s still better than the guy across from him. He’s tired, but the guy across from him is dead.” – John Teerlinck, former defensive line coach on Randle.

Randle entered the league as a a 250 lb undrafted free agent without a position. He quickly found a spot in Minnesota’s Tampa 2 as an undertackle. It was a spot where he would excel using his blend of power, speed, shifty hips and a non stop motor to terrorize QB’s for over a decade. Starting in 1992 and continuing for 8 years Randle never had less than 10 sacks, an amazing feat for an interior lineman. The only player since sacks became official to eclipse this mark was the late, great Reggie White.

“He doesn’t know how to take breaks, which is a good thing. You know going against him he’s coming full go, no matter if he’s hurt, sick, whatever. He’s coming a hundred percent every time.” – Randall McDaniel, Class of 2009

As amazing as his play on the field was, he may be even better known for his larger than life persona. The war paint, the trash talking, the INTIMIDATION. Randle went out of his way to make sure the opposing team knew he was there and he was coming to get their QB, by any means necessary. A matchup of note was the bitter and longstanding rivalry between he and former Green Bay QB Brett Favre. Favre tops Randle’s list of sackees, at 11.5. The rivalry also spawned one of my personal favorite NFL commercials of all time:

John Randle may have his critics for his style of play or his on and off field antics, though I’m betting most of them weren’t to his face. There is no doubt in my mind that Randle was one of the most intense, intriguing, and down right fun to watch players of all time. In my mind, one of the best defensive linemen of this or any generation and completely deserving of the Hall of Fame.

“There’s talking on the field all the time. Guys are talking, but it’s not continuous. Some guys will talk one play, and then wait until the third quarter before they talk again. Me? I’m going to keep talking. You knock me on my butt, I’m going to get back up and say, ‘Hey, do I one more time.’ I’m going to be coming every play.” – John Randle

By GA_Eagle, Jabberhead

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