Great Jerks In Football History

[minford]

I feel a thread needs to be started where we can discuss football players jerkishness. This thread isn't for attention-getting antics like what Chad Johnson & TO do, this thread is for people who give professional athletes a bad name. I want to start off with my two nominees:

Elisha "Eli" Manning and John Elway.

What do they have in common? Both of their pompous egos said what teams they wanted to play for when they were being drafted. Elisha said that playing for the Chargers would not be conducive to his career and Elway said the same thing about the Baltimore Colts. ITS A FREAKING DRAFT!!! You don't have a choice of where you go for a reason!!

One could argue that Elway caused Irsay to move the Colts from Baltimore and here's why: Fan attendence & poor play where the reasons cited for the Colts leaving. If Elway stayed, he would've raised fan attendence & improved team performance; the team causes for the team to leave.

I can't believe that announces seem to forget that these to Rears got away with destroying what is supposed to be a fair and balanced method that leads to parity in the NFL. Would it be fair for one of the top picks of this years draft to say he'll only sign with the Pats? That screws Miami out of an extremely valuable rebuilding tool! Divas like Elisha & ELway put a black eye on the notion of fair & balanced play.

[theFRANCHISE]

Ehhhh...Eli Manning and John Elway are iffy, only because the sum of their respective careers (Elway, anyway) didn't do much to tarnish the reputation of the NFL.

Meanwhile...I say Terrell Owens does more to fit the profile of one of the greatest jerks in football history, even though you said you didn't wanna focus on attention-getting antics. Frankly, as many analysts have said before, Owens is a cancer to his team, minus his stint in Dallas thus far. Before the Cowboys, he was the epitome of bad sportsmanship and was considered by some to be responsible for the increase in egotistical, young football players.

Another player who fits the mold is Ryan Leaf. Other than being arguably the biggest draft bust in NFL history (let alone all of sports), his meltdowns in San Diego are infamous, and he was a classic example of an immature player not ready for the spotlight. He was a cautionary tale that might actually be relived in San Diego right now by - you guessed it - Philip Rivers.

Granted, Rivers is not as bad of a player as Leaf was, statistically. Not even close. However, the trash-talking that's been a topic of discussion as of late has now been revealed to be an aspect of Rivers's game that has been overlooked mainly because he's been winning. I feel, though, that this poor display of sportsmanship will catch up to him eventually, and he'll have a Leaf-like meltdown in the near-future.

After all, what does it say about your character to talk trash to the opposing team's fans when you didn't even score the game-winning touchdown?

[minford]

Another player who fits the mold is Ryan Leaf. Other than being arguably the biggest draft bust in NFL history (let alone all of sports), his meltdowns in San Diego are infamous, and he was a classic example of an immature player not ready for the spotlight. He was a cautionary tale that might actually be relived in San Diego right now by - you guessed it - Philip Rivers.

Agreed and I love it.

[#1 D]

I feel a thread needs to be started where we can discuss football players jerkishness. This thread isn't for attention-getting antics like what Chad Johnson & TO do, this thread is for people who give professional athletes a bad name. I want to start off with my two nominees:

Elisha "Eli" Manning and John Elway.

What do they have in common? Both of their pompous egos said what teams they wanted to play for when they were being drafted. Elisha said that playing for the Chargers would not be conducive to his career and Elway said the same thing about the Baltimore Colts. ITS A FREAKING DRAFT!!! You don't have a choice of where you go for a reason!!

One could argue that Elway caused Irsay to move the Colts from Baltimore and here's why: Fan attendence & poor play where the reasons cited for the Colts leaving. If Elway stayed, he would've raised fan attendence & improved team performance; the team causes for the team to leave.

I can't believe that announces seem to forget that these to Rears got away with destroying what is supposed to be a fair and balanced method that leads to parity in the NFL. Would it be fair for one of the top picks of this years draft to say he'll only sign with the Pats? That screws Miami out of an extremely valuable rebuilding tool! Divas like Elisha & ELway put a black eye on the notion of fair & balanced play.

How about Deion "prime time" sanders? He's classy now, but I've heard that he was a real jerk in his prime, in his San Fran days.

[minford]

How about Deion "prime time" sanders? He's classy now, but I've heard that he was a real jerk in his prime, in his San Fran days.

What'd he do?

[PuRock]

Albert Hanyesworth stepped on some dudes face.

I can't escape the guys with the antics. Chad Johnson, When he did that HOF thing against the Ravens. They zoomed on him and he was talking to a teammate after the prank, he said

"That was funny...I'm so funny" - Ego

Do we have anybody in the league like Ricky Henderson (MLB) that refers to themselves in the third person? "Ricky feels like he has a lot to offer baseball." - Ricky

Oh yea, I think Chad Johnson & TO do that. "The original 81"

[neepo13]

I got a whole list:

Phillip Rivers, come on, yelling at Chargers and Colts fans was just classless. And he's always running his mouth. In fact, that whole team really gets under my skin. They are the biggest bunch of babies in the NFL.

Vince Woolfork, polking Brandon Jacobs in the eye. And then lied and said he didnt do it intentionally. Yeah. Right!

Warren Sapp, lets not even start on his antics.

Willis McGahee, I am going to catch some flake for this one but hear me out. He isnt the biggest jerk but come on suggesting or insinuating that your team should move to another city, a Canadian city at that, is just very jerkish. I am sorry.

Michael Vick, flipping the bird at everyone in the Georgia dome. Classless.

T.O. and all his antics.

Mike Curry, all the bad calls he makes against the Ravens makes him a jerk in my book.

I could go on but I will stop.

[Purple and Black Forever]

Bill Romanowski (sp?) roided out and used to intentionally hurt people. Sound like a huge jerk to me.

[Devastat1on]

Bill Romanowski (sp?) roided out and used to intentionally hurt people. Sound like a huge jerk to me.

Bill was a nasty guy. I loved watching him play. He was fearless, and was always laying a hit on someone. Roids or not, i like the guy.

[Sub-Zero]

Romanowski is the same guy who spit in J.J Stokes face, punched his own teammate in practice which ended his career and a guy who has been labeled a racist and the dirtiest player ever. To me he's way beyond a jerk, he's a disgrace.

[Devastat1on]

Romanowski is the same guy who spit in J.J Stokes face, punched his own teammate in practice which ended his career and a guy who has been labeled a racist and the dirtiest player ever. To me he's way beyond a jerk, he's a disgrace.

Its one thing to like how a guy plays, and another to like how he plays OFF the field. Lets face it, you're right, the guy is a jerk, but i loved watching him play.

[PuRock]

Joey Porter

I heard his pitbulls broke loose one night from his house, ended up killing a cow and eating it. Just like papa! Go Joey!

[Sub-Zero]

I would also like to add that Pacman has been a real jerk as well. He's only been around for a few years but I've never seen a player get into trouble as often as he does. What's worse is that he never seems to learn from his mistakes and he's been seen in clubs time and time again. Still to this day he has shown no remorse for the guy that was shot up at the Vegas club.

[MKdave]

Joey Porter

I heard his pitbulls broke loose one night from his house, ended up killing a cow and eating it. Just like papa! Go Joey!

a pitbull AND a bull mastiff, and I think they killed a shetland pony...

[PuRock]

a pitbull AND a bull mastiff, and I think they killed a shetland pony...

Now that's what I am talking about!

[bmorefan80]

Rodney Harrison-Mocking Shawn Merriman's "Lights Out" dance last year. Also for whatever he said to Billick on the field. Maybe Rodney was going through a little roid rage?

[MKdave]

Rodney Harrison-Mocking Shawn Merriman's "Lights Out" dance last year. Also for whatever he said to Billick on the field. Maybe Rodney was going through a little roid rage?

oh yeah, that reminds me...Shawn merriman.

I really hate this guy. I know alot of you like him because he was a terp, but I have no ties to maryland outside of the ravens, so I dont care.

Here's why shawn merriman is a jerk:

Took steriods

made up an obnoxious little dance when he got sacks

got alot of sacks, forcing innocent on-lookers to observe this monstrosity on a frequent basis, sometimes upwards of 3 times a game

plays for the chargers

has annoying face.

ruined 'NFL tour' by being on the cover

Uber-overrated

Almost ended the career of Priest holmes (Priest Holmes! who doesnt love Priest Holmes?!)

Now, In my opinion, those are all pretty jerkish attributes/ things to have done.

I'm pretty sure I could go on. But ,because he's a terp, I'll leave it at that.

[theFRANCHISE]

oh yeah, that reminds me...Shawn merriman.

I really hate this guy. I know alot of you like him because he was a terp, but I have no ties to maryland outside of the ravens, so I dont care.

Here's why shawn merriman is a jerk:

Took steriods

made up an obnoxious little dance when he got sacks

got alot of sacks, forcing innocent on-lookers to observe this monstrosity on a frequent basis, sometimes upwards of 3 times a game

plays for the chargers

has annoying face.

ruined 'NFL tour' by being on the cover

Uber-overrated

Almost ended the career of Priest holmes (Priest Holmes! who doesnt love Priest Holmes?!)

Now, In my opinion, those are all pretty jerkish attributes/ things to have done.

I'm pretty sure I could go on. But ,because he's a terp, I'll leave it at that.

Meh...doesn't really make him a jerk by the universal definition, but that's your opinion.

Frankly, though, don't be so quick to judge Merriman's dance. After all, people say the same thing about Ray Lewis' dancing. Figures, since Merriman models himself after Lewis on the field.

LOL @ "has annoying face" as a reason.

[MKdave]

Meh...doesn't really make him a jerk by the universal definition, but that's your opinion.

Frankly, though, don't be so quick to judge Merriman's dance. After all, people say the same thing about Ray Lewis' dancing. Figures, since Merriman models himself after Lewis on the field.

LOL @ "has annoying face" as a reason.

1) yes it does make him a jerk because I am great.

2)Ray's dance is a gesture of manliness and passion. he does it when we win, or for any reason he sees fit.

shawn's dance is narcissistic, he does it because he loves himself. He doesnt do it when someone else on his team gets a sack, does he.

And 3) thanks, that was my favourite one.

[PuRock]

Shawne Merriman & Harrison. I second those two. Harrison is cocky. Merriman = Juiced up

[JonM229]

T.O. and all his antics.

Come on, that's not fair. That's my teammate. That's my wide out. That's not fair.

*sobs uncontrollably*

(I can't believe he stole my joke)

[minford]

Bill Romanowski (sp?) roided out and used to intentionally hurt people. Sound like a huge jerk to me.

Good call on Romo. He might actually be the MVP of the bunch.

Rodney Harrison also deserves to be mentioned. Who the hell runs up to a coach and talks smack to him??

Roid users should be mentioned, and that pains me to say it cuz I'm a Merriemen fan (GO TERPS!).

I'd also like to mention Kemo Van Olhaffen (sp?) for the hit on Carson Palmer in the playoffs. Yeah it wasn't completely intentional, but we all know that he meant to hit Palmer hard enough to take him out of the game but not hard enough to injure him as badly as he did. I really believe that if Palmer stayed in the game the Bengals would've won. Yeah Kitna did a good job running the offense but Palmer was on fire.

[Ravens52]

I really heard Warren Sapp is a real jerk.

[minford]

I really heard Warren Sapp is a real jerk.

Whats he done?

[JonM229]

Whats he done?

Besides taking an incredibly cheap shot on a Packers O-lineman a couple years ago?

[MKdave]

Besides taking an incredibly cheap shot on a Packers O-lineman a couple years ago?

yeah. besides that?

[JonM229]

yeah. besides that?

Oh, well other than that...he's a class act.

...not!

[BrownsFan]

Does a person who killed another while driving drunk and then got in trouble AGAIN for driving drunk.. yet, basically got NOTHING for punishment count? If so, my vote goes to Leonard Little. I have no clue how good his "skills" are in the NFL honestly but that man shouldn't even be allowed on a football field as far as I'm concerned.

[neepo13]

Whats he done?

Running through the other teams warm up lines taunting them while they were warming up.

[neepo13]

Does a person who killed another while driving drunk and then got in trouble AGAIN for driving drunk.. yet, basically got NOTHING for punishment count? If so, my vote goes to Leonard Little. I have no clue how good his "skills" are in the NFL honestly but that man shouldn't even be allowed on a football field as far as I'm concerned.

That was Leonard Little, that did that? I thought it was Bertrend Berry. Either, way I agree. He should have gotten a PacMan Jones sentence.