This ^ nails it. Was Parker the best of his era? Probably. Can you effectively compare between different eras? Almost certainly not at all. Players have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger, thanks to year round conditioning, better nutrition and weight training (cant discount steroids and other PEDS either.)
No, of course Ronnie Lancaster would not have believed any such thing. Great as he was, he knew there were greater.
Comparisons are moot, irrelevant for J Parker. The British spitfire was great during WW2, but does not match up with the F22, $ 350 million, today. What is significant was Jackie was a college star back then, but a similar college star today has no interest in CFL.
It would appear that none of you have heard of Garney Henley
You have correctly noted the problem. The most recent stars are favoured over the ones from years past, simply because most of us in the present did not see the superstars from the past play.
Nobody talks about Rocket Richard anymore (at least in English Canada). Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull are fading into the past. These were the GOAT candidates when I was a kid in the 60s.
We have heard of Garney. Saw him play many times. Those were the days, but I don’t think anyone had him on the same lofty perch as Jackie Parker (who was before my time).
Pretty certain that Doug Flutie took over that role back in the 90’s.
IMHO There is no such thing as the greatest anything of all time in CFL football. It is so dependent on era and observer, and media hype.
God
Totally agree on that point. It is incredibly difficult to compare guys to guys outside their era. What the competition was like is something you can’t just say is a constant.
Plus? Football is a team sport. You could be the best throwing QB ever BUT without receivers, you are not going to get much done.
To say he was an incredible athlete would be accurate. To say he was outstanding as a player in the 1950’s would be accurate.
Greatest ever? Hard to quantify. Greatest of his era? Very likely yes.
He’s probably not “still the greatest football player “ anymore.
Can’t see him being much of a player at all these days
Lots to choose from. We all have our so-called Top 10s, based on era, success, bias, etc. My so-called “List” -
- Jackie Parker
- Kenny Ploen
- Leo Lewis
- Garney Henley
- Russ Jackson
- Doug Flutie
- Indian Jack Jacobs
- Norman Kwong
- Mike Pringle
- George Reed
If I had to make up a back-up list of 14 (including defensive players), then:
- Warren Moon
- Johnny Bright
- Willy Fleming
- Angela Mosca
- Hal Patterson
- John Barrow
- Herb Grey
- Solomon Eliminian
- Ernie Pitts
- Dr. Tom Casey
- Ron Lancaster
- Wayne Harris
- Rod Hill
- Tony Gabriel
I like the names on those lists. You might slot Cookie Gilchrist on them somewhere though.
Great that you made a list despite all the challenges of comparing eras. Well done!
Looking back on the list - in the cold, cold light of day I think there’s a few guys who deserve to be in the pecking order, at least in contention for the 2nd group of 14 - - - including:
Gizmo Williams, John Helton, Milt Stegall, Damon Allen, Chris Walby, and the top leg man, Whyte. Joe Zuger or Bob Cameron would be my punter (with apologies to the great Dave Mann)