For San Francisco 49ers fans, seemingly endless debates can be had across eras of the team's storied 80 years of existence.
One debate that has animated fans in recent years has to do with which Niners linebacker tandem was superior: Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, or Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
Well, Willis just spoke on the matter recently, and it seems as if he has ended the debate himself, based on his praise of Warner and Greenlaw.
Willis and Bowman appeared on KNBR together, and Willis had the following to say about San Francisco's current dynamic duo on defense:
"One of the things that I admire is that they have taken the standard of excellence of linebacker play and raised it from where [Bowman and I] had it."
Willis also said that when he saw Warner and Greenlaw playing together in practice ahead of the season, it reminded him of the way that he and Bowman would play together.
Patrick Willis proclaims Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw as 49ers' best LB tandem
That's pretty cool to hear a guy who was part of one of the most fearsome linebacker duos in the game, when he and Bowman both played, heap such praise upon a new tandem that has been the life force for the Niners on defense for years now.
Some players might try to dismiss the next generation, say that things were different, or the game wasn't as soft when they played. But perhaps the fact Willis and Bowman are only about a decade removed from their playing days allows them to appreciate the fact Warner and Greenlaw have taken the torch and run with it during their tenure.
Even in Week 1, it seemed evident San Francisco's defense was playing with a little more fire and edge. It was Warner's first game back after breaking his ankle last season, so he was going to be amped up no matter what, but the fact he had his old buddy, Greenlaw, beside him just restored some of that edge and tenacity that was missing for the defense last season.
Greenlaw seems to appreciate things much more in his second stint with the Niners. He went away to the Denver Broncos for one season, but his year away has seemed to make him value San Francisco a lot more and has restored his fire now.
It's great to see the two of them together again, and the fact Willis thinks they have gone beyond the high level of play he and Bowman brought to the table speaks volumes and gives a pretty decisive win to those who believe Warner and Greenlaw are superior.
It really doesn't matter who is better than who, though. What really matters is that one generation of 49ers greats is giving love to the next generation, which is beautiful for fans to see.
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