In pickup football games, the position of safety is both glorified and unfairly maligned. Usually when someone yells “I’ll play safety” in those circumstances they just mean they will roam around and do what they please on defense. Sometimes that is great, as you want one of your best defenders back there making adjustments, but other times it can be a lazy choice by your friend Steve to avoid having to feel much responsibility for the action near the line. Damnit, Steve!
In one of the countless ways pickup football is nothing like the collegiate game, safeties are often some of the best defenders on the field and nominally the last line of defense.