NFL personnel you respect (1 Viewer)

[-OZ-]

Who in the NFL earns your respect?

Preferably more for what they do off the field than on it, but if they just seem like a good teammate, and you respect that, that's good enough.

Try to keep the list to 3-5 players, no need to list off every player who isn't a criminal.

For charity work:

Will Shields

Tony Gonzalez

As class acts / good teammates

Marvin Harrison

Tomlinson

Edited to be more inclusive.

 

[wannabee]

I will start with Wes Welker. He has been battling his whole life. He was too small to be recruited by Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, even though he grew up in Oklahoma City. He then has to make the Dolphins.

The guy works his tail off and I am happy he finally is going to get paid.

 

[On The Rocks]

Since I don't know any of them personally so I have to say 0.

 

[cobalt_27]

Since I don't know any of them personally so I have to say 0.

So, you don't have respect for anyone that you don't know? As a corollary, you don't disrespect anyone you don't know?That seems odd.

 

[Jason Wood]

Troy Vincent & Warrick Dunn are easily atop my list.

Dunn has been unbelievably generous with both his time and money, and what I like most about his work it that it's personal yet he's not simply giving away money, he's giving women the tools to improve their own fortunes. That's great stuff.

Troy Vincent is phenomenal. He's from my neighboring town and came out of abject poverty and a super crime ridden area to not only become a great NFL player, but a solid citizen. In addition to his otheworldy charity work (particularly in Philadelphia and Trenton), he has been a major factor as the head of the NFLPA. As an example of what he brings to the table, he single-handedly talked Wharton into working with the NFLPA to create an executive training program to allow players the chance to prepare for financial careers after their playing days.

 

[David Yudkin]

Dunn was the firts one that jumped to mind.

 

[Keith Lewis]

To name a few:

Tom Brady

Peyton Manning

Chad Johnson

Patrick Willis

Brian Dawkins

Troy Vincent

Steve McNair

Tedy Bruschi

Rod Smith

Warrick Dunn

Joe Horn

Reggie Bush

Brett Favre

 

[wannabee]

Pat Tillman .....

 

[Keith Lewis]

Pat Tillman .....

#1 easily.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Hate to split hairs but Pat Tillman isn't in the NFL.

Warrick Dunn tops my list.

Troy Vincent isn't on an NFL roster either.

 

[-OZ-]

Hate to split hairs but Pat Tillman isn't in the NFL.Troy Vincent isn't on an NFL roster either.

I edited the topic to allow for those, and others. (after you posted, so you were correct at the time)I wasn't considering Tillman when I initiated the topic, but he's easily #1 out of recent players.Seems odd that back in WW2 it was common for players and other celebrities to make the same sacrifice.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

OK Oz, thanks for pointing that out.. I wasn't trying to be a knob.

I'll never forget how saddened and empty I felt about the Pat Tillman news - and meanwhile Archie Manning and Eli are pulling a power play to get Eli away from San Diego - which sickened me at the time. I guess San Diego got the better end of that deal - three Pro Bowlers for the struggling and perpetually clueless Eli Manning. God Bless Pat Tillman.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Tom Landry

 

[shredhead]

OJ Simpson, Michael Vick, Brian Bosworth, Terrell Ownes, Bill Romanowski..... oops you meant respect?

OK, seriously, how 'bout the late great Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders just to name a few.

Homerism picks: Rod Smith, Dennis Smith, Elway, TD, Steve Atwater

Current players (non homerism): Harrison, Holt, LT just too many to mention.

RIP Pat Tillman!!!!!

Edit: What's sad is that it was a lot easier and quicker to come up with a list of thugs than it was to come up with a list of good guys.

 

[Bri]

Curtis Martin

 

[Jayrod]

Peyton Manning

He just gives until it hurts.

 

[TC]

Melvin Olsen (Rams) stands alone as my most respected past player. He was very impressive in the NFL and later developed other non-FB skills into post-player success.

Alan Page MIN comes to mind, too. He was also more than a GREAT football player.

 

[On The Rocks]

Since I don't know any of them personally so I have to say 0.

So, you don't have respect for anyone that you don't know?That seems odd.

When it comes to professional athletes. Yes.

 

[shredhead]

Melvin Olsen (Rams) stands alone as my most respected past player. He was very impressive in the NFL and later developed other non-FB skills into post-player success.

Did he play with Merlin Olsen?

 

[Donnybrook]

Curtis Martin

I saw the interview with Martin a couple weeks back on the NFL network. I did not know that much about him personally until that interview but he is now on my list. Warrick Dunn should be on everybody’s list. Bud Grant, **** Vermeil, Robert Smith and Barry Sanders are guys I respect. As class acts / good teammatesDeshaun Foster - Steven Davis has said how he was getting advice and encouragement from Foster when he was recovering from Micro-fracture surgery. I have never heard Foster complain publicly about splitting carries or getting his contract restructured. People love to hate him because he not helping their fantasy team but I suspect that he is one of the most unselfish players in the league.

 

[radballs]

Who in the NFL earns your respect?

Maybe the trainers but most likely the people who do all the behind the curtain details. The players just have to show up and play. I guess all the others to make sure the game ends up on my TV.

 

[cankles]

Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks were the first to come to mind. Tillman certainly is certainly at the top of the list.

Edit: What's sad is that it was a lot easier and quicker to come up with a list of thugs than it was to come up with a list of good guys.

I think that says more about you than it does the players of the NFL! Actually, it just says a lot about the media. Let's take a look at the Atlanta Falcons, since they have one of the most famous troublemakers on their roster. As far as I know Vick is the only truly unsavoury character in their employ, at least player-wise. Yet there are six players (including Vick) with their own charitable foundations, and there are probably more who donate their time and money to various causes. The media doesn't really report any of this because there's no conflict, there's no strong point of view for anyone to take on the issue - everyone agrees that charity is good, so why bother talking, or reporting, about it? The troublemaking players incite more discussion and passion, and ultimately they sell more papers.I would bet you cash money that the ratio on the Falcons is the same for most teams in the league (except the Bengals, haha) - one or two troubled guys, and then 5, 6 or 7 guys with their own charities and foundations. Virtually every star player in the league has one of their own, and many non-stars do as well.

here's the link i used btw:

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/Community/Pl...nitiatives.aspx

 

[-OZ-]

Edit: What's sad is that it was a lot easier and quicker to come up with a list of thugs than it was to come up with a list of good guys.

This is part of the reason I made the thread. There are a lot more good guys in the NFL than bad, yet we don't hear as much about them.

 

[Rodeojones]

Chris Carter WR - Eagles/Vikings.

Did his darndest to mentor a young Randy Moss. My favorite player of all time and a fantastic role model.

 

[Jason Wood]

OJ Simpson, Michael Vick, Brian Bosworth, Terrell Ownes, Bill Romanowski..... oops you meant respect?OK, seriously, how 'bout the late great Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders just to name a few.Homerism picks: Rod Smith, Dennis Smith, Elway, TD, Steve AtwaterCurrent players (non homerism): Harrison, Holt, LT just too many to mention.RIP Pat Tillman!!!!!Edit: What's sad is that it was a lot easier and quicker to come up with a list of thugs than it was to come up with a list of good guys.

I don't want to turn this into a flame war on any given player, but just to clarify...why do you respect Barry Sanders? I can see respecting his on-field excellence and his lack of showboating; hard not to. But as a person? I'm not going to pretend to know Sanders personally (as I suspect few of us, if any, do), but I do know that he claimed to be uber-religious and a virgin for years when, in fact, he had at least one child out of wedlock. That, to me, hardly speaks to someone I would single out as someone I respect. Add to that the rather inglorious way he left the Lions and then tried not to give back his pro rate signing bonus (which he contractually had no right to), and I see plenty of things to suggest that Sanders is, like so many people, quite flawed.

 

[Bri]

Chris Carter WR - Eagles/Vikings.Did his darndest to mentor a young Randy Moss. My favorite player of all time and a fantastic role model.

Cris-minor oops but there have been Chris Carters so...

 

[Bri]

Curtis Martin

I saw the interview with Martin a couple weeks back on the NFL network. I did not know that much about him personally until that interview but he is now on my list.

I did not see that, wish I did. With all you watch and read about football I'm a bit surprised you wrote this post. Well, if you're ever bored, there's alot of good stories out there on him if you feel like googling.

 

[Keith Lewis]

Chris Carter WR - Eagles/Vikings.Did his darndest to mentor a young Randy Moss. My favorite player of all time and a fantastic role model.

It's been a long time so I don't remember if it was a fact or a rumor. I remember hearing Cris Carter and the word Cocaine used alot in the same sentence. If this is true then he's more likely one of the worst role models you could have.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Warrick Dunn is always the first (and one of the few) that comes to mind. Troy Smith was right, the league doesn't do enough to promote the players that are doing great things off the field.

 

[The Man with the Plan]

Chris Carter WR - Eagles/Vikings.Did his darndest to mentor a young Randy Moss. My favorite player of all time and a fantastic role model.

It's been a long time so I don't remember if it was a fact or a rumor. I remember hearing Cris Carter and the word Cocaine used alot in the same sentence. If this is true then he's more likely one of the worst role models you could have.

If anything that makes me have even more respect for Cris Carter. He's a great role model to show that even if you make mistakes in your life you can change for the positive by making different choices. If you're looking for perfect people then you're going to be looking for an awfully long time.

 

[Jason Wood]

Chris Carter WR - Eagles/Vikings.Did his darndest to mentor a young Randy Moss. My favorite player of all time and a fantastic role model.

It's been a long time so I don't remember if it was a fact or a rumor. I remember hearing Cris Carter and the word Cocaine used alot in the same sentence. If this is true then he's more likely one of the worst role models you could have.

I'm not sure that's fair, unless you believe a person can't change themselves and become a role model in the process. Cris Carter was addicted to cocaine as an Eagle, and when he landed in Minnesota, became a model citizen in every way. We're talking about 15 years ago, and Carter cleaned up his act and became an outspoken advocate for drug rehabilitation; and he practiced what he preached. I would put Carter alongside John Lucas as role models who took their own addiction and helped change others lives as a result.

 

[Bri]

Chris Carter WR - Eagles/Vikings.Did his darndest to mentor a young Randy Moss. My favorite player of all time and a fantastic role model.

It's been a long time so I don't remember if it was a fact or a rumor. I remember hearing Cris Carter and the word Cocaine used alot in the same sentence. If this is true then he's more likely one of the worst role models you could have.

Role models? This you just introduced to the discussion, it wasn't the thread topic. That was just players you respect. Nevertheless, I am OK with someone having failed and prosperred after as being a role model. I don't expect my kid to be perfect and never make mistakes.The previous sentences were general. I do not know enough about Cris to know if he would be a role model. I'm merely commenting on the one mistake you brought up.

 

[Hobbes]

A pair of Seminoles...Warrick Dunn for his work with single mothers and Derrick Brooks for his work with underprivileged kids...

 

[shredhead]

OJ Simpson, Michael Vick, Brian Bosworth, Terrell Ownes, Bill Romanowski..... oops you meant respect?OK, seriously, how 'bout the late great Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders just to name a few.Homerism picks: Rod Smith, Dennis Smith, Elway, TD, Steve AtwaterCurrent players (non homerism): Harrison, Holt, LT just too many to mention.RIP Pat Tillman!!!!!Edit: What's sad is that it was a lot easier and quicker to come up with a list of thugs than it was to come up with a list of good guys.

I don't want to turn this into a flame war on any given player, but just to clarify...why do you respect Barry Sanders? I can see respecting his on-field excellence and his lack of showboating; hard not to. But as a person? I'm not going to pretend to know Sanders personally (as I suspect few of us, if any, do), but I do know that he claimed to be uber-religious and a virgin for years when, in fact, he had at least one child out of wedlock. That, to me, hardly speaks to someone I would single out as someone I respect. Add to that the rather inglorious way he left the Lions and then tried not to give back his pro rate signing bonus (which he contractually had no right to), and I see plenty of things to suggest that Sanders is, like so many people, quite flawed.

I have never claimed to be super religious, but I do subscribe to the "judge not lest ye be judged" credo. I honestly didnot know (or care) that Sanders had a child out of wedlock. What I was thinking about when I named him was how he left the game. He left on top of his game and on his own terms. I know a lot of people will disrespect him saying he left his teammates in a bind etc. but I respect him for his decision and for not giving into "the man". I named Elway for the same reason. He left the game on top with back to back superbowl victories. Not too many people ever do that. Elway cheated on his (ex)wife, so I understand that a lot of people will disrespect him, but I was writing about their professional lives because I try not to judge people for their personal lives.One player I have a ton of respect for that I forgot to mention is Jerry Rice. That guy had one of the best work ethics of any player ever. I am surprised nobody has mentioned him yet.

 

[Yitbos69]

Hate to split hairs but Pat Tillman isn't in the NFL.

Troy Vincent isn't on an NFL roster either.

I edited the topic to allow for those, and others. (after you posted, so you were correct at the time)I wasn't considering Tillman when I initiated the topic, but he's easily #1 out of recent players.

Seems odd that back in WW2 it was common for players and other celebrities to make the same sacrifice.

In WW2 there was this thing called the Draft. Some may have enlisted(but they would have been drafted anyway) so they could choose which section of the armed forces they would go to. I am sure some did it because they wanted to serve their country also.It is sad that Tillman's life was cut short like many of our young men and women in the armed forces for a War WE never should have started!

 

[Jason Wood]

OJ Simpson, Michael Vick, Brian Bosworth, Terrell Ownes, Bill Romanowski..... oops you meant respect?OK, seriously, how 'bout the late great Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders just to name a few.Homerism picks: Rod Smith, Dennis Smith, Elway, TD, Steve AtwaterCurrent players (non homerism): Harrison, Holt, LT just too many to mention.RIP Pat Tillman!!!!!Edit: What's sad is that it was a lot easier and quicker to come up with a list of thugs than it was to come up with a list of good guys.

I don't want to turn this into a flame war on any given player, but just to clarify...why do you respect Barry Sanders? I can see respecting his on-field excellence and his lack of showboating; hard not to. But as a person? I'm not going to pretend to know Sanders personally (as I suspect few of us, if any, do), but I do know that he claimed to be uber-religious and a virgin for years when, in fact, he had at least one child out of wedlock. That, to me, hardly speaks to someone I would single out as someone I respect. Add to that the rather inglorious way he left the Lions and then tried not to give back his pro rate signing bonus (which he contractually had no right to), and I see plenty of things to suggest that Sanders is, like so many people, quite flawed.

I have never claimed to be super religious, but I do subscribe to the "judge not lest ye be judged" credo. I honestly didnot know (or care) that Sanders had a child out of wedlock. What I was thinking about when I named him was how he left the game. He left on top of his game and on his own terms. I know a lot of people will disrespect him saying he left his teammates in a bind etc. but I respect him for his decision and for not giving into "the man". I named Elway for the same reason. He left the game on top with back to back superbowl victories. Not too many people ever do that. Elway cheated on his (ex)wife, so I understand that a lot of people will disrespect him, but I was writing about their professional lives because I try not to judge people for their personal lives.One player I have a ton of respect for that I forgot to mention is Jerry Rice. That guy had one of the best work ethics of any player ever. I am surprised nobody has mentioned him yet.

Thanks for clarifying...I can see where you're coming from judging their professional accomplishments. I just think "respect" is one of those tricky terms. Particularly because the culture of fandom lends itself to confusing what a person does on-screen or on the field with their moral fiber and their personal code of conduct. Humanity is far too complex for it to be that simple. For example, Michael Jordan is so beloved for his basketball excellence, he's viewed as a role model for many. But can you be a role model in one facet of your life and not others? I think so, but it's important to remember that while Jordan should be emulated for lots of reasons (skill, business acumen, personality), he's also got lots of traits we don't want our kids to adopt (gambling, infidelity).

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Joe Delaney

On June 29, 1983, Delaney was at Chennault Park in Monroe, Louisiana, when he heard the cries of three young boys drowning in a pond. Delaney could not swim but jumped in anyway in an attempt to save them. One of the boys, a 6-year old, was able to make it out of the pond due to Delaney, but the other two boys, 11-year old Lancer Perkins and 11-year old Harry Holland, Jr., died with him.

The man couldn't swim but he dove in anyway to save these kids.

 

[shredhead]

Joe DelaneyOn June 29, 1983, Delaney was at Chennault Park in Monroe, Louisiana, when he heard the cries of three young boys drowning in a pond. Delaney could not swim but jumped in anyway in an attempt to save them. One of the boys, a 6-year old, was able to make it out of the pond due to Delaney, but the other two boys, 11-year old Lancer Perkins and 11-year old Harry Holland, Jr., died with him.The man couldn't swim but he dove in anyway to save these kids.

Winner!!! Nice story!

 

[BigRed]

OK Oz, thanks for pointing that out.. I wasn't trying to be a knob.I'll never forget how saddened and empty I felt about the Pat Tillman news - and meanwhile Archie Manning and Eli are pulling a power play to get Eli away from San Diego - which sickened me at the time. I guess San Diego got the better end of that deal - three Pro Bowlers for the struggling and perpetually clueless Eli Manning. God Bless Pat Tillman.

amen grid.He, Delaney, W Payton and Unitas IMO easily top the list. I'm sure there are others I'm not coming up with offhand though.But on the Chad Johnson and Chris Carter nominations - don't know CJ's charity work but he doesn't exactly strike me as the classiest guy ever. Ditto Carter, one of the biggest crybabies ever.I also think Harrison is overrated in this regard.PS great idea for thread topic. GB these guys getting a little attention vs the dirtbags for a change.

 

[gump]

How about Tony Dungy for his leadership?

The 90's Bucs under Dungy had 3 NFL Man of the Year awards between Dunn, Brooks, and Warren...er...John Lynch.

Impressive!

 

[-OZ-]

Hate to split hairs but Pat Tillman isn't in the NFL.

Troy Vincent isn't on an NFL roster either.

I edited the topic to allow for those, and others. (after you posted, so you were correct at the time)I wasn't considering Tillman when I initiated the topic, but he's easily #1 out of recent players.

Seems odd that back in WW2 it was common for players and other celebrities to make the same sacrifice.

In WW2 there was this thing called the Draft. Some may have enlisted(but they would have been drafted anyway) so they could choose which section of the armed forces they would go to. I am sure some did it because they wanted to serve their country also.It is sad that Tillman's life was cut short like many of our young men and women in the armed forces for a War WE never should have started!

What's this draft thing?Many would not have been drafted, but still chose to go. All I'm saying is that almost nobody of that demographic will volunteer now, whereas many did back then. Different times.

Yes, it's sad, but besides the point.

All of this could transition this into a FFA thread, which I'd like not to do.

 

[oukurt]

Peyton Manning

He just gives until it hurts.

(Insert obvious Michael Scott line here)

 

[Yah_Shoor_Yoobetchya]

Melvin Olsen (Rams) stands alone as my most respected past player. He was very impressive in the NFL and later developed other non-FB skills into post-player success. Alan Page MIN comes to mind, too. He was also more than a GREAT football player.

Merlin Olsen is way up there on my list as is Tillman.But Alan Page tops my list hands down.He took two totally different careers to the highest level. Isn't he like a Minnesota State Supreme Court judge now?

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Warrick Dunn - Always classy on and off the field.

Tony Dungy - Continues to be a positive influence and role model when he could have so easily become embittered/destroyed by his son's suicide. The Rick Reilly story in SI about how he reached out to that father who had lost a child definitely choked me up.

Pat Tillman - The world needs more people like him.