We all remember the days of watching AJ Hawk dominate the Big Ten; of Ray Lewis and Bryan Urlacher providing a game-changing presence in the middle of the defense; of Dick Butkus doing it all to solidify the Chicago Bears’ identity as one of the greatest defensive teams of all time.
But where are those players now? Yes, the neck roll has gone out of fashion like the long, loose-sleeved jerseys Peyton Manning carried into retirement. And NFL teams are no longer willing to spend draft picks nor cap space on the likes of the huge, strong linebackers of yore.