Guest column: Yanda among all-time greats

·         By Tim Hollett Guest columnist

 2 hrs ago | July 30, 2020

At Marshal Yanda’s retirement ceremony, it was announced that he will be introduced into the Baltimore Colts/Ravens Ring of Honor.

He will be the 21^st member honored that includes 19 players, one coach and one owner. The Colts have nine players, eight of whom were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Ravens also have nine players, three of whom are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Marshal was mentioned by the Ravens as the all-time best guard in Baltimore history. He is also the only guard of the 19 players in their Ring of Honor.

What an honor it is to be selected as the best at your position in the history of your team.

I believe these 20 players are the top-2 players at their position in the history of their NFL teams: Green Bay quarterbacks Bart Starr and Brett Favre; Chicago Bears running backs Walter Payton and Gale Sayers and linebackers Dick Butkus and Brian Urlacher; St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams running backs Marshall Faulk and Eric Dickerson; Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young; Dallas Cowboys quarters Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach; New York Giants linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson; Minnesota Vikings wide receivers Randy Moss and Cris Carter; Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas.

All of those 20 players were enshrined into the Hall of Fame expect for Manning, who should be enshrined in 2021.

I can remember watch all 20 of those athletes play over the years. To put Marshal Yanda in this group as an NFL team’s all-time greatest position player is a tremendous honor.

The NFL 100^th anniversary team is the greatest team ever assembled. Seven guards were selected to that team. Marshal earned more Pro Bowls than two of these Hall of Fame guards.

Marshal has played the game right. He is old school, blue collar, tough, disciplined, a great leader and great teammate. He lets his action speak for themselves.

Believe me, Canton has been watching the last 13 years. Welcome home Marshal.