Irrational confidence is an indispensable part of playing DB in the NFL. If you don't think you're the greatest athlete and competitor on the field and intend to prove it on every single snap there's a decent chance you'll get embarrassed. At their best, the Legion of Boom era Seattle Seahawks never lacked for confidence - and for a while they really were the best defense of all time - something like the Beatles for football.
That was 10 years ago, though. Now Richard Sherman is podcasting and starring in commercials with Kam Chancellor. We haven't heard much from Earl Thomas, who fell out with the Seahawks and then very quickly wore out his welcome with the Baltimore Ravens.
Even though he hasn't appeared in an NFL game since the 2019 season, Thomas still thinks he's the best safety in the league. He also thinks he's better than a pair of all-time GOATs at the position, Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. Here's what ET told Josina Anderson about it on her new podcast.
"I know I still can play....cause my opportunities were slim to none after I had that incident in baltimore...it has to be a good atmosphere where coaches are going to go out there and let me play and communicate. I know the plays and the formations; just an atmosphere where they understand me. I'm still the best safety in the league... I would just know, I'm better than Ed Reed. I'm better than Troy Polamalu....I know a lot of Seattle fans would agree. I know for sure that 2013 team -we don't win a Super Bowl without me."
That last bit about the 2013 team is certainly true - whatever else he is Earl Thomas was the best defender on that Super Bowl winning squad, and that's an incredibly high bar. Thomas was absolutely locked in on every single play and was about as clutch as any defender has been in the modern era. It's a shame how his tenure in Seattle ended and he deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
That said, to claim that he's better than Ed Reed is evidence that Thomas is just a little bit too high on himself to function in a team setting. All due respect, it's time to get a hobby.
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