Thorpe, an athlete of enormous dimension, gave the game credibility in its earliest years. Grange, a marquee college name, provided it with nationwide publicity. Brown, a ball carrier of unparalleled talent, cast a shadow that could not be ignored. Payton's boundless energy and effervescence energized stadiums throughout the country. And Smith, the consummate professional who put the spotlight back on America's Team, embodies the evolution of the NFL star, whose celebrity spans the continent and who earns the admiration even of fans of other teams.
Football is a game of pageantry.
It derives as spectacle from the gladiator shows of the Romans. Those outstanding players have not been alone, of course. The supply of leading men in the NFL never has dwindled, from Sammy Baugh to Johnny Unitas to Joe Montana to Brett Favre . An endless parade of great athletes has kept pro football in the limelight, but they are not the only reason for the game's remarkable success. You can hear it in the echoing cadence of a quarterback's call in the anxious seconds before the snap of the ball.