So here is my half of the list. Dave's introduction to his portion of the list pretty much covers how I went about selecting my players too. Guys who are edgy. Guys you love to hate. Guys who you love when they are on your team, but hate when they are on another team, and not just because they are good on the field or in the front office. I've also kept in mind some of the antics that real rock stars get into, and have in some cases picked guys who do the same.
Before I get started though, I need to give some credit to my friend Bryan Sargent. He is the official Cincinnati Reds blogger for sportstalkbuzz.com and this idea was basically his. A few weeks ago he and I were talking with another friend and Bryan said he wanted to come up with the "rock star" for each team in the MLB. We kicked it around and talked about what that means and came up with a few for some MLB teams. Dave and I just applied this idea to the NFL.
So with no further ado, let's get started......
New England Patriots - Randy Moss, WR. Tom Brady had a shot at this by being married to a supermodel and having an actress baby-mama who hates him so much she named their kid so his initials are J-E-T. But this goes to Moss easily. His rock star resume is long. From saying the 1970 Marshall plane crash was "nothing big" (keep in mind, Moss went to Marshall), to bumping a female cop with the front of his SUV, the on field mooning, to leaving the field with time left on the clock. Add all that to the fact that he is all world and runs a fade route that only Iron Man can cover, there is no doubt he is a rock star.
Miami Dolphins - Bill Parcells, Executive VP. Parcells had a very successful coaching career and is probably a better personnel guy than anything. He has had players who were unsung in college become stars and has had players and coaches follow him to each team. But he's surly, yells at the media, and has dropped gems like "1-800-Get-A-Quaterback" and "Jap" plays. His guys love him, others hate him.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Hines Ward, WR. Dave basically covered this in his intro. Steelers fans say he is tenacious and plays tough. Non-fans say he is dirty and takes cheap shots. Just ask Keith Rivers, who probably can't even put a fork near his jaw without flinching.
Cincinnati Bengals - Chad OchoCinco, WR. He changed his name from Johnson to OchoCinco, and it stuck. (Total rock star move, just ask Bono, Sting, Elvis Costello, etc.) He also started the current trend of goofy touchdown celebrations (his Sharpie and cheerleader proposal are still the best of the new crop). Oh yeah, and he's still a top 10 receiver when he wants to be.
Kansas City Chiefs - Brodie Croyle, QB. He's young. He's brash. He's got a loud mouth and an outlaw gun-slinging style. He reminds you of a young Brett Favre (who made Dave's list while not actually being on an NFL roster, so that says something.)
Oakland Raiders - Al Davis, Owner. He signs every NFL pariah he can get his hands on. He made Amy Trask president of the club, easily the highest position a woman has ever held in the NFL. He has feuded with everyone from Marcus Allen to Pete Rozelle and has said he will retire when he either wins two more Super Bowls, or dies. Rock Star.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Jack Del Rio, Head Coach. They have said goodbye to Matt Jones, their unchallenged rock star for years, and the rest of their roster is too vanilla. Del Rio is outspoken and looks like he could still strap on the pads like he did as an NFL linebacker for 11 years. And sometimes he looks like he really wants to do so.
Houston Texans - DeMeco Ryans, LB. Matt Schaub is too nice. Mario Williams is too likable. Ryans came in the year Williams was taken no. 1 overall, (ahead of Reggie Bush, another of Dave's rock stars), took control of the defensive unit, and earned ROY honors.
Detroit Lions - Daunte Culpepper, QB. He is the only Lion with any personality or interest. Besides, is there any celebration more loved by fans and more reviled by everyone else than that stupid fist roll?
Chicago Bears - Jay Cutler, QB. He found out his old team was shopping him and said "Get me out." He has a rocket arm and all the talent in the world, but can't get in front of a mic without saying something that pisses someone off. Oh, and he has diabetes and is still better than about 80% of the QB's in the league.
New York Giants - Rhett Bomar, QB. In previous years this would have been Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, or Plaxico Burress. They are gone and now the roster is full of character guys, except for Bomar. He had the world in his hand at Oklahoma and messed it up by taking thousands of dollars from a booster for "working" at the booster's car dealership.
Philadelphia Eagles - Hank Baskett, WR. Later this month he is marrying former Playboy model and star of The Girls Next Door Kendra Wilkinson. Game. Set. Match.
Seattle Seahawks - Lofa Tatupu, LB. Probably the most bland roster in the NFL. Tatupu came in and grabbed the starting middle linebacker job as a rookie, went to the Pro-Bowl, and lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Then in 2008 he was arrested for DWI. His BAC was almost twice the legal limit.
San Francisco 49ers - Vernon Davis, TE. He's talented. He has rock star hair. He slapped a player on the field and was called "uncoachable" by none other than Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.
Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Brian Griese, QB. This team used to have Warren Sapp and John Gruden, shoe-ins for the rock star designation, but they are gone now. Griese has problems with authority. This extends to coaches and his Hall of Fame father Bob.
Atlanta Falcons - Michael Vick, QB. He's still on the roster. No contest. That's it. That's the list.
Monday, June 1, 2009
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Beautiful! This is EXACTLY what I had in mind. Awesome job. I can't wait for my outside contributors anymore, I need to finish mine.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the idea sir. I actually had a lot of fun writing this one. I can't wait to read yours.
ReplyDeleteI personally would have opted for John Henderson over Jack Del Rio....anyone who needs the trainers to slap the piss out of them before games to get prepared is a rock star to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Henderson would have been a great choice too. The only change I'd make to your list is on the Broncos. I would have chosen Brian Dawkins, but that's more because of what he did with the Eagles.
ReplyDeleteMy initial choice for Denver was Josh McDaniels, but it's hard to snub a guy who slaps chicks at nightclubs and stiff arms his entertainment center.
ReplyDeleteAlso, can we discuss how awesome the Vince Young Patron picture on my blog is?
ReplyDelete